cura

Safari Nights Online Auction Success

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 22:11:50 GMT

Sending thanks to all who supported this experiment!

Cynthia Lennon Scholarship for Girls Awarded to Cura!

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:53:00 GMT

After a year of covid-pause, our girls are back to school and ready to rule! We are grateful beyond words to have been awarded $5,500 in scholarship funds to help ensure that their expenses are paid. For so many girls in Kenya, concerns over school fees interfere with academic success -- so this award not only pays the bills but also frees our girls to concentrate on doing their own best work.

Check out The White Feather Foundation's announcement of the award here!

Safari Nights Auction is Going Live

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 19:40:46 GMT

Please help us make it a success!

We are beyond thrilled to announce that our Safari Nights Auction is LIVE for browsing, and will begin in earnest on 12 March, at 4:30pmPST https://www.burningtorchinc.com/collections/safari-nights-auction

Save This Date!!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 18:09:51 GMT

We're raising funds and HOPE on March 12th and 13th

More information is on its way, but please mark your calendar and plan to jump in to the auction hosted by our wonderful friends at Burning Torch and Henson Studios... there will be rockstar items to bid on and lots of opportunity to help us make 2021 a hopeful and energized year for the kids at Cura. Stay tuned!

Yes, We Can

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 18:33:56 GMT

Our optimistic young entrepreneurs are on fire!

As Kenyan schools re-open and life starts the tentative path back to normalcy, our graduates are cautiously optimistic and boldly creative as they plan for their post-covid futures. Mercy, for example, sent me the above image when I asked after her small business... such joy! such empowerment! such confidence! She's spending her quarantine time creating bags like the one pictured below, and she's going to launch her Instagram site soon to start marketing her wares. Saying we feel proud is a massive understatement.

Kenya is Heading Back to School...

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 00:16:21 GMT

and Cura's kids are eager to get on with it!

The New Year is getting our kids back on track... Above, some of our high school grads gather at JKR to lay the groundwork for their post-secondary studies. Simon is obviously doing his best to hold the attention of his siblings!

Below, Cyrus looks thrilled to be getting fitted for his new uniform... and getting back to his Form 2 coursework.

Given how seriously the virus is still ravaging the rest of the world, it's wonderful to have these glimpses of normalcy in our kids' lives! Thank you to so many of you who have helped us get these young people back to a place where they can scroll through social media and roll their eyes at us.

Looking Forward to 2021

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:19:08 GMT

With our partners at John Kaheni Residence!

Our 2019 high school grads have waited so patiently to see where their futures will lead... and we're helping them take their first steps into dreaming up a post-covid world where they are free (and funded!) to pursue their career aspirations. They met recently with the social workers at John Kaheni Residence to discuss their options, and we're looking forward to seeing what inspiring things they'll do in 2021! Please do help fund their academic pursuits if/as you can at : https://creativevisions.networkforgood.com/projects/16422-creative-visions-fiscal-sponsorship-cura-o...

Grateful

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 22:13:27 GMT

On the last distribution day of the year

Our Cura families send their love and gratitude to all of you who helped make it possible to distribute food and supplies to keep them afloat during these past 7 Shelter-in-Place months. The sun is shining again in Austin's Kitchen Garden, too, and we're looking ahead to better days in 2021. Thank you, all, for your generosity and thoughtfulness!

Our Home Under New Management

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:54:18 GMT

Cura's community leaders will run the facility going forward

As our Cura young people have grown up and into their boarding school positions or their post-secondary enrollments, our Home has emptied of the joyful noises of the 50 watoto who once lived there 24/7. Recognizing that fewer and fewer children would need to call this structure "home" over time, we began the process of managing the underutilization of the facility itself and converting the building to other uses. With covid hastening the placement of our kids into community home stays, the time came to formally turn over the building to new management. We are proud of our Board of Managers in Cura who made this big decision and supported a seamless transition so that our Home can have a new role to play in the village.

Heading into the Holidays

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 17:35:57 GMT

Keeping Families Fed

Our kids and their families are masked up and staying safe... and they've stayed healthy and fed because of YOU. Since May, we've been distributing food and staple items to the 37 households where our young people have been sheltering in place. YOU have helped us reach our goal and keep our promise to make these distributions through 2020! Our last event will happen next week, in preparation for households hunkering down for Christmas, and then we'll turn our attention to plans for the New Year. Thank you for all of your contributions, words of support and good thoughts for these young people and for the whole Cura community!

The Every Kid is Special Project

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 18:08:12 GMT

Launches today, in time for your holiday gift-giving!

