The gamble may have paid off...

While the last couple of weeks has been difficult we received an email today (attached below) that was sent to us as well as all of the short term volunteers that stood beside us embarking on their own missions of exposure and pressure. The email is from the Kenyan director of WWB-essentially the "owner" of the business and the only person that was in charge of all of the decisions, finances, staff, child welfare, etc.

The decision we made has been heavy on my heart since we left not knowing if the gamble of exposure and pressure would force him to retreat or change things for the good. If he had retreated it would've meant turning the children out to unfit homes or to split them up into other orphanages. Instead, for now, he has chosen to make the organization immediately accountable and transparent, I hope recognizing that volunteers from developed countries would not continue to volunteer or financially support his organization otherwise. For once, the internet has been a wonderful thing! We personally managed to send all of the information to the Nairobi NGO headquarters, Child Wefare office, U.S. Embassy and consolate, and past and future volunteers who canceled their placements and/or support of WWB. I know the short term volunteers contacted many people as well including their placement organizations and colleges and hope that he received questioning phone calls from them as well.

In the end I am sorry that we had to take these serious steps and move to another NGO for this to happen but feel so happy that the kids will have a better life because of it. It doesn't matter what Geoff's motivation for this change is, only that it is a significant change in major foundational issues to which he will eventually (if not already) see the benefit of. The first big change and most serious issue that we pressed him on while we were there was that he terminate the social worker named Dona who was in charge of the kids and slept in the girls dorm. He has just done this according to the email and that move alone will improve their lives. We are so happy and grateful that Aaron and Kaitlin (the past development managers) will be consulting with him via email and phone on rebuilding the foundations to begin creating the orphanage as a best practices development project. If we ever had to be the "bad guys" I'm glad it was for this cause. Please see the email below. Thanks for all of the support during this stressful time. Ann, Devin, Naya, and Kai :))

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your great contribution towards making WWB the best practiced community project. Your grievances, good guidance and steadfast love for WWB has helped us immediately take the following steps:

1. Firing the social worker (Dona) who was found guilty of abusing children.

2. Employing an additional staff to be responsible with all WWB finances (sponsorship, women, sanitary, volunteer) books and financial records. The director will no longer keep the books.

3. To maintain highest financial accountability

4. To review the policy of WWB and implement it strictly – Aaron & Kaitlin to help on this.

5. To make a clear breakdown of the volunteer fees – Aaron & Kaitlin to help on this.

6. To maintain the number of volunteers under 10.

7. To operate WWB with highest values, transparency, accountability, honesty, morality and others for the good of children, volunteers and staff.

8. Review the child sponsorship and make it clear to all the sponsors where money is going.

9. To form an international board – under discussion

10. To keep the children at the forefront of everything.

Finally I sincerely ask for forgiveness. I urge you to be of assistance to me as I implement these new changes. Any positive criticism, advice and comment are greatly appreciated.

Yours Sincerely,

Geoffrey Ndungu

WWB Director

+254 724 935 324