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Contact Details

Sue Hayward

Castlemere Hotel
13 Shaftesbury Avenue
North Shore
Blackpool FY2 9QQ

Tel & Fax (0044) 01253 352430

E-mail

Reg. Charity No.1098731

Computer Room

With our Library project making good progress, in 2004 we turned our attention to an even more ambitious project - to provide Watamu SDA Junior School with a Computer Room; this would be a facility previously unheard of in this area.

We applied to Hilary Hunter who runs a charity called the Kenya Fund. was decided that we would be allocated 10 computers and so we were off and running.

We had desks and chairs made and, to protect the computers from sudden power surges/power failures  UPS for each machine at £50 each.

We are indebted to many involved in setting up the computers; including the invaluable support of Jim Vale and Ken Goddard. The facility has been made available to all schools in Watamu. At a nominal charge, lessons are given to adults to make this a truly self supporting project.

Next we had to find staff to teach the children. Rose Pendo, came to work in the computer room when it was first opened in 2004. Since then Rose has really become a great assett to our work with the Sponsored Child Scheme. Without the hard work and dedication of Rose to this scheme and the children,  we would not be in the situation we are today with over 300 children sponsored. Rose has made such an impression on us over the last few years that  in 2007 she was invited to become a trustee of the charity. Rose is pictured above in the banner.

During our visit in February in 2006, we had alterations made to the Computer Room which now houses 25 computers, due to more machines being donated to us that we were able to ship over to Watamu.  Many more items were purchased to bring this room to full working capacity, which I am pleased to say it now is. Due to having extra machines, children as young as five are included in the computer lessons.

computer roomThe children are learning all aspects of computers and loving every minute. They are like sponges that soak everything up. These kids don't go home and watch television or play on a play station until all they can say is "I'm bored". These children want to learn as they know that education is the road out of poverty.

Every computer that has been donated has been serviced, and repaired where necessary,by Jim Vale. He has updated the PCs to Windows XP and configured printers and faxes etc.

Without his help and dedication the computer room would not be at the stage it is today.

Thanks from all of us Jim, but most of all from The Children of Watamu.

In June 2007 10 brand new computers were purchased. The original 10  that were donated to us, were quite dated when we received them, and they finally gave up the ghost. Due to their age it became very difficult to get spare parts. Now our children have been having lessons for a few years new computers can be used with care and appreciated.