Attention all goat lovers, we have a new development in our farmers field school that just might interest you. The EAC is trying to form a milk goat cooperative and we need your help. We aim to bring 3 trainers from the Meru Goat Breeders Association (an organization in Central Kenya), to Takaungu to train our farmers field school members (20 people) on all they need to know to form their own milk goat cooperative. We will then purchase several Toggenburg goats from MGBA, and begin breeding them in Takaungu. Once the goats kid we will begin “lending” the babies to members of the cooperative. Those members will raise the goats (using what they learned from their class), then breed them, then pass the offspring to other members of the cooperative. Once their goats produce, and they pass on the offspring, they become the owners of their goats. The MGBA has had immense success with the 142 groups it has begun over the past 9-years. This project is hard to pass up when you consider the fact that many, many families will have enhanced nutrition, and/or have the potential for earning money from selling the milk, or their goat.

In essence, you get milk goats into the hands of people who could not afford to buy them otherwise, and with just a bit of labor on their part (over about 6-months), they then become the owners of those goats. They can even breed their goats with the local stock to create milk producing offspring.

This is a very exciting project because once the initial investment of training the group members has been made, the project will essentially sustain itself for years and years to come. The cost of bringing the trainers to Takaungu to get us started, the 5- day long training session, building a shelter for the initial batch of goats, and purchasing the original Adam and Eve and Eve etc. is $3,000.00 USD. We have raised $1,150 USD so far. We are excited to move forward with this project, but lack the funds to do so at this time. If you are interested in helping local families get milk goats, which can produce as much as 3-litres of highly nutritious milk each day, please consider making a donation. We will be keeping you updated on our fundraising progress over the next few months. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Please make a donation today —Suzanne Jeneby – Send your checks to EAC PO BOX 95703 Seattle, WA. 98145

When we first arrived here, we were immediately hit by the heat! (and apparently it's going to get hotter still!) but we are assured we will get used to it. We were picked up and taken to our home for the next 3 months; the amazing village of Takaungu. Last Saturday a few of the locals took us on a walking tour of the village; an incredible experience. We met loads of people (everyone here is so friendly, it's considered rude to walk past someone without saying 'Jambo!' or 'Habari'.). The kids are especially cute; they all run up to us to shake our hands and then giggle as we walk away.

Let us try and paint a picture for you. The best way we can think to describe the village is like the Shire in Lord of the Rings. It's very green here; lots of baobabs and coconut palm trees, there are goats, cows and chickens roaming around everywhere too! (The first morning we opened our door to be confronted by 7 chickens.) We're living in a mud hut and we have to put up with every kind of insect you can think of. Nancy cooks us lovely food every day and she even brings us tea and freshly squeezed juice sometimes. (We feel quite privileged here!)

Of course it's not just a holiday. At the moment we're spending our weekdays working on several design and photography projects for the EAC and in the afternoons we either teach an after school tutoring class or have a Swahili lesson. Our evenings are spent relaxing in the Shamba and chatting to Kalume (our night watchman - a lovely man with great stories to tell).

Every day here is an amazing experience! We've learnt so much already; the way of life and the people here are so inspiring. It really makes you realize and appreciate the things that are important. - - Amy and Sara (from left to right)

Here is Kahindi planting the first shovel into the space that will soon become a health clinic at Vutakaka Center.

The EAC is a remarkable grassroots development organization offering real opportunities for positive change in the lives of hundreds of people, each and every day. In order to keep the organization continually running in good order, we are in need of ongoing volunteer support, both in and out of Kenya.

If you are interested in volunteering in Kenya, visit www.comekuona.org (Come Kuona has a brand new website - complete with a photogallery with more than 50 pictures of Vutakaka, Takaungu, and the volunteer compound). Come Kuona is a separate organization, based in Kenya, that recruits and guides volunteers through the entire volunteer experience of working with us at Vutakaka Center in Takaungu, Kenya. We always need more volunteers to help us run the Center. If you have any questions about the program, please email volunteer@comekuona.org.

Moreover, if you have a passion for international development, and/or skills in non-profit / NGO management, and can't get to Kenya but would still like to volunteer, please contact Theresa Wilson at twilson@eastafricancenter.org. We would be happy to list you as one of our "on-call" volunteers in the US. (This means we would contact you if we need extra assistance for specific events or special tasks)