News Archive

Dear friends,
We have Kenyan coffee and tea in stock for all spring events. We won't be seeing each other at the events right now, but Czech Post and Packeta are working so far, so if you can, please order from our Fair Trade Shop. We also added 3 new bracelets to the eshop, which were made in the Island of Hope in the autumn.

If you want to make someone happy, you can order here:
» Fair Trade Shop

Your orders will help us maintain the entire community centre Island of Hope.

Thank you so much.

Dear adoptive parents and dear supporters and friends of the Center Narovinu,

We would like to inform you about the latest developments in Kenya. Kenya has reported 50 confirmed cases of the corona virus infection, but it has not been practically tested as of yet. Testing works only in 3 clinics across the country. In Kenya, a country with a population of 50 million inhabitants, only 130 beds are currently available for intensive care and 200 nurses have been trained for this purpose. The Kenyan government had closed all schools and universities, banned rallies, free movement of people, and introduced a curfew from 7^pm to 5^am. Our office in Nairobi is operating in Home Office mode.

Measures to prevent infection hardly work at all. It is difficult to maintain a safe distance between people in densely populated neighbourhoods and slums, where there is also catastrophic hygiene and lack of water. A major problem is also seen in big families where all generations live together. Families have no way of finding how to get masks, disinfectants or food.

In connection with this difficult situation, we decided to take several measures:

At this time, we strongly DISCLAIM sending packages and letters by mail. All packages arriving at the post office must be picked up within 4 days; otherwise our office must pay fines for each day of delay. Unfortunately, due to movement restrictions, it is very difficult for the office and volunteer coordinators to pick up letters and packages, nor will they be able to hand them over to children in the near future.

If you want to support your child in this difficult situation, you can send EXTRA PAYMENT for food, hygiene and medical devices. However, we must point out that we will not be able to provide feedback for many families. By default, volunteer coordinators help children make purchases in person and send us feedback (photos, letters, receipts) as proof that the purchase was made. However, in this moment, our ability to organize in Kenya is limited to phone and internet contact only. We must not force coordinators to go outside, nor do we want to risk their health and safety. Therefore, money will be sent directly to the mobile phones of our families via our accountant, so the purchase itself will be the responsibility of the families and only those with smart phones will be able to send us the purchase information (photos and receipts).

We are approaching a new period of HEALTH INSURANCE. This is another way to support the health of "your" children. Therefore, if you can pay "your" children’s health insurance, it will be a very valuable support and help at this point. You will receive comprehensive health insurance information next week.

In connection with this situation, we also announce a COLLECTION for the Island of Hope Clinic on Rusinga Island. This is the only functional clinic on the island, and we would like to support it by purchasing additional protective equipment, oxygen bombs and masks, enough medicines and, if the situation so requires, additional staff. This would prepare us for a time when it will be necessary to help a large number of people in the area as quickly as possible. You can send contributions to our collection account number 107-6829480277 / 0100, variable symbol of clinic 910 (account in Slovakia in EUR: 4001055909/7500, IBAN: SK1375 0000 0000 4001055909, BIC / SWIFT: CEKOSKBX, s.: 910). Thank you in advance for your support, even a small contribution would help a lot.

Thank you for your understanding and we wish you all the best!

Your Centrum Narovinu

We thank all the amazing people from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Kenya for their great support and help. To date, we have collected the necessary amount for Ruth. If we can also arrange support from Kenya's NHIF insurance and the Faraja Cancer Center, not only the entire treatment but also all the necessary expenses (stay in Nairobi all the time, travel expenses, food, etc.) will be reimbursed, which would otherwise burden the family. We will continuously communicate detailed information from the treatment as well as the drawing of finances.

» Thanks from adoptive mother Ruth

» More at www.facebook.com/CentrumNarovinu

» Video for download

Dear adoptive parents and everyone who support Centrum Narovinu, as we are currently collecting  donation for Ruth, we would like to ask you for help.  Eighteen years old Ruth suffers of cancer and her family does not have enough finances to start her medical therapy.

