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This is the story of Emmanuel a teacher at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School (SCLSS) in Nairobi Kenya.

My name is Mr. Emmanuel Machanja, the Geography and Religion teacher at SCLSS. I come from a very humble background, the ninth in a family of 12, three of whom have passed on. My father died while we were very young, He was asthmatic and we couldn’t afford his medication. He left the full responsibility to my mother who was a peasant farmer. Life was not easy; getting food was a problem and getting school fees was a big challenge and most of us dropped out of school.

In my primary education, I studied at a school six kilometers away from home, where we would walk each day without food.  Life was not fair and there were times when I almost dropped out to help my mother with our family.

Fortunately one of my teachers, Madam Josephine, (God rest her soul in eternal peace) paid for my school fees and I was able to complete my primary education. I qualified for a provincial secondary school but I had to I stay out of school for one year since I didn’t have the school fees. I later was able to join a school when my mother borrowed a shirt, shoes and trousers from my neighbor whose son had completed his schooling. Life was not easy in secondary school and I was often sent home for lack of school fees. In secondary school I worked so hard and I attained a very good grade so I could be accepted to university. My mother was happy I had completed secondary school but her major challenge was the university fees.

I was accepted at many universities but was unable to go because of lack of fees. I decided to volunteer in my neighboring school through which the headmistress linked me with Brother John Kennedy Oronjo. He welcomed me at SCLSS where I served as teacher and a boarding master. After one term he decided to sponsor me to join the university. I owe him much gratitude for that. I worked so hard both at the university and at the SCLSS. I completed my University education this year in April and graduated in July the same year with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

I thank God and all those I have mentioned, for this and I am working so hard to improve the living standard of my mother and those who live together with her. Thank you.

Inverness County Cares wants to thank our friends and neighbours for their support of our fundraising Thai dinner on Saturday November 18^th. Forty-eight people were served and judging by the plates that came back to the kitchen, they enjoyed their meal. Betty Jane Cameron gave a passionate account of her time spent living with the students at the St Charles Lwanga School for 2 month and shared with joy, that she will return this January for 3 months. Fr. Duncan MacIsaac also shared his experiences and the love and hope he experienced at the school. We thank our guests for their interest in our school and their inquiries about the students.

Thank you to our kitchen workers and planners, Flo Campbell, Charlotte Rankin, Susan and Sam Moran, Karen and Tom Wager, Sheila MacDonell, Winnie Rankin, Elaine Rankin, Camille Chapman and Colleen MacLeod.

Thank you to the wonderful young ladies from the Students Helping Our World (SHOW) group from Dalbrae Academy who worked as servers. They were so professional and efficient. Thanks also to their teacher Melissa Cummings for bringing us together.

Alexandra Beaton , Maeve Gillis , Grace MacDonald , Catherine Beaton , Sarah Wilson , Taylor Aylward

Thanks to John Gillies for his services as MC. As usual he did a great job of welcoming our guests and keeping the evening on track. Thank you to Susan Mallette for help with decoration and RJ Poirier for help with technology.

We give thanks we live in a place where people are eager and willing to give their time to help their brothers and sisters no matter how far away. Thank you all!

Several people asked for the recipes. They are posted below.

Jerry Sprinrolls

 Thai red curry meatballs

Pumpkin curry soup

Thai salad

Pad Thai

Coconut Cream Cake

Today Inverness County Cares (ICC) members John MacInnis, Betty Jane Cameron, Charlotte Rankin and Colleen MacLeod visited the Dalbrae Academy which is located in Mabou, Nova Scotia.

The Dalbrae Academy Students Helping Our World (SHOW) group led by their teacher Melissa Cummings have been strong supporters of the St Charles Lwanga Secondary School for the past 5 years. They have provided the school with new efficient cook stoves, sewing machines, a photocopier and printer as well as money for food. Their 2017 fundraising gift was $1100 toward the purchase of land for a new school in the Homabay area.

This visit to the Dalbrae Academy was to brief the students on the events at the school and to thank the students for their generous support.

Betty Jane Cameron has visited the Lwanga School on two occasions, for one month in 2016, two months in 2017 and she plans to go again in 2018 for 3 months. Today Betty Jane spoke to the Dalbrae students about the lives of the St Charles Lwanga students. She explained how their diet in mainly vegetarian (not by choice) and the main menu staple is corn/maize. They have it for all meals with some beans and no seasonings or flavourings. There is no fruit and cabbage is occasionally on the menu. Life in Kenya is a challenge as food prices are high due to unrest in the country and famine.

The Lwanga students are very grateful for the assistance provided by their friends at Dalbrae Academy and are very aware that the cook stoves came from Dalbrae.

We are so proud of our Dalbrae students and thank their parents, school and community for instilling in them a sense of responsibility toward their sisters and brothers worldwide.

Asante  (Thank you in Swahili)