Zeus Zero Graze Farm
A bit of info here on what it actually is and does
Training days in our Zeus Zero graze Farm in Conjunction with the Kenyan, Nakuru County Division Agricultural Department .Also Aided by our local Village Chiefs who helped us set up this training day and spread the word among the community. We have held numerous training days so far to date
A typical days training day shows the benefits of Zero Grazing’s 1st hand, Using Maize Silage , Napier Grass where ones milk yield per cow /Goat increases with no additional costs Also the Cows / Goats welfare is greatly improved no walking miles for food and water, along with the risk of picking up local diseases. There is also advice given on feed supplements, Animal welfare, medicines and environmental benefits of Zero grazing. Even how to make your own cattle/ cow feed economically. This training also showed the benefits of growing Maize that has been proven to Drought resistant and less prone to diseases.. Increasing the farmer’s crop which is a win win allround.
They also got to witness one of our main projects in growing Tomatoes / Cabbages/ Kales etc. when in season which to date we are glad to say has turned a wee profit giving employment to up to 30 plus additional people per week over the course of harvest season .. Going forward we will grow various crops as part of our crop rotation exercise on an ongoing basis in turn will empower the community and move Le Cheile another step closer to self-sustainability To enable this we rent land locally .
We have opened our Chicken and Pig Unit in 2024
Over 4000 plus Native African trees are planted on this Farm including fruit trees i.e. Bananas, Avocado, Passion fruit, Oranges, Clementine’s, Pawpaw and Mango. We really work hard on protecting our environment and will continue to implement best practices to ensure this is always achieved..
We wish to Thank Zeus for there ongoing support towards this project from its foundation in 2021
Rainbow Haven
Please note due to the very nature, purpose of Rainbow Haven it does limit the photos etc we can share publicly .
Big thank to the Bons Care Home Cork who funded the build of this purpose built building.
Sadly in this day and age our Rainbow Haven project has seen more activity ,it's a sign of the current increased economic struggle to survive which in turn raises any issues in ones home life in turn creating a lot of hardship ,violence etc to alot of women.
Sadly a lot of the issues , violence are poverty, addiction drived which in turn are taken out on women..
Every person who attends Rainbow Haven does so confidentiality in every aspect of their time in this Centre be it in Rescue house .bi- weekly meeting , counseling etc.. Rainbow Haven has provided a 24hr call centre to the community for those dealing with a gender violence situation
The project is a walk – in center enabling victims have access to help when needed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. With fulltime security on site also 24/7 for added security ease of mind for those availing of this service.
Liaising with the local administration office through referrals from the local administration office, church leaders and village elders
Rainbow Haven now has a rescue centre actively in use a place where families come too if they feel there life is in immediate danger a place to stay with there children as we work through a solution together
It's a short stay rescue Centre ie hopefully by 8 to 12 weeks we will helped those to aquire new accommodation if required or move home or to family if thats there wish also
Rainbow Haven sums up what we are all about in Le Cheile Africa adapting our needs and goals to meet the needs of the community we work and live with daily
Making Le Cheile Africa a vital cog in the overall well-being of the community as a place of hope working hard on bringing equality to All in every aspect of day to day life ..
PROJECTS
Education Support Programe
This education Program has evolved from the needs we found around us of Children in early 2020 who needed support to attend school for various reasons.
It's not just about education it’s about improving the child's quality of life i.e. access to a stable diet every child gets fed at school. Also get a chance to escape their home life as some come from very troubled homes An example of a few of the issues these Children experience.
Patents Alcoholics / Discarded by their parents now looked after by elderly Grandparents / Suffering Malnutrition from unstable diet / Live in extreme poverty / Some live in a one room mud hut with up to 8 members of their family before this sponsorship spend all their days scrapping looking for food .
This sponsorship in our Education Support Program gives the children the opportunity to be kids again .a chance to dream and hopefully via education break this vicious cycle of poverty. But it’s even more than that. It’s a chance to help rebuild the whole family where possible. Work with the parents who are struggling due to addictions and hopefully where possible get them on a new path in life. We give them food support via our food security program/ Wesley’s Munch soup Kitchen and Dave’s Diner where necessary.
