the beyoki project

Tenrikyo Hawaii Convention 2011

2011-05-19T19:23:00.001-05:00

t-minus 8 days and we'll be hawaii-bound!

we're excited to present at the Tenrikyo Hawaii Convention and share our story to the Tenrikyo community for the first time! after many long months, weeks, and days preparing our 8 minute video presentation, i'm looking forward to finally sharing all the beauty, love and joy that is flowing out of our kenya family and friends.

we hope to make them proud!

One-Dollar Project Update - Letter from Antony!

2008-09-01T11:07:00.000-05:00

One-Dollar Project Update

Trip to Samburu - Antony's School Fees

The following is a report from Kazumichi Shiojiri regarding the recent trip to Samburu and an update about Antony Muriuki.

"We went to Samburu village and donated food and medicine recently. They were so happy as always and really appreciated the medicine this time especially since many of them had been sick from the cold weather. Here is the breakdown of the money spent in Kenyan Shillings (Ksh = /)."

Tablets for Malaria 800/

Vermicide 1500/

Pain Killer 1000/

Syrup for Cough 2000/

Piliton 1500/

Biscuits & Candy 1000/

Ugali 3000/

Total 10,800/ = $157.43

Current exchange rate is $1 - 68.6/

Samburu Tribe - Expressing their gratitude!

Children of Samburu tribe

Kazumichi and Chiefs of Samburu tribe.

LETTER FROM ANTONY MURIUKI

Report from Kazumichi

"I must also explain about Antony's fees. According to the list of fees Principal Kariuki had given me, 3rd term was to be 4,500/ but due to the high inflation, the fee was raised to 8,500/, plus a tuition fee of 1,300/. Therefore, the total amount came out to be 9,800/. Principal Kariuki told me that other parents have been complaining about the fees, but he cannot do much to act against the inflation."

We at beyoki feel truly unfortunate to hear such news. We are also told that food that used to cost a mere 40/ has rose to 70-100/ in price. Any assistance we can give the children and parents in Kenya is our goal and we hope to work along side many of you and thank you truly for your generous contributions and support! We could not do this without each of you!!

Below is the breakdown of our expenses and spending over the last 6 months.

We have many new goals in the future - and one is to build a library for these children and to improve their computer laboratory! We are looking at a goal of 400,000/ = $5,800. Step by step I believe we can achieve what we set our minds out to do.

Let us know if you are interested in visiting the beautiful country of Kenya next summer as well!!

Kazumichi on behalf of all the staff, parents and children of ACEF send their utmost appreciation and thanks to all of you!! They are grateful for everybody's generous and kind contributions and sincerity.

On behalf of beyoki - I want to thank each and everyone of you as well.

These missions could not be completed without the help of each of you.

Let us continue to work towards a better world...

Thank you!

Arigatou!

Asante Sana!

ENA Maternity Ward grows by two!

2008-09-01T10:46:00.000-05:00

ENA MATERNITY WARD

ACEF's Ena Health Center - Ena Maternity Ward has grown by two! Below are pictures taken of recent deliveries made by our wonderful local staff in Ena! Staff were extremely grateful for the donation of sterile surgical gowns thanks to our generous friend in Hawaii and used them immediately to deliver!! Any further assistance we can provide them is greatly appreciated!

Mom with her newborn healthy baby!

Three generations of women!

Baby delivered by staff using donated gowns!

Staff wearing and using donated sterile surgical gowns!

Staff at ENA Health Centre which includes ENA Maternity Ward!

Antony ranks No.6 in class! We are so proud!

2008-05-23T14:04:00.000-05:00

Antony with his teacher...

We are so very proud of our student Antony for all his hardwork and dedication to school.

Here is a short update on how he is doing. While in public school Antony had ranked No.1, but after taking his pre-midexam at Tenri Academy he ranked No. 14 because of the higher standard. However, after the mid-term exam Antony moved quickly up to No. 8!! We are so inspired by his determination and hardwork. His teachers have reported how eager and motivated he is to study and learn everything he can while he is here.

The semester has just ended and we are so proud to say Antony has made his way to No. 6 in the class!! His goal is to be number 1 by the end of the year and we believe he can do it!!

Principal Kariuki has reported as well that Antony's health has improved significantly with the new diet and healthy environment at Tenri Academy.

Thank you so much for your continued support!! It is so greatly appreciated!!

Antony studying hard in class....

Students in Antony's Standard 6 class...

