Children's books for Kenya

In another collaboration with Kashfi's Children, ISF has distributed over 200 children's books to young people in need in Ukunda, Kenya.

Schools, libraries and children's homes in the area are in desperate need of quality books in English.
Our beautifully illustrated stories were received by a local preacher Matano Mungoma. He and his volunteers work tirelessly to improve the lives of the children in the region.

The book drop was the brainchild of a Polish trainer of beauty technicians, Anna Matusiak, who combines beauty training with humanitarian aid distribution around the world.

Anna first visited Kenya on holiday with her mother. They stayed on a holiday resort and were shocked to see children living in desperate poverty on the beach just metres from their own luxury accommodation.
Then and there, the two women vowed to return with things that would enrich their lives: shoes, toys and school supplies.

But at first, Anna couldn’t work out how to make sure that these things actually reached the children they were intended for.

“The situation in Kenya is just wrong,” she told us. “There are children’s homes that take photos and videos when people bring stuff. After the people go away, they sell the stuff or keep it themselves, instead of giving it to the kids.”

Anna did her research carefully, making contact with a local preacher Matano Mungoma and working with his mission. She has provided local people with 140 pairs of shoes, toys and school supplies. And now a couple of hundred ISF children’s books.

“I have met Matano’s mother, brothers and the community, I helped give out food there, I saw pictures and videos of donations and I have seen it actually goes to the community,” says Anna.

“Education is vital in Kenya. Having some books to read, even over and over again, will help them a lot. The language skills will help them to get a job in the future, and I do think that’s a main goal for all of them.”

And so, what plans does she have for the future?

“Perhaps the next stop will be South Africa or Zambia,” says this extraordinary trainer of nail technicians. She’ll certainly be welcome to pack some ISF books into her beauty bags.