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AWARD FOR BR. ANDREA SIFUNA
ICHANGE NATIONS AWARD FOR BROTHER ANDREA SIFUNA
On February 26, 2022, Brother Andrea Sifuna was honoured by the IChange Nations Award at Kamel Park Hotel, in Kisii town, Kenya. The award was given in recognition of his contribution in the field of education, especially in empowering marginalized youth in the education sector through the CP schools. He received the IChange Nations Regional Statesman Award. IChange Nations is an USA-based NGO that identifies and honours people who have excelled in empowering others.
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The transforming power of education
Brother Andrea Sifuna was nominated for the award by two of his former students - one working and living in the USA. Brother Sifuna is a long serving teacher having taught in many secondary schools in different parts of the country. He is a passionate believer in the transforming power of education for the marginalized young people. He is currently enrolled at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in the Department of Educational Psychology, where he is concluding his doctoral dissertation on the ‘Influence of Sexual Attitudes, Gender Norms and Sexual Values on the Education Participation of Secondary School Girls in Homa Bay County’.
Coaching Programme
In the educational sphere, apart from his own direct services as a government teacher spanning over two decades, Brother Sifuna has been instrumental in starting the Coaching Programme at Mosocho, popularly known as CP. CP was simply an affordable secondary school that cut off many appendixes that contributed to anchoring secondary education beyond the reach of the poor. Such appendixes included mandatory school uniforms, rigidly defined school shoes, socks, mandatory school trips, extra levies for remedial teaching, etc. The Coaching Programme focused on what was core and necessary for certification at KCSE level. To make ends meet, the spirit promoted amongst the staff the spirit of ‘giving back’ to the community by volunteering needed services. This attracted many newly trained teachers not yet absorbed by the government to volunteer teaching services in return for some token payments.
The harvest
The idea was quickly noted and replicated by people both within CMM and outside. Soon afterwards, many schools emerged in various places modelled on the St. Patrick’s idea of 1995. It must be kept in mind that at the time these schools were emerging, secondary education in Kenya was not yet free as it is the case now. These affordable day secondary schools were critical in meeting the thirst for secondary education of so many young people in Kenya. Today, thousands of graduates from these schools can be found almost in every sector of employment both within Kenya and abroad.
ELIM WALK-IN LUNCH 12½ YEARS
The Elim Walk-in Lunch is one of the few apostolic works that are still possible in the shrinking Dutch Province of the Brothers CMM. In the Mission Statement of the Congregation, we read: “We take care of the sick and vulnerable, we provide hospitality and assist people in finding meaning and happiness in their lives.” We think the Walk-in Lunch realizes this in a beautiful way and we are especially grateful to the coordinators and volunteers who made it such a successful activity for so long.
Recently, the 12½ year anniversary of the Walk-in Lunch was celebrated in the Elim. The project started at the end of 2009 and was conceived, elaborated and implemented by Brother Jan Koppens CMM, Sister Mariëtte Kinker SCMM and Trees Versteegen (at the time team leader of the Brother Andreas Parish). The project is directed by parish coordinators who also recruit volunteers. The latter form a close-knit and loyal group of which some have already given their commitment for the full 12½ years. Initially every Tuesday and Thursday and now every Tuesday visitors gather. Previously, the Elim brother house was the meeting place, but since the suppression of that community, accommodation has been found in the building of the ‘Youth Interests Foundation’ near the former brother house. The visitors come from all over Tilburg, not just from the neighbourhood where the Walk-in Lunch takes place.
The celebration of the anniversary was heart-warming. There were many ‘walk-in guests’, volunteers, former volunteers and representatives of the Provincial Boards of the Brothers CMM and Sisters SCMM. Brother Paul Damen, who assists with lunch every week, Brother Ad de Kok at table with visitors and volunteers of the Walk-in Lunch.
was master of ceremonies. It gave a warm feeling that visitors still spoke words of praise about Brother Jan Koppens, who often just walked in, but always showed an interest in the guests here and there. One of the guests had made a song. A few sentences from that song convey the feelings that the Walk-in Lunch evokes in the guests:
“Just a roof over some heads, a door that opens for people, a place that makes the day so special; whoever you are, feel at home here, grow old together but also stay young, always connected with those who came before.”
It was a beautiful celebration. The atmosphere of hospitality and togetherness indicated that the Walkin Lunch will continue to exist for many years to come.