Antony sends his Thanks

2008-04-02T02:47:00.000-05:00

Just recently we received a letter from Antony Muriuki and were extremely touched by his kind and sincere words of gratitude. We want to share this letter with all of you, because without you, there would be no us. He knows there are many people in America supporting him and he is truly grateful to all of you.

We hope you will continue to work for this mission and help students like Antony receive the education they so deserve. We believe he will continue to update us on his school activities and academics and we wish him nothing but the best!

Please let us know if you'd like to contribute towards Antony remaining two years of school. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Asante sana for your support and help always!

IDP (Internally Displaced Persons)

2008-04-01T13:21:00.000-05:00

KANYAGIA INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

Thank you to all for waiting patiently for our updates and giving us your continued support and help.

Our recent project was a big project and it could not have been done without the help of each and everyone of you.

During the second weekend of March - Director and Mrs. Shiojiri, staff from ACEF and staff from Embu Children Clinic traveled over two and half hours to Kanyagia (near Nyahururu town) to a IDP (internally displaced persons) place to donate more than $1500 worth of food and supplies.

Some of these IDP groups are recognized by the government that they get aids from the Red Cross or other organizations. However, some are in the interior and are hardly recognized by any organization and are helpless and desperate for relief.

The place where our group went was one of these unrecognized ones and they were soo happy to get the relief. The approximate number of people around this area is about 1,200 but only about 400 people were able to know about the donation and succeeded to come. They appreciated so much for our mobile clinic since there were a lot of diseases spread due to uncleanliness, lack of water, sharing utensils, and undernourishment. These people are not planning to go back to their home lands because of the fear that they might be chased away or be in turmoil again.

Here is the breakdown of the donation:

30 bags of maize (90kg each) - 40,000Ksh = $597.01

5 bags of beans (90kg each) - 22,500Ksh = $335.82

240 tins of cooking fat - 19,090Ksh = $284.77

240 pieces of cooking salt (1/2 kg) - 1,980Ksh = $29.55

240 bars of laundry soap - 12,400Ksh = $185.07

2 bags of assorted clothes

Medine - 9,000Ksh = $134.32

Total - 104,960Ksh = $1,566.57

Pictures of the Mobile Clinic - thanks to volunteers from ENA Children Clinic and donated medicine, we were able to assist many women and children.

Thank you to all who helped make this happen! Let us continue to work towards helping those in need and making a difference the best way we can with what we have.

Below is a message from Kazumichi Shiojiri - Manager of EM Technologies and son of the Director of ACEF. Please read below for more information regarding the IDPs and problems occurring in Kenya. Any contributions you can make towards helping those in Kenya right now is always greatly appreciated!

"As you already know, there are many tribes in Kenya and not all of them are amicable and some had always been envious and scoring against others. The start of this problem goes back to the times of colonial and independence. British colony had come and took people's land by force regardless of the tribes. People in the Western Kenya who were mostly Luo had also been taken their land. But when Kenya got independence in 1963, Brithsh government returned most of the lands to Kenyan government. The president of that time, (Kenyatta) who was Kikuyu had advantage over the control of the returned lands. The government took over these lands and started selling the lands mainly to Kikuyu business people. Luos, the former owners of the lands in Western had nothing to do because they had no title deeds to prove that the lands belonged to them. This is how hatred started between these tribes and others too.

After Kibaki was reelected as the president of Kenya, Raila started claiming about the lands of Luo and how Luos were mistreated. This stimulated Luos to revenge on the mistreatment and grab back their lands. They started attacking Kikuyu by burning their houses and churches, killing, raping, whatever they could do to pay them back. Some were even neighbors!! Kikuyus had to run away from this turmoil to safety places like Nyahururu, Nakuru, Naivasha, where many other Kikuyus lived.

They now have to sleep on the cold mud floor in a house of a stranger who offered them to stay temporarily. Some don't even have a blanket to cover themselves to overcome cold nights in Nyahururu. Therefore, they appreciated very much for our relief, but if we are able to come once again, they were kindly asking for blankets. I think you are familiar with how cold it is in Nyahururu. It becomes very cold especially at night.

Other things they need are: Blankets, basins, texts and notebooks, stationeries, and uniforms for children. Microfinance loan for capital to start a small businesses. It will be good if you could also continue to assist and support for this project. Even though Kenya seems to have recovered peace, people are still fighting in some areas and IDPs are still increasing. I can say the real struggle for Kenyans has just started. Thank you very much for your support."
03-15-08

Antony Muriuki

2008-02-14T10:46:00.001-06:00

Antony Muriuki - beyoki's first sponsored student with his Uncle beyoki Education Fund has received news of their first sponsorship!! Antony Muriuki - born in 1992, is a smart, ambitious, hard working young boy in Standard 6.