We continue to transport children on daily basis by collecting and returning them from school 5 days a week ensuring every stone is removed to allow them attend school every day.
A few of the Children in this Program we have moved to boarding due to the harshness of there home life
As one of the greats men that every worked for equality freedom said
“EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN YOU USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD “Ref Nelson Mandela
Every Child deserves the opportunity to have access to Education and that is the sole purpose of this program To sponsor a child it’s €40 /60 a month depending on whether day pupil or boarding.
2025 has seen this project evolve with our Partnership of Sigito Community School giving all a better opportunity of attending school daily the School has seen numbers rise in Sigito School from just under 200 pupils with poor attendance to now over 350 pupils with 100% attendance daily bar children who may be sick.
What created this change , one may ask? With your ongoing support we are removing all barriers that hinder attending School i.e. Hunger, School fees. Uniforms, books, exam fees etc. Plus we have added a daily feeding program where all children attending school get lunch daily .Plus all exam year students are getting extra tuition classes morning and evening. To add to this ECDL IE. Early Learning classes (3 teachers) , School Caretaker ,Grade 9 teacher are completed funded by Le Cheile Africa and our Supporters ensuring every child over 4 years of age in our catchment area attends School. Your ongoing support is vital to maintain and grow this project in the coming months/years
Le Cheile Health Clinic
The clinic officially Opened April 5TH 2018
A very simple 4 small room clinic to serve the rural community of Solai seeing up to 10.people a day was our target .Everything was coming along nicely in the clinic meeting / exceeding our daily targets of patients as Mary was well known for her great work in the community with people of additional needs prior to opening our clinic. (This is now a Self-functioning Disability Group thanks to Le Cheile Africa sense 2021)
Then just over 4 weeks later the Solai Dam disaster struck throwing our clinic into National and International news for the brave efforts of Mary / staff and neighbours using the clinic as the immediate base to bring those who were in trouble from being submerged in the flood waters to be saved / cared for .. Thankfully we had no loss of life in the clinic that night which saw over 100 people being treated in a 4 small rooms all under candle light and torch as the power also was out. Sadly tho officially 48 people were declared dead in this disaster but in reality it was more as lot of people were undocumented. (More Info on Dam Disaster outlined separately)
Moving Forward To Today
Our New Upgrade Clinic has a lot of medical equipment from Ireland over 70% of the items have been donated by Bon’s Secours Cork who have always been very supportive to us. This New Le Cheile Africa Health Centre will bring quality health to Rural Africa Kenya
Physiotherapy room. . Gym / Doctor Consultation rooms x2 / Laboratory (with new state of the art equipment increasing what tests can be done on site efficiently) / Day observation rooms / Emergency Room etc.
A quick recap of what our current services will be to the Residents of Solai and Surrounding Communities
# Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week ( with a doctor on call Christmas day ) # Out Patient Services # Lab Services # Maternal Child Health # Therapy # Counselling # HIV/AIDS care # Mobile Medical out Reach's & Clinic # ECG / Ultrasound # Home visits Palliative care to the infirm, elderly and people suffering terminal illness.
Le Cheile Heath Care plan will enable all in the Community Access to Health Care on their Door Step regardless of ones means.
Rebuild A Home Rebuild A Life
(Refubish A Home)
"For every 5 people in the world one is without a home... impacting a family for generations isn’t no easy task. What is important to know is that proper housing impacts every aspect of life; improving health, advancing education, reducing crimes against women and children and strengthening community"
Rebuild a home, Rebuild a life project was born after many deliberations on how best we can change a life by lifting them out of poverty. We have seen first-hand the effects of poverty on children and entire family.
There can be no greater gift than to share with someone what we have and what we know. Especially if the person has no hope of receiving it on their own. A house that replaces a shack transforms a family’s opportunities. They now have a place to generate an income, educate their children, and feel secure. With security comes improved health, especially for their children and safety against being exposed.
