Appeal Letter from Fr. Martin OP

to Build a New School for Fr. Tom's Kids

12 January 2008

Dear Family and Friends of Fr. Tom’s Kids,

Well, here we are in the midst of Kenya’s post election turmoil which has resulted in the destruction of many businesses, disrupted the transportation sector throughout the nation, and seen the deaths of over 600 people. The political decisions made recently have compounded problems created as long ago as 1992 and resulted in a political and tribal conflict on a scale unknown in Kenya in recent history. Today people are attacking their neighbors simply because they are from a different tribe or because they supported a different political candidate. On the other hand, it is also true that people of all tribes are performing heroic acts of charity and kindness in defense of members of rival tribes. Some of those who have performed these acts have seen their homes burned and their families threatened or beaten. It will take more than one generation to work out the anger and bitterness engendered in less than forty eight hours of chaos.

All of this commotion has compelled us who are involved in Fr. Tom’s Kids to reassess the safety of the children and young adults we support. We have come to the conclusion that we can no longer send Luos and Luhyas to schools in predominantly Kikuyu areas of the country. Consequently, we have decided to open a secondary girls boarding school for Form 1 and Form 2 (freshman and sophomore) students by the end of January or mid February 2008 at latest. We’ll have to do it on a shoe string, perhaps, by using tents for classrooms and other buildings. We are confident that we can pull this off; but we are likewise sure that we’ll be making some mistakes along the way.

The idea, of course, is not just to get started; but to begin a sustained effort to provide a quality secondary school and later a primary for the poor children of the area in a safe environment conducive to study and character development. We have a shot at getting a walled compound with electricity, water, and an elevated water tank plus six mostly completed buildings right away. The trouble is that the owner and a good friend and supporter of Fr. Tom’s Kids and the Hawthorne Dominicans here in Kisumu had his business almost completely destroyed during the riots following the election. He was to finish the buildings and estimated roughly that he could sell the whole compound to us for about 40,000,000 Ksh (about $670,000). We have about $250,000 saved but some of that has to go to start up expenses for the school. Also the price of everything has suddenly shot up because fuel, transportation, and basic security costs have gone through the roof due to the national paralysis over the election results.

I remember reading that after Pearl Harbor, General George Marshall looked around at the destruction, saw the Japanese were in the Philippines and Indonesia, Germany was in France and Western Europe and threatening to take Moscow. He said to his aids, “I don’t know how we’re going to win this war; but, God bless my soul, we’re going to win it.” That’s how we feel out here about pulling a school together on short notice, with few resources, in the midst of a Kenya in turmoil. Somehow we’re going to pull this off, mistakes and all. It’s just not yet clear how we’re going to do it. We would be most grateful, however, for any assistance, especially prayers, you can offer to us.

God bless,

Fr. L. Martin Martiny, OP +254-721-394-305 (able to receive text messages)
martinyop@op.org

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