Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage Shipping Container Project
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Transcript of Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage Shipping Container Project
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.
Add lots of photos
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!
Add lots of photos
Add lots of photos
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.
Add lots of photos
Add lots of photos
Some food was grown in the garden…
Add lots of photos
…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…
Add lots of photos
…except at playtime…
Add lots of photos
…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.
Add lots of photos
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!
Add lots of photos
Add lots of photos
Add lots of photos
Add lots of photos
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…
Add lots of photos
…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.
Add lots of photos of the container debacle!!!
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…
Insert photo of Barb
...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.
Add photo
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!