Timeline

  • 2004

    First Mission Team Comes

    Ray Sparling and team from Village Church make the first mission trip to Eldama Ravine and Cheppema Children's Home.

  • 2008

    Abuse at Cheppema

    • Kenya election results in violence; a few impacted children later come to EBCCK
    • Discovered abuse at Cheppema Children's Home
    • Lived in temporary housing for 9 months

  • 2009

    The Beginnings of EBCCK

    • Local BOD buys 9.3-acre property
    • Formation of Elma Barnett Children's Centre, Kamonong (EBCCK)
    • Boys' dorm is completed
    • Children move in during June
    • Girls' dorm is built with funds from RBCPC

  • 2010

    Formalizing EBCCK

    • EBCCK established its reputation and charible status in Kenya
    • CBO (Community Based Organization), NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), CCI (Charitable Children's Institution)
    • Girls dorm completed

  • 2011

    Beginnings of Walindwa

    • Jill Weller recruits Walindwa BOD
    • Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church support
    • Village Church of Rancho Santa Fe support
    • Solar lanterns distributed in Kamonong
    • EBCCK dining/kitchen area & childrens resource center built
    • Infrastructure work: drilled well

  • 2012

    We Double Our Land

    • Feb: Walindwa incorporated in California
    • Raised $35,000 for land aquisition
    • Purchase of 12 acres adjacent to current 9 acres
    • Walindwa's first newsletter
    • Oct: 200 solar lanterns distributed in Maasai Mara

  • 2013

    Sponsorship Begins

    • 501c3 determination letter received!
    • Mother's Day sponsorship drive at RBCPC
    • Peaceful election in Kenya
    • Mammograms for Mamas program with Moms in Prayer of Eldama Ravine
    • High school starts construction with form I and admin building; August dedication ceremony
    • 48 kids; 30 are supported by 22 sponsors
    • Raised $24,000

  • 2014

    Elma Kamonong HS Opens

    • Elma Kamonong High School opens with a form I class of 20 students
    • Mr. Richard Keter leaves retirement to serve as EKHS principal
    • Pfizer Corp donation of 20 laptops
    • Walindwa BOD welcomes Carole Ericson & Kevin Keller

  • 2015

    EKHS Continues to Grow

    • 34 students in EKHS forms I & II
    • Begin construction of classrooms for form III & IV
    • Computer project establised
    • Donations for bunk beds
    • New toilets for EKHS students
    • Purchase of brick making machine
    • Lighting added to EKHS dorms, kitchen, dining
    • Wooden doors replaced with steel
    • Raised $135,000

  • 2016

    EKHS Enhancements

    • Form IV classroom construction completed
    • Boarding dorms for EKHS boys and girls
    • Rain gutters and water collection tanks installed
    • Chickens are all cooped up in the Poultry Pavilion
    • Fund raising for Science Center
    • EKHS dining hall and kitchen

  • 2017

    Science & Solar

    • Girls and boys dorms at EKHS are complete
    • EKHS Dominguez Family Science Center
    • Harriet Richmond Solar Array
    • 64 students (pre-K to university)
    • Raised $195,000

  • 2018

    E-Readers Donated

    • Anne Murigu joins Walindwa BOD
    • 120 students at EKHS
    • 34 seniors in 2nd graduation class
    • First building for teacher housing
    • Progress on bringing electricity to campus
    • EKHS dining hall used for church services & community events
    • Children's slide and flower garden at EBCC in memory of Della Weller

  • 2019

    Welcome Principal Ouma

    • Electricity! Finally!
    • Former student Henry Ouma selected as EKHS Principal
    • Welcomed 8 new students to EBCC
    • eReaders for primary students
    • Teacher Enhancement program begins
    • Second staff housing four-plex
    • Tile flooring added to EBCC dorms and dining hall

  • 2020

    Library & Computer Centre

    • Broke ground on Weller/Sparling Library & Computer Centre
    • COVID-19 spans the globe