Ruth has 8 siblings. Her father is old and sick, therefore Ruth`s mum has to provide food for the all family members by fishing and selling fish. All of them live in small clay house with two rooms. Their income is about hundred Czech crowns per month. Ruth attends high school Hope Humanist, which is mixed Boarding School in our centre Island of Hope.

For last three month Ruth was not very well and complained about sore throat. She had to go to the hospital in Kisumu after check up at our clinic. The results have showed an anomaly in her throat. And unfortunately the biopsy has confirmed cancerous cells.  Ruth suffers of strong pain and her health is getting worse every day.  Considering the situation the medical treatment has to start as soon as possible. Agha Khan Hospital or Texas Cancer centre are the only two options. Nevertheless Ruth will have to travel over 420 km, in order to get chemotherapy treatment. There is no possibility of an operation due to the location of the cancer (between nose and eyes). The risk of loosing vision, hearing an ability to smell is too high.

Ruth`s adoptive parent paid for health insurance and also contributed extra cash for more treatments however the medical treatment, which Ruth has already received used all that money.  Ruth`s family is trying to get national insurance health care (NHIF), which could cover expenses for hospital. Nonetheless the whole process is long and time consuming and Ruth needs to start her treatment now, due to her health condition.

We are trying to get more support from Kena, but the cost of the treatment will be high therefore we are also asking you for help.

Expected cost including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, all scans and other treatments were calculated as high as 830 600 KES (cca 180 000,- Kč) for the time being.

If you would like to donate you can send money to collection account: 107-6829480277/0100, variable symbol: Ruth 151634.

Every little can help to reduce such a high cost of the treatment.

We would like to thank you for your contribution and support. 

Centrum Narovinu

Look with us into the girl's home environment and the high school she attends.
Promoting education makes sense! The closest school start date is January. Please pass it on… Thank you for helping us. ❤️

Download video (177 MB)

» You can find the database of children in the program and more detailed information here. Thank you.
» AdopceAfrika.cz – 15 years of powerful stories

Hello Mrs. Feminova,

I do not know if you still remember, but a few years ago, we coordinated our sponsorship activities in favor of the child we had selected.

My name is Jaroslav Vlasák, and my wife and I wanted to help any little person who needs our help somewhere in the world.

Therefore, we contacted the “Centrum Narovinu” in spring 2004 and chose a child whom we wanted to ease his youth at least partially.

 Our chosen child is called Okumu Peterson Gillumba, who came from Kisumu Island, Kenya. He was six at the time, his mother had died, and his father had taken care of Okum, but also his four siblings. It was his difficult fate that was decisive for our choice. Mrs. Lucie Valtová was the contact person at the time.

Our adopted son (numbered 50680 in your database) took first grade in 2004. I will skip a number of years that our sponsorship has continued. Our adoptive son has successfully completed elementary school and continued with our support at high school. Our sponsorship ended with successful graduation.

But we stayed in touch, and our adoptive son continued his studies at the university.!

He successfully completed his studies, as is apparent from his attached letter:

Hello Dad, how do you do? Hope fine. It is another opportunity, for which I thank God, to be able to reach you and have a conversation.

The attachment was over and the defenses were a success, though tiresome and draining. Also, it was unfortunate that we were all released by the attached organization after PEPFAR cut-off their donation by 42% forcing the organization to send home many of their staffs. Nevertheless, I have, in the past one month, moved to Nairobi which is Kenya’s Capital, to pay visits to a few organizations which I find relevant for an internship or job but with no/low response.

Finally, the date is here with us and it is Friday 6^th December, 2019. Therefore, it is with great humility that I welcome you Dad and your family to the 14^th graduation ceremony at Masinde Muliro University. Thank you Dad for your support in the long journey since childhood until now, Thanks so much and be blessed.

You will certainly agree with me that the feeling of joy and pride is probably justified!

My wife and I would like to thank you for the work that allowed us to help one African person to change his life fundamentally! Perhaps we can not quite well imagine how.

Greetings and I wish you personal success in merit.