Several years ago, Cura was lucky enough to have Sharon Ehrlich visit. She is a whirlwind of goodness, and she worked with our kids to embrace and celebrate their unique and wonderful qualities. Now, some of our Cura lovelies are featured in the book she created to launch her incredible Every Kid is Special Project... the sales of which will not only benefit Cura but will fund future projects to support other kids all over the world. Please consider buying a copy or two!
https://theeverykidisspecialproject.com/?fbclid=IwAR0lJo9k_jmABfUUVCuQqu3V8UVfslbe0ZV_woFiRExE7S5azS...

Back to School??

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:58:52 GMT

That's where Kenya is headed!

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/education/article/2001394123/schools-to-reopen-on-january-4-2021?fbclid=IwAR34xFnNQYf-zWLIB4Lm7vRV912QZUDT6fWDI5QcHWe0zJGg9kw4whe-_oU

October Distribution Day!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 19:38:31 GMT

Six months of life-saving work... and counting.

Since May, we've been making sure 37 local families have what they need to stay home and stay safe... and to comfortably host our Cura kids while they aren't able to attend their schools or come stay at our Home. Last weekend, we completed yet another distribution day, and we are still fundraising to cover distributions for November and December. Schools are tentatively re-opening in Kenya, where the covid curve is more flattened than here in the US, and we hope to return to our more usual programming in 2021. Until then, though, we love knowing we're keeping our extended community afloat, and we love seeing the smiling faces of our family members when they come through for groceries!

October 2020 Donor Letter

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 22:50:05 GMT

Starting to plot the way forward to 2021

Dear Friends,
Back in February, I was in Kenya, preparing for another year of supporting our Cura kids through their studies and young-adulthoods. Little did we know then that, merely a few weeks later, all schools in Kenya -- and children's homes, too -- would be completely shut down while the world waited for Covid-19 to loosen its grip.

We're still waiting... but you can rest assured that I've been working virtually, in very close partnership, with leadership on the ground, and we are very proud of the difficult decisions and creative solutions we've implemented together.

One: We shuttered the Home itself and mandated our social worker to locate homestay situations for all of our kids. 37 local households suddenly became our extended family.

Two: We distributed all of our food and staple supplies to these households, then began a major fundraising push for $2000 per month so that we could distribute life-saving essentials in "kits" every month until the end of 2020.

Three: We continued to cultivate our Garden , using it to supplement the monthly distributions to our 37 local homestay families.

Four: We also shuttered the Clinic, after a major drop-off in community use that made it impossible to stay financially self-sufficient. We committed to using our health care funding to directly cover treatment expenses for any of our kids who needs treatment, regardless of provider.

Five: We worked with a handful of specific donors to offset expenses and provide business-plan support for our most entrepreneurial recent graduates who had already entered the work world but who lost their jobs. We have seeded their leather crafting, tailoring and pig farming businesses, among others!

There has been a lot of uncertainty this year, and perhaps this list strikes you as a litany of loss... but, actually, we are really proud of our mission-focus and our stewardship of donor dollars .

Now that Kenya is phasing in a return to primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities, we have our 2020 funds to draw from to cover expenses and round the corner into 2021.

We are grateful to all of you who have tracked our progress on social media and through this blog, and we hope you'll consider making a generous donation so we can make 2021 a year of opportunity and hope for our Cura community.

I know Giving Tuesday is coming up, and you'll be receiving lots of requests... but Cura won't be participating (for administratively complicated reasons). I would be grateful if you would be willing to make a donation early, and to help me spread the word about our work!

https://creativevisions.networkforgood.com/projects/16422-creative-visions-fiscal-sponsorship-cura-orphanage

With warm regards, and hoping you and yours are safe and healthy,

Hayden

Heading Back to School?

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 19:18:34 GMT

Details are emerging...

We're not quite sure yet what this will mean for our individual Cura students, but back to school buzz is beginning. Class 8 and Form 4 are the first to be notified, since they are affected by standardized national testing. This affects only a handful of our Cura students, but as these plans roll out, we're sure we'll learn more about how Kenya will manage the sequenced return to academic studies. Stay tuned!

Sheltering in September

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:23:21 GMT

Made possible by our partnership with John Kaheni Residence!

In partnership with John Kaheni Residence, we funded yet another month of supplies to our 37 local Cura families. These life-saving items are making it possible for these families to focus on staying healthy and solvent while the virus continues to disrupt all of our lives. It is our intention to continue to support these families at least through the end of 2020, but we can't do it without YOU! Many thanks, in advance, for any help you can lend -- every dollar is accounted for, and makes an enormous impact!

https://creativevisions.networkforgood.com/projects/52925-creative-visions-fiscal-sponsorship-cura-s...

And the Guys are Also Doin' Stuff!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:13:25 GMT

Our handsome young men are finding work as they can...

