With the Dutch We Will Travel

In 2008, Backpack For Life Foundation provided a generous donation of a thirty one seat bus for Seeds in His Garden Children's home.  This bus has eliminated countless hours of logistical organization  for use of various vehicles and drivers to transport the children to  their destinations.  

It was a blessing to the home and the children to have had the opportunity to take all the children (except the babies) to the coast of Kenya.  Last year, in March 2010, there was a trip to Malindi where the home camped out at a local beach run by the Kenya Wildlife Service for a week during their break.  It was also financed by donors in the Netherlands.  The children are asking again for that special trip. We know that half of the issue for that trip is taken care of, we have transport.  We will seek a special gift to cover the cost of the camping, food, diesel, and other necessities to return to the coast for the new children who have never seen the ocean. 

Other activities with the bus include bush drives, church, outside entertainment such visits to the crocodile farm, school activities, and dance competitions and demonstrations; have also been part of the benefits of having one vehicle versus three to organize.

Although we no longer are engaging many drivers and vehicles and that alone can save some time and money, we still incur costs. We still have vehicle expenses. We still need insurance to be paid every year and general maintenance so that we are able to keep the vehicle lasting.  The roads are rough here and every trip can bring issues, such as flat tires, etc.  We would appreciate any giving that would support our maintaining this and other vehicles.  Without the bus and our general vehicle operating many of these excursions (especially church) would need to be limited. 

It is great when we can all go as a family. Just to be together, sing in the bus, and enjoy the comfort that we are safer and can all enjoy the trip at the same time has been a blessing.  We thank Backpack for Life and those who contributed their time and labor and making it possible for Seeds in His Garden to be on the road again.

Staffing for Quality Care and Consistency

Not all applicants for employment within Children's Institutions are suited to work with children.  It is important that each person is carefully selected and inducted properly to the home. This often takes patience and years of training to develop the best for the children in our care. It is our objective to have each staff person become part of the family and have a stake in the future of the home and the success of the children. Seeds in His Garden employ staff in accordance to law and the requirements to provide quality care for children.

Seeds in His Garden has many staff that have carried a variety of duties and responsibilities during their employment. One of the main responsibilities is to be available for the children, regardless of their position. This is what we believe unites the teams and brings the best possible results for each day.

It does speak to the children about loyalty and care when 90% of our key staff have been with Seeds in His Garden more than five years. Ebby or Betty, along with others, have been with us for ten years. We are grateful for their loyalty and service to the management and the children of the home.  

However, they are also critical to you the donors and sponsors as their salaries are the reflection of not only their work but your interest. We would love to help them more with support to their families and raises to further their personal goals.  Many of them have been trained beyond how they initially were employed. Ebby has been able to move into several key positions by facilitating her to further her education in a cooking course. 

Betty has gone from taking care of babies to learning computers, typing, human resource software to excel, preparing reports, general house support in all activites relating to schools and appointments.

All of this is made possible through the time in training and learning. But also the donations that are designated for the advancement of staff. With support from you and our commitment to engage the staff to advance it is still a challenge. 

We hope that you will look at the advantages of supporting one of these individuals in their salary or advancement in skills as a benefit for the long term challenges of the home. We request that you contact us for further information on how you can serve the home through rewarding the service of others. These special people deserve our support and   our donations. Although donations will help it can never buy their knowledge or be enough for their faithfulness, but it can help them with their own families as well as Seeds in His Garden.