Welcome to the

Fiwagoh Mission

Orphanage

Slideshow

Welcome to the

Fiwagoh Mission

Orphanage

Slideshow

Welcome to the

Fiwagoh Mission

Orphanage

Slideshow

Kenya, Africa

This is the story of a man

and his wife who opened their hearts

and their home to orphaned children and

dared to dream.

Their names are Benson and

Florence Nganga and this is their

story.

Benson was born in Kenya and as a child became homeless and

destitute and lived on the street with his siblings until he was

taken in by a generous family, cared for and educated.

As an adult, Benson became

a pastor and spent several years in the

Gospel Ministry.

During this time he could see the growing numbers of orphans

caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, disease and tribal

warfare.

He would see these children on

the street begging. Some lived at the

garbage bins scavenging for

scraps of food.

Others were found sniffing glue, as a way to kill hunger

pains. Many started prostitution at 10 years of age. Others turned into

pick-pockets and thieves.

As an adult Benson felt compelled to repay the

generosity of his foster family by ‘paying it forward’.

In 2003, with one child of their own and one adopted, Benson

and Florence founded the Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage and visited the villages in search of

orphaned children.

They decided to take a few of

these children into their rented

home and generously share

all they could.

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At first, they embraced as few as two children. Then after some

months the number increased to five…

…then twelve...

…then twenty seven…

…until the mission had 85 orphans all housed in that one

small home!

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This was made possible by child

sponsorship organised and

administered by a wonderful Swiss volunteer called

Lena Clerc.

The children slept in triple bunk beds…

…two or three per

bunk.

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Some food was grown in the garden…

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…and prepared by Florence…

… the staff...

…and the children.

Everyone was well

fed!

Staff helped with the washing…

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…so that the children

could be kept

impeccably clean…

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…except at playtime…

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…and when cubbies needed to be built!

The children were schooled outdoors…

…and taught to read and write in English.

English is the main language spoken at the orphanage as

Benson’s aim is to prepare the children to live and work in the

world at large.

They are also taught to celebrate the Sabbath, instilling faith and leading the children to a

moral Christian life.

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The Sabbath includes a special meal…

…as the children

make and enjoy their

weekly treat of bread!

The Fiwagoh Motto is to:

Train, educate and discipline children to better the future

generations.

“Train up a child in the

way he should go; and when he is old he

will not depart from it”

(Proverbs 22:6)

Despite all this progress Benson and Florence had bigger plans. They wanted to take in more children, there were so many more in desperate need, but

there just wasn’t space!

They continued to pray…

In 2006, their prayers were answered. Generous donations

were received including substantial amounts from two

families in Queensland, Australia.

Benson and Florence at land

They were able to acquire land and begin to fulfil this next chapter of their grand dream.

On 2 July 2007 construction of the new buildings

commenced.

This involved an awful lot of manual labour…

…and ingenuity!

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By this time they had 120 children with plans to take in more.

On 20 December 2009 Benson, Florence and their very large family proudly moved into

their new premises.

By this time they had 120 children with plans to take in more.

moving in photo

They were excited about their new home but there was so much they didn’t have. They lacked a lot

of very basic furniture and equipment making it difficult to

do the simplest of tasks.

Fortunately, in December 2008, 17 enthusiastic volunteers travelled from Australia to Fiwagoh. They called themselves ‘Caring Hands in Kenya’.

They were delighted to deliver some funds raised by members of the

group to finance the building of some new bunk beds…

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…and purchase

some new mattresses!

They helped prepare for

rendering of the new walls, also paid for from funds raised.

They shared their skills…

Tony building a table????

...and cuddles!

They also enjoyed distributing small Christmas gifts to the

children.

For many this was the first gift they

had ever received.

Words can’t describe the

level of appreciation…

…and not just from the children!

They were impressed that

Benson and Florence treat every child as

their own.

They found that the children,

without exception, are humble, well-

mannered, disciplined and eager to help…

…and they have a love of learning, hungry for knowledge and skills.

They were also impressed by Benson and Florence’s

unwavering Christian faith,

their high energy and their gentle,

unassuming ways.

Photo of Benson and Florence

They were also very aware of a desperate need for equipment and supplies to make caring for

the children a little easier.

