History of Friends of Londiani

In July 2000, Maria Kidney travelled to Kenya on a climbing expedition. While shopping in Nairobi with some friends Maria was mugged and so sought refuge in the Kenyan Girl Guide's Headquarters. During her time there she learned of the many projects that the Kenyan Girl Guides are involved in, and so on returning to Ireland a proposal was drawn up to turn this dream into a reality for the Irish Guiding Associations.

A group of 20 Adult Leaders from the Irish Girl Guides and the Guide Association, Province of Ulster travelled to Londiani in August 2002 to complete a project there.

On returning home from Kenya, the Friends of Londiani was set up to maintain the link with the projects in Kenya, and to increase awareness of the projects.

In April 2003, two twin boys were born in the village of Kebeneti. Their Mother died during childbirth. The twins were brought to the children's home. Lucy Kirui, the Manageress of the Bethel Children's Centre rang Maria in Ireland to name the boys. She called them after her late Father, William and David.

Due to the circumstances of David's birth, he was a weak child and so sadly passed away soon after arriving in the home. The story is a sad one, but worth telling. The twins mother gave birth to David first on her own. When he was born she wrapped him in a blanket and put him outside the hut. The women of the village heard her screaming and so came to help with William's birth. The Mother died in childbirth, and the other women didn't realise that David was born until the next morning when they found him outside. Unfortunately his little lungs never recovered from the cold.

Lucy brought David home to be buried. She was appalled at the conditions that people were living in. Soon after FOL Ireland began renting a building in Kebeneti as a medical centre for the village.

In August 2003, Maria and her husband Martin travelled to Kenya on honeymoon. While they were there they opened the Bethel Medical Centre. They decided to purchase an acre of land in Kebeneti so that FOL Ireland could help to build a permanent hospital for the people in the area.

The land has been purchased, and FOL Ireland have funded a new medical centre in Ndubusat. Members of FOL Ireland travelled to Kenya in November 2004 to officially open this centre. A new permanent hospital was built in June 2005 as part of the Harambee 2005 project. The existing medical centre will be used as clinics, outpatients etc once the new hospital is complete.

FOL Ireland is now an official registered charity (CHY16505), and will continue to work with development projects in Kenya. Friends of Londiani Kenya is now a recognised NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) in Kenya.

For comments or questions please contact:
Friends of Londiani, 9 Cois Cuain, Mosestown, Whitegate, Co. Cork; Telephone: +353 21 4662730; info@friendsoflondiani.com

© 2008 Friends of Londiani, Ireland