On the afternoon of the 18th June, 2025 Patmos Cottage School had the distinguished honour of hosting Mr. Mike Douris Founder and Acting President of Orphan Outreach, Amy Norton, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Orphan Outreach and 16 Orphan Outreach team members from the USA for three days of visits to the school.  The visitors were accompanied by Mr. Tom Wambulwa, the in-country Director of Yatima Outreach, together with their Project Officer, the Sponsorship Officer and the media team.  Over the course of the 3 day visit the guests participated in home visits, Vacation Bible School Activities and took part in the school's 15th Anniversary celebrations.

​

Home Visits:

 

The  Patmos school social workers in collaboration with the Yatima Outreach sponsorship office organised home visits to 8 households in Mathare, dividing participants into 4 groups, each tasked with visiting  2 families.  During these visits food baskets were distributed providing much-needed relief to the families.  The initiative offered a first-hand glimpse into the critical work social workers undertake daily to address pressing issues such as child protection, health, education, early childhood development and more.

 

One particularly touching visit involved a family where a mother of 3 children, who was a casual worker, struggled to support and provide for the needs of her family.  In desperation the mother had asked her older sister to take care of 2 of her children as well as 4 grandchildren.  One of the grandchildren is of school age but not able to join school due to the financial constraints.  Another child in the family, a  2 year old baby,  was frail, weak, severely malnourished and had a chest infection.  The home had no beds and the family use pieces of sack cloth to improvise as a mattress.  The case is under referral to ensure the family gets the necessary support required.

 

These home visits also highlighted the importance of establishing relationships within the community, which play a key role in preventing children from falling into situations of abuse, exploitation or neglect.  Social workers empower caregivers through discussions on positive parenting strategies and economic training, equipping them with the tools needed to improve their household’s well-being and resilience.

 

Vacation Bible School Activities: 

 

On the second day the school children, staff and visitors all gathered in the multi-purpose hall at 8.30am for introductions.  The Founder and Administrator of the school Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya gave a welcoming speech which was followed by introductions by all staff members, by the Yatima Outreach Director and his colleagues and by the Acting President of Orphan Outreach, Mr. Mike Douris and his team.

 

There then followed a morning of Vacation Bible School (VBS) activities in which all Patmos School staff and Yatima Outreach and Orphan Outreach members participated.  The activities included themed songs and games, praise and worship, VBS lessons and craft work.  The morning session concluded with a series of fun-filled games and interactive activities including poem recitals, folk songs, face painting, balloon games and races.

 

The VBS took place over a period of two days (19th and 20th June) with the main goal being to ensure that every child not only enjoyed themselves but also gleaned valuable insights from each session. Drawing inspiration from the relevant stories from the Bible, the sessions were intricately designed to help the children grasp the essence of the June VBS theme, ‘Prayer’ and the power of prayer.  An average of 224 children participated in the VBS.  Each day the children received a hot snack for lunch which was served to the children by team members of Orphan Outreach.  

​

15th Anniversary Celebrations of Patmos Cottage School:

​

On the afternoon of 19th June, 2025 children, staff and  everyone convened in the school hall to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Patmos Cottage School.  In total 311 people, including the children were present for these celebrations.   Here the focus shifted to a series of inspirational speeches by stakeholders from Yatima Outreach and Orphan Outreach. Thereafter two children represented their peers delivering uplifting speeches inspiring the staff, partners and the Orphan Outreach team with words of encouragement, hope and motivation.  Patmos Cottage School Founder and Director, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, shared the school’s progress since 2010 to date with the audience highlighting through documented records, the challenges that were faced over the years and the hard work, resilience, determination, faith and belief that has resulted in the school we have today.

 

After lunch, at 4.00 pm Madam Sophy, the Yatima Outreach Project Officer, ushered management representatives from Patmos School, Yatima Outreach, Orphan Outreach as well as a few children to cut the celebration cake which had been baked especially for this special occasion.  The cutting of the cake together symbolised commitment to working together and the sharing of joy and abundance.  The celebrations concluded with Mr. Ogutu showcasing his skills in playing good music which encouraged everyone in the hall to join in and dance together.  Orphan Outreach then distributed school bags to 120 children.

 

The visit by the Orphan Outreach team was a remarkable experience filled with moments of joy, learning and kindness.  Their thoughtful activities and heartfelt interactions left an indelible impact on the children and families of Patmos Cottage School.  The community extends its deepest gratitude for their support and looks forward to more collaborations in the future to bring about lasting change.

​

 

​

​

 

​