Wallace and John are two of our grads who are finding work where and when they can. They are safe and housed and fed and cared for... but they're young and able-bodied and eager to work! They want to be self-sufficient and to contribute meaningfully to the world -- just like the rest of us.

Sisters are Doin' it for Themselves

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:14:59 GMT

We help them a little...

Carol (above) and Mercy (below) are getting a little support from generous well-wishers so they can launch their design businesses. Carol is busy developing her business plan and designs for women's clothing, and Mercy is already in production with diaper bags (pictured) and other fashion bags using leather and woven baskets and fabrics. We are so proud of them!

And stay tuned to see what our young men are up to, too!

Cargo Human Care Partners Step In for Cura!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:51:06 GMT

September's Shelter in Place will be funded by these friends

For years now, we have partnered in several ways with the John Kaheni Residence , a project of Lufthansa-funded Cargo Human Care . Now, as we continue to support the 37 Cura families that have taken in our young people, JKR/CHC has stepped in to fund our September distribution later in the month. We are so grateful -- and now we can focus on raising funds for October!

Please donate here if you can: https://creativevisions.networkforgood.com/projects/52925-creative-visions-fiscal-sponsorship-cura-s...

Another Distribution Day!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 17:18:26 GMT

These monthly "kits" are keeping our kids and Cura's families afloat

Regina (above) and Cyrus (below) have been coming back to our Home once a month, with their extended families, to pick up the emergency "kits" that our intrepid Board puts together. Donors in the US are funding the project, but it's the Board members' network of local suppliers and communication with heads of households that allow us to efficiently purchase what is needed in 37 local homes. We are so proud to be doing this life-sustaining work, and so happy to see very real impact of each donor dollar. Many thanks to all of you who are making it happen!

Strike a Pose, Peter!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:58:45 GMT

Swapping selfies across the globe

One of the greatest joys technology brings is the connection we can maintain over time and distance. Some of the Cura kids are in near-constant contact, and others pop up on occasion, just to check in. Usually, we swap candid shots of what we're up to right that minute ... but sometimes things get a little more formal. Looking fit and fresh, Peter!

Joy in the time of Covid

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:32:23 GMT

Our distribution days give our kids emotional sustenance, too!

With your help, we are heading into our next round of distribution of needed supplies and food for the 37 local families that rely on us. We know that our contributions are keeping our extended network of Cura families safe and nourished... but we also notice that the monthly distribution days are becoming moments of needed connection and joy. Our kids are thrilled to see each other -- and they use the distribution day as a time to catch up and take a much-needed mental health break from quarantine. Thank you so much for making this possible!

And for continuing to donate as you can, since we're in this for the long haul!
https://creativevisions.networkforgood.com/projects/52925-creative-visions-fiscal-sponsorship-cura-s-shelter-in-place

Moving Forward, Keeping Busy

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 00:00:53 GMT

Our kids are expressing their creativity and building skills

As the pandemic plods on, the young people at Cura are discovering non-academic avenues for growth. Sophia (above), for example, is learning how to make caps and robes, which allows her to expand her interior design interest into another creative field. We are so proud of the resilience and strength our kids have shown while so much is in chaos for them. Thank you to those of you who continue to support our important work with them!

Meet the Team that Makes it All Happen

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 15:30:32 GMT

Our hard-working Cura Board

This photo was taken in February, before we all knew what Covid had in store for us. The sun was shining, and we were allowed to stand this close to each other! Now, with our kids scattered to community homes and all of us maintaining safe social distancing practices, these group photos are even more precious... and the connection we have to each other and our community has to be expressed in other ways. This intrepid group, for example, continues to look for ways to support the 37 families who house our young people, as well as the graduates of our Home who were working toward their own financial self-sufficiency before going into quarantine. Your dollars make a huge difference, but that impact would be impossible without the labor and wisdom and strategic thinking from this group of Cura's leaders.

Distribution Day #2

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 02:59:46 GMT

YOU made it happen!

Kenya is entering a difficult phase: the lockdown drones on, and the case counts are starting to increase... signaling no end in sight to the covid-related restrictions faced by our kids and so many others. So the fact that we were able to manage a second large distribution day over the weekend is nothing short of AMAZING. We are grateful to all of you who donated so that staples and produce and household items could go to our 37 community families... and so our kids could feel nurtured and cared-for, even while the pandemic takes its toll. THANK YOU!

These are the photos they send of themselves

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:56:21 GMT

Updates from our scattered brood

Just about every day, I check in with at least one of our Cura young people electronically, asking how they are, where they are, and who they're with. They are generous with their updates, and they humor me with photos of themselves doing the things that are keeping them busy while they patiently wait out the lockdown with the rest of us. John Michael, above, sends the most colorful shots, which makes sense, since he's in school for media studies with a focus on photography. Carol likes to show her family and her fashion design... and lets me take a peek into her at-home manicure dates with her cousins. And John is working working working. He's an electrician who we've featured here before and who is in high demand. Life goes on, as we and they adapt to the demands of a global pandemic -- and they want you to know they look GREAT, as usual!

