Spotlight
Dolls & Toys
The lack of toys in the various facilities, including hospitals, schools and orphanages was baffling: no dolls, no cars, no puzzles, no books.
Due to the lack of availability of black dolls in Kenya, we started a collaboration with Coloured Goodies in the Netherlands. They developed a special line of dolls with specific features. Combined with books and other toys, these dolls help spark imagination and improve reading skill of children.
We're raising money to buy dolls and doll houses. These dolls will be distributed in the various play areas across Nanyuki. Interested? See the section on the right for details.
Of course, the dolls need clothing. Hence several ladies, are now at work with great enthusiasm to knit and crochet clothes.
It's very import to a childs self-esteem to see themselves in the toys we give them to inspire their imagination.
In collaboration with Coloured Goodies, we now offer the opportunity to adopt a coloured doll for a child in Kenia. These dolls are created in image of the children which help them identify with their own culture. These high-quality dolls come with different clothes and other accessories.
We have 3 different doll sizes available:
Small € 25,00
Medium € 35,00
Large € 70,00
To adopt a doll, please transfer directly to NL82 RABO 034 227 6174. Make sure to include your name or the name of your choosing so we can give it to the doll as a token of our appreciation.
Do you have questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us via stichtingstarborn@gmail.com.
Planned projects
The Union School, Eldoret
We continue to support The Union School in Eldoret by buying school books. The current situation is this: there are 40 students per class whereby 1 book is shared between 4 students. The toilets are in desperate need of repair and so we go back to what we earlier mentioned – creative skills whilst also wanting to optimize the current physical education program.
Whilst we are busy planning it all donations are greatly welcome and very much needed.
A Community Centre
We plan to open a small community centre in Nanyuki which is also an area where the Masai live. Its not only vital that the community centre is only a building to look at but it is also used to educate locals on diet and nutrition, be used as a local clinic for health professionals, a library, the local sports club bar and also where other specialisations (such as doctors and volunteers) can go and use the space to help the Nanyuki locals.
Youth Creativity
We also aim to stimulate the youth’s creative side. In order to carry this project out to highest standards we need funds and materials. The planned Facebook Campaign whereby we ask people to donate colouring pencils and pens to the local children so that we can take with us on our next visit in November 2019.
Completed projects
September 2018
We made our first visit to the Union School in Eldoret (Africa). Library inventory was made followed by a strategy meeting with the teachers. Next meeting with the school’s Head Teacher’s regarding the broken/missing windows and other urgent repairs that were needed.
December 2018
In December 2018, renovation of the library takes place together with local volunteers, ex pupils and family members.
12 April 2019
The Meander School in Ootmarsum held a sponsored walk. Family, friends and acquaintances sponsored the pupils by donating money for every round they walked. At the end of the fundraising campaign there was an astronomical amount of money raised by the school and their pupils. The final amount and cheque was presented on another day and what a day it was.
18 April 2019
The total amount of the fundraiser was announced and the cheque was presented to Loes on behalf of the foundation. What an incredible and emotional day it was. It was truly mind blowing.
4 June 2019
A meet and great was organised within The Meander School in Oortmarsum. This was for a diverse group of people who wanted to know more about Kenya and what we were doing there. The pupils who were taking part asked us questions, wrote to other Keynan school children and once we returned from Kenya the pupils got their replies.
June 2019
With the help of volunteers but also builders we managed to replace or mount 1,120 windows that The Eldoret School, Kenya needed. For the infant part of the school we repaired the leaking roof, ceilings and we painted the walls. We thought about a follow up project and for this we need to raise more funds to cover these projects.
Thanks to the Galaxy Hardware Store in Eldoret it was possible to carry out this huge renovation project efficiently. They made sure that all the materials and ordered materials arrived on time but they also helped us with the renovation work but let’s not forget that without the help and knowledge of the local Kenyan people this project would not of been as smooth as it was. 😊
Whilst the renovations took place the Kenyan students were busy replying to the Dutch pupils that had written to them whilst the Dutch and Kenyan teachers were busy exchanging contact details so that they could directly keep in contact with each other.
June 2019
A new Facebook donate a football campaign has been setup and carried out. The actual Footballs that were brought at full shop price were donated to hospitals, orphanages and school. A part of the football purchase price was donated to a foundation that stops the illegal poaching of Kenyan wildlife. Even though the football were not cheap we managed to buy and distribute 60 footballs. How amazing was that!
July 2021
In july 2021, we constructed a new building within the walls of the Furaha children's home in Nanyuki. A so-called playroom: a space to develop their fantasy with books, games and arts and crafts.
Every weekend there will be a story told to whoever wants to listen … A dollhouse, dolls, cars, craft materials … all is present. A little library, which will increase every trip we make to Nanyuki . This room is not just available for the children living in the Furaha children’s home, but also for children living nearby.
The building is constructed using local materials and local workforce. The floor is poured concrete, the frame is timber and the walls and roof are constructed from metal sheets. The inside is painted in bright colours.
Many thanks to the Nanyuki Furaha Foundation for allowing us to build within their walls and help us run the playroom.
We did it! The playroom is a fact. The first playroom, I should say … I hope this is only the start of a large number of playrooms in and around Nanyuki. We started building after finding a ‘fundi’ we promised to be able to build within a week. That would leave us a week to decorate … Luckily the fundi kept his word :-) . Once we started decorating we had to keep the kids at a distance: nosy, nosy, nosy kids. But we managed to keep it a surprise!!!
There is a little video when they have their first peek at the room:
We provided them with dolls: a dollhouse, bed and seats for the dolls as well. Cars, a puzzlehighway is still in progress and will be added soon.
Books: the library will be extended every time we visit Nanyuki (at least one suitcase of 23 kg every trip).
A blackboard.
A corner to read books to the children, a chair for the adult and cushions for the children to sit on.
Crafts materials, some donated by Talens, which will be replenished after finishing.
And then there was the inauguration…
Not just an inauguration, but an inauguration with benefits :-)
We started the party by handing out new (!) clothes for everyone, donated by Koopmans mode Tilligte, and a beanie, knitted by Bientje Werkhoven and friends.
Speeches, big thanks and other kind words were exchanged …
The best came last: the reactions of the children when they had a first peek. Going in was no option at that time, the floor was not dry yet…
The ‘wows’ and ‘ah’ and ‘ohs’ made it all worth it!