Paula In The Peace Corps

Bittersweet . . . Goodbye

2011-02-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

In mid January I left my wonderful friends and adopted families behind in Kenya . . . it truly was a bittersweet goodbye. Even though I was "temporary" they never made me feel that way. I miss their smiling faces and their always welcoming greetings. It didn't matter if you were gone for a minute, an hour or one week they were always happy to see you return and made you feel so good. They are truly happy people regardless of what else is going on in their lives. There is always a smile ready to welcome you.

I returned to my temporary but welcoming "home" (Dad and Noreen's in Idaho)to very cold weather and relieved family members and friends. Maybe they weren't sure I would return? I also returned to stacks of mail even though Dad did a great job of sorting the important stuff . . . we took 12 lbs of shredding to the "shredding place" not to mention the "stuff" that didn't need shredding . . . amazing waste. Lots of new and changed technologies have come around since I was paying attention in 2008 - Wii, that was fun!! I have yet to "get it" but it was FUN!! Thanks sister Mindy - who kicked my ---- in all dance moves, games and other "stuff". Some I have yet to see or experience. There is still time, I think. I was clueless about movies, politics and the contenders for the Superbowl. Yeah . . . Packers!! The politics got more angry and hostile and Superbowl commercials got more expensive - all so important in the USA. My tongue is a bit sore from biting it often although not as often as is probably prudent. I found the people in Idaho very friendly and it is soooo clean here. You really have to look hard for trash and litter. That I really appreciate and I hope they do too.

I am struggling with the "what's next" question from everyone and the excess that seems to be a part of most lives. RELAX, I'll get there with the next chapter of my life soon enough and I'll try to avoid the excess part at least with most material things. A friend introduced me to a great fitness club (KOKO Fit Club) so I can relieve some stress that returned VERY quickly and try to get back 2 plus years of little cardio. My heart is loving it!! Well maybe excess in exercise . . . it is my current social life. Any way, one step at a time, few plans, little scheduling except that tax due date that didn't go away . . . back to IT.

I'll reconnect with Kenya soon through friends just to check in and tell them I miss them and I am thinking about them and will continue to "help" however I am able. Their faces and circumstances remain in my thoughts and dreams. I will not forget.

Thanks to Peace Corps for the experience of a lifetime and to family and friends for their support and encouragement during the past months. I will treasure the experience as it will keep me humble and thankful. I would encourage any and all who can take a "break" from their current life to take a look at giving back through Peace Corps. You will not regret your decision, if chosen to serve.

When your heart and mind is motivated to give responsibly to help others . . . please remember the "kids in Kenya" through www.makindu.org (Oregon) or www.wingsofpeaceinternational.org (Florida). I know these organizations and your generous donations do make it to the people for whom it is intended and they do MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! A little goes a long, long way to help these children.

Peace and Love to ALL!!

Paula; RPCV

Bittersweet Days . . .

2010-12-20T01:46:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Nairobi;

December 18th was my last "official" day with MCC. The two years really did fly by and now it is time to think about returning to the US. I have tried to book a ticket three times and I am on my third failure, maybe there is a message there.

I will be in Makindu through most of January finishing up a few secondary project issues and saying good-byes. While I an anxious to see all of you . . . it is not that easy to leave. I really have enjoyed all the people I have met here.

MCC was a wonderful experience and I am sure that I am taking more away than I could ever give to them. Living and working with people of a different culture is the best experience I could ever have imagined. While you really cannot walk in their shoes, the Peace Corps experience lets you get as close as I believe is possible. I had an experience more rewarding, challenging and fulfilling than I could have wished.

I leave MCC at a time when they are moving forward to self sustainability under the leadership of Michael,a director with great vision and motivation to make MCC all it can be for the orphans and vulnerable children it currently supports. The indigenous poultry keeping project, the dairy cow project together with our new rainwater catchment system and a "master plan" for shamba (farm) planting and a promise from well-wishers from the Sikh Temple to construct two classrooms . . . the future is bright for Makindu Children's Centre!!! The new staff and volunteers are motivated and active in making all projects move forward to benefit the guardians and children of the Centre. I really enjoyed working with them and will miss them greatly. They hosted a wonderful going away party for me last Saturday. Many wonderful and kind words were spoken and of course, I cried . . . they gifted me with a beautiful wooden bowl, carved with a thank you message, their name and logo. I will treasure it, surely!!!

We are in Nairobi this week, signing out . . . all the Peace Corps paperwork is being completed for our Close of Service. A few of us are traveling to Oloitokitok to spend Christmas with our original Kenyan families. I will also have an opportunity to meet with the KISMA - Angels in Kenya groups (caregivers and children)on our school sponsorship program. I will gift them with a nice donation from my family members to help with the start of the 2011 school year. THANK YOU!!!

Thanks to each of you who supported me during my Peace Corps service I will be forever thankful to you. You truly made a difference in my life while I was away.

Think about Peace Corps if you want a wonderful fulfilling challenge no matter your age. It is the best decision I have made to date.

