Messaggio da Korogocho

["Kariobangi Catholic Church" <combonikario at clubinternetk.com> (by way of Alessandro Marescotti <a.marescotti at peacelink.it>)]

carissimi! jambo!  
3 messaggi in uno.....
vi mando un invito importante...
cominciamo a korogocho la civic education sulla costituzione....molto
bollente....sara un tempo strano e speriamo.....proficuo...
tuko pamoja

P. Daniele Moschetti
Korogocho

1000KM MARATHON IN
SOLIDARITY WITH BLAST VICTIMS

One thousand is really along distance particularly if it has to be
covered on foot, a midst shouts of impossible, ‘lies’ God knows what,
from pessimists.  This is the distance that a group of 13 athletes
and four officials of St. John Sports Society, Korogocho (SSS)
covered.  The marathon involved running from Dar es Salaam to
Nairobi.  The managers of a private tour company that operate a
business at the site where terrorists associated with Osama Bin Laden
killed Tanzanians flagged off the marathon.  The bomb last at the
same time killed more than 250 Kenyans.  Both blasts targeted the
American Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.  Besides the
7th
 August 1998 bomb lasts in the
two East African cities, other subsequent bomb blasts have killed people
and destroyed property in Kenya, Egypt, US, Spain and recently in
London.

The society, which brings together ten different sports, therefore
responded to the global call against International terrorism.  
The Marathon was organized to be in solidarity with all the victims of
socio-geopolitical terrorrism.  Each athlete covered a distance of 5
km in turn until the day’s programme was complete.  The seven 
day programme was organized to cover a given distance from 90km-200km
each day.  Each athlete covered about 20km per day.  The twelve
athletes were drawn from different age groups, from 22-56 years. 
Each day started with short prayers and breakfast before the
marathon.  The evenings were preferred for brief evaluations of the
day’s activities and a mass celebrated by Fr. Daniel Moschetti, the
chairperson of the society.

The true spirit of East African community was perhaps present through out
the trip.  At every stopped, the Kenyan and peace flags, flying
beautifully on top of our bus, attracted tens of curious on
lookers.  In their characteristic brotherliness, the Tanzanians
welcomed us.  We exchanged ideas with different groups of
people.  Many of them got surprise presents of marathon T-shirts,
the theme of the activity ‘Marathon for not forgetting’ well
inscribed.  The high light of this hospitality was a brief moment
with the Tanzanian vice  President who stopped and wished the group
good luck.  A walk and cycling supplemented the athletes.

As the marathon came to an end, instead of tired hopeless people, all the
participants wore faces of people satisfied with their mission, completed
against all odds.  At the Nyayo stadium, the  athletes were
joined by other participants from different parts of the society. 
The now enlarged group triumphantly entered the city centre, singing
songs of victory against terrorism and condemning all perpetrations of
terrorism.  The 1998 bomb blast victims who have been on a hunger
strike at the 1998 bomb blast memorial  welcomed the athletes. 
CKRC Secretary Patrick Lumumba who joined the victims advised them not
only to look at the American government but also call upon the government
of Kenya to take responsibility.

At the end of the day, it was evident that when  people are united
and committed for a mission, no matter how difficult it may seem, it will
always be successful.  Perhaps its good to read from the SSS
motto:  Pamoja Tunaweza.



THOUSANDS AT THE ‘BACK PINOCCHIO FESTIVAL’


A bout 3,000 people recently attendant the much celebrated
‘Pinocchio’ festival at St. John Catholic Church, Korogocho.  The
show, adopted from the Black Pinnocchio play by a group of former street
children from Dagoretti Child in Need Programme, brought together street
children from different street children homes in Nairobi, including Bomas
Rescue Children centre, Korogocho street children Programme among
others.

AMREF Italy and St. John Catholic Church Korogocho jointly organized the
festival.  They presented  to the world the tremendous talents
which would otherwise rot on the streets.  The black Pinocchio play
has been staged in different cities in Italy.  The play presents the
struggles of the poor people particularly parents who have to do all
sorts of odd jobs to provide for their children.  ‘Black Pinocchio’
the main character, struggles throughout the play to fulfill his dream of
getting good educations so that he can get a good job and buy his father
a new coat.  His father owned only one tattered coat, which he had
to exchange with books to take his son, Pinocchio to school.  The
play also castigates the society’s love for free and lazy
lifestyle.  A group of Young people are happy that they will be sent
by a fire eater to a land where everything will  be free and there
will be no work. Each one of them looks forward to this great land where
each of them will get all they need free.

The festival also featured performances with instruments such as water
containers, acrobats and dancers.  
Korogocho location chief graced the occasion.  Addressing the
audience, he thanked the event organizers for highlighting the talents of
the street children.

ST. JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH ,KOROGOCHO
BOX 47714 00100 GPO NAIROBI
TEL 254  020  780430
MOBILE; 0733-702972
E-MAIL: combonikario at clubinternetk.com


PRESS RELEASE

DR.  LUMUMBA TO OFFICIATE
CIVIC EDUCATION

Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) Secretary General
Dr.  Patrick Lumumba will this Sunday
28th
 August 2005 officiate a civic
educations programme at St. John Catholic Church, Korogocho.

The Programme will sensitize the wananchi on the  Draft Constitution
and prepare them for the referendum.  The functions will commence at
2 p.m and will target the residents of Korogocho, Dandora, Baba Dogo and
Ruaraka.

Meanwhile, Dr.  Lumumba is scheduled to hold a similar functions at
Kariobangi Catholic Church, on
4th
 September 2005 at 2 p.m
.  The functions will target residents of Mathare North, Huruma,
Kariobangi and Light Industries