The Saint Clare Girls’ Center’s Photojournalism class interviewed the founders of Friends of Kenyan Orphans (FOKO), Madam Sue and Mr. Bud Ozar when they were at St. Clare for their annual trip in March 2012.  This is the second part of the interview conducted by the girls.

Christine:            How do you manage to get the money contributed for the building of the school?

Md. Sue:            By writing letters to friends in America, Germany and Singapore.  Sometimes we also bring friends to St. Clare so that they can see how wonderful the girls are. We also ask for help on our web page and by writing articles.

Mr. Bud:            We also give talks in churches so that people may contribute. We spend most of our time traveling around the country to talk about these wonderful girls. As we travel to some schools some students help out. We spend 12 to 14 hours per day and seven days per week on this.

Lydia:         Are there people from your country who support you in this mission? Are there others who don’t believe in your work?

Md. Sue:            Yes, there are many people who support us. Many of them have huge hearts and they are willing to help the poor girls like you children. There are also others who do not believe in the work that we are doing, but the majority are those who believe and support us.

Irene K.:            Do you still have enough time with your families?

Md. Sue:            Oh, yes. We do have time with our families. All we do is to plan to  have time with our families and spend much time with them.  Although they complain that we have paid much more attention to Africa (she laughs). My children say they wish they were small                                     Kenyan children so that more of our attention can be paid to them.   The real thing is that we try our best to have time with them.

Agnes:            How are you planning for every pupil/student at St. Clare in the  future?

Mr. Bud:            We are focusing on completing the building and sponsorship for  every single child’s support. We plan to bring many people with us on our trips here to meet you.

Pauline:            What do you think you might feel when you see girls  succeeding and joining highly qualified universities like Joseph Mutuma did?

Md. Sue:            Probably, I will be very proud, most impressed and a most happy person.

Mr. Bud:            This will make me very happy since Md. Sue and I want you girls to find happiness in life. Joseph Mutuma has really impressed me even the way he conducts himself in the college. I will be very happy to see you girls like Joseph. We are hoping to see all of you in                                       colleges and universities, and be successful women.

 Nancy:            When you come to Kenya to visit the children, what challenges  do you meet? Do you see any change to the children and the school? Or do you find it the same as when you left?

Md. Sue:            It is not a challenge for me to be here. The only thing that I see that is difficult is when many people come to me for help and I cannot give it. And it is very hard to leave you.

Mr. Bud:            We do see a lot of changes in you. You are more organized.  There is a good environment. You are becoming beautiful women and wise ladies.

Both:                        There is wonderful change.

Pauline:            How do you manage to continue helping an institution like St.  Clare when you find some things that are disorganized, like clothes on the floor, dirty pavements/ classes? How do you  tolerate it and manage to make the next visit?

Md. Sue:            Oh! I just ignore this since I understand that the girls are young and  some of them do not know how to take care. We also have families and know this is how little girls are.

Mr. Bud:            There is a great improvement in the cleanliness of the sanitation block, so I understand that you girls are taking care of things and are educating the little girls on how to take care of things.

Mercy:            Since the time you have been at St. Clare and the time you have spent with the girls, how can you describe them?

 Md. Sue:            Words to describe girls at St. Clare are beyond comprehension. But  if I am really urged to describe them, I would say that they are intelligent, open, joyful, hardworking, friendly, affectionate,  welcoming, attentive students and lastly I can describe them as  “special girls”.

Mr. Bud:            The girls at St. Clare really give me hope in my mission. They are  young leaders and missionaries in training. I call them “special girls” also just as the twelve disciples, they were called aside to be  trained so that they can also continue with God’s mission in the                                     future. They are girls of much honor and are full of virtues.

(The girls in the Photojournalism class designed their interview with Madam Sue and Mr. Bud Ozar.  They then conducted the interview, took the photographs and put the interview into words for FOKO’s web page.  Continue your wonderful work, ladies!)

(Pictured below are Purity, Mr. Bud and Mercy and Madam Sue and Ann.)