News Archive

We support people in need in Kitui, Kenya.

We work to provide the marginalised with clean water and access to education, and to empower them by boosting their economic independence.

News & Website Updates Page
November 23rd 2007: Rathgar Parish hold the Celtic Tenors concert in aid of Kyuso. The concert was a sell out as soon as tickets were released! November 14th-20th 2007: Aidan Corless is visiting Kitui in the company of Fr Paul Lavelle, Parish Priest of Rathgar. They will visit Kyuso Parish, which is partnered with Rathgar, and in particular inspect progress on other Friends of Kitui projects, especially the new school construction. September 4th 2007: The St Michael's School Building Fund has now reached €200,000. Another €250k to go! August 25th 2007: Added details for Nguutani Parish in the Diocese of Kitui which is seeking a partner community in Ireland. July 17th-July 26th 2007: Pat Torpey from Friends of Kitui visited Kitui to review current projects, review handover details for Friends of Kitui Projects with the outgoing Diocesan Administrator, and to meet with Bishop Martin. July 17th 2007: Bishop Martin Kivuva of Machakos Diocese takes over the administration of the Diocese of Kitui. June 15th 2007- Added an extract from the World Bank-sponsored Arid Lands Resource Management Project which produces monthly drought monitoring bulletins for 21 districts in Kenya. Details HERE June 14 2007: Details of Trocaire-Friends of Kitui Bank Account confirmed A dedicated bank account has now been set up for Friends of Kitui projects. Details Here May 18th 2007- Friends of Kitui and Trocaire team up! To strengthen our support of the people of Kitui, Friends of Kitui have entered a three way agreement with Trocaire and the Diocese of Kitui. Trócaire, which has an office in Nairobi, has for a number of years had a strong relationship with Kitui diocese. Friends of Kitui volunteers will provide, at their own expense, on-the-ground mentoring and training to help build management capacity in the Diocesan administration, and will continue to fundraise, develop and manage projects as before. Trocaire will handle all donations raised by Friends of Kitui and will continue to ensure that 100% of the value of donations gets to the intended projects. Selection of projects will be guided by the 2007 Diocesan strategic plan, which has as one of it's main objectives "service to people on need". Trocaire will provide local monitoring and evaluation of projects, co-ordination of project activities to avoid duplication, and will improve accountability to donors. This new partnership expects, apart from achieving cost savings and synergies, to contribute substantially towards capacity building, empowerment and sustainability in Kitui April 18th 2007- Visit to Kitui During the week from April 9th to April 16th, Pat Torpey, Aidan Corless, Dermot O'Rourke and Seamus McDermott from Friends of Kitui have been in Kitui to follow up on, and inspect, all projects under way in Kitui. We will publish more details shortly March 23rd 2007 Rathgar Parish gets underway with a partnership arrangement with the Parish of Kyuso in Northern Kitui. Read more here February 27th 2007 In this new video Kevin O'Boyle talks to Josephine, Children's Officer with the Diocese of Kitui Medical Department, and together they visit the home of one of the sponsored children. February 26th 2007 We have now put all information videos on Google Video. To see all Google's video information on Kitui, follow this link http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Kitui. Videos are now embedded on the relevant pages in this site- for example, click here to see the video on Empowering Women through the Honey Project January 12th 2007 Kevin O'Boyle undertakes a sponsored weight loss programme on behalf of the Street Children of Kitui and the St John Eudes Rehabilitation Centre. You can see a short video of the St John Eudes Centre by clicking Here December 21st 2006 Video of a visit to Musuoni and Kiatineni wells, which were the first two to be constructed of the wells sponsored by Friends of Kitui in 2006, now available HERE December 14th 2006 The first batch of 200 beehives for the Womens' Empowerment project (The Honey Project) arrives in Kitui November 7th 2006 Water Projects Video added October 15th 2006 Kitui Diocese celebrates it's Jubilee on October 22nd October 9th 2006 Urgent appeal for sponsors for support for education of AIDS orphans September 2006: Project for Empowering Women is launched Initial target reached for raising school fees for children orphaned by AIDS August 2006: Aidan Corless launches School Building Project July 2006: "Wells for Africa" Group presents cheque for funds raised by Loreto National School, Dalkey July 2006: Loreto National School helps build a well in Kitui
*Aidan Corless launches Fundraising for School Building Project*
Aidan Corless reports that approximately €58,850 has been raised to date for the St. Michael's secondary school building project. The site cost is €40,000 and the total estimated cost of building and equipping the school is estimated to be in the region of €270,000.
*Project for Empowerment of Women Launched*
Friends of Kitui have launched the Honey Project, aimed towards Empowering women in the Diocese of Kitui in the Eastern province of Kenya. Initial training of women took place September 17th-22nd 2006 at Baraka Agricultural College. The project will assist women in the Diocese of Kitui to set up micro-businesses producing pure honey and other by products such as wax for sale. The initial pilot scale project will assist 20 women and their families. Within three years we expect to assist 200 women and their families- a total of up to 1600 people including children. Read More...	Trying on the Bee Suits Photograph taken at the first training course for women beekeepers at Baraka Agricultural College, September 20 2006 Baraka College is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru and managed by the Franciscan Brothers.
*Initial target reached for raising school fees for children orphaned by AIDS*
Aidan Corless reports that his initial target, which was to raise sufficient funds to provide education for about 100 children orphaned through AIDS, has been met. The total amount raised is approximately €38,250
*"Wells for Africa" Group presents cheque for funds raised by Loreto National School, Dalkey*
The Diocesan Administrator, Diocese of Kitui, took time off from his holiday on Friday 30th June to accept two cheques from the "Wells for Africa" group. One cheque for €2500 was for famine relief, and the second for €2068 was for the construction of a well at Musuoni in Kitui. The money was raised by the efforts of the children of 5th and 6th class at Loreto National School, Dalkey. The Musuoni well will provide safe water for up to 420 people, and is sorely needed because the people in this community have to walk long distances to fetch water- and most are elderly. See pictures...
*May 2006 Loreto National School helps build a well in Kitui*
On Saturday, May 27th 2006 the 5th and 6th class students of Loreto Primary School, Dalkey, held a "Bag Pack" event at Tesco's Bloomfield store in DunLaoire, Co Dublin.The theme of the event was "Build a Well in Africa". The proceeds will go to fund the construction or rehabilitation of a well in Kitui.	We would like to thank the girls who gave up their time for this very worthwhile event, and also to thank their parents and friends who helped set up and supervise the occasion. And of course our thanks also to the Management of Tesco for their generosity and support in facilitating the Packer Gang.
Again to all the girls- WELL DONE! You gave your time, and it WILL make a difference.