About (Jacky) Eng-Leong Foo

The place for which (Jacky) Eng-Leong feels a fondness or connection:
My place is connected to my work and previously in Cambodia, Western Samoa, Fiji, Uganda. Currently my "place" is at Lower Kabete (15 km west of Nairobi, Kenya) and is a 365-acre area with 4 children's homes (orphans and children on probation), farm land, 2 streams (water), dairy cows and rabbits. I intend to establish a Children's Village and Vocational Centre (CVVC) for youths who can learn and practice skills that they need to develop sustainable livelihoods.

The change (Jacky) Eng-Leong passionately wants to happen:
About 25% of Kenya's population falls under the group called "Orphans and Vulnerable Children" (OVC). Though many NGOs, govt bodies, etc. are helping to provide shelter, food (about 500-1000 KES (~12 to 15 US$) per month per child for food and cooking fuel), primary school education, religion, etc to such children (0-16 yrs old), very very little is planned or done for youths who leave these institutions. They have very little or no skills for work. Youths (14-24 years old) who have finished their probation (for crimes committed) face a much greater problem. CVVC will serve as a "half-way house" for OVC. The pilot phase will be launched in 2008 with NGOs and Govt institutions and aims to initiate activities on food and fuel self-reliance with hands-training on rabbit production, liquid fertiliser production, dry toilets, plant nursery and irrigation methods for intensive raised bed farming. More activities (pending funding) to be implemented in 2009 - liquid detergent production, solar cookers, solar powered water pumping, etc.