The past few weeks have been a very special time for all of us at Maua Villa. During the longer school holidays in April, all of our children and teenagers were finally back home together again. Every time our home is filled with so much life, conversation, laughter, and spontaneous dance sessions, it truly warms my heart.
One of the things I enjoyed most was seeing how naturally our older teenagers have begun to take responsibility for the community. They help the younger children with daily tasks, support them with homework, explain the rules of living together, and are always there as mentors and a source of comfort. Watching them grow into such positive role models brings me great joy and reminds me of the incredible work the entire Maua Villa team does each and every day.
Guests from Germany
One of the highlights of the school holidays was a visit from friends from Germany, who are also sponsors of the children’s home. They brought a wonderful surprise with them: a treasure hunt for our children. Together, everyone solved clues, laughed, and worked as a team. We were amazed by how confidently and courageously the children presented the different quiz questions.
The shared dinners led to many meaningful conversations and offered fascinating insights into each other’s daily lives. Questions such as, “Can you really wear whatever you want in Germany?” and “Don’t you have school uniforms?” sparked great curiosity among the children and continued to be discussed long afterwards. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this exchange was an incredibly valuable experience for all involved. And the Macarena dance that the German children taught us? Even weeks later, it remains a firm favourite and is still part of our evening routine.
Puzzle Fever Takes Over the Common House
When we’re not dancing or hunting for treasure, a new favourite pastime has taken over Maua Villa: puzzles. Thanks to these wonderful donations, many of the children now enjoy spending their free time piecing together one puzzle after another. Our record so far is a giant 1,000-piece puzzle, which could only be completed through teamwork, determination, and plenty of patience.
It has been fascinating to watch how puzzling challenges and strengthens the children’s concentration, perseverance, and problem-solving skills. Most importantly, it teaches them the value of sticking with a task even when it becomes difficult. Seeing their pride and excitement when the final piece falls into place is truly rewarding. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated these puzzles. They have brought countless hours of joy—not only to the children of Maua Villa, but to me as well.
Small Steps and One Big Wish
While our community continues to grow closer through shared activities like puzzling, the newest member of the Pamoja family, Peter, is facing a very different journey. For the eight-year-old, almost everything is new. For the first time in his life, he is attending school regularly, and for the first time he is living in a structured environment with clear routines, rules, and trusted caregivers.
Peter comes from extremely difficult circumstances and experienced severe neglect during his early childhood. The impact of these painful experiences is still visible in his daily life. At times, he withdraws completely; at other moments, he reacts with anger or physical aggression. We know that behind these behaviours often lie deep insecurity, fear, and a lack of experience with stable and trustworthy relationships.
As a team, we are working hard to provide Peter with the safety, stability, and care he needs. We want him to know that we are here to stay, that he is not alone, and that there are people he can rely on. Step by step, we hope to help him build trust, discover a love of learning, and find his place within our family.
Sometimes, this journey reveals itself in the simplest and most touching ways. Not long ago, I asked Peter what his biggest wish was. His answer was surprisingly modest: “A lollipop.” Of course, we were happy to make that wish come true. The content smile on his face was a powerful reminder that sometimes it takes very little to bring joy to a child’s heart.
Back to School
The school holidays have now come to an end and the teenagers who attend boarding schools have returned to their campuses. As a result, Maua Villa has become noticeably quieter again. Even so, they remain very much in our thoughts and we are proud to see how our young people continue to grow and develop.
It is exciting to watch their interests and future aspirations gradually take shape. Mwau, who now attends Machakos Boys Senior School, has discovered a real passion for engineering and construction. Little by little, the children are growing into confident young adults who are beginning to recognise their talents and dare to dream about the future they want to build for themselves.
The Rainy Season Brings Our Agroforest to Life
Just as our young people continue to grow in confidence and strength, the past few months have also brought remarkable progress on the Maua Villa farm. Our newly established agroforestry system is developing even better than we had hoped. This growth has been supported by an exceptionally good rainy season, bringing just the right amount of rainfall that we, and the entire region, have needed for so long.
One of the most exciting changes has been the transformation of the soil. Areas that were once dry, compacted and rock-hard are already showing signs of renewed life. The soil is becoming richer, healthier and better able to retain moisture, laying the foundation for a thriving ecosystem. Among the native trees, we are now growing mangoes, macadamia nuts, mulberries, cassava, sweet potatoes, beans, groundnuts and even strawberries.
Thick layers of mulch protect the soil from the intense sun while helping to build valuable organic matter naturally. After just four months, the impact of this sustainable agroforestry system is already clearly visible. It is improving productivity, restoring the health of the land and helping to make our farm more resilient for the future.
One Year with Charles
In May, we had another special reason to celebrate: our social worker Charles marked his first anniversary as part of the Maua Villa team. Over the past year, he has supported our children, helped them navigate various challenges and built meaningful relationships with them. His work in the area of psychosocial support is especially valuable. Much of it happens behind the scenes, yet it plays a crucial role in the wellbeing, healing and development of the children in our care.
Thank you, Charles, for your dedication, compassion and commitment. We are grateful to have you as part of the Maua Villa family!
This brings us to the end of our second newsletter edition. Thank you for walking alongside us on this journey and for making so many of these small and big miracles possible through your support. Your generosity continues to create opportunities, hope and lasting change in the lives of the children and young people at Maua Villa.
Asante sana and until next time, your Anja with the great support of Heike & Jochen