When they returned home Janine, Kim, Julie and Tony and their families vowed to send a

shipping container from Brisbane.

Benson and Florence were about to touch a whole lot more

hearts!

Benson contacted Sue, another Fiwagoh supporter from Brisbane, to see if she

could help.

Sue mentioned this to her friend Jacey.

They started to email friends

asking for donations of second hand goods from a

wish list…

…and asking them to forward the email to their friends.

As word spread the

phones started to ring and

inboxes filled up!

Meanwhile Janine, Kim, Julie and Tony were doing the same.

Once again the Fiwagoh prayers were answered.

The donations simply poured in.

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Sue cancelledher gym

membership!

School stationery

They were astounded by the outpouring of generosity and the amazing way that their wish list

was filled.

Some of the notable contributions were…

…15 second hand

computersrebuilt by

Leo…

Photo of Leo

…15 flat screens purchased from cash donations…

…6 sewing machines…

…a beautiful piano…

…a rotary hoe …

…a photocopier and pallet of paper…

…5 ‘postman’ motor bikes…

…250 stackable adult chairs and 40 kid size ones…

…tonnes of teddies and toothpaste…

…loads of linen including 140 sheets made into sleeping

bags by Barb…

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...dozens of dolls and bags hand made by the children at Holy Cross State School…

…bags and bags of

blankets hand-made by Irena and

Marie’s wonderful

team…

…countless boxes of clothes and shoes…

…and so much more!

Thanks to Sue, by this stage, they

had also acquired a container…

…and Sue and Suzy had

practically been living in

it…

…while Jacey was living in her garage.

They had sorted, packed

loaded, transported,

unloaded and documented so

many things!

Lots and lots of car loads

later….

Despite all this hard work there was still more to be done!

… it was time to pack…

A 40 foot container sure takes a lot of packing!

But many hands make light work!

… it was time to pack…

… it was time to pack…

… it was time to pack…

… it was time to pack…

It was important to use every inch of space…

… it was time to pack…

… it was time to pack…

…so that everything would fit and not move about in transit!

… it was time to pack…

The documentation had to be finalised which was Julie and

Sue’s job.

Julie’s office

Sue’s office

… it was time to pack…

Tony and Kim closed that door one

final time!

The container finally left Wacol on

24 June 2010 and everyone wondered if it would arrive in one piece!

Amazingly it arrived, cleared

customs without a hitch and was delivered on

19 September 2010.

Nothing had moved,

nothing was broken and nothing was

spoiled. Yet another

miracle!

Photos of container arriving

Photos of container arriving

Sue was not yet content.

She wanted to go and see the orphanage and to experience for herself the wonderful work that

happens in this special little corner of the world.

She wanted to see how the container would change things

and be able to report to everyone who contributed.

Sue spent time in an orphanage in India during her childhood so her trip also had

additional significance.

“What I found when I arrived has changed me forever”

Suzanne Healy

Kenya is known for

it’s extreme natural

beauty and magnificent

wildlife…

…which contrasts with the human suffering and living conditions.

Insert photo from village

Many live in very basic

shelters with the reality of long periods

without food, surrounded by

disease, with an outlook of premature

death.

As we know, often children are orphaned and left to fend for

themselves.

Just imagine then, that one such child, who was given a chance, could rise from the

depths of despair and acquire the skills and determination to fulfil

a dream as big as Benson’s.

Photo Benson

And now he and Florence are

giving the same chance to 134

children! Just imagine the

possibilities!

One of the aims of my trip was to

deliver news of the

difference the

container made.

Firstly, everything has been put into

use. Everywhere I looked I could see evidence of our donations…

…and I was thanked over and over and asked to pass

on this gratitude to

everyone concerned.

Secondly, we can rest assured that nothing is

wasted! You have to see the

way the children delicately

sharpen their pencil and

carefully stow it each day!

Also, the children have an amazing ability to learn. Nahashon has

taught himself to play the piano in the three months

since the container arrived!

Beauty found a book in the

container on the topic of herbal medicine. He is

already growing herbs and

learning all he can to help sick

children!

Often, the children are trained to be the ‘resident expert’. Here, Nahashon is

learning to use the new photocopier.

