30/03/2012 - Fr. Richard at Recollection

Today Fr. Richard spent the day animating recollection at the Felician Sisters.He has been confessor of the community for sometime now and all seems to be going smoothly.

There was a request to hire our Caterpillar to lift some oods at Embu Airstrip. The man requesting for this will be contacting us soon.

Students prepare for Scienc congress

Our students have almost finished their exams. Tomorrow some students will go for science congress at St. Theresa Secondary school in Kithimu

Fr. Felice Sponsorship Programme

Fr. Rector came back from Nairobi. He has good news that Fr. Felice, through sponsorship program has sponsored 15 students in technical Institute. He gave a cheque of Kshs 450,000 that Fr. Maina deposited in our CBA account in Nairobi. We thank Fr. Felice for that great love for the youth of Embu. May God bless him and Fr. Zuffetti

Rector to Nairobi

Fr. Maina left late this morning for Nairobi for his medical check up. He is was to check also on our Microwave oven that was taken to Nairobi for repair after its transformer was damaged by low voltage from our Generator.

Students begin their end term exam

Today our students, from both schools, begun their end term exam. All of them are busy and occupied and one can see the seriousness they have.

Sunday

It happened to be another peaceful Sunday without any breach of tranquility. The three priests of our community celebrated Masses and we were able to cover Our Community, FMA School, Ngenge Secondary School, Rwika Technical Institute and Muthatari Prayer House. For Rwika Technical Institute this will be the last Mass this term.

Urgent Works

Today a few workers came to continue work in the Carpentry workshop. There is a lot of pending works and we want to beat the deadline. We have work on Church benches, Doors, Chairs. In the metal WOrkshop we have Machine pieces for HARDI Kenya Ltd and Chairs for Double M.  Our workers are showing a lot of determination.We are thinking of raising the Salary of the minimum paid worker to 5% of the basic salary

23/03/2012 Embu County TVET Alliance

A few Private and Technical Insitutions have come together in order to work for the good of the Young people. These insititions include Mary Mazzarello Technical Institute, Don Bosco Embu Technical Institute, Tenri Youth Polytechnic, Glamaland Instutite, Laura Vicuna Institute. TOday we help a meeting at Tenri Youth Polytechnic and all the members present insisted on the need to work together and cooperate in programmes. We all agreed that our Alliance will be called EMBU COUNTY TVET ALLIANCE. Also we set some common activities liek Sports Day, Talent Show, Skills Competition Day and also, for next year, Charity Day.

Fr. Richard Back from Nairobi

Fr. Richard left this morning for Nairobi to take the dynamo that has been having faults. He managed to be back to the community by 8:30 pm.

Our Pick up is ok now after replacing carbon brushes on the starter motor.
Fr. Maina has been working on the Via Don Bosco project and it is really a headache

Generator faults

This morning Fr. Maina, with some boys from technical Institute, went to Thiba farm to see some of the innovations in that farm. This morning Technical Institute students went for planting on the plot assigned for beans this season. They did quite a good job.

One our our dynamo fo rthe generator has been faulty for sometime now. Fundi has taken it for rewinding but when it came back it failed to work properly. It will be taken back to Nairobi tomorrow by Fr. Richard

Repairs of Vehicles

Our vehicles have given us a hard time today. Wehave to diagnise more what is happening with the starting system of the pik up and the Prado. We have to remove the starter motor of Pick Up and we hope it is just carbon brushes that are worn out

Calm Sunday

The day was good and calm. Fr. Peter went for mass at Ngenge Secondary school and Rwika Technical Institute. Fr. Richard to Muthatari and Fr. Maina in our community and Don Bosco Girls. In the afternoon Fr. Richard went for youth meeting at Siakago Parish; invited by FMA. It was on strenna for the year 2012. Siakago Girls, St Anthony, DOn Bosco Technical and the Laura Vicuna Centre participated.

This afternoon Fr. Peter left for Nairobi. Tomorrow he is supposed to travel to Dar Es Salaam to attend a meeting 

Two of our vehicles have problem with electrical system. The Pick up, maybe, has problem with alternator. Prado, alternator seems not to be charging the battery as required

Fr. Maina's relations in the community

We were privileged to host the relatives of Fr. Maina today. They had come from Murang'a and Nairobi

Friday, Way of the Cross

We are yet in another Friday of the Lent and this evening we had the way of the Cross. It was a solemn moment where our students participated fully and showed the real love for the passion of our Lord.

Most of the woek in the workshops is progressing very well and we pray that the same spirit, demonstrated by our workers and students, will continue for the good of our institution.

