News archive

Doublejoy Fundraising Concert: Haydn & Mozart

Saturday 9th January, 7.30pm, at Lancaster Priory.
Tickets on door £7.00/£6.00

• Haydn String Quartet Op. 77 No.1 in G Major
• Mozart Gran Partita in B flat K361 - a rarely performed cracker

Email from Steve Conyang, 29 July 2008

Dear Chrissie,

I hope you are fine. Everything is fine here at least for now. We have had a very bad time in the month of July with some of our children sick with typhoid because of the water scarcity. It has been out of God's grace that the situation did not turn otherwise. We had to go for water in West Uyoma in our van but it was too much for the vehicle. We got two slight rainfalls which eased off our situation a little bit. Our new DC promised to help us sort out the water problem but up to now we haven't got any very positive sign of us getting it very soon.

I wanted you to know that i am starting my annual leave from 1.8. up to September.

I also wanted to let you know that your friend Florence Oyola died in the night of 28.7 and the funeral arrangements are underway even though the situation in her home is reportedly very desperate for even a coffin.

Pass our warm greetings to all our friends. Thanks and God bless you.

From Steven.

News from Kenya

29 February 2008

Dear All,

Yesterday a power sharing deal was agreed between the 2 Kenyan leaders Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, as a result of the mediation work of Kofi Annan and his team.

This feels like a huge relief and will hopefully mark the end to the large scale violence in Kenya and allow peace to resume.

A couple of quotes for you:

'After 8 weeks of uncertainty in the political atmosphere as well as peace, there is somehow a glimpse of hope and light to the beautiful land of Kenya.'
Edward, Nairobi

'....in nearby Kisumu, Mr Odinga's home town, thousands of dancing and cheering people poured onto the streets to celebrate the deal brokered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.'

Hurrah for Kofi Annan!!!!!

Warm wishes
Chrissie

New Facebook group

Friends of Double Joy's Facebook group, moderated by Eric Roseden, is intended to be a place to air video, picture and sound that are about people at Double Joy and a place where our supporters/donors can communicate with each other, the trustees and ultimately, some people at the orphanage.

Please be mindful that as this is a public group open to all, some subjects that are OK to discuss openly in some cultures may be sensitively viewed by others. I want to avoid any politicisation or other culturally unwitting source of discomfort. If you have any queries please contact me at ericroseden@yahoo.co.uk, I would be glad to add your comments to the group for consideration.

As well as this Facebook social networking site there are links below to a file storage site called Humyo where I keep the originals as well as some music files, mostly 'old skool' African music from the 70's, which I hope you enjoy.

Humyo links

• 07 Ibanuje Mon Iwon
• A dollar a day (Radio 4)
  This is the first episode of a series presented by Mike Wooldridge asking whether the global target of halving world poverty by 2015 can be achieved and what living on a dollar a day really means. In Kaimosi in Western Kenya, Isaiah lives with his disabled wife and six grandchildren, making seven to ten dollars a month from growing tea. Their neighbours Francis and Christine are both able to work, growing and selling maize, mending bicycles and making bricks. Between them they make about two dollars a day.

News from Kenya

19 February 2008

The latest news from Double Joy is that they are enjoying a period of relative peace in Kenya, and have managed to get all the older children back to Polytechnic and Secondary School now. They have been able to access the local towns and Kisumu with greater freedom and have been able to get to the hospital in Kisumu. We hope that the peace will last.

29 January 2008

You are probably all aware of the latest spate of violence in Kenya, that erupted over the weekend.

On Monday schools and Polytechnics were instructed by the Government to open despite the violence and disruption. Opposition supporters have been stopping teachers reporting to school. At Double Joy they made another attempt to take the older children to Polytechnic but had to turn back because of the violence flaring up in Kisumu and Bondo. The violence is now in Siaya (where the bank is) and Bondo (10 km), so is getting closer to Double Joy. The protesters, fuelling the escalating violence are young men, and those at greatest risk are the urban poor, particularly those living in ethnically mixed areas, or borders between different tribes. Double Joy is not close to any towns and is in an exclusively Luo area. This helps ensure its safety, but it seems at the moment that their movements are extremely restricted. We just hope that no-one needs hospital treatment and that the supplies last through this flare up. I hear from a separate source that protesters are blocking roads in Kisumu.

Mum sent a text saying that despite being worried they trust in God and are very much encouraged by all your generous support. She said they have all we need but the freedom to travel. They are very grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Warm wishes
Chrissie

15 January 2008

Schools are now due to open this week and DJ has been trying to get its leavers back into Polytechnic and Secondary school to start the fresh term. However some schools remain closed, with some teachers too fearful to come to work. I had the following message from Stephen (manager at DJ):

Things do not look very promising here. Some schools did not even open today fearing what will be the outcome of the mass protests scheduled for Wed, Thurs and Friday throughout the country. 
Keep on praying for us. Thanks.
From Stephen.

Some small good news from DJ is they had plentiful rainfall last night and were able to fill their tanks.

Warm wishes
Chrissie

8 January 2008

Today I got a text from Mum to say that they went into Kisumu for the first time since the trouble. They found many buildings destroyed and most of the shops that were not destroyed were closed. They found a supermarket that was open but under heavy armed guard. They left when they heard trouble had broken out north of Kisumu.

Warm wishes
Chrissie

2 January 2008

Today I got a text from Mum saying they had ventured out from DJ today for first time since the the flare up, to go to local town of Bondo, to withdraw some money. The bank, post office and shops were closed but she was able to use cash point machine.

They didn't stay long as youths around looked threatening, but they were relieved to see no signs of looting or fires there.

