-------- Urgent - MAT team member needs your help - Urgent --------

February 1st 2008.

This is an urgent appeal on the behalf of Simon Agunga, McGregor resident and one of the McGregor Alternative Technology team.

Simon, is from Kenya, his children and his ex-wife are still there. With the country’s political turmoil sliding rapidly towards genocide, he is now desperate. His young children are trapped, and he feels totally powerless due to his lack of resources.

There are so many instances when we look back in horror at the suffering of others, and surely wish that we could have done something. Let us now reach out and assist Simon, helping him to prevent his children from becoming just another Rwanda-style statistic.

Simon must get to Tanzania and from there he can cross the border into Kenya; travel to Kisuma; and then guide his children to safety. We cannot go there for him – the bravery must be his alone – but we can help.

Do you have air miles you can donate? He must fly to get there quickly, although he can return by bus. Can you donate money? The family have to get to the border, and pay want they must to cross over.

So far, Simon has pledges totalling R2000.

• R1000 from a Bahai person in Johannesburg

• R1000 from Marion Paine in McGregor

• An offer of air miles fom Alan

For now, pledges only. But please make them soon, and be ready to quickly fulfil your promises when Simon’s journey becomes a reality.

Please contact Jill Hogan: +27/0 23 625 1533; jill.hogan@mat.org.za Many thanks and gratitude

Update - 12th April
Simon is in the process of applying for refugee status in Canada as there is no means of support for himself and his family in SA, which is very sad. Canada runs a full refugee program and this is what he is aiming for. The two younger children Ken and Jane are with their mother Caroline in Sirari while waiting for this process to be completed. A Bahai family in Johannesburg have taken the two older children Don and Sharon, thus Simon and Caroline are sharing responsibility. We are in the process of getting bank statements, police clearance etc which will make his application in Canada easier. Kenya is once again in a bit of chaos but not as serious as the initial blow up after the elections.

Update - 3rd March
Simon is in the process of bring the boys (and cat) down to Sirari, but he has contracted malaria so will have to go to hospital when he gets there. Fortunately his ex wife is with the girls at friends of theirs.

Update - 27th February
Simon, his ex wife and the two girls Sharon and Jane are in Sirari, which is on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. He says the motor boat that brought them down Lake Vitoria was too small to take them all so the boys have been left with friends in a town called Hola Bay with friends and Simon is travelling up on Saturday to fetch them to join the rest of the family. He says they are all fine but have a huge problem as Don has refused to leave his cat, said if cat stays so does he which I must admit endears me to him, but I don't know how they are going to sort that one out. Two boys and a cat! Simon says traveling down on the Lake they have missed all the violence. He will be in touch once the boys (and cat) are safe.

Update - 24th February
Simon and his family are now in a little town outside Kisuma and tomorrow morning early they are going by bakkie to Lake Victoria where Simon has arranged a boat to take them down south. He will be out of contact for a couple of days, many prayers and light needed on this journey of lightness

Update - 8th February
Many thanks to all the wonderful and kind responses to our appeal. We have already received pledges for about half the money Simon needs which is absolutely amazing.
We have also had a wonderful response re air miles and Simon is booked to fly up to Dar es salaam on Wed 13th, next week.

Unfortuately we could not get him across to Mwanza by air before the 19th so it is going to be quicker for him to go by bus.

We have been very touched by the compassion shown for Simon and say many thanks and our heart felt gratitude for the continual giving we are experiencing

Bless you all
Lots of Love Jill

Update - 6th February
We have already raised about half of the money needed to get the children out, and hope to book Simon's flight this week.

Simon and his children

Family Photo

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