A special welcome to everyone who donated after my appeal on LinkedIn. You are receiving this newsletter so you can see what happens with your gift. Would you rather not receive it? You can easily unsubscribe at the bottom of this email.

During my stay in Kenya, I found myself sitting in the van one afternoon, just back from visiting Ian, Yvonne and their grandmother. Honestly, I had no words. A grandmother and two grandchildren, living in a room the size of my pantry. One chicken, tied up with a rope, because otherwise it would be stolen. And two children who, despite everything, are doing well at school.

My plan seemed simple. We would finish the low wall around the compound and build a run for ten chickens, so that Grandma could sell eggs and earn a little money. I estimated it would cost a few hundred euros and posted an appeal on LinkedIn.

Your response was overwhelming. The appeal raised €575, and an anonymous Kenyan donor gave an additional 100,000 Kenyan shillings. Together we far exceeded the goal. Thank you so much!

It turned out to be more complicated

When we took a closer look, it turned out to be less simple than just building a wall and buying a few chickens. The shed on the plot used to be Grandma's house, but it was too cold. Grandma has arthritis and can barely move. So some kind neighbours built her a small house of no more than 2.5 by 3 metres. There is one bed, where Grandma lies. The two children sleep on the floor, and the chicken is tied to one of the bed legs. There is no toilet.

Then came the biggest surprise: the house turned out to be outside the plot boundary. There are plans to build more in the area, so sooner or later that would cause problems. Simply building a wall was not an option.

We went to look at it with the carpenter who also finished the wall around The Ark. His estimate: all in all, possibly as much as €15,000. I told him honestly that we cannot pay for all of that. But we are looking at what we can do with the money we have now.

What has already happened

There is a water main in the area, but Grandma was never connected to it. Until now, her water supply was kept in jerrycans. Thanks to your donations, she is now connected.

Last week we visited again. The materials have arrived and work has started. The wall is being built, and part of the house is being taken down and moved, so that it will stand within the plot boundary and cause no problems in the future.

What comes next

I will keep you updated in the coming newsletters. You will read how we spent the money and how Grandma, Ian and Yvonne are doing. We won't let them down! To be continued!