Each home / Refurbishment had a Specific Donor / Sponsor who came on board to cover the cost of a home as it’s a standalone project we only proceed once funds are in place.
We are always evolving and learning from each build in doing so, we can improve each project from analyzing them to date with a lot of ups and along the way.
Plus going forward where possible each family will be requested to contribute towards their home a nominal affordable fee or manpower whichever is most suitable
This will ensure house is built swiftly and no resources are wasted...
All new homes going forward will be built with stone 2 bedrooms, living room and kitchen plus a pit lantern (Toilet) and wash room built separately.
As well we are helping them furnish their new Home but there is a separate budget for this that is Sponsored also .And we work with families on how best to help them exit extreme poverty with a simple sustainable project that suits them..
Ongoing Home refurbishments are done in traditional manner to suit specific build of each home
Rebuild A Home Rebuild A Life to date we have 8 New homes built on this project all in various buildings methods. Plus over 50 Home Refurbishments i.e. Extra Room .Furniture, bedding etc. etc.
Typical Costs Refurbishment €800 (simple Steel room or Home upgrade)
Rebuild A home €7000 (New 2 bedroom Stone house etc. Excluding furniture )
Note this is a Donor led project and only proceeds if a build , Refurbishment is sponsored.
Whistle Daycare and Early Intervention Centre
It has grown over the years to becoming a beacon of hope to the families of Children with additional needs Come so far in such a short space of time hasn't been easy but we got through a very hard few year where restrictions the world over affected us all...
A dream made reality thanks to the help of all the Whistle team over the years.
Move on to today, All this is 100% free funded by Le Cheile Africa and Supporters ensuring no barriers are in place making sure it’s available to all whose needs acquire the use of this amazing Centre Currently 20 kids come on a daily basis plus 18 more who come during midterm / holidays etc. as they have progressed on to Specialist schools another step towards completing the circle of education.
We Continue to seek Sponsorship for 10 children currently attending Specialist Schools
New Children are accessed regularly on their suitably and need to attend Daycare Centre we actually have a waiting list, We want to maintain daily Attendances to 20/25 children..A lot of these children would never have been outside the front door of their home seeing strangers , the vast country side .Need I say it a white person, be in transport i.e. Car .(Minibus) So it's important we take it very very slowly not to overwhelm them allowing them all the time they need to settle in.
Step forward to today into the Daycare Kids are fine and healthy no malnutrition cases. Have a stable healthy diet 5 days a week in the Daycare Centre also their families are supported with food via our food security program ensuring all the family benefit from eating healthy.. Kids are taught basic everyday tasks How to eat .hold a cup. Toilet train them, get them ready to move to main stream school where possible By teaching them the basics i.e. counting , alphabet., identifying shapes, colours, animals etc. All ready It gives them a full education pathway to being self-sustainable living a free life as an adult now that's a future for a child until Our Daycare opened they never left a locked room or went outside their front door .Then there are other kids who will always need care 24/7 such is there disability but here we are working hard on improving their overall quality of life. The bonus seeing them smile, amazing what love and care can do... A Centre where one’s ability is nourished given the opportunity to Grow. Ability Not Disability.
The Centre will continue to evolve in the coming months, years ahead to suit the needs of those who need it most.
Free Clean Water Project
This project was set as a long term project goal to have completed by 2028/30,
It began with a conversation with Peter O Donoghue (Now a Cork County Councilor), John Twomey, John mul in mid/ late 2022 from here Friends of Le Cheile Africa Water Project was born (as they say d rest is history)After a meeting or 2, or more. One meeting I sat in on in person in 2022 funds started to roll in, it was decided to invest same in maize and beans which in turn made a Tidy wee profit and borehole survey, test began along with obtaining a license for same..
Then John Twomey and Jim Culliane came to visit us on the ground here in May, They saw, they analyzed it all and before we knew it 6 weeks later bore hole was drilled 205m deep, lined etc. ..They were/ are the driving force behind this project. Water tested over 20,000L plus an hour from same which allows us pump 16,000L an hour as per license we have obtained.
