Letter of Thanks From Samburu Children in Kenya
To: Jennifer Baldwin - Executive Director, Art Machine
From: Julia Francombe - Ol Malo Designs
Date: November 20, 2003
Dear Jennifer,
A thousand thank-yous for all the work you have done in helping exhibit the Samburu children's paintings and raise money for the Ol Malo Trust. I cannot tell you how grateful I am and how much it is appreciated. I will be with the women and children on Monday and will explain as best I can about the exhibitions on the other side of the world. I know they will want to make you something special.
They are incredibly kind and wonderful people and so artistic in so many ways - from the beads they wear to the simple gourds and stools they use in their every day lives. I look forward to you meeting them some time soon.
The Trust is going from strength to strength as a result of all the hard work from yourself, Ruth and a collection of old school and University friends. My best friend from school is putting together a website in the UK and her brother is with me in Kenya at present. He's a doctor and ophthalmologist and along with his finance have a simple but beautiful camp next to the river, working each day in a different area running a clinic and helping me with a prevalence survey in order to raise funds to set up a permanent trachoma program. Trachoma is an eye infection which eventually makes you blind, hence all Samburu have severe eye problems or are blind in their early 50's. It is very preventable with the good education and easily operated on in the late stages. So this will make a HUGE difference to a lot of people.
At present we have six children in the hospital, and a further 12 who need urgent medical attention. All of the 200 odd children who paint are attending nursery school and a further 14 in primary school, all at the top of their class. I keep telling them how talented they are, as it's important for them to understand that their art work is educating them and putting food on the table for them and their families.
There is still lots to do, providing a clean water supply by camping natural springs to prevent them from drying up during the dry season, and I would love to eventually have an Art/environmental education/reading room in each school, to add an extra dimension to their learning.
Lots to do and I am so glad to have you on board with such an exciting project.
Many thanks again - from us all and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Julia
Julia Francombe
Ol Malo Designs