Group Photo of Children helped by Restart Africa
 
Today many Kenyan tribes live and thrive peacefully, but after the 2007 election controversy ignited violence between the ruling Kikuyu tribe and the second largest Luo tribe, Kenya erupted in tragic bloodshed.  Hundreds of children fled and were abandoned or orphaned to small towns where they could escape the bloody violence.  Many landed in Gilgil, only to become “street children”; victims of all forms of abuse as they fought to survive day by day.  
 
Two generous Nairobi Club Rotarians, Mary Coulson and Peter Ndolo have found a way to rescue 108 children from the streets, house, feed and clothe them, and send them to school, university, or jobs.  They treat the children as members of their own family.

 
 
The Alba Family (Ivan, Elena, Isabel, and Lily) lived with these children through the holidays, trained their teachers in mathematics and building “growth mindsets”, and brought hundreds of pounds of clothes and supplies for their center.  During their stay, they learned the true effect of charity as these children are thriving after a life of abuse and crime.  Children from a few weeks old to twenty years take care of each other in a secure and happy home because of Rotarians like Mary and Peter and all their supporters.
 
Learn more about the Restart center’s path to success at their website (http://www.restartafrica.org/).  The center has not only helped the children, but also manufactures recycled charcoal briquettes; an innovative alternative to coal or wood for African homes.  Also, the center has a coop for local women to earn a living wage manufacturing products that are sold around the world.  The Alba family will continue to travel throughout the world and work with many Rotary projects in their Year of Rotary Service.  See their blog at www.albaworldtour.wordpress.com and learn more about how they have donated their life this year to Rotary.