Jaroslav Vlasák
 

Park Lane International School
14.12. 2019, 12 hod. – 18. hod
Valdštejnská 151/6a, Park Lane campus Praha 1.

Nasajte atmosféru z minulé akce Winter Market 2018. Férový obchůdek Centra Narovinu bude i letos u toho. ☺

30.10. 2019, 13 – 18 hod.
Mariánské náměstí 1/98, 110 00 Praha

Užijte si s námi příjemné předvánoční setkání v prostoru Dílny. Přijďte se potěšit a nakoupit rukodělné výrobky, krásné dárky pro vás a vaše blízké. Férový obchůdek Centra Narovinu nebude samozřejmě chybět. ☺

Více na:
» Vánoční jarmark
» Ústřední knihovna - Dílna

Medový den
23. 11.  09:00 – 14:00
Dům dětí a mládeže „OSTROV“, Šultysova 518, Slaný

Tvořivé dílny pro děti i dospělé, výroba adventních věnců, dárků, dekorací, zdobení medových perníčků. Prezentace včelařského kroužku pod ZOSV Slaný, lité a máčené svíčky z včelího vosku. Prodej rukodělných výrobků, šperků. Centrum Narovinu u toho bude také s tvořivou dílničkou a Férovým obchůdkem. Těšíme se na setkání.

» Více na www.ostrov-svc.cz/program-akci/423-medovy-den-9-rocnik

 

Clarion Congress Hotel Prague ****, Freyova 945/33, Praha 9, Metro B – Vysočanská

Největší cestovatelský festival v ČR – 5 promítacích sálů, společně s Exotic Food Festivalem, exotické tance, 70 projekcí, osobnosti českého cestovatelství.

Centrum Narovinu obohatí program festivalu dárky s příběhem z Férového obchůdku (keňská káva a čaj, mastkové výrobky, šperky, dárkové certifikáty a další…). Přijďte si nakoupit originální dárky z Keni, které určitě potěší každého a my Vaší podporou potěšíme a podpoříme děti z Ostrova Naděje, kam 100 % výdělku vracíme.

Těšíme se na setkání ☺

» Cestovatelský festival Kolem světa
» Událost na Facebooku

Mladá fotografka Regina Jäger ze Švýcarska ve spolupráci s Centrem Narovinu představuje fotografie zachycující každodenní život komunitního centra Ostrov Naděje na Rusinga Island v Keni.

Toto komplexní komunitní centrum dnes už poskytuje služeby celé místní komunitě, je i zázemím pro více než 500 dětí. Jeho součástí je sirotčinec, MŠ, ZŠ, internátní střední škola, vzdělávací centrum s knihovnou, zdravotní klinika, řemeslné dílny a farma se zavlažovacím systémem, ovocnými stromy a chovem ryb a slepic.

Výstava je prodejní a potrvá do konce října.

» KC Nová Beseda

A Centrum Narovinu bude u toho… Přijďte si nakoupit dárečky Férového obchůdku. ☺

13. ročník „Dne neziskových organizací v Praze 5“ bude tradičně probíhat na pěší zóně Anděl, a to ve čtvrtek 12. září od 11 do 17 hodin.

Cílem akce je zvýšit osvětu o fungování neziskových organizací, informovat veřejnost o nabídce sociálních služeb nebo volnočasových aktivit v páté městské části.

Zástupci neziskových organizací budou mít prostor představit svou činnost a budou moci prodávat své výrobky s podmínkou, že výtěžek bude použit na charitativní účely. Den neziskových organizací je pro občany i pro neziskové organizace zcela zdarma.

» Více informací

It all started last Giving Tuesday, that is, November 27^th 2018. I, a Serbian from South Africa, was part of the Student Council at my university and agreed to help set up an event for this relatively unknown NGO. They help women and children in Africa, which sounds very typical, but the reality was far from it. First of all, Africa is not a country and the founder of the NGO, Dana Feminová, does well to remind others that her project is based in Kenya.

