Kenya Crisis
My warm greetings from Auburn, CA. I have delayed my trip back to Kenya until January 23, 2008 but wanted to give you an update on how HEART is doing in the midst of the crisis.
I know you have been watching the news about Kenya and may have received other e-mails about the situation, but I wanted to send this urgent update. We are also getting some graphic pictures from the Nairobi slums where we have WEEP Centers and other partners. These areas were hard hit, but I will just send a text message right now.
I called our partners in Mathare, the “Community Transformers” (CT) last night and spoke to Nick. The CT Center was broken into the first day of the riots and all their food was stolen. They bought a steel door and have had no other incidents at the center.
One of the youth that CT works with was killed in the riot. A policeman fired a shot into the air and hit an electrical wire which fell and electrocuted this young man. Six of the CT clients have had their homes burned and are without shelter or food. Two of their clients that were on ARV’s died because they were not able to get their drugs. Many do not have food. I asked Nick how we can best help and he said they needed food to distribute and blankets urgently. If you can help, this would be great. The WEEP Centers have been closed because of security; so these women will need help with food, and rent also, because they have not been able to go to the centers to work.
The best way for us to help is to provide funds for those that can easily move about in the slums, and help those that are suffering. The CT and the Center Coordinators are the ones that can best meet the needs of their neighbors. If you want to help you can send a check to the HEART Colorado office at P.O. Box 631964 Highlands Ranch, CO 80163; or call and make a credit card donation at (303) 730-3779; or give through the web site at www.africaheart.com. Designate it for “Kenya Crisis”. I had dinner with a friend last night and she asked me, ”Vickie, do you get tired of trying to raise money?” I said, “yes, but I know people want to help when they can …
There has been peace for two to three days in Mathare, but with the Rallies planned for Wednesday through Friday, things could change; they are asking for prayer. They said that what happens is, the police force the demonstrators off the streets and chase them away, but then they run back to the communities and begin the violence against the poor. So this is an important week in the history of Kenya … please pray with me – especially on Wednesday through Friday.
I will be sending e-mails that I received from the HEART staff soon.
Vickie Winkler
HEART
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