Welcome to Working for the Children of Watamu web site
The Happy House officially opened on 17 March 2010. Here are some of the children who are being helped by all your wonderful support. Find out more by reading Sue' Blog
Latest Happy House video filmed and edited by Garth Haley. Click play or follow this link to see in larger format
Ways to help
Join the sponsored child scheme
Volunteer
Donate
Sue has devoted over nine years of her life making a difference to the children of Watamu. There are still many vulnerable children who need help and work on a Happy House (orphanage) is well on its way. Sue has made a difference can you? Please help and make a donation
For the latest news from the Happy House project on how people are helping fundraising please read Sue's blog for regular updates and photos. You can even respond to Sue's blog. follow to read more
To donate a gift please visit the Happy House Wish List. Your gift can help make a difference to these vulnerable children
Find out more about volunteering with the Children of Watamu Charity at the Happy House. follow this link
Sue Hayward - Lancashire Woman of the Year follow to find out more
Latest Happy House video by Garth Haley - follow for higher quality
Since the year 2000 the charity has been very instrumental in building 3 schools that now educate 700 children from the age of 2 years until they are ready to join the workforce. We now feel that the schools are well supported with sponsorship and we must turn our attention to building a Happy House for the many orphans in Watamu and the surrounding area.Some people call these places Orphanages, but to us that would conjure up pictures of a Charles Dickens novel, where cold, dirty, frightened children huddle together for comfort. We don’t want this. We want Happy Kids. Ours will be real Happy home for these children. If you stand outside you will hear laughter and singing. When you enter there will be happy, healthy, smiling faces.
The very high number of orphans is due to Aids, Malaria and many other diseases that these people have to contend with on a day to day basis. Numerous children are abandoned. Brothers and sisters try and care for each other, some are not much older than the children they are struggling to care for. Children have disappeared from the village. If a child anywhere in the world goes missing it is headline news. In Watamu a child goes missing,’ Well it was an orphan” Where has the kid gone! Where are these children? Are they still alive? Please help me !!We need a place where these very vulnerable frightened, abandoned and orphaned children can go to sleep in a bed and wake up to a breakfast. A place where they will grow to be part of a 'family' in a loving atmosphere.
The Happy House will thrive with caring, supportive staff and the backing of its sponsors, volunteers and trustees. Without it, these children would be destitute, finding scraps to eat in the bush and sleeping rough. They would have no home, no medicines and no education no future and the great possibility of – not surviving at all.
This project will provide a vital link for so many children, who will pass through its doors over the next 99 years and beyond. Children who will hold their heads high and be proud to say ‘I was a Happy House Kid ‘
Work started on the building at the end of August 2008 and it is 
progressing well due to support from so many people. We received very generous donations from Nyumbani UK, Coca-Cola Africa, Zurich, Scott Bader and The Jephcott Trust, and all the people who have done slims, runs, swims etc etc. You know who you are Thank you to everyone it is fantastic what has been achieved for these very defenceless and frightened children. Many are sleeping rough begging for food just trying to survive until the Happy House can open it's doors to save them from a life of desperation and hopelessness.
Not only do we have to build the Happy House we need to equip it for 100 children from birth to whatever the age of children who need our help. These children will need beds, linen, cups, plates, everything that your children need in your home. We need cookers, fridges, washing machines, water boilers, irons, and so much more. Please see our Wish List
Please set up a monthly standing order for £10 or £20 it will help us to finish and furnish.When the Happy House is up and running the monthly donation will then be used to provide the day to day needs of the child you will be sponsoring. You will be introduced to 'your' child through pictures and email. Regular updates will be sent to you of the child that you are saving. You will see 'your' child grow to be a Happy healthy confident individual who will hold their head high and be so proud to say ‘I am a Happy House Kid ‘ Sponsored Child Scheme
The monthly standing order can be downloaded via this link . Please fill in your form and send it to your bank. If you would then email Sue with all your details, name address, phone number email. amount and start date. If you require and further information please ring Elizabeth Gomm on 07905130589
Please visit our Wish List you may wish to sponsor a child as a present for a loved one.
Please help Us.
So Many of us have Made a Difference
Can you ?
For further details and information please contact Sue who will be able to help you to change lives.
Or Contact Sue in Kenya sue@childrenofwatamu.net
Sue Haywards Happy House. P.O.BOX 387, Watamu, Kenya, East Africa
To make a call to Sue in Kenya from a landline for just 7p per minute use justcall and dial 0726 335215
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