Shout out from -- and to! -- The White Feather Foundation

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 16:31:21 GMT

We are proud to be partners in good work across the globe

Several years ago, Cura Orphanage was the recipient of a grant to cover school fees for some of our girls, through the Cynthia Lennon Scholarship for Girls . This week, The White Feather Foundation has featured us again , helping get our Shelter in Place campaign to a broader audience. The Foundation does incredible work for causes all over the world, and we are thrilled to call them partners and friends!

Let's Do it Again!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:40:06 GMT

A second month of keeping 37 households healthy and fed

In June, generous donors made it possible for us to provide 37 households with a "kit" of grocery staples and household items to help feed the families who are housing our Cura young people. Now that it's July, we know that the need remains, and we anticipate needing to provide kits for August and September, too. In fact, since the Kenya government has officially confirmed that schools (and children's homes!) will not reopen this year , we may need to distribute necessities through the balance of the year. Our dedicated team in Cura is managing the purchasing, communication and distribution, so we just need YOU to help keep the project funded. Thank you, in advance, for donating what you can!
https://creativevisions.networkforgood.com/projects/52925-creative-visions-fiscal-sponsorship-cura-s-shelter-in-place

Entrepreneurial Spirit

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:29:35 GMT

Our Cura kids are keeping busy

Simon's apprenticeship is on hold, and the final stretch of his course and his exams are indefinitely postponed... all due to Covid-19, of course. But he's finding work where he can, and we're grateful to our friends at John Kaheni Residence who have hired him to construct furniture for their offices! We're thrilled to see our young people using their skills to keep themselves busy and to earn their own money. Accomplishments like this help keep their mental health strong and their prospects bright.

Very Happy Families!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:31:33 GMT

Distributing Food and Necessities to our Cura Community

Thanks to generous donors, we were able to distribute a month's worth of food staples and necessities to the 37 households that have taken our kids in during covid's shelter-in-place. Each family received things like rice and corn meal and milk and sugar and beans, as well as sanitary napkins and soap. They were also each able to harvest fresh spinach and kale from our Austin's Kitchen Garden, which has been bountiful during the rainy season. We are so grateful, not only for the donors who made the purchases possible, but also for the team in Cura who did the purchasing and distribution, as well as the communication so that everyone knew how to pick up their supplies in a safe and healthy way. Please see our Facebook page for more pictures of the happy day... The project was such a success that we're looking forward to doing it again in July!

Sheltering in Place with Fun Uncles

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 20:13:43 GMT

Our young men are helping their families with childcare

These young men have put their adult lives on hold while we all wait out the covid-related restrictions, but they are using the time to get a little silly with the youngest members of their extended families. Simon was about to complete his woodworking certification when he was forced to move back home with his sister, and Geoffrey was in his first year of university when classes and dorms were shut down. The lucky ones in all this are their nieces and nephews, who now get to spend quality time with their creative, smart, hilarious uncles! We are so proud of the way our Cura young people are becoming blessings to their extended families, providing childcare and household labor, along with being just plain fun to be around.

We've Got June Covered

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 21:46:19 GMT

Thanks to our team on the ground at Cura... and generous donors, of course!

Generous well-wishers answered our call by donating through this link and by sending checks directly... and the incredible team pictured above is busy putting our distribution plan into action! The 37 households that have taken in our kids during the time of covid will each receive a bundle of food staples and other necessities that will keep their household budgets afloat while they're managing additional mouths to feed. Our Board members are doing the shopping and packaging, and they'll put out the word to turn our Home into a distribution center. Watch for photos, since we know distribution day will be a celebration! Let's do it all again in July, people!

Network of Care

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 22:47:05 GMT

John Kaheni Residence Steps Up -- Again! -- for Cura

I've mentioned before that our young people have disbursed to the homes of their extended family members during the covid crises, and that's mostly true. But some of our young people truly have no family to turn to. That is the case for Roselyn, and her situation might have been dire... had it not been for the coalition we've built with a transitional home called the John Kaheni Residence . Others of our young people have stayed there while completing their post-secondary courses of study, but they, too, have been sent out to their extended families during the school closures. For Roselyn and a handful of other particularly vulnerable young adults, however, the residence remains a safe, welcoming place where the needs of their hearts, minds and bodies can be met. We were so grateful to the team at JKR when we moved Roselyn in earlier this week!