Visit by Fr. Jose Pastor Ramierez & Fr. Giuseppe Casti

Today the Rector went for Rectors meeting in Nanyuki. He came back late afternoon. In the evening we had visit from two Salesian Family delegates from Rome, Frs Jose and Giuseppe. They were accompanied by Our Vice-Provincial, Fr. Simon Asira. Later they left for Nairobi since they have some commitments in Nairobi tomorrow morning.

Tech Staff meeting

This afternoon the staff of Technical Institute had a meeting to evaluate on the result for the Trade Test 2011. It was noted that a total of 9 students failed the exam. It was sadly obderved that most of these students failed because they were over confidennce and some of the never completed their projects during the exam but they were quick to hand in incomplete work although they had not exhausted the time given. ALl teachers were requested to insist on good behaviour among students and seriousness in the training.

Fork Lift fixed and functional

Our Fork Lift which had bad leakage has been fixed today. Fr, Maina managed to buy the necessary seals in Nairobi yesterday and today the machine was functional. What we need is to buy Hydraulic oil since the one we had had gone to waste since the leakage had been too serious. We thank Mr. Alfred Ochieng for having done a very commendable job by diagnizing the fault on the machine and recommending this remedy.

Rector back in the community

Rector came back from Nairobi today. Also Fr. Peter Mtunga came back after dropping back priest who had visited our community; Administrator of Mahenge Diocese in Tanzania.

Focolare at Marist

Focolare group left this morning for a Rally at Marist in Nairobi

Via Don Bosc, 10/03/2012

Today all those incharge of the the COMIDE project which has changed name to Via Don Bosco ,et at DBYES for briefing on the project for the year 2014 - 2016. New initiatives are invited that will consolidate our work.

Lastly we got draft of the plan for the new dormitory. Few modifications are needed.

Sports at Kangaru School

Today our students went for sports at Kangaru School. They will be going back there tomorrow to continue with games and sports. The criteria for going there is that one should have attained C+ and above in the academics and also have good behaviour.

Fr. Richard returned from Nairobi this evening. He has come together with Brother Benedict. We welcome Br. Benedict warmly in our community.

Fr. Richard to Nairobi

Fr. Richard left this morning to attend administrators meeting in Nairobi

Fr. Richard to Thika

This morning Fr. Richard left for Thika and Ruiru for business. He is expected to go to Nairobi tomorrow for Administrators Meeting.

Fr. Mtunga preaching for Recollection

Today Fr. Mtunga was invited to give a recollection to the clergy at the Clergy house. It was a good occasion. He narrated the experience where he had to preside over the Eucharist Bishop being present for the same. It is exceptional to have such a chance.

SEPC Meeting, Visit to St Luke Childrens Home, Talk at Mary Mazzarello Technical Institute

The first meeting with the New SEPC members was held today from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm. Most of the members attended. It was the best attended meeting. During the meeting the new SEPC executive committee was elected.

Chairman - Michael Maringa

Vice Chairperson - Lucy Nderitu

Secretary - Dorothy Njuki

Vice Secretary - Mark Lewis Nyaga

Treasurer - Anisia Murigi

We talked at lengthy about the good results from the Secondary Schoool for KCSE. The students did better than we expected. Remedial clasess have started for the current Form 4 students to make sure that they will perform well in their KCSE this year.

A group of students went to visit Deaf and dumb children at St. Luke Children's home. It was initiative of our students and we are pleased with such gesture of kindness and generosity. The items donated to the children were given generously by our students.

Technical Institute Students went for an afternoon exchange programme at Mary Mazzarello Institute. It was an important exchange programme because it makes them open their minds to the challenges facing young people.

KAVA meeting

KAVA metropolitan meeting was held at Child Welfare Embu. The members present came from Nyeri, Marsabet, Isiolo, Murang'a Dioceses. The meeting began with introduction of each member present. All members, from various groups and congregations, shared tehir charism and work in the Dioceses they are working in.

Luch was served at 1:00 pm and all enjoyed it. In the afternoon we went to the Cathedral Church for the Mass and a visit, showing around those who have come to Embu for the first time.

Airstrip work

Today one company, by name Hypertech, reuested for our Fork Lift. We told them that it was defective and was pouring out so much Hydrauilic oil but they volunteered to go and buy the oil. We managed to put in place all the two generators eacgh weighing 5 tonnes. The promised to help us find parts for the Fork Lift.

Ndege Ndogo Project delayed

Luca, who has been following up Ndege Ndogo Project logistics left Kenya a disappointed man. The priest incharge of Materi Parish where project had to take place gave him a very hard time such that he had to leave earlier and put the project on hold. We have already the plane in the store and we do not know how long we have to keep it. The hangar construction is almost ready. We wait and see.