Warm wishes
Chrissie

31 December 2007

As you'll probably be aware there is terrible violence and unrest in Kenya after the national election results were announced. Deaths reported vary from 100 to 200. This largely due to a widely held belief that the election results have been rigged in favour of the current President, Mwai Kibaki.

The main areas affected are Kibera slum in Nairobi (a huge area), and Kisumu and other areas in Nyanza Province. Although many other areas are affected to a lesser extent. Kisumu is the nearest city to Double Joy, some 60 kms away. The roads into Kisumu have been blocked, after large scale riots and looting.

Double Joy is within Nyanza Province which is the area occupied by the Luo people. The Luos supporting the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga.

Thankfully there is no violence in the immediate locality of Double Joy, which is a very rural area, but the wave of violence within the Luo community will be widely felt. Needless to say the people at Double Joy are very worried, and are praying that their leaders will see reason, and help bring the country to a peaceful resolution. The Luo people are known for being very peaceful in nature, but they are passionate about their politics, and this will be hurting them greatly.

I'm not wanting to spread unnecessary panic, but I want you to be aware of this situation as it weighs very heavily on my heart and my heart really goes out to the people who we have grown to love who must be suffering terribly.

So please keep them in your thoughts and hearts, and your prayers or meditations for peace would be most welcome. Please don't send messages to Mary Hinde or Double Joy as I think this will put them under added pressure and we can update you on the situation.

Warm wishes
Chrissie

Earrings

Earrings in pink, blue, mauve, green, brown, black and 'pearl.' Fish-hooks, clip-ons and studs available.

£4.50 per pair, includes P&P

Contact Rose at brenfamp@hotmail.co.uk or 01524 845495. Cheques should be made payable to Friends Of Double Joy.

Warm thanks to The Lips (previously the Beaten Tacks). The Lips are a four piece Lancaster-based rock'n'roll band who have now played two gigs to help raise money for and awareness of Double Joy. We really appreciate them for playing for us and giving of their time for free. Please visit their MySpace page for further details.

2007 fundraiser - 8 December at the Gregson

DoubleJoy ‘Double Do’

Saturday 23 June: a DoubleJoy ‘Double Do’ from 8.30 pm, with Kara Steele and her Bellydancers, music by Matt and (possibly) a band.

Combining the biennial fundraiser celebrations with Eric’s 50th birthday.

No admission charge but donations to the orphanage gratefully accepted and a raffle. Please bring unwanted/broken mobile phones for recycling or reallocation to the orphanage. Also collecting used (non-Epson) printer cartridges for recycling to boost funds.

All Double Joy supporters as well as any Gregson members who know Eric are welcome.

Saturday 27 January 2007

The Gregson Community Centre in Lancaster, UK, was the venue for the latest in a series of 6 monthly fundraisers Friends of Double Joy has been involved in organising over the past 4 years.

Kara Steele and her bellydancers opened the evening with 2 group dances and 2 solo dances. As usual these were greeted with rapturous appreciation.

The Lips played 2 sets of rock'n'roll covers interspersed with some original material which enticed those present to get up and dance, followed by funk and reggae records played by Andy Paylor who offered his support gratis, also.

The end of the evening was played out to a Tony Nyadundo tune. This is Ohangla music (in Luo language) from the shores of Lake Victoria. This has been a very popular tune in Kenya recently.

The evening was very enjoyable, raising about £300 for Double Joy.

Another gig is booked for 23 June this year, at the Gregson again, please look out for details nearer the time as the bill becomes finalised and come along and enjoy an entertaining evening.

The Beaten Tracks

2007 fundraiser for Double Joy Children's Farm - Kenya
Tickets- £3*/£4 b4, £4*/£5 on t’ door
*=unwaged

Kara Steel and her bellydancers waft a mystical middle eastern aura about the Gregson.

DJ Andy plays floorfillers in a reggae stylee.

The Beaten Tracks, a Lancaster rock'n'roll band, play original material and covers from the Stones, Beatles, Free, and Oasis etc. Let The Beaten Tracks rock your world!!

All proceeds to Double Joy Children's Farm, Kenya.

• Summer 2006 newsletter
• Double Joy - an article by Chrissie Hinde
  July 2006
  Chrissie shares her experiences of Double Joy.

2006 Fundraiser: The Beaten Tracks

This year's Summer fundraiser for Double Joy Childrens Farm was held on Friday 23 June.

As well as the Beaten Tracks, a five-piece rock and roll band from the North West, Kara Steel & Bellydancers performed, plus a DJ.

The event took place at the Gregson Centre in Lancaster.

Solve That Awkward Gift Problem

Do you have a friend who doesn't want to receive presents but would be pleased to know that you had helped a child on their behalf?

Double Joy Donation Certificates are now available to say that you have contributed towards the cost of health and education at Double Joy - a home and school for children orphaned by Aids in Kenya.

The certificates are approximately A6 size to fit in with a birthday, anniversary or Christmas card and have a photo of a child included on them.

The suggested donation is £5, £10 or more.

If you would like to buy one or want more information please contact Pauline Brennan (e-mail doublejoycards@tiscali.co.uk or telephone 01524 845495). Please make cheques payable to Friends of Double Joy and send to Pauline at 25 Watery Lane Lancaster, LA1 2SQ

Also hand-made cards for any occasion (no wording) are available from Pauline at £1 each. Three cards or more can be sent to you postage free. All money goes to Double Joy Children's home via the Friends of Double Joy.

The Gladly Solemn Sound

The Gladly Solemn Sound, a Lancaster choir, have recorded a CD and are donating 50% of any profit from sales to Double Joy.

They gave a concert at St John's Church on Sunday 18 December 2005, and profits were donated to Friends of Double Joy.