We Need You

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 28 May 2020 21:12:13 GMT

A Simple Request at a Complicated Time

Dear Friends of Cura,

We need your help to ensure our young people and their families don't go hungry. Are you able to contribute to our emergency food relief fund ?

Since the covid-crisis began, we have made enormous changes to our budget and have been strategic about how to house and care for our kids as they were sent away from their schools. The Kenyan government rightly insisted that group homes like ours find a way to disburse our young people safely, out to shelter in place in the homes of their extended families. The thing is, these are exactly the families who could not afford to raise them 16 years ago, and most of them are still in no position to take in additional mouths to feed.

Back in March, we had a plan for this: we distributed the stores of purchased and donated food out to each of the homes, so that feeding our young people wouldn't become a burden, and, in fact, having them would mean more food on the table for everyone. But now it's May. And June is looming.

For the 37 households in our extended Cura family, a $50 sponsorship will relieve an enormous burden; that amount would buy staples like maize meal, beans, milk, flour, sugar, and rice, as well as hygiene items like soap and sanitary products.

We know there are so many in need during this challenging times, and perhaps your charitable giving is directed closer to home. We are grateful for any effort you're making to alleviate pandemic-induced trauma at any level. And if you can help us now, we'd be so grateful.

Farming at Home

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 21 May 2020 19:16:30 GMT

Cura kids helping their families until they go back to school

Up until the covid crisis hit, Edward was enrolled in his course at Masai Technical Training Institute and living on campus in Kajiado. He was on track to complete his studies next year, but his future is as uncertain as that of all of his peers these days. He has moved back to his grandparents' home and helps earn his keep by working on their plot of land. Kenya's population still heavily relies on subsistence farming, so these are also good skills for him to sharpen. That it helps keep food on the table is, of course, the crucial result of his labor. We are so proud of Edward, and out other young people, for continuing to contribute to their extended communities as we all shelter in place!

Electricians are Essential

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:56:53 GMT

John chose a field that keeps him working!

Schools may be closed, and some apprenticeship programs may be on hold, but our John has work as an electrician! His attachment (internship) period can progress during the covid crisis, since he's training to be an electrician. He sent us this selfie from his job, installing electrical power to a building last week. We are so proud of his tenacity as he works toward full certification in his chosen profession, as well as his commitment to CDC recommendations about social distancing and face masks!

Mentally Healthy and Physically Fit!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 06 May 2020 21:20:39 GMT

Working out while they shelter in place

This week, when we asked Cura kids how they were passing their quarantine time, there were the usual suspects: watching movies, listening to music, scrolling through social media when internet access was plentiful... But more of them are also finding healthy ways to stay fit and moving, too! Alex sent the above selfie from his walk, and said he's been kicking the football around with a neighbor, at a safe social distance, of course. Geoffrey is home from university, and he created his own weightlifting set (below) for his daily workouts. These diversions are good for their bodies and their minds, and we're grateful that they are thriving, even in the midst of confusing times.

Our Cura Board is Leading in Difficult Times

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:41:27 GMT

Making Strategic Staffing Changes

It is with love and gratitude for 15 years of dedicated service that the Cura Board made the painful decision last week to shutter our Home for now and send two of our mothers into retirement a year earlier than scheduled. As you might imagine, this decision was not made lightly. Like many leaders across the world, our Board has had to adapt to radically altered financial projections, so that our central mission of ensuring a bright future for our 50 young people can survive Covid-19. Our Cura "kids" are mostly young adults now, and we continue to closely monitor their well-being while they are sheltering in place with their extended families. Saying goodbye and thank you to our wonderful housemothers is challenging, even when we know they live nearby and will stay in our lives. But, in Cura, we can do hard things with compassion and wisdom.

Waiting it out at home

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:19:01 GMT

Social media keeps our kids connected

Here's Maureen, sending a selfie via Facebook Messenger, just to stay connected while staying with her family in Nairobi. She's home from school and sheltering in place like the rest of us, getting fresh air when she can and sending cheerful messages to make sure we're all doing okay. All over the world, people are using their data plans and devices to fend off feelings of loneliness, and our Cura kids are no exception. WhatsApp is blowing up! We are grateful to be able to feel close, even when we feel so unsettled about when we'll be together IRL again.

Economic Stimulus?

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 18:05:06 GMT

No such luck for Cura

As many in the US and around the world participate in a variety of economic stimulus plans, at Cura we do not have that luxury. Our young people have been dispatched to the households of their extended families, many of whom are already in financially precarious positions. We are doing what we can to pivot our budget to focus on providing safe, healthy environments for our kids and their guardians, using funds that were previously allocated for the Home operations and salaried employees. It is an extremely difficult time for the whole Cura community, and we appreciate any financial support you can offer. We wish you good health, as we all weather this unprecedented time.