Reminder . . . donations are always welcome to support these two wonderful project for children . . . Makindu Children's Centre through Makindu Children's Program, Eugene, OR; USA and KISMA - Angels in Kenya through WOPI, Wings of Peace International, Winter Springs, FL; USA.

Thanks again to all!!! Merry Christmas and the very best to ALL in the coming year!

Happy Birthday to my family members in December; Mindy and Mindy and Noreen.

See most of you very soon. Love, hugs, peace and good health!!! Paula

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-23T00:30:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have a wonderful Thankgiving!! A few of us PCV's are getting together to celebrate with turkey and most of the trimmings. We have no oven this year so . . . we are trying to compromise and cook with a combo of boiling and grilling - should be an adventure!! We have a VERY fresh turkey however . . . in fact I believe it is currently still running around in Matuu, Kenya before it lands on our plates. We will prematurely celebrate thoughts of a bountiful harvest that we hope will come in Kenya this year, if the rains cooperate. Enjoy family and friends at this joyous time. Think of us as we will be thinking of you!! This will be my last Thanksgiving in Kenya as I hope to join you in the US for the next one. Love to all!! Paula

P.S. To Yesterday's Blog . . . Family Birthdays

2010-11-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to my family members celebrating in November and December . . .
Tori, Pamela, Steven, Shelli, Noreen, Mindy (Idaho), Bailee and Mindy. Have FUN!!!

Things are "Happening" at MCC

2010-11-05T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hey ALL!!!

Exciting things are happening at Makindu Children's Centre. Our Director, Michael, has lead us through the process which has allowed for two good income generating activities with a lot of potential for our Centre and its beneficiaries. Our dairy project is coming along well - we have 3 full grown milk cows and one calf; we are selling around 25 plus litres a day with more volume anticipated. One of our cows should calf within the next few weeks. We lost one calf due to a birthing problem but the mother is doing fine. We also have around 960 indigenous chicks (a few didn't make it; expected mortality rate 5%) which will be sold in approximately four months for a nice profit. Delivery of an additional 1000 is expected soon. The program for the chicken enabled a few groups of our MCC guardians to participate as investors then with the profit (forced savings plan) from their investment they will be able and encouraged to start their own businesses. This is a project that can and will improve the livelihoods of our orphans and guardians. It is sustainable and requires a fairly minimal investment.

Rainwater catchment gutters and tanks are also now installed on one building at the Centre so we can capture the rainwater from our roof. This happened just in time for the short rains that have just now started. Rainwater catchment was something I really wanted to see for the Centre. Piped water is very expensive and the salt content is so high that it isn't very good for animals or for crops. This will help all around. Some generous friends from the Sikh Temple in Makindu and other friends from the US made this dream happen. The water engineer estimated that we can harvest 90,000 litres from our all of our roofs. We have another Sikh friend considering some financial assistance so we can do the guttering on the other roof and capture even more rainwater.

I haven't been in Makindu for a couple of weeks. I have had meetings then our Close of Service Medical review took a few days. I had a small medical problem (nothing serious) so I am still in Nairobi but will be returning to Makindu next week. In between, I will be in Loitokitok for a couple of days assisting with some training for the newest group of volunteers. I think we are up to around 150 in Kenya now.

These last few weeks will fly by . . . it is hard to believe that our service is almost complete and that it has been two years. I am Planless Paula at this moment but will most likely return to the USA sometime in January. It is difficult to leave all the people who have been in my life in many different ways for the last two years. In fact, some of the volunteers aren't leaving but are extending their service to a third year and many are looking for jobs here in Kenya - which may be an easier task than back in the US at the moment.

That's it on my end . . . I hope all are healthy and happy!!

Happy Birthday!!! to my family members celebrating in November. Sorry, I don't have my book with me to type all of your names and didn't want to leave anyone out.

Also, Happy Thanksgiving!! We are trying to do a little gathering, maybe even with a turkey, at a PCV's site outside of Nairobi. Enjoy your day!!

All the best, as always!! Paula

P.S. Please remember; Makindu Children's Program; in USA for Makindu Children's Centre; Kenya and Wings of Peace International in USA for Loitokitok, Kenya for donation opportunities. Every dollar makes a difference in the life of a child.

What's New in Makindu . . .

2010-09-22T03:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all!!!

All is good in Makindu. We are very dusty and windy and getting ready for the rains which are due within the next few weeks. The brickmaking season is ending and the planting season will begin soon. Some of us are looking hopefully forward to our farmers planting many other crops besides, or at least, in addition to, maize. We will see. Change happens very slowly. We are rooting for sorghum, millet and green grams and cow peas!!! Drought resistent. East African Breweries are encouraging farmers to plant sorgham as there is a ready market as an ingredient in beer. Some of our farmers are taking advantage of this idea so we will see their success, hopefully. If there is some success, others will surely follow next season.

