The boys have completed their 1st year in Vocational Training in Mulango Youth Polytechnic having had a very successful year both in skills training and personal development.  All thee have obtained excellent school reports achieving high credits and it is their desire to increase this to distinction by the end of this year 2018, when they will take their final exams with the Kenyan IndustrialTraining Authority.
The parents of the boys are so appreciative of the assistance give to their sons and are totally amazed with the changes and development they see when the boys are on holidays with them at home.  The parents also report that the boy’s personal development in areas of confidence, self-esteem, responsibility, openness and willingness to assist in the community during holiday time is so apparent and wonderful.  During the holidays since November the boys have been continuing with their Life Skills training and have also been trained in mentorship skills to assist with the new children that have been withdrawn from child labour during 2017 and who will be attending Mulango Y.P.  this year.


Let us wish all the children the very best with their studies and new life during 2018.

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STEEL CRUISERS FUNDRAISER   28TH OCTOBER, 2017
What a wonderful day the 28th October, 2017 turned out to be.  From 2.30 p.m. riders on their motor bikes began to converge in the Square, Claremorris for the poker run organized by The Steel Cruisers to raise funds assisting Protect with their work in withdrawing children from child labour in Kitui, Kenya.  There was a wonderful atmosphere during the registrations in Warde’s pub and the 110km run began at 4.00p.m. Forty one bikers took part and everyone reported that it was a really good and enjoyable run and were delighted to contribute towards our work in Kitui.   Of course the fun did not end there ----the Steel Cruisers had organized a Rocknight  in Warde’s pub and what a brilliant night it turned out to be, the craic was mighty.
Funds raised amounted to €1,831.51 through the bikers registration fee, raffle tickets sold at Super Value and during the Rocknight, and a bucket collection in the town.
On behalf of Protect the Children of the World,  I want to express our heartfelt thanks to everybody involved in the fundraiser: Ollie Agnew, Eoin O’Donnell, Debroah Fox and Christie Morris of the Steel Cruisers who organized the event and entertainment; all the bikers; Warde’s Pub who provided the venue for registration and entertainment;  the business people of the town and private individuals who provided spot prizes for the raffle and  pupils from St. Colman’s College who assisted with the bucket collection.  Without this assistance, the fundraiser would not have the degree of success it achieved.
The money generated will be used efficiently and effectively in areas of withdrawing children from child labour, providing them with skills development, and enabling them towards a life of dignity and self sufficiency.
I would also like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” on behalf of the children you are assisting and with whom I work, for many months of the year.  They are so appreciative of assistance given to them and always ask that I pass this message on to all the people who support them. 

Watch the video made by Cathal Concannon at quik.gopro.com/v/i2oydcwi36/

A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE RESCUE AND HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
In January 2017 PROTECT THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD rescued three young boys from child labour because the parents could not afford to send them to secondary school or skills development training.  They were doing casual work minding livestock, cultivating, burning charcoal, breaking stones for sale and earning little or no money for this.
The boys come from the area of Kyanhunga about 20kms from the town of Kitui.  They are aged between 16 and 17 years of age.
All three boys have their primary certificates and their school reports are excellent. They are now doing Vocational Training in Mulango Youth Polytechnic as residential students.  The areas of studies are Carpentry, Welding and Electronics.  It is a two year course with each boy sitting for the Kenyan Industrial Trade Certification on completion of the course.
The cost of educating each boy is approx €450 per year.  The first term is the most expensive as bedding materials, school uniforms, books and class materials must be provided.
Monitoring and Evaluation takes place on a weekly basis through phone calls and school visits.
Over the past three years five children were rescued and educated as mechanics and one girl is a beautician and hairdresser.  All of them are now self-sufficient and leading dignified lives.  They also act as mentors for our recent rescued boys.

Two orphaned families are being assisted with food, clothes, household items, school fees and school expenses.
One family is made up of two young girls who are mothers, having one child each, and there are two boys still going to school.  One boy is in final year of secondary school and the other is in final year of primary school.
The oldest boy attends a day school but has to walk a very long distance to get there which takes him approx two hours.  We wish to buy him a bicycle to make life easier for him. This will cost €80 which we have not budgeted for and would really love if someone could sponsor the bike. The school he attended previously was closed and he was relocated to his present school and it is the closest one to his home.
The girls in this family are earning some money selling sand and delivering water but it is not sufficient for their survival so we continue to support them until they become self-sufficient.
For the boy in primary school we plan to send him to Vocational Training which will cost approx €450 per year.  His training will commence in January 2018.
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The other family is made up of a very old Grandmother who is now being cared for by her daughter, with our support, and a young boy who suffers from a life long illness which is under control.  He is in a residential primary school having three more years to complete.  He has improved medically, socially and educationally since attending school.  The school expenses amount to approx €375 and because of the vulnerability of the family situation he is cared for by a community facilitator during holiday time and given the opportunity to visit his grandmother.  The cost of holiday care is approx €240 per year.
We also support the grandmother with food every month and pay a small amount to her daughter for caring for her.  This amounts to €50 per month.
From the photos you can see that the grandmother’s house is being repaired because the owner of the house where they are now staying is returning and needs possession of his home. If anyone can contribute to the repair of the grandmother’s house it would be much appreciated.  €100 would go a long way in making it comfortable.
It’s lovely to see the crops growing in the shamba (garden) and let’s hope that the rains will come and that there will be food to harvest for them.