 I quickly learned that she and her team had spent the last 16 years building an entire community on Rusinga Island from the ground up—literally. The "Island of Hope" consists of the clinic, orphanage, nursery, primary and secondary schooling, with all the buildings that go along with that, as it focuses on educating children but also empowering the women in the local Lake Victorian community.

What got me interested in volunteering was the cause, but what has hooked me is their authenticity. You don't feel like you're navigating the bureaucratic and institutional structures of some big organisation, where the issues in Kenya seem far away from what you are doing. The kids and women are always at the heart of the discussion so that when we sit down with Dana to discuss what needs to be done it feels like a human-to-human interaction, not a volunteer-to-employee dynamic. Having said that, we do need more "volunteers," i.e. awesome people like you (perhaps) who just want to help.

You'll assist us in whatever skills you're most comfortable with as solutions range from helping find online teaching aids to helping with the technical side of computing, programming and web development, to finding team-building and trust exercises for the teachers and kids, to visiting Rusinga Island as a photographer, to suggestions for DIY art and hobby supplies, to raising funds here in Prague; the list goes on. Indeed, one of the most rewarding things you can do for them, here in Prague, is organising a charity event which is exactly what we did at the Globe Café and Bookstore, in May last month.

The team consisted of university students from Anglo-American University like myself, expats working here in Prague, and local Czechs like Dana and Simona where together we came from over four different continents! There was story-telling, a video showing the Island of Hope's history, musical performances (which included artists from the US and The Gambia), an auction, and a stand with different products from Kenya like local coffee, tea, soapstone dishes, and jewellery to name a few. Overall, it was a deeply fulfilling experience to share with strangers the incredible work that Centrum Narovinu does there. We made a substantial difference, we continue to do so, and we're only getting started.

I'm sure you'd like to know some more details, so head on over to our Facebook page (link below) and stalk us all you like. We look forward to seeing you at our next volunteer meeting, which is really more of an information session than anything else. Come ask us questions and find out how you can help. Go check out our Facebook page for exact details and to find out more about us (links below). Look forward to seeing you there. ☺

Milan, Anglo-American University

Facebook Rusinga Island of Hope: www.facebook.com/Rusingaislandofhope
Facebook link: www.facebook.com/CentrumNarovinu
Website:  www.centernarovinu.org
 

Add GIVT's helper to your browser on your computer or laptop, and when you visit the e-shop, it reminds you that you can help… So you will never forget to do a good deed when shopping ☺

In this video, you can see how handy and straightforward GIVT's helper is. And then add it directly to your device givt.cz/ziskat-pomocnika

Thank you for remembering us while shopping online bitly.com/Centrum_Narovinu, we give all contributions to the development of the community on the Island of Hope in Kenya. Thank you in advance for support. ❤

ZOO Dvůr Králové nad Labem

Těšit se můžete na:

• velký koncert zimbabwské skupiny Iyasa a promítání v letním kině – v sobotu 13. července
• dvě malá vystoupení skupiny Iyasa – každý den
• africké tržiště – každý den
• sochání se sochařkou Maudi – každý den

Centrum Narovinu bude u toho také celý týden. Přijďte si nakoupit dárečky Férového obchůdku a v rámci afrických workshopů se přeneste na chvíli do Afriky… Těšíme se na setkání ☺

Více na  safaripark.cz/cz/naplanuj-si-navstevu/plan-akci/africke-leto-2

Zahradní slavnost a pasování na čtenáře se bude konat ve čtvrtek 27.6. od 17 hodin. Centrum Narovinu doplní program o dárečky s příběhem Férového obchůdku.

» Více informací

We are looking for new coordinators for project of Long Distance Adoption
Who is in the team of Center Narovinu? We would like to introduce our volunteers in Kenya and Czech Republic
Introducing new support for our Prague office
We are introducing a team of Island of Hope in Czech republic and in Slovakia
Interesting extra payment for end of the studies
Health insurance helps the children
Our holiday and visit of my children in Kenya
Club of Friends of Adoption
References from school events… Thanks to all involved schools for kind meetings and we are looking forward to further cooperation

Bulletin – June 2019 (printed version for download)
» Other Bulletins

I’m really glad to help Hulda this way. I got the video with Hulda last week. We were all excited at home. It was nice to see her happy and that she appreciates education she gets. She’s really motivated and she knows that a good education means a better life for her and her family. When we watch this video, then it all makes sense to us.

