History July 1997 – April 2007

After managing for over 20 years my own im- exportcompanies in footwear, I felt it was time for a move. The wish to engage myself with a non-profit organisation became more and more prominent during the nineties.

Why in Kenya?

Miriams former husband was a Kenyan and the poverty in his country eminent, my affection for and the importance of education in a Third Wordl country were more than clear. During the time of search for a suitable form for my ideas a British- Kenyan friend who lived in Msambweni died. He was strongly involved with the local community. His death made the choice for Msambweni village and Stichting Saidia Msambweni (SSM) was founded by also Miriam Bouwens. According to Twiga education is THE backbone for any desired change if its on micro, meta or macro level. In Twiga my educational background, commercial experience and social awareness are combined.

From July 1997 till April 2007 Stichting Saidia Msambweni (SSM) achieved the following:

1. Education

• Vingujini Primary and Nursery School
• Jomo Kenyatta Primary School
• Chitsanze Primary and Nursery School
• Builded and renovated classrooms
• Bought furniture
• Bought textbooks
• Paid salaries for extra teachers to create smaller classes
• Training for teachers
• Sending children from empoverished families who have intellectually university capacities, to a private primary school
• Giving scolarships to those who finish in that school for National High Schools and on to Universities
• Builded 2 libraries, each with aroudn 1500 books
• Builded toilets

2. Leprosy Village

Msambweni has a leprosy community. In this ‘village’ within the village live around 40 leprosyvictims with their families. They are merely allowed to excist but did not have any of the most basic facilities.
SSM started with regular clothes and foodsupplies.
In 2001 SSM builded a sanitary block with water, toilets and showers. The patients did not have to go anylonger on their crippled feet long walks to a well.
When the ex leprosy hospital was going to be converted in a medical training centre the gossip went around that the community might have to leave.
SSM bought a plot in the vicinity and started to raise funds for a new village.
In April 2007 Baraka Village was a fact!
25 houses, 1 community hall, 1 shop, 1 medical post and 2 sanitary blocks with a solarsystem were build. Symultanious with that achievemnt the foundation SSM was split.
SSM continuous with the care for the leprosy victims of Baraka Village.
TEC was founded to continue the education branch of the foundation.
As from the start in 1997 Miriam was solemly responsible for education, in the new structure this remains unchanged.