Next challenge was to fund solar panels pump, tanks, piping over 2km of it and that’s just inside our wee farm. From here A few members of Friends of Le Cheile Africa Water Project jump in behind us and personally (ye know who ye are thank you thank you so much) helped us get a big big step closer to getting panels pumps, tanks etc. sorted.
Then EPS of Mallow like a vision agreed to sponsor the pump almost there.. Their advice and guidance here was invaluable also endless mails to ensure right system was / is in place.
We were delighted and were looking at mid to late 2025 to complete the process.. Happy out we were our plans over 4 years ahead...
We were still working on the final piece of the jigsaw i.e. piping as our budget had to change as water temperature ex borehole is 38degrees plus so alas we discovered a stronger more durable gauge of pipe was required.. I.e. more expensive (a lot more).
Then our friends from Cork Ireland arrived who with donations from there amazing supporters got us across the line aka The Scrap Kings
Piping in..2 x taps inside gate free water to public daily where currently over 10,000L daily is distributed .Water connected to clinic Wesley's Munch Soup Kitchen and Dave’s Diner, Rainbow Haven plus toilets along with fresh running water to Zeus Zero graze training farm..
Not forgetting our ongoing supporters who also played a big part in making all this possible ensuring we were able to keep the show on the rd. as they say with all this major, technical Development ongoing. This development will ensure the community has access to clean drinking water all the year around, everyday but more importantly in dry season when usually folks here have to walk over 4 to 6k to fetch water ( if it's there at all ) and after all that probably not clean or safe to drink.
“ Water Truly Is Life” That's making a real difference in real lives access to clean drinking water in their community 365 days a year..
Add to this in our Daycare Centre we also have Clean water project thanks to the Sisters Of Bons Secours Ireland for Funding same
Sigito Community Avocado Orchard
&
Le Cheile Africa Orchard (In Partnership With Zeus)
This initivate will empower the selected 500 inital families towards self-sustainability ( shortlisted by the community)
Aim reach 900 plus families by year 5/6 benefiting over 25,000 plus people in the community
By giving each family in the Project 25 avocado seedlings to plant.
It will generate an income of 70,000Ksh (€650) per Family on year 3 and increase thereafter on an annual basis.
Remember the average monthly wage here in rural areas is approx. 5000Ksh ( €45) a month
So revenue from avocado trees on year 3 onwards will match ones yearly salary
The life span of an avocado tree bearing fruit is 50 years plus
Also as part of this project every family in the project will get 10 native tree seedling to plant towards our ongoing initiative of improving the environment in the community were we all live and work .
To date Le Cheile Africa has planted over 4000 trees in the community and our own farms.
Add in the exciting news that Zeus/Le Cheile Africa Avocado Orchard where we have planted 3000 avocado trees thanks to Zeus our parnter in this project for making this possible from helping us aquire land to sourcing trees for same #zeus
BRINGING OUR TOTAL OVER 7000 TREES PLANTED TODATE
Zeus / Le Cheile Africa Avocado Orchard has already an established market got for our Organic Avocados in Kenya and an export market aboard aka in Ireland
To give each family 25 Avocado trees will cost €125 aka €5 each
250 trees = €1250 that's 10 families
Even if you can sponsor a few trees it all adds up .as they say every little helps .
This project is about giving family's the means to exit poverty and grow as family in turn this benefits the whole community as the project expands
We wish to thank Pat McInery ,Breda McDonald,James Royanne ,Wogan Flooring , for there support 🙏 towards this life changing community 🥑 avocado project
Wesleys Munch Soup Kitchen & Daves Diner
Wesley’s Munch Soup Kitchen & Dave’s Diner was officially launched on June 27th 2022 By Tadgh Mc McMahon and Shane Cr6wley as Part of Hakuna Matata week 2022, both very Good Friends Of Wesley Carey and Dave Johnson whom this project is named after in their Memory. It’s a tribute to the amazing heart both these best Friends had in caring giving and compassion to homeless people in Ireland
What is Wesley's Munch Soup Kitchen and Dave’s Diner one might ask?
We started out in a rented tent initially then evolved to a fab purposely Built Kitchen in 2023.
