Your Stories

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Sue Hayward was so shocked at the poverty and the lack of schooling for children in Watamu which was close to their resort, it inspired her to set up a charity Working for the Children of Watamu on her return.

With husband Dave's backing, Sue set about raising funds. That was in 2000...and in those few short years she has done all she can to help combat poverty and transform education in the area. The monies raised have funded the building of three schools - complete with facilities such as a library with 15,000 books and computer room with 25 computers - boasting 700 pupils.

Not content with that Sue then set her sights on her next mission - to build an orphanage to house 100 orphans although she hates the connotations of the word 'orphanage' and prefers people to refer to it as a 'Happy House'. 

Building work on Happy House started in July 2008 and in January 2009, Sue and Dave left Blackpool to run Happy House and care for their children....all 100 of them!

Sue - who was named Lancashire Woman of the Year for her work  - has promised to keep us up to date with the happenings in her new home with her blog...

15th April 2009... back in Blackpool

I wish to thank Steve Becker for the brilliant programme he has made about his trip to Watamu to see our work for himself (link at the top of this page). I have sent the link to school today so everyone will be listening with keen interest. It is hard for the teachers and children to understand that a programme about them has been heard across Lancashire.

As we prepared to travel back to Blackpool last week we had such very mixed emotions. Looking forward to seeing our son Paul and his wife Sheryl and our three grand children, but to leave Watamu was so difficult. We have so much to do for so many children who need our support. The Happy House is growing towards completion, more funds as always are needed, but at the moment we can continue with the work. I was so sad as we drove through the village on the way to Mombassa airport, I broke down and cried. Dave as ever supportive cuddled me, and Silas said as he always does, 'If you don't go you can't come back'

I am returning to Watamu at the end of June accompanied by Elizabeth Gomm a reporter from the Blackpool Gazette newspaper, 14 sixth formers and four teachers from Lytham St Annes Technology & Performing Arts College. We are going to there for two weeks, visiting the three schools we have built. The students from Lytham have worked hard over the past couple of years to sponsor nine students in the Secondary School at Watamu. They have also raised funds to supply lots of the equipment for a laboratory and musical instruments.

If anyone would like me to visit their school and talk to the children about Watamu I would be delighted. Kids working for other kids less fortunate than themselves really does my heart good.

Best wishes,

Sue & The Kids x
sue@childrenofwatamu.net

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1st April 2009...

The rains have still not arrived in Watamu but unfortunately for Dr. Steve Cushing they have in the Sahara Desert. Many of you will have heard Dr. Steve talking to Steve Becker on the Breakfast Show last week. Steve Cushing has now travelled to the Sahara Desert to compete in the Marathon De Sables, named as the toughest foot race on earth.

Steve Cushing

Steve told me, "To call it rain is an understatement and does not do it justice. For the whole journey there was a torrential downpour. Dried out river beds where in full flow... Our tents are made of hessian with sides but no front or back, and a tarpaulin cover. The rain was dripping through the hessian and onto the sleeping area and we were digging channels in the ground to try to divert the water.

"I had put sun cream on before we left the hotel. Grease or whatever it is cross channel swimmers use would have been better as we were shivering with cold. I put on two pullovers and the jacket and jeans I had travelled in from UK and got a bin bag liner to keep some rain off.

"At about 7 we headed across to the organisers area for some food. I put flip flops on as the mud would have ruined any shoes. Within a few yards my flip flops had been sucked off my feet and disappeared into 2 or 3 inches of mud, to be rescued by hand. Eventually gave up and for much of the time went bare footed. By this time the ground made Glastonbury on a bad day look like a picnic during a drought."

Sue in the library

Steve has been preparing for this event for nearly three years. By doing this amazing feat he is raising the much needed  funds for the Happy House children. Steve has a blog  that is being updated on his progress at www.stevecushing.blogspot.com.

I'd like to thank Steve for helping the many vulnerable children we are building the Happy House for. Children who are sleeping rough, begging for food. Children who have no hope for the future unless we all join forces and help them. Children who are orphaned through HIV, Aids and many other diseases that these people have to contend with on a day to day basis. They are children for goodness sake! They have a right to be allowed to grow, live and love in this world.

Sue

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