Have a nice day
Blanka Nowak


Hello,
The video was great. We thank you very much for the possibility to see our Milka live. We have a better idea where and how she lives and what we can send to her to make her happy. Thank you.

Have a nice day
Hana Šmídová and family


It was very nice to see her holding my photos of her father, thanks to us. It was very beautiful. It’s all worth it.
Thanks for everything.

Anna


Good evening,
I can confirm receipt of the video and I have downloaded it. Thank you very much. It`s marvellous – we appreciate it a lot.

Vita Beran


Dear Mrs. Jodasova,
Thank you for sending the video. I have downloaded it.
I’m really glad to see Alicia and to know that my support makes sense.
Thank you once again for your work.

Best regards
Marie Kalkusova

Hello Mrs. Jodasova,

Thank you, the video has come. It’s really nice to see where and how the children live. Thank you for your work, I wish you a blessed Christmas.

Hello,
The video has come. We are moved.  We watch it again and again and cry. Thank you very much for arranging the contact with Ereck.

Thank you once again, Olga Skopkova.

Thank you,
Please send a big thanks to your office in Kenya. I have been involved in this project for years and I didn`t really believe in it at the beginning but when my adoptive son called me on my cell phone, all those years became real and it is a fantastic feeling.
Thank you very much for your resolution.

» Thank you for supporting the education of children in Kenya. It makes sense!

In 2004, we began to consider the long distance adoption of a child in Africa. After searching for information on the Internet and meeting with Dana Feminova at the Center Narovinu in Prague, we adopted a girl from Kenya called Metrine Midesha, who was eight years old.15 years have passed, Metrine with our financial support completed primary and secondary school and furthermore she studied tourism management.

After fifteen years of financial support, it was logical that we wanted to see with our own eyes the results of our help. Kenya was exotic and totally unknown to us and we were afraid of the visit. Nevertheless, we decided to buy tickets during spring holiday. And so there was no way back.

Information from the guide seems quite scary for the inexperienced traveller – high crime rate and the danger of being robbed at every corner, mosquito transmitted diseases and so on. That was the reason we ask Dana Feminová to meet us and tell us from personal experience what Kenyan reality was and whether we can survive those 12 days. We learned that January and February are perfect months to travel to Kenya, the weather is stable and it is not raining. For the sake of safety, it is enough to stick to the rule to use only taxi and not to wander on the street after sunset. Against mosquitos you can quite well use garlic, vitamin B and spray purchased in the Czech Republic.

So the last day of January day we flew from Prague to Istanbul and then to Nairobi. We received the necessary Kenya visa after filling in the appropriate forms and paying EUR 40 at the Nairobi airport.

And then we headed to the hotel Shalom, which is near the Center Narovinu. The local taxi driver Peter, kind coordinator who really knows the streets of Nairobi, took care of us throughout our stay in Nairobi.
The very first evening we met with our Metrine at the hotel for dinner. It was a wonderful meeting. For the first time we saw a girl in real life, from whom we first received only pictures, then very simple messages and later longer letters with plans for business and for life of independent and successful women. Last year we started to use WhatsApp so we were more in the picture. Metrine surprised us with her straightforwardness and intelligence. She starts to do business with used clothing, so we brought her a lot of things for sale directly from Bohemia. Our goal was to get to know as much as possible the environment in which she grew up and at the same time take her somewhere where we could discuss her other plans and give her the opportunity to see and experience something completely different.

We visited the biggest Nairobi slum Kibera with another co-ordinator of the Center Narovinu – we did not really expect a tasty lunch for five people for approx. 230 CZE. Next we saw orphanage, where we bought pictures from children to support them. Everyone here was poor, but in a way happy, and what surprised us was that they were pretty dressed. People here live their simple lives, but everything works here.

