Dear Friends,

After the December holidays, it is back to work and …yes, back to schools and colleges here in Kenya. It is expected that everyone had a well deserved rest, and ready to face the challenges of the New Year with zest

At Northern Magic Fund, the challenges could not be more expected – what with more tasks and responsibilities to handle as we come of age with every new year .To think of where we are coming from, where we are now and where we are heading, the prospect of experiencing the way of the magic as it unfolds becomes even more exciting and inwardly fulfilling.

Elementary (primary) school students

Vinani, the only elementary school student in a boarding school through the generosity of one of you – Holly Basha – is already back in school.

When Holly saw the recent pictures of Vinani with his family, she thought he looked like he worried about his future – that perhaps that generosity from her could suddenly come to an end. She, therefore, asked me to assure the young boy that she would always be by him through his education. That was wonderfully reassuring to Vinani, even magical in the wildest dreams of the boy.

The final year elementary (primary) school students in grade (standard) eight sat their final exams last year and the results were released in the last week of last December. Quite a good number of these passed and are expected to join high schools from next week. Many of them are in a dilemma and are not sure whether they will ever acquire higher education. Fortunately, they had heard of the Northern Magic Fund and with desperate looks of ‘you could be our saviour’ written on their faces, came to apply for scholarships. We are hoping that with the support of all of you, we will be able to send a reasonable number of them to high schools.

High school students

In my last brief, I mentioned that we sponsored 110 students in high schools. Out of these, 17(not 15 as earlier reported) did their grade 12(form 4) final exams last year and will be looking forward to joining colleges this year. The names of the 17 students are as listed below:

1. Elizabeth Neema Katana - Chumani Secondary School

2. Margaret Ningala Dzombo - Chumani Secondary School

3. Chrispus Katana - Chumani Secondary School

4. Alfred N. Mungoma - Chumani Secondary School

5. Bosco Kasundu - Chumani Secondary School

6. Alfred N. Mlanda - Chumani Secondary School

7. Jimmy Nzenge Makau - Chumani Secondary School

8. Erastus Mwanyamba - Chumani Secondary School

9. Clement Salim Mwinyi - Chumani Secondary School

10. Eutychus Yawa Lewa - Chumani Secondary School

11. Harrison Kazungu - Chumani Secondary School

12. James Kitsao Mlewa - Kilifi Township Secondary School

13. Muhamed Bakari - Kilifi Township Secondary School

14. Charles Kithi - Kilifi Township Secondary School

15. Michael N. Kazungu - Majaoni Secondary School

16. Boniface M. Kioko - Majaoni Secondary School

17. Michael Tsofa Masha - Sokoke Secondary School

Boniface Kitsao, who would have sat his grade 12(form 4) final exams last year, and did not because of non-registration for the exams by the proprietor of the school he was attending, is now in a new public school. I found this school for him. He will have to repeat last year’s class and sit for his final examinations this year.

Meanwhile, the proprietor of the chain of schools that did not register the students for their final exams – Boniface’s school included – is on the run. I have attached herewith for your perusal newspaper stories by our two main dailies here on the 08^th January 2005 about him. From the stories, authorities seem finally to have jumped into some action. We will be waiting to see what becomes of this newfound effort.

Student Scholarship applications

New applicants for scholarships from both high and elementary schools have increased. We have, to date, received about 500 applicants. This is a big increase in comparison with last year’s number of applicants. Part of the reason for this is an increased awareness about Northern Magic’s work, which is spreading pretty fast.

Mtondia Primary School renovation project

The Mtondia Primary School renovation project is still underway and hopefully will be complete by next month, February 2005. I have attached a few pictures of a few stages of the project as up to last week. These pictures will give you an idea of what is going at the school now.

The project has – expectedly - lifted the spirits of the students, parents and teachers of the school and are all looking forward to its completion.

One setback with the progress of the project were the price fluctuations of most building materials in the market. This meant that we had to go back to the drawing board to strategize on a new ‘road map’.

Hamisi, his ‘magic’/necklaces project and Mark Thuva’s salon project

Nothing has dramatically changed from what we reported last year and we will be keeping you posted on any new developments.

As we progress into the New Year, we are all hoping for greater things as we delve deeper into the undiscovered horizons of the ‘Magic’.

Thank you all of you for your great support.

Sincerely,

Andrew Thuva