All who avail of this service are picked by Village Elders, Chiefs ensuring those who need support most get it ,Wesley's Munch Soup Kitchen feeds 600 people 3 days a week... (That’s 1800 meals a week @ €0.50 a meal that’s value for your €€€)
Zeus Farm aid food supply here through the year via Maize, Beans, Tomatoes, Cabbage Onions, Peppers etc. when in season
We start preparing food at 8.30am to have ready for distribution by 4pm...
We distribute food between 4pm and 6pm on these days .it's really is all hands on deck cooking for 600 plus people no easy task. It is working a treat with one member of each family collecting food on the family's behalf. All families have been identified by local elders and chiefs and get a card which states name of family, how many members etc. This is produced each day they come to collect food and are marked off our book once food is collected i.e. like a roll call. On top of this we send food also to very vulnerable family's in Solai itself 3 times a week families are really really struggling along with feeding additional stragglers everyday also.
It also has become a social meeting point for the elderly where they come to eat / chat 3 times a week, Sadly some family's won't eat anything worthwhile (just have tea and bread if they’re very lucky) till the next Soup Kitchen a sad fact of life for many. Hunger, poverty is so real it’s actually heart-breaking to witness it daily
All funds have been raised by Friends of Wesley and Dave Specifically for this project i.e. better known as the “The Scrap Kings” (Now Plastic Recycling also) Tadgh, William, John family and friends
With this ongoing support we are able to continue this Service to the community in Making a Real Difference in Real Lives Daily ,Saving Lives . FACT
Working towards a Self Sustainable community for ALL
Community Based Projects
Katelyn’s Playground. Le Cheile Africa Community Playground Funded by Fiona .Owen and Family
A play where children can just be children a place full of laughter. Fun, Dreams
Community Toilet and Shower Blocks (Plus Water Tanks) Build in September 2024 in 2 separate sites in Sigito Village Solai now ensuring for the 1st time ever over 800 people now have access to a safe clean Toilet /Shower room in turn improving Sanitary conditions to the most vulnerable in this community .Giving them a bit of dignity back (Most didn’t have access to any kind of sanitary facility till the construction of these 2 new Units)
Empowerment program Mary guides youths, mainly girls on life style changes opportunities as sadly statics state over 70% of girls in Rural Kenya by the time they are 18 are either pregnant / married pushing then into a life of poverty, no hope or chance to fulfil their dreams
Tree Planting in rainy season to date we have planted over 7000 trees aim for 2025 is to plan at least another 500 to 1000 native trees plus our avocados seedlings with your ongoing help and support.
Sport for all program continues to evolve and is now more club based as we support local clubs /Schools
(Especially Sigito School) who are now functioning away independently with our support in the background
Abbey Mobility Sewing Centre : Where we make Uniforms for Children in our Education Support Program and Daycare Centre
Mentorship days. Let’s give you an Insight into our new mentorship days for all the children in our education support program especially the Children who all attend Teachers Roses Academy. These days are held on average twice a month, It’s a day of fun, chat laughter and deep conversation into the challenges these Children face ,From hunger, a bed ,Domestic issues , Sanitary Towels /underwear and how we can put measures where possible in place together to better there day to day lives
A bit of Le Cheile Africa History
May 9th 2018 Solai Dam Disaster /This is where we mention our Hero Mary who saved many a life when the dam disaster struck on that faithful night here in Solai .
Mary was awarded an HSC award for her efforts on that faithful night by the president of Kenya which she accepted as she says herself on behalf of everyone who rallied that night to save many lives “The people community of Solai “ .
Rather than write and write on it here are a few a link to that night
https://youtu.be/PYyXzNlzFzs https://youtu.be/-
zOyiToLhN8 https://youtu.be/tcnLdWhqJUc
https://dailyinspiredlife.com/real-life-hero-story-the-lady-that-saved-many-lives/
A link into my |(Derry) mind-set at the time.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3375309389149308&id=100000108407728
If links don't open just copy them into Google and they will open from there
Be that hero in someone's life. Be the difference.
