LATEST NEWS

New Clinic for people suffering with jiggers

People in Bodo suffer terribly from small worms which live in the wet sand and which burrow into their skin. The children are worst effected and it's not uncommon for children to have the parasites all over their body. The worms cause great discomfort and particularly at night when the children are in bed. If left they can cause significant health problems. Although some chemical solutions can remove jiggers they usually have to be removed with a blade .

This is very distressing for children. The Funzi and Bodo Trust has started regular clinics staffed by trained professionals who remove the jiggers as painlessly and as safely as possible. The charity is also helping the many children who have ring worm . Only by offering this regular care and attention can there be any hope of keeping the  jiggers under control and the children healthy. The most recent clinic left seasoned health professionals shocked by the suffering of the children. They have now volunteered their time free of charge to treat the most badly effected on a weekly basis.

Remote Community Connected to the World

Villagers in Funzi and Bodo might suffer from isolation but they are fast connecting to the rest of the world thanks to a fantastic new computer centre built by the Trust. In a world where books are scarce children and adults are discovering sources of education, entertainment and news normally denied them. What’s more there’ll be a trainer on hand to teach them how to get the most out of the 21 computers connected to the internet. The Trust hopes that the cycle of poverty experienced by generations of people can be broken too. With new skills people can get jobs and bring money back into the village.

Birthing Rooms Next

The Funzi and Bodo Trust is to build two birthing rooms in a bid to save lives of mothers and their children. Many women have their babies at home onto mud floors. There is a real risk of potentially fatal infection to both mother and child. The birthing rooms will provide a safe, clean environment where women can go when they go into labour. It will be stocked with all the equipment needed for a safe delivery with separate rooms for washing, delivery and recovery. The scheme will include the training of local women to act as midwives.

Local Kenyan business supports the Funzi and Bodo Trust 

A Kenyan business based in the heart of the village of Bodo is to support the work of the Funzi and Bodo Trust. The Funzi Kinazini Dhow company operates traditional Arab sailing ships and takes tourists to see the amazing sea and birdlife in the area around Funzi island. You can read more about them at: http://www.funzi-dhow-safari.com/

The owner of the company Henry Leuth said " We are really impressed by the work of the Funzi and Bodo Trust and we share their concerns for the people who live in the villages of Bodo and Funzi. Their track record in education and health is something we would like to help them continue and extend. Many of the tourists who visit this beautiful place want to know how they can help. This is probabaly the best way they can and we shall be encouraging them to get involved. "

The company will also be working with the Funzi and Bodo Trust to identify projects we can work on together to improve the lives of the villagers, Discussions are already underway.

Biggest Challenge For Supporters

Despite remarkable achievements in just four years the Funzi and Bodo trust still doesn’t have enough regular monthly donors to sustain the work of its clinics. Each month it falls short by several hundred pounds. This means the gap has to be filled by endless fundraising. The trust desperately needs more people to step forward and agree to give a small monthly amount.. Together they could transform the future and save lives of people in greatest need. So please consider signing up here today….

Sharka’s Cancer Challenge

At eight years old Sharka is living with skin cancer . She was in a lot of pain and was not receiving any treatment when she was brought to the Trust.. Since then she has undergone operations to remove tumours from her mouth and she can now eat and speak normally again. Further treatment to her eyes has improved her vision and by providing new cotton clothing she doesn’t suffer from constant irritation. Sharka will now be provided with long term care and is enjoying a full family life. The trust continues to take her to monthly hospital surgeries and funds all her medicine and treatment. .
 

Ripon Grammar School (RGS) Raising Money for The Funzi and Bodo Trust

Ashley Peatfield was invited to speak about the trust at the school on 16 March. Following the special assembly, the Lower School, Years 1 and 2 at RGS, have embarked on projects to raise funds for the Trust over the coming weeks. 8 forms are competing against each other to raise the largest amount over the coming weeks, with each form planning fund raising strategies. Pupils have also been encouraged to keep 'loose change' jars at home to add to the funds.

We are looking forward to seeing how the forms get on over the coming weeks and will publicise the results here! The total raised was just over £800! A fantastic effort!! Visit the Ripon Grammar School website

Ripley St. Thomas School

A school in Lancaster has adopted the Funzi and Bodo Trust as its chosen charity. From now on fourty per cent of everything it raises for charity will be given to the Trust! The Ripley St.Thomas Church of England School heard about the charity's work from their chaplain Suzanne Irvine. She visited the island and wanted to do whatever she could to help children being supported by the Funzi and Bodo Trust.

Suzanne told her headteacher Liz Nicholls and they discussed the idea with the pupils. The school council voted for the move and Ripley St.Thomas has already made significant donations making extra work possible on the island.

A number of pupils have made individual donations on top of the work done by the school. Giving up fizzy drinks to raise money or donating to the charity from their Christmas money have been two examples. The Chairman of the Trust, Ashley Peatfield, spent a day leading assemblies and meeting pupils at the school.Visit the Ripley St Thomas website

New Funzi film - Rebuilding Bodo School & Disaster at Sea

Funzi and Bodo Trust Update from Evolution Networking on Vimeo.

10 June 2010

We have received news of a third death from cholera. This time a young woman of just 19 years who had a baby of just over a year old. She had been suffering from another illness and although recovered was weak. When she got cholera she was unable to survive the illness. It's a cause of great sadness for everyone. There has also been an outbreak of dysentry reported with 8 people already sick.

"A second death from cholera, reported at the weekend has shocked everyone in Bodo village. We continue to provide extra medicines, additional nursing and have supplied extra beds for those who are sick to sleep on. The trust continues to provide additional funding, medical staff and funding to support local people through this crisis. Please help us to continue this suport by donating any amount of cash you can spare."

Spirits were lifted when three children who were admitted to the clinic with cholera last week began to show good signs of recovery."

We are very sad to report the first death from cholera on Funzi in the recent outbreak. The case is doubly tragic as it's the father of baby Idris who has died. Idris is the child born with his feet facing the wrong way and the Funzi and Bodo Trust been supporting the family through a series of complex medical procedures . In March the trust bought the family a baby walker at the request of doctors to help strengthen the child's muscles and aid his ability to walk.

Idris' father was a quiet but strong advocate for his son and for a very poor family like this, his death will be even more devastating, with serious implications for the family's future, an issue the Trust must now address. At the same time more and more people are coming to the clinics with serious health conditions which suggests the spread of the cholera is on the march.

The Trust is responding by employing a second nurse for the duration of the outbreak, so that both villages have a full time medical expert on hand twenty four hours a day. We are also providing additional help so that the ambulance can reach sick people and take them to hospital .

The Funzi and Bodo Trust is also working closely with the Government health officials and undertaking health education and distributing water purification tablets.

The recent deaths of up to 16 children in a neraby village has made urgent action necessary. All of this requires additional and unexpected financial demands on the Funzi and Bodo Trust. Trust Chairman, Ashley Peatfield , said "We will respond with even more determination in these challenging circumstances. We will do whatever is necessary to raise the funds to provide or pay for services that can save lives. The villagers on Funzi are shocked by the recent death and we are too- we knew the family very well and care for them and all the others at risk. We are appealing to people to respond wherever possible by donating to us a single amount or even more importantly becoming regular monthly donors -no matter how small- so that we are in a position to respond whenever these crisis present themselves.

If you would like to support the Trust financially, please contact us.