His mother abandoned him at birth and was left under the care of his grandmother - Lydiah Mugure. He does not know who his father is. Despite the difficulties he has endured - he has proven his determination to succeed by ranking each year at the top of his class at the public primary school he was attending.

His uncle knew that Antony was committed and had the potential to do very well in life given the right education. So the uncle took a chance and came to us at Africa Children Education Fund in Embu, Kenya and asked for help. It could not have worked out better if we planned it ourselves.

We are excited and happy to help Antony and give him the best education possible for his future! We have high hopes for him and are grateful to everybody who donated!!

He has already began school and below are pictures of him in his new Tenri Academy uniform!! You can see how happy he is!! We are also very happy for him!!

It will cost - $361 to send him to school each year for the next three years. At the current exchange rate of $1 - 67.7Ksh.

First Term - 8,500 - $126

Second Term - 8,400 -$124

Third Term - 7,500 - $111

If you would like to contribute to Antony's education - please send your donations to

beyoki

92 Hickory St

Dumont, NJ 07628

and memo it - beyoki education fund.

We have raised a total of $513 for Antony's schooling and need $570 more!

Grandmother's house

With Principal Kariuki from Tenri Academy

Second Completed One Dollar Project

2008-02-14T10:34:00.000-06:00

SAMBURU VILLAGE

On Saturday February 9th, 2008 - Kazumichi Shiojiri on behalf of Africa Children Education Fund delivered 24 packs of unga and a box of biscuits to the Samburu village people. This donation was made possible by 28 individuals each donating $1 and working together. unga is a maize powder that is used to make ugali - Kenyan staple food.

The Samburu elders and children were very grateful to receive such a wonderful donation and send their thanks to every person who donated!!

The Samburu tribe used to be a part of the Maasai tribe - until it split about 500 years ago. Their lifestyle to us would be considered ancient in many ways - but they are a fascinating, beautiful tribe and it was a pleasure spending time with them while in Kenya! I'm very grateful we were able to help them.

Young Samburu boy enjoying his biscuit!

Young Samburu girl enjoying her biscuit!

Ugali

Jomo Kenyatta Home

2008-01-29T18:32:00.000-06:00

Thanks to 38 people who each donated $1 - ACEF was able to purchase a sack of maize and 5kg of cooking oil for the handicapped children of Jomo Kenyatta Home in Embu, Kenya. We are grateful that we are able to help this home that is dedicated towards giving children with disabilities a fair chance at life and a future.

The items purchased will help feed the 25 children living in the home for over a month. Asante sana for all those involved in this mission!

On another note:

Due to the recent ethnic turmoil in Kenya, we were forced to put a lot of our projects on hold. The Kenyans are very optimistic and are doing their best to go about their daily lives, but food was not and continues to not be as readily as available as it used to be and prices have significantly inflated. It's making it very difficult for locals to purchase items necessary for everyday life, so our mission to help Kenyans could not have come at a better time.

Schools fees have also felt the effects of the turmoil and our next project will be to help sponsor a young orphaned boy for the last 3 years of his primary schooling. What used to cost $525 for a year, has risen to $770. All the help we can receive will be greatly appreciated.

We will have more information on the young boy in the next week and will be sure to post it on this blog.

Much Appreciated

2008-01-14T11:03:00.000-06:00

Total Donations Received so far:

One Dollars : 65

Other Donations: $668 - really amazing! Asante sana to all that contributed! This equals the total money 17 Kenyans combined make in a month. $40 is roughly the salary that one Kenyan makes a month.

Sponsorship: 1 Orphan - $270 for an entire school year! One uniform down - many many to go!

Please contact me if you'd be interested in sponsoring a child or would like to help pay for a child's school fees. ydsasaki@gmail.com

It's been exactly one month and 2 weeks since the one dollar project began and I must say, the response and participating has been amazing. Thank you to all who have contributed in the last month!! We could not be happier and are truly grateful for everybody's help! The people in Kenya at the Africa Children Education Fund are more than grateful for everybody's generous spirit!! Especially at a time when there is a lot of uncertainty within the country.

The ACEF organization is in a safe region with little violence and rioting occuring. But they have family and friends in other regions and so I ask for everyone to continue to pray for peace soon.

The children are to return to school this week after a delayed opening due to the violence. They are excited and eager to get back - school is a luxury for them. Something not to be taken for granted. To wear a school uniform - is not just mere clothing for them, but a status symbol, a matter of life and safety.