We're doing okay.

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:34:33 GMT

But our plans are definitely on hold.

These bright, hopeful, accomplished young people just finished high school and are poised to conquer the challenges they have set for themselves in their adulthood. Like their peers everywhere, though, their next steps are currently uncertain, as they await the resolution of the crisis COVID-19 has introduced into their lives. All of them are safely housed with their extended families, and we are revising our annual planning to ensure that not only they, but all of the young people under our care, will stay safe and healthy at home, where their exposure risk is lower. The time will come again for them to take on the world, and we want to be sure we're here to help them do it!

Preparing for what comes next

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:38:53 GMT

Cura grads getting tech-ready

We don't know what the world will look like when this virus threat passes, but we want our Cura grads to be ready. One way they are preparing is to have just each completed a course in computer literacy! They started the course in January and finished just before Kenya's curfew orders were announced... and we're so proud of them! Just as schools all over the globe were going online, these grads joined their peers in computer readiness and literacy. When Kenya opens for business -- and for school -- again, they'll be ready.

Coronavirus in Kenya

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:20:46 GMT

Cura's kids are sent home

As with most of the world, Kenya is instituting stringent measures to ensure social distancing and self-isolation, in an attempt to contain the exposure of its citizens to the novel coronavirus. This means that Cura's young people, along with all of their peers, have been sent home from their schools and residences for the near future. This means they are not even together at our Home... they are with extended family and other guardians, in their private residences. We continue to be concerned for their well-being and monitor their health, but it is an anxious time for all of us. Health is our number one priority, of course, but we also wonder what the long-term effects will be on their programs of study and preparations for independence. Thank you for continuing to keep our kids in your thoughts!

International Woman to Watch

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:17:31 GMT

Charity helps guide young women (and men!) toward the future

Each day last week, in honor of International Women's Day, our Facebook page featured one young woman and her dreams. This week, while the world reels from the effects of COVID-19, our dreams are more important than ever... keeping our hands washed but still reaching for the stars! One woman who helps our girls (and our young men, too) build a strategy to make dreams come true is our Home Manager, Madam Charity. She holds our kids accountable, while giving them tools and moral support and suggestions for helping them ensure their futures remain bright. She's a gem!

Rotary Grants getting 2020's fundraising started!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:33:01 GMT

Many thanks to the Rotary Clubs of Everett Port Gardner and Mercer Island, WA!

Our 2020 fundraising got off to a generous start with grants awarded from the International Committees of two Seattle-area Rotary Clubs. The grant funds have already been allocated, both to support the educational goals of our Cura students pursuing post-secondary programs. Each grant is enough to cover the lodging, school and materials fees, transport and spending money for one of our graduates! On behalf of the young people in our care, we are deeply grateful to these generous Rotarians who recognize that education is the key to a successful and independent future for these kids who began their lives in such vulnerable circumstances.

Books and Games

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:35:56 GMT

We love getting donations of materials for our school kids!

Here, ACK Cura's new vicar, Reverend Washington, flips through new workbooks, donated by a well-wisher in Nairobi. Though Nurse Margaret, behind him, doesn't look it in this photo, she is happy, too... since the workbooks are health related: good, age-appropriate education regarding prevention of HIV transmission and other personal hygiene topics. These are so helpful for working with our Cura school children! The boxes these workbooks came in also contained books just for fun -- which will go to our community library -- and even some games that will be used and deeply appreciated by the students in Cura Primary's Special Needs class. Many thanks to those of you who keep us in your circle of giving!

Now Showing: Mercy on Citizen TV!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 04:50:23 GMT

Highlighting vocational programming for Kenya's youth

This week, on Kenyan television channel CitizenTV , our Mercy was featured as one of several young people who have pursued vocational training after high school. Here, she's demonstrating her tailoring and construction skills, gained in her fashion design program. She will complete her final exam in March, but she is already employed by a local leather workshop and is making beautiful products like backpacks, belts, wallets and more! We are thrilled for Mercy, and happy that CitizenTV is featuring young people who are pursuing not only college degrees, but also skills training that facilitate entrepreneurial paths to self-sufficiency and employment.

A loving send off

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:49:38 GMT

Our Cura Family gathered to celebrate Hannah's retirement

The youthful woman in the center of the photo has actually achieved retirement age. We are as shocked as you are! Hannah has helped raise our Cura kids since the beginning, working as one of the housemothers and eventually being promoted to additional authority within the Home staff. She is generous with her laughter, with extra chapatis, with hugs and with the occasional extra few shillings to help a boarding student buy something to remind her or him of home. Her patient husband is eyeballing her retirement check here for comic effect -- but mostly he's happy to be getting more time with his wife. We wish them both lots of love and luck in this next chapter of their lives!

