Patient's humane heart moves Finnish family to charitable cause in Kenya

As a tradition, millions of people around the world turn their attention to mark Christmas holidays in different styles in December.

However for Sari Pitkänen, a Finnish national this Christmas season meant something else beyond what has for decades been a cyclical event globally.

She has flown thousands of miles from the Nordic region in Europe all the way to the Western part of Kenya not as a tourist but to lend a helping hand to the most unfortunate in the society. Forfeiting Christmas celebrations for the novel cause, Sari happily describes her charity call that has taken her only two years to answer.

A seemingly tanned Sari beams in cheerful mood as she appears from a moderate kitchen in Yala district to match up with locals' atmosphere. "It is really fascinating place to be. People here are friendly" says as she smiles.

The place is a host to several orphaned children in Western Kenya majority of whom hardly get access to to basic needs. The institution housing Rianna Furaha Children's home and Furaha Seed Academy has however raised hope alive , thanks to individual support and donor aid.

On Christmas eve, Sari and her two family members made their way to Rianna Furaha Children's home. As birth of Jesus do approached at a nearly packed church, well clad followers join in to lively musical jingles as they readied for a lengthy day of festivities ahead. Not all however wore those fashion trends neatly ironed to symbolise one with the occasion.

As for Sari and her two sons; Samu Pitkänen and Jussi Pitkänen who had just landed a few days ago, this was a rare occasion unrelated to their mission albeit mildly celebrating with locals. The trio are here to execute a charitable activity in their maiden visit to Kenya at Furaha Seed Academy.

"Basically our visit is to experience the challenges first hand rather than hearing about it from elsewhere," says Ms Pitkänen. The idea to support was casually coiled following a pep talk by none other than an old patient back in her home country, Finland.

"I actually met with Marjo who's been my patient and we talked about it," Ms Pitkänen explains of the motivation that triggered her to visit and support a clinic project. She notes; I made a decision to help but I didn't know in what way or in which area to help" says a dermatologist with long years of experience on health related issues.

Ms Pitkänen also underlined the confidence given by the existence of Finnish system under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is involved in supporting development of educational projects in Yala through Seed Ry, finnish abbreviation for association.

"It was nice also to know that there was Finnish system behind it and so I can trust them," the retired nurse said during an interview recently in Yala. A massive construction work to develop and extend basic facilities at the institution is underway.

From outpatient clinic, modern library to computer laboratory. Evident from now an under construction clinic, there is fresh mixture of cement and sand, an indication that the Nordic family have been directly engaged in the project.

Director of the Furaha Academy , Patrick Omondi says the involvement of foreign partners from Finland demonstrates great connection with the local projects since 2005. "We are happy that they are here as partners of the clinic and this alone shows how open we are," says Mr Omondi of the Finnish family contribution to charity cause.

Recognizing myriad challenges common in many donor dependant projects, the director says substantive financial support has not been forthcoming though. "Whatever we are getting is not substantial and so we have to rely on other well wishers," decries Omondi.

Finland's government through charity organization Seed Ry has been a major development partner towards the institution's day to day running of its activities for close to ten years now. Ms Pitkanen and the sons are offering technical expertise in the design for the construction of the clinic.

The Pitkänen's family have been directly working at the project site in Yala on the Christmas eve. One of the sons, Samu who is currently undertaking architectural studies back in Finland's highly rated Tampere University of Technology had accompanied her mother to offer technical side to the project.

Apart from development of facilities, the family has expressed intention to have a god - child so as to offer support in Kenya. Praising the efforts of Furaha Seed Academy administrators, Ms Pitkänen said; "it is good to have been here (Kenya) and I am sure that there is several people who wants to help further."

According to the director, future plans relating to sustainability has attracted the institution to venture into economic sources. "We want in future the institution to sustain itself. That is why we have these indigenous breed of chicken here," explains Mr Omondi as he points at a poultry.

The project has been heavily reliant on donor aid from Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs development assistance allocations. It has 50 orphans in the institution a section of them sat for their first class eight candidates inaugural secondary entry examination. However, their future appears bleak owing to tuition fees and other basic requirements in Kenya's education system.