On 11th November, 2025 Sue a lady from the United Kingdom and her family took time out of their busy holiday schedule in Kenya to meet up at their hotel in Nairobi on their last day with Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, Founder, Director and former Headteacher at Patmos Cottage School.  Richard was accompanied by the Deputy Head, Mr. Aquinnes Sikuku, and Jacinta Mueni one of the school social workers with responsibility for SILC ( SILC is a savings led programme with the broad aim of supporting people on low incomes to look for ways to diversify income generating initiatives). 

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Sue contacted the school last year when she indicated that she and her husband Peter together with Sue’s sister-in-law Linda and her husband Ross would be travelling on holiday to Kenya in November 2025 and would like to find out more about Patmos Cottage School and to donate some items to the school.

 

Linda and Ross are from Western Australia and Linda had very kindly sourced a sewing machine which she was keen to donate to the Patmos Women’s Tailoring Group (PWTG) which is an income generating initiative set up years ago to help provide a source of income for some of the mothers/guardians of children at the school.  In this connection, Sue had put out an appeal to people in her local Parish in Devon to donate supplies of thread and there was a generous response.  A good friend of Sue’s (Viv) who is also from Devon, donated a digital camera and three solar powered  radios for Patmos Cottage School and Sue very kindly transported these items out to Nairobi in her suitcase as well.  Viv has been a dear friend and supporter of Patmos Cottage School for many years and has sponsored a young girl at the school through her primary, secondary and into higher education.   It was Viv who first introduced Sue to Patmos Cottage School as she and Sue belong to the same Art Group in Devon which has in past years helped raise funds for Patmos Cottage School through the sale of art work at Christmas coffee mornings in their home village. 

 

Carina Francis, Headteacher at College Road Primary School, in Plymouth, Devon who had heard about our school from Sue, decided to donate a supply of story books and science books for Sue to transport out to Nairobi in her suitcase for Patmos Cottage School.  The children on the School Council at College Road Primary  School on hearing about the challenges children face in Mathare had voted that they would like to help support a child at Patmos Cottage School and they are now in the process of fundraising for that sponsorship.  A little girl who was in particular need of help and sponsorship was identified by Richard and the school social worker, and she was also able to meet with the family at their hotel.

 

 On arrival at the hotel and after everyone had introduced themselves to each other, Linda presented Richard with an Elna 1000 sewing machine which can do ordinary stitching as well as embroidery.  It is also capable of sewing track suits by just changing the needles.  Elna machines are known for their exceptional performance and they are reliable, durable and easy to use.   This machine will be invaluable to the members of the PWTG.  After the presentation Sue very kindly arranged for lunch and refreshments to be served which was enjoyed by all.  

 

After lunch Sue distributed the other donated items she had packed in her suitcase, which included the story and science books, the reels of thread for the sewing machine and the items Viv had donated.  There were also some colouring pencils which were presented to the little girl by Sue.   All these items were received by Richard and his staff with much thanks and appreciation. 

 

Sue, Peter, Linda and Ross then spent some time talking with Richard, Acquinnes and Jacinta to find out more about Patmos Cottage School.  Sue also took some time to walk around the hotel grounds with the little girl and the social worker to chat with them in a more relaxed environment which they all enjoyed. 

 

We are incredibly grateful to Sue, Peter, Linda and Ross, and to Viv and to Headteacher Carina Francis for their kindness in donating all these items. 

 

We would encourage anyone who  might be passing through Nairobi whether on a business trip or on a holiday, to consider taking some items in their suitcases for donation to the school.  We would ask people to contact the school first to enquire what items would be most useful before travelling. 

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