Benson is a source of great support to so

many, continually

giving whatever he can spare to those outside

the orphanage.

The spirit of this man has to be experienced to be believed and a

number of his children are just like him!

For example, one day Joshua, a 17

year old boy from Fiwagoh, asked

Benson if he could give away a

wheelchair from the container.

We travelled to the village and found the young lad living on the

street, literally. His name is Augustine. He is an orphan and

he cannot walk.

Joshua told Augustine

why we had come.

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Add photo

I will never forget that day as long

as I live.

Another amazing story is

about the Fiwagoh garden.

Whilst every effort is being made to grow food, the

garden has much more potential.

In total they have 21 acres of land

for farming.

I was praying about what

could be done to expedite

this process.

One day soon after, a car drove up the driveway and out stepped

an organic horticulturalist.

Her name is Peris and she was looking

to buy land to develop a showcase garden.

I assured her that she would not have to buy land for such a garden and she would have

134 very willing helpers to make her dream, and ours, a

reality!

This dream has only one

limitation.

Water!

While Fiwagoh has a wonderful supply of bore water, to fully

develop the garden they

need a tank and an irrigation

system.

I have come home determined that they will not go without!

God willing, I will find a way!

In conclusion, the main message

that I would like to deliver is that Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage is an amazing cause.

Every item sent and every dollar donated is appreciated and

used to it’s very best potential. There is no waste and there are

no administration fees.

By supporting

Fiwagoh we are

making a very real

difference.

A special thank you to Benson and Florence, for all that you

are and all that you do.

Thank you for inspiring us.

You have created so much from so little for the benefit of so many.

Insert picture here of completed buildings and/or crowd of kids

And are shining

examples of ordinary

people doing extraordinary

things.

The children from Fiwagoh would like to say a special

thank you to their child sponsors. Without you this

work would not be possible.

Thank you also toLena and Mario Clerc in

Switzerland for being long-term Fiwagoh supporters.

And everyone who has ever supported Fiwagoh. Your

contributions both large and small have been greatly

appreciated and have enabled this work to continue.

In Australia, thank you to the Caring Hands in Kenya group for volunteering at Fiwagoh

and bringing home their inspiration!

Special thanks toJanine and Kim Barden,Julie and Tony Marini, Emma Davidson andTrent Clulow for your

commitment to Fiwagoh and for initiating the container

project.

And thank you also toMichael and Kelly Letters for

your ongoing support of Fiwagoh.

To Dave and Margaret Phillips, thanks for all your helpful

advice, encouragement and practical support.

And to Chris and Virginia Anderson, thank you for

sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

Susie Scoles, thank you for all your hard work in

transporting, packing and documenting … and

Michael Sly, thank you for the ‘ute’!

Thanks also to Jacey Young for throwing herself, her family and her home into this project and giving it

momentum.

And especially to Sue Healy. Without your compassion for

the children and drive to make a difference none of this would have happened.

Lastly, a very warm thank you to all that helped make this shipping container dream a

reality…

Mt Alvernia College for donating the computers, and

Leo Bonfiglio for rebuilding them.

Barb Tealby for sewing all the sleeping bags.

Geebung State School for donating the chairs.

Debbie Birthisel and Holy Cross School for all the handmade dolls and bags.

Irena Poed and Marie Trounce and team for the handmade blankets and other items.

Samford State School for the toiletries and teddies.

Edsco - Education Supply Company for school stationery.

Annie Gerloff for the piano.

Charles and Fay for the Rotary Hoe

The Lismore Group for the photocopier and paper.

Terry Healy for the postman motor bikes.

Lisa Tasker for the fridge.

Marie Girvan for the gardening equipment and handmade clothes.

