GREETED BY OUR MAASAI FRIENDS

Rosemary, MWEEP chairlady and Josephine S., MWEEP Financial Officer came to our guest house to pick us up to go to the village. It is always so exciting to see them. We had an interesting ride: first we stopped to see Rosemary's daughter and son-in-law, they had been married since we were last there. Jeanne was expecting her baby in 2 days, a little boy. She gave us a lunch. Then we stopped in Ngong to leave some of our big bags at Koi's parents.
Then it was a late lunch at the Bonapet (small restaurant in Ngong -- a place where you can run into friends. We saw a woman from Poulsbo, WA who has a project here and then some of our friends. More MWEEP women joined us there and eventually we all loaded up and headed into the Rift Valley.

First MWEEP University Graduate

Esther Namunyak Otoma will be going through graduation ceremonies at Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya on December 12, 2010. Jon and Loanna Day, MWEEP Founder/President will be attending the graduation with some of the MWEEP Kenya officials.

Esther has gone through many hardships and with a tremendous amount of perseverence, she has reached this milestone. Esther is the first girl from her village Ilngarooji to attend and complete university. She has a major of English and Religion. She has already started to teach at a secondary school since her coursework was finished mid-year.

Esther has goals to obtain her Master's Degree and be a Headmistress for a Secondary School.

MWEEP USA is so proud of Esther and her accomplishments. CONGRATULATIONS

return for photos of her graduation after December 20th.

PREPARATIONS FOR KENYA

My husband Jon and I are in the last week or preparations for our trip to visit our Maasai friends. This year we will be there from November 27th until December 18th. Then we'll head to England to be with our daughter's family and our son for Christmas.

The MWEEP Kenya women have set a great schedule for us so that we can meet with many girls, parents, MWEEP women, village chiefs and other organizations.

We will be trying to have blog entries as we go, so please check back to see what is happening during our time there.

Jon will also be spending some time with education about the watershed in conjunction with SIMOO.

The photo is of Rosemary Sakuda, MWEEP chairlady, her pre-school students, Jon and Loanna Day with their daughter and grandsons.

Supplies for School Fee Recipients

MWEEP board members are filling bags for the girls in Kenya who are recipients of school fee support.

The girls had told Loanna when she was in Kenya that there are supplies that they lack when at boarding school. The bags have been donated by Lululemon Athletica for two years now.

What the girls said they lack are: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap and pads. They will miss class if they don't have pads. The pads are bought in Kenya and added to their bags. Due to generous donors, we have been able to add some extras.

This year a group of women in Kitsap County who quilt and sew have donated 100 pillowcases for Kenya. Each girl will receive two pillowcases, one for her dorm room bed and one to give to her mother. The mothers help with the cost-share portion of the school fees.

Karen donating pillowcases to Loanna

Girls in their dorm room. The pillow cases will be a great addition.

The Flip Flop Shop donated shoes and flip flops from their Soles4Souls program.

MWEEP is grateful to all who have sent toiletries and supplies for the girls.

Advisory Board

MWEEP Advisory Board

MWEEP has been fortunate to have an outstanding group join us as an Advisory Board. Our Advisory Board has members from Kitsap County, King County, Vancouver Canada and Kenya. Two of our Advisory Members are Kenyans. Many of them have already been helping the board with their talents:

brochure development, hosting events, photos for media, DVD development & production, Facebook & UTube, Jewelry sales, and website development. This is a group that is and will make a BIG difference for MWEEP.

MWEEP Founding Board