Post-Post-Secondary

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 16:29:36 GMT

Kelvin Joins the Board

Kelvin got through high school, completed his cosmetology certificate, wowed the staff of the Tribe Spa during his internship, and got a full time job there once his internship was through. He's continuing his streak of leadership and responsibility by joining the Cura Board of Governors, in a Student Representative role. He's the one who our young people can contact in order to make their concerns known, and he's the one who reports back to them regarding relevant issues under Board discussion. It's a fantastic learning experience for him, and a joy for us to watch. He's grown and flown the nest, but we're lucky to have him around in this capacity!

Home on the Weekends

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 23:02:39 GMT

aka Siblings with a Selfie Stick

Like siblings everywhere, our kids relish the weekends when they can get out of their school uniforms and relax together. This group of 7 contains 1 primary school student, 1 high school student, 1 recent high school graduate, 1 university student, and 3 students in trade or technical programs. We're so proud of them! Simon's not the oldest here, but he's the tallest, so he usually commands the selfie stick, no matter who's in the photo.

2020 Outlook

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:10:52 GMT

We're eager to see what the new year holds!

In December, we had a Board meeting in a room with this view. The damage to the window was disappointment, but the unmediated view of the vivid flowers and the insistent gusts of fresh air provided a welcome reminder of how much we have to be thankful for. In 2020, we'll face financial challenges larger than just the replacement of window panes , as we send 10 new high school graduates on to their post-secondary academic and professional pursuits, while continuing to provide for 26 other students in their ongoing courses of study. The expenses pile up... but the kids make us proud and make us laugh every day!

Cura Loves Visitors!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 16:29:48 GMT

Fun in the sun with guests from the US!

Cura's kids study a lot -- their school days are long, and there are many academic demands. So when visitors come, we PLAY!

Solar for Cura

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:05:19 GMT

Thanks to Good Sun!

Thanks to the generosity and expertise of some recent visitors, Cura now has a small solar charging system for emergency lighting and USB devices. The equipment was donated and installed by representatives from Good Sun Solar in the US.

International Women's Day?

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 22:51:12 GMT

Cura's got a lot to celebrate!

We could not be more proud of all of our kids... but today we celebrate our young women, especially.
They are strong and beautiful and fearless and wise and joy.
They are studying hard, leading their peers, learning new skills and launching their lives and careers.
And, like young women everywhere, they are also much, much more.
Today we celebrate all of them!

A Garden in Honor of Austin

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 18:47:04 GMT

An anniversary and a new milestone

In 2015, Dianne Gray worked with us to honor her son, Austin, with the creation of a kitchen garden for Cura. Three years later, and on the 13th anniversary of Austin's death, our Garden has reached a new milestone: it's fenced! Thanks to well-wishers who knew Austin, know Dianne, or just love the idea of our kids having fresh, healthy produce right next door, we got to enclose our plot this week, keeping it safe from theft and from grazing. There is still more to do -- we're dreaming of a greenhouse for seedlings and starts -- but for now we're just grateful for this big step!

Coins turn into Shoes!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:42:01 GMT

Cura Primary School's Special Needs Class Gets a Gift from Tacoma, WA

The 14 students in Cura Primary School's Special Class got new sports shoes today, as a result of a generous and very specific donation from Zeque in Tacoma, Washington.

He designated the donation from his coin jar -- a surprisingly substantial total collection! -- to benefit the kids under Mrs. Hinga's instruction and attention.

Diagnosed with autism and Down's Syndrome, they are fantastic kids who play sports and create art and learn in a healthy environment that just got a little more fun. Thank you, Zeque!

Donated items are on their way to Cura

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 22:00:07 GMT

Thanks to a young volunteer in Texas!

A young woman in Texas contacted me several months ago, asking if there was anything SHE could do to help support the work we're doing in Cura. We talked about the need for school and medical supplies... and she got to work! This week her boxes are arriving, and I'm packing them to bring along when I depart on Saturday. Many thanks, Sierra, for your generosity and energy!

Every Kid Is Special... and Inspired and Fierce!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 16:53:09 GMT

#TheEveryKidIsSpecialProject

Our visitor, Sharon, is coordinating #TheEveryKidIsSpecialProject -- lots of exciting activities with all of our kids that will result in a book (watch for it!) that features their individual personalities and experiences. Here's Sharon's mid-visit report:

We are quite the creative force. We start each day doing a little laughter meditation, some Xi gong exercises, dancing, sharing, self-esteem building, hanging, eating snacks all to loosen up and get into the creative process. This weekend we had a huge photography production for the book that we will wind down in the next few days. Everyone is engaged, collaborative and learning a lot. We do hair and make-up, wardrobe, art department, lighting, the whole nine!