We also visited school that Metrine attended. We were fascinated by the discipline and friendly behaviour of all children. In each class, they welcomed us with singing and questions about how is life in Bohemia. They liked the most the photos of snow-covered cars and houses we showed them on a mobile phone. We had a chocolate reward for everyone.

The next day we planned to visit Metrine´s home in the slum. Because we are rather vegetarians, we got rice with vegetables – we enjoyed it a lot. We met not only our adopted daughter, but also a granddaughter, Metrine´s mother and coordinator Beatrice. We also had a look at her very modest clothing store and listened to how she wanted to move her business a little further. It was here that we realized that even though it was a very simple slum booth, the purchasing power, albeit at a different level than we are used to, is simply here, and the whole business idea makes perfect sense.

We suggest to take Metrine with us to Diani Beach near Mombasa for a few days and also to safari to Tsavo National Park. That was a reward not only for Metrine, but also for us – we could not wait to leave the town. For the first time, Metrine saw the sea, and although she studied tourism with a focus on safari, she was actually the first time in the national park. She evaluated everything as a great asset. She saw the way animals are searched for so visitors can see them in their natural life, how the park's visitors behave and what they are interested in, how the hotel works in the park… it was not only a wonderful experience but also a great lesson. Then we taught her to swim. First with a diving mask, but in two days she was swimming alone.

On the way back to Nairobi (we tried newly built railway), we were discussing more business options, economic indicators, and modest ways of upgrading and refurbishing of the store. Last day in Nairobi, we only checked the view from the tower of the International Convention Center. It was obvious that Metrine knows all the places in the center of Nairobi, where she lived basically all her life. She escorted us all the way to the airport and we all knew that we didn't see each other for the last time. We would like to see her as a successful woman who can use what she has learned. And we want to continue to help her. If she, too, will be able to help other people in need, all our support will has the real meaning.

In conclusion, we can only say that we like Kenya so much that we are planning another visit in the future.
And our fears of traveling to the unknown we had at the beginning? We've only seen three mosquitos and well, we were robbed, but only for toast bread at breakfast at Diani Beach – monkeys really appreciated it.

Kenya, 30.1. – 11.2. 2019                    Daniela and Vlastimil Moulisovi
 

What we did and where we succeed last year? Check out our Annual Report.

» Annual Report 2018

» Annual Reports

V rámci večera si budete moci zakoupit dárečky s příběhem Férového obchůdku.

Těšíme se na setkání. ☺

Pátek 7. 6. 2019 v 18.00 na nádvoří VIC Kojetín.
Můžete se těšit na derniéru divadla „Keňa není růžová“ a vystoupení bubeníků z Escola de Samba Brno.

» Více na gkj.cz

» Pozvánka na ukončení projektu Keňa (leták)

Centrum Narovinu doplní program o dárečky s příběhem Férového obchůdku a o jedno herní stanoviště s africkou tématikou pro děti a dospělé.

Těšíme se na setkání ☺

Sobota 1.6., 14 až 17 hod, Lesopark Háje, Slaný
Zábavné odpoledne s hraním a úkoly pro rodiče s dětmi.

» Více informací na ostrov-svc.cz

Centrum Narovinu doplní program o dárečky s příběhem Férového obchůdku a o workshopy s africkou tématikou pro děti a dospělé.

Sobota 18. května 2019, 12:00 až 22:00 hod., Park Na Pankráci, Praha 4
Hudba ⦁  tanec ⦁  světová gastronomie ⦁  workshopy ⦁  přednášky ⦁ výstavy ⦁  soutěže

Těšíme se na setkání. ☺
» Více v události na Facebooku

Širokou paletu aktivit Centra a možnosti uplatnění studentů Ostravské univerzity v jeho projektech představí výkonná ředitelka Dana Feminová, hlavní koordinátorka projektů rozvojové spolupráce.

Vstup volný i pro veřejnost.

Pondělí 20. 5. 14.30 až 16.30, Centrum PANT, Čs. legií 22, Ostrava

» Událost na Facebooku
» Více na www.centrum-pant.eu