Flying Kites participates in Kite Festival at Bretton Point Park

On Saturday July 11th 2009, the Flying Kites team joined many of the country’s finest kite fliers and kite enthusiasts, at Brenton Point Park, for Newport’s annual Kite Festival. With hundreds of incredible kites flying high above, the Flying Kites team displayed pictures of our children at the Flying Kites Children’s Center in Kinangop, Kenya, as well as our handmade, unique bracelets and prints of original artwork done by one of our team members, Bridget Sheerin. We set up a bubble-blowing area (complete with kite-shaped bubble wands) to the delight of the many children (and a few free-spirited adults!) that joined us throughout the day to take part in one of life’s simple joys.

Countless festival attendees wandered over to our table, perused our literature, spoke with our team members, and learned about our organization. The many kite enthusiasts with whom we engaged loved the reasoning behind our organizations name, which was chosen because it embodies one of the many activities that all children should experience throughout childhood. All in all, we could not have asked for a better location, better weather, or a more interested and receptive crowd to share our story and our day with.

Flying Kites expands outreach program by leasing 25 acres of farm land

With 90% of its income derived from the land, Njabini’s fortunes are inextricably linked to its agricultural sector. For Njabini farmers, cropping is characterized by poor quality inputs (seed, fertilizer and pesticide), poor timing of cropping (a responsive rather than anticipatory approach to crop prices) and poor access to markets. Lack of capital means producing higher quality crops is not possible, and the vicious circle is perpetuated. Untrained farmers struggle to time harvests with higher crop prices, often compromising an entire season’s efforts. Flying Kites Kinangop will address these problems at three phases: preplanting, during the growth period and post-harvest.

We are expanding our agricultural support program by leasing 25 acres of land and giving half acre allotments to 50 impoverished families (who have been previously identified in FK research at being those in greatest need), as well providing the inputs needed to grow their first two crops. The first crop will be planted in September. Development is being coordinated to take advantage of economies of scale, ensure an optimal crop mix and improve access to markets.

One-third of the individual lease value is to be saved at the end of each of Njabini's three cropping cycles to ensure that by year two families are self-financing. During year one, we will be cropping domestic crops; while more sophisticated cropping mixes shall be adopted for the program’s second year. Families are also being offered financial advice (savings; investment; micro-finance project etc.) to maximize the use of additional income from cropping. Exit strategy: by Year Four, families should have saved enough to buy their own land.

We anticipate expanding the program to include land-owning farmers in Jan 2010 (for the following crop cycle), expanding the number of farmers receiving leased land to 100. The impact of this program is simple: additional disposal income. The average day-laborer household in Njabini will make c. Ksh. 12000 / month. Planting potatoes should give one household an additional Ksh. 17000 per month.

Flying Kites celebrates the Day of the African Child

On June 16th 2009, Flying Kites celebrated the Day of the African Child. The event marked the massacre of 1976 in Soweto, South Africa. On that day, hundreds of students took to the streets to protest the inferior quality of their education. Police opened fire and over 500 students lost their lives. June 16th was declared an international holiday by the Organization of African Unity in 1991.

Last year, thanks to the efforts of Benson Nderitu, Njabini, Kinangop celebrated its first Day of the African Child. This year, Flying Kites Kinangop led its second parade, marching over 300 children to the local Chief ’s office to learn about their rights and meet the people whose duty it is to protect them.

Online videos of the day’s events are available here.

Flying Kites hires an In-Country Managing Director

Flying Kites has hired Sarah Medway for the position of Managing Director of the Flying Kites Kinangop Children’s Center (FKKCC). Beginning in September, Sarah will spend a year at the FKKCC managing day to day activities of the center, looking out for the physical and emotional needs of the children, and advocating on behalf of Flying Kites throughout Kenya. Sarah was formerly an associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Flying Kites receives tremendous support from Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Upon hearing that one of their prized associates, Sarah Medway, was leaving the firm to donate her time for one year as Country Director for Flying Kites, the New York City branch of Seyfarth Shaw LLP immediately launched a fundraising drive for Flying Kites. On Thursday, July 30, 2009 at a farewell party for Sarah, the partners at Seyfarth announced that the firm had raised over $11,000 for Flying Kites, stunning the Flying Kites team with their kindness and generosity.