We are thrilled to have Sharon on our Cura Team!

Field Trip!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:54:55 GMT

Zip lines and paint ball to start the year with a bang!

Thanks to Eric and Molly Mungai, the son and daughter-in-law of Founder Mrs. Evelyn Mungai, our kids got a grand adventure to launch 2018! The surge of adrenaline should keep them energized as they head back to school... at least that's what we're telling ourselves.
Many thanks, Eric and Molly, for your generous and playful gift!

New Year Reunion

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:31:27 GMT

Yassi came for a visit!

In the fall of 2016, our devoted Yassi launched her fundraising campaign, Upendo Means Love , on behalf of Cura... and it was funds raised then that purchased needed new beds and bedding, as well as other items for our Home. Today, Yassi got to see the impact of those funds for herself, during her reunion with the kids who are returning from holiday to get ready for their new school year.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Yassi's campaign --
and thanks, especially, to Yassi and Mark Somen for their love and care for this Cura family of ours.

Safari Nights Photo Album

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 01:31:04 GMT

We're still all a-glow!

We're still celebrating the success of our Safari Nights fund-raising event -- our best one yet!

The crowd's generosity was rewarded with incredible performances by incredible musicians: Joe Sumner , The Goods , Terrace Martin and Greg Kurstin , not to mention Wendy and Lisa and The Revolution ! Prince and Princess fans (like me!) were also thrilled by our surprise guest, Maya Rudolph , who jumped up on stage for a song!

Jon Turteltaub introduced our rockstar emcee, Tom Morello , who lent his considerable charm to the cause, and Creative Visions Foundation luminary Kathy Eldon kept us inspired. We have our talented, smart and well-connected hostesses -- Faryal Ganjehei, Lucy Woodward, Amy Eldon Turteltaub, Kate Sumner and Wendy Selwyn -- to thank for the success of the night, too... I only wish there was room here for more photos of the beautiful people who helped make this event happen.

Henson Studios and the staff, volunteers, sponsors and vendors -- who made all the work invisible so the guests could rock out -- did a lot of heavy lifting, and we're deeply grateful. Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who lent you time, talent and treasure to help make sure Cura's kids get everything they need in 2018! Stay tuned (so musical!) for updates after the first of the year, when we'll report on the real impact your contributions have made in their lives.
Cheers!
Hayden

Giving Tuesday's Donations in Action

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 07:50:59 GMT

Bedrooms are being refurbished before the kids come home!

Everyone is joining in to get the place spruced up before the new school year begins in January...
and we're grateful to all of the generous donors who made it happen!
Everything looks and feels better with a fresh coat of paint,
and we think the kids will get a burst of energy for 2018 when they see what YOU have done for them.
Thank you!

#GivingTuesday

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 16:14:59 GMT

Make a Big Impact for Cura's Kids!

It's Giving Tuesday ,
and I'm on a one-day mission to fund a project to refresh the kids' bedrooms while they're away on their school holiday.

We already funded new mattresses and bedding, and now we only need $2,000 to repaint the whole interior of our Home. If we raise more, we'll do new curtains, too. I know our kids would love this treat to come home to!

Donations in any amount go a long way ...

and this season, we are thankful for YOU .

Get your tickets for Safari Nights!

hayden4cura@gmail.com (Hayden Bixby) — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 16:15:12 GMT

Henson Studios -- December 2nd, 2017

Click here to buy your ticket to our 5th Safari Nights event -- with a line up like this, you won't forgive yourself if you miss it!

There will be a food truck and beverages when the doors open, so arrive early enough to nibble while you shop our Nairobi Marketplace. Your ticket purchase and anything else you spend during the evening will benefit the kids of Cura Orphanage .

Last year's event was a huge success, and funds raised resulted in sending:

--7 kids to primary school, paying for tuition, uniforms, books, testing fees & hot lunches for the entire year!

--17 teenagers to the best boarding schools into which their test scores earned them placement, covering tuition, uniforms, books, incidentals, tutoring and transportation costs, and room and board for the entire year!

--17 other high school-ers to our very own Cura Secondary School, right next door to our Home... covering their tuition, uniforms, books, tutoring costs, and hot lunches for the entire year!

--2 of our recent graduates to local post-secondary certificate programs (both Carol and Stephen will be the first people in their entire extend families to do so!).

--the remaining 3 of our recent graduates to a leadership program, providing transportation and enrollment costs for them to work directly with social workers and mentors who help them assess their skills and connect them to nearby programs and employers.

Let's do it again -- but even bigger -- this year!

Your support means the world to these kids, and we're looking forward to seeing you at the party that gives back in such a big way.