Faraja 2019 annual report

FARAJA 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

We started 2019 on a high note at Faraja community Centre. The kitchen project spearheaded by UK based journalist, Diane Priestley, kicked off late January. The project was to be finalized by early March. The project included installation of an open kitchen, which is not common in this part of Kenya, installation of water filters and tanks to supply the kitchen with clean water, redoing and installation of power points, repainting the hall walls, buying of kitchen appliances ( oven, stove hob, kitchen hood, microwave, fridge e.tc), and buying of kitchen cutlery.

The open kitchen was installed by a Nairobi based company called Streamline. Plumbing, painting and electricity installation was done by experts from the community around Faraja. They all did a perfect job as we all expected.

On completion the Kitchen was launched with a lively party flocked with the locals. They were educated on the purpose of the kitchen and what Faraja Community Center was all about.

After the party, Diane Priestley spent another two weeks training the Faraja team on how to use the kitchen and how to prepare different food cuisines.

Weeks after the launch of the kitchen, Faraja Cafeteria was born. Pizzas are not found around Chogoria and its environs. The locals in this community had to travel to the near town, which is Meru, to buy pizzas. This is quite a distance. Diane Priestley had trained the Faraja team on how to make pizzas so we capitalized on this opportunity and the response was epic. Now we make a variety of pizzas, which are:-

·         Pepperoni

·         Chicken

·         Beef

·         Bacon

·         Vegetables

Faraja banner.

Chicken pizza being prepared.

The pizzas are sold at an affordable price, which is based on their sizes.

·         Small size goes for KS 250

·         Medium  size goes for KS 600

·         Large size goes for KS 1000

We also make fresh juices and prepare meals at affordable price. The money that is generated from the sales, part of it is used to fund Faraja activities, another portion goes to buying supplies for the kitchen and then the rest is used to pay the staff and paying electricity bills.

Faraja kitchen installation was a success, locals have responded positively towards this first stage of the project, showing overwhelming love.

 Children have been enjoying their meals made from this newly installed facility. As you know, Faraja runs a feeding program that targets children. We believe in feeding them and empowering them with other ways such as realizing their talents through exposing them to art, sports and other Co-curriculum activities, not found in their school syllabus.

 This being a digital world, we strongly feel that we should expose the children to digital ways of learning computers, smart phones and internet to their own benefits. The Faraja team has staff well conversant with new technology to facilitate this other phase of the project that will be implemented soon.

This being end of the year the Faraja team feels that we have really accomplished a lot in just a few months, thanks to their dedication and persistence. It was not easy to kick off, complete and see the kitchen project running smoothly, since from the word go we were faced with many challenges.

We are all thankful to Diane Priestley for her overwhelming support and generosity towards Faraja. We look forward to continuously work with her to make this place a hub to empower our children for a better tomorrow.

Locals enjoying their meals.