It's difficult for us here to imagine the importance of a uniform. We think it's no different than another child with no uniform. But it is much bigger and much more important than that. A uniform separates the street children with the other children. A uniform means you get treated just a little bit better. The chances of getting helped by a stranger if lost, or in trouble is a little better. Life is a little better with a uniform and makes a huge difference in the life of a child.

My goal is to get more and more children in uniforms. Public or private school, it doesn't matter, all children in Kenya wear uniforms to school. So what would you do? How far would you go for a uniform?

$39 = 2418 Shilling

2007-12-30T13:27:00.000-06:00

One month salary for a Kenya is what 39 people were able to raise by each donating $1. I'm amazed and proud to be a part of this project and pray that it continues to grow in order to help as many people as possible.

We started this project on December 1, 2007. In less than 30 days - we were able to raise $39. That's more than a dollar a day -

Hopefully we can continue on this path and raise more and more awareness about the problems in Kenya but more importantly awareness on how to help. We met with the sons of the Director of Africa Children Education Fund and discussed many different projects to work on. Many are immediate relief and help (medicine, mosquito nets) and others that are long-lasting and self-sustaining (helping local business men and women).

To everybody that donated - I will keep you posted on how your donation has helped.

For those of you who decided to go beyond - your donation has raised enough to send one orphan to school for an entire year!! We could not be happier!! A child from St. Joseph's Orphanage located across the street from ACEF will be selected and sent to school as a day boarder - which costs $270 for everything.

We will send pictures and a bio of the child as soon as it is received.

Can't thank everybody enough!!

Let us remain spirited in our mission!! And spread the joy!!

Have a Happy New Year to All!! Wishing you the best 2008 ever!!

Let it be merrier and joyous than the last!!

Thank you again! Asante Sana!

People Really Do Care

2007-12-10T15:56:00.000-06:00

It's been only 10 days since we first started collecting one dollars and the response has been unbelievable. We've received donations from 9 people thus far and let me tell you, 9 dollars is enough to purchase malaria medicine for 2 Kenyans! That's 2 lives!

I'm extremely grateful to each and every person for taking the time to send or give me their one dollar. It will make a difference and we will make sure that it helps the right people. It won't be easy - but then again, nothing ever is in the beginning. But from the help of everybody supporting this mission, I think anything is possible.

In your daily lives, I hope you are remembering to celebrate life and living each day. It is easy to fall, but much harder to climb. Never stop trying - I believe we, as one, working together will make a difference.

Quote of the Day:
"Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will" - Mohandask Gandhi

PS: On December 19th - Kazumichi and Daisuke Shiojiri will be visiting us here in New Jersey. Their father and mother started the Africa Children Education Fund and have lived in Kenya for the last 18 years. We will be working with both of them in order to finalize details on how each dollar will be spent. One-dollars collected by December 28th will be sent for the first installation of the project when they return to Embu, Kenya.

Information Packet

2007-12-03T15:40:00.001-06:00

...here is more information on the one dollar - make a difference mission - it includes information on how much one dollar can buy in Kenya and information on the non-profit organization Africa Children Education Fund...

www.beyoki.com/beyoki-onedollar.doc

1st day to a new beginning...

2007-12-03T10:54:00.000-06:00

Saturday - December 1st - a day to remember and be grateful for....

cuz it's official! we have our first 3 dollars!

Saturday was day one of our new mission - the one-dollar - make a difference challenge which this blog is dedicated to. i can say i have gotten a lot of great responses and i'm so excited for whats to come. thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond and donate. keep spreadin the word~ spreadin the joy~

it's one thing to donate a dollar online with your credit card...but i want people to take the time and actually look at the dollar...at four quarters...at 10 dimes...20 nickels...100 pennies...and realize it's money that matters to someone....this is the difference...see and feel your one dollar and know that your one dollar is going to help somebody, help a family that really needs it...so thank you for allowing us to make this happen...

Saturday was definitely a big stepping stone for beyoki as well...here's the update:

Saturday we celebrated beyoki's first birthday! it's crazy to think it's been a year since launching beyoki.com, but i feel very grateful for everything that has happened in the last year. i could not have done it without my family and friends. thank you to all!

Saturday we held beyoki's first kimono-wine party as well! thank you to my dearest friends who helped make it possible!

check out the web album below for pictures!http://picasaweb.google.com/YDSasaki/KimonoWineParty

so thank you again to everybody for helping make this happen!

our one dollar - make a difference has received a beautiful start thanks to you all...you are making a difference...i believe we all can...together...one dollar at a time...

Quote of the Day:

"God grant me the serenity to aceept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdome to know the difference"