Those who accepted, sorted and packed donations of goods from their community…

Arleen Grey – Lutwyche Windsor Kindy Di Huyssen

Grace MariniJane Hellyer

Jenny FlanaganKeryn Hogan

Mercedes Logan – Samford Valley Steiner SchoolPam McGill

Penny CostelloRuth Campbell – Pine Rivers Yoga

Sophie ArnoldVikki Kane

Those who gave cash donations…

Adrian and Marcia ContantCameron Matthews

Charlie YarrowCliff and Joy Darko

David BowdenDoreen Waldron

Evan SadlerHelen, Daria and Morgan Healy

Ida BeschevischikiIrene and Jim Jesnoeski

John Wilks Karen Day

Karen Tucker

Kath HealyKevin Whyte

Lillian GrillmeierLorna Moorhead

Marie ShaughnessyMaurice and Margaret Young

Mrs PuieNed and Jill Matthews

Ruth and Calum CampbellSandra Kindler

Stanthorpe Pathfinder Club The Gray Family

The Howard FamilyThe Lismore TeamWyn Freshwater

Yucy Lam

The Stanthorpe Baby Bundles team:

Action GraphicsBrooke Pellegrino

Esse ContarinoDoreen Shardlow

Ian PrescottIrene Suchanek

Irma KuehnemannJeanette Adams

Karen Steinhardt Kelly Newlyn

Lorna Moorehead Marg McNeil

Maureen GillespieMelissa StankoMrs DrinkwaterRobyn Karalius

Val HenneyVicky and Ted Lewandowski

Wanda KuzniarskiWyn Freshwater

Yvonne Piper

The container packing team…

Alby Piper Angie DavidsonBrandon Young

Christoper DriebergDavid Young

Emma DavidsonGlynn Rence

Hayley Davidson Helen McKenzie

Jacey YoungJanine Barden

Julie MariniKelly Pritchard

Kim Barden

Keryn HoganLilliann Drieberg

Luke ReardonMegan Clarke

Michael Letters Miranda Woodland

Mitchell YoungNathan ReardonRebecca RitchieSuzanne Healy

Susie ScolesTony Marini Trent Clulow Yvonne Piper

And those who contributed other goods…

Alana Lemura Alby and Yvonne Piper

Alf and Rose GrassoAlice Wheelan & The Childers Knitting Team

Alison and Jason BoydAlyson Allen

Angie DavidsonAnne, Michael and Jasmine Grey

Barbara TailfordBetty Applegate

Cal and Karen Smith – Andersen’s Ceramics Carolyn Moxham

Cassy Krushna

Catherine Ebrington Charlotte Woolley

Cynthia TurnerDawn Thyer

Deb and Clayton TroncDebbie BeveridgeDebbie Wilmot Deborah Hardy

Diane Baker and NarelleDiana Sunderland

Eddy DebruynElliot Hawkins

Elspeth and Chuck KehoeGayle MarshallFern Matthews

Harriet WalshHeather Liddall

Helen and George Helen Napier

Helen WilkinsonHerman and Pam Odijk

Ian and GloriaIrene

Janine RolphJenny and Grant Parker

Jim Samios Joanne Stuhmeke

John and Barbara GriJohn Wilks

Judy Whitfield

Julia BennettJulie Christensen

Julie RobinsJuliette PooleKaren Tucker

Laurie and John MorrisonLily Moegelberg

Lions Club – AspleyLinda Morrison

Lorna MooreheadLuciano and Franca Favero

Lucy and Glynn HarnellLyn Chilton

Lynne Hardie Mark Cameron - Qantas

Megan ClarkeMichelle Brown and Ili Tulloch – 4ZZZ

Michelle TrostMieke and Evan Van Ravensburg

Mike and Julie ClahsenNarelle Darley

Nick and Allison – Endeavour CentreOwen and Rita O’Brien

Patricia RigbyPeter and Margaret – Wesley Op Shop

Peter and Pia Pugno Peter Walker – All Bikes Logan City

Phillip Forshaw – AutoBarn Logan CityRachel Dean

Robyn Thorne

Russell and Katrina SmithShirley Hill

Steve and Bernie MaguireSue Clulow

Susanne and Bruce PereySuzanne and Peter Davies

Svetlana and Howard Wilmot Tarmie BryanTom Turner

Tony and Robyn McNee Tony Poutsma

Ula CableWendy Abernethy

and

so many more that we have not yet met!

Slide show written and produced byJacey Young

DVD production byTom Bennett

Artwork byKirsten Young

Photography by Emma DavidsonJanine Barden Julie Marini

Lena ClercMiranda Woodland

Suzanne HealyTabby Krznar-Radovanovic

Trent Clulow

Thank you for watching…

…and please keep us in your prayers as we continue to

support Fiwagoh!