MCC's dairy cow project is going on well. Our cow is giving more milk every day and we are looking forward to her projected volume of 15 litres a a day; currently she is just over 13. Her calf still "knows" her mother so the calf remains in a separate pen until she "forgets" her mother and is not running for her milk each time she sees her. Our other cow is due to give birth anytime now so we are waiting anxiously for that day. Our kuku kienyeji (indigenous chicken) project is getting underway, also. This is my personal favorite as it is something that all farmers in our area can easily do. The fencing and shelter is being constructed this next week and we expect delivery of 1,000 two day old chicks the first part of October. We are also working on a water catchment project at long last. I am hopeful that we will have that completed to take advantage of the rains that should come very soon. The children are also doing well. The new staff is very focused on what needs to be done to continue to make the program better and grow with the many needs of children. Currently we have 419 children under the care of 253 guardians in four sites. The program continues to provide valuable education, nutrition, medical and counseling support to children(most are orphaned)who would not otherwise have these opportunities. There are many success stories to be told about their lives. They are good friends and it will be difficult to leave them when my service is complete. Remember MCC children at www.makindu.org. and the Loitokitok children at www.wingsofpeaceinternational.org. Thanks!!!

At the moment (Wednesday) I am in the Peace Corps office in Nairobi taking advantage of computer time. Then I am going on leave for a few days. Erin and I are traveling to Chuka and Maua to visit other PCV's then to Nanyuki (Mt. Kenya!!) for a PC conference for a couple of days then back to Makindu on October 1st. It is nice to visit other volunteer's sites and see other parts of Kenya, particularly green parts that are not dusty and are getting some rain.

All else is good. Makindu has been a district for many months now and it is obvious by the fact that it is growing rapidly; lots of construction and there are many new jobs here - it is becoming less "rural" everyday. Unfortunately that means more trash and more traffic but I am sure the job market will improve for people so that is a plus. The rural parts of Kenya are my favorite as there is a stark difference between the villages and the cities. So we are leaving at a good time, I think.

I hope all who are reading this blog are well and happy. I hope you have enjoyed these and they have given you some insite into this experience. Although, I really think you have to live it to really "get it". It has been and continues to be an adventure. A very rewarding one.

Happy Birthday to my family members in September and October; Trenton, Vince, Clayton, Corbin, Gene, Paige, John, Zoey, Cole, Doug, Kerry, Jason - wow many!!!!

Take good care!! Love to all, Paula

Returning . . .

2010-09-13T01:49:00.000-07:00

Well maybe . . . to what . . . hatred and intolerance? Who is this man in Gainsville, Florida? In one thoughtless or dare I say mindless threat, he dashes our hopes of the peaceful coexistence our President has tried so hard to restore in his brief time as the 'Leader of the Free World'.

We are U.S. PEACE Corps volunteers Mr . . . did you even consider how your actions and words might affect Americans trying to be peaceful, tolerant,respectful and helpful in other parts of our world?? Besides ALL else you should have considered before you spoke your 'threats'.

In the "practice" of your religion, be mindful of this quote published in The Nation newspaper in Kenya (where I am currently living and volunteering among MANY different people with many different beliefs including Muslims)on 9/11: "Your Christ was such an admirable figure. But you Christians are so unlike him . . . " Mahatma Ghandi.

Wake up Mr . . ., Gainsville, Florida is part of a much larger WORLD. One in which we would like PEACEFUL coexistence to someday be a reality. Please be mindful of your actions in that WORLD . . . PEACE to all!!!!

Have a peaceful day!! Yours in service, Paula

P.S. I published this only after my anger had subsided after many days. It makes me so very sad and ashamed when my country gets this kind of press in the WORLD!

Kenya Votes . . . Peace Please!!!

2010-08-03T02:07:00.000-07:00

Hello All!!!

It is a big day in Kenya tomorrow as they vote on a new constitution for their country. It is a national holiday to allow people to travel to their original homes to vote. It is a controversial vote; there have been many rallies and campaign stops for both the YES (green) and NO (red) teams. We have, of course, been advised to remain neutral and away from the rally points. Last week the Vice President, Kalonzo, was here in Makindu for the YES camp. We have also been advised to stay away from the colors red and green also - not that easy for someone who likes the color red, for clothin that is. We just ALL is peaceful in the country no matter the outcome.

All is good at MCC - we have 3 new people, two Program Officers and a volunteer so the learning process is taken our time now but they are catching on very fast. They will help move the program to the next step - more sustainability and livelihood security for the beneficiaries (our GOAL!!) The Sikhs passing through Makindu to visit their temple have been very good to MCC recently (and always). We have had two wonderful lunches catered by the Temple Sikhs for the children and many donations; such as numerous and varied school supplies, waterproof washable mattress covers, shoes for some very rural children and uniforms for three pre-primary students. They are very generous people, as I have said before. They hope to start construction on our two promised pre-primary classrooms middle of this month. For the most part all children are healthy at the moment although the coldness (to Africans) brings on some colds and coughs but nothing too serious. In fact I have a cough also - I hope mostly due to the DUST!!!! but it has hung on for a month now, time for it to leave. August will bring more dust and hot weather before the rains come in November so a few more months of barely breathable air. Most roads are not paved thus DUST!! Our cows arrived and both are with calf. We expect them to give birth before the end of the year - following a little time with the mother's milk then we will have some for the MCC children - what a treat!! That is one thing we don't have due to the cost. Most of the children are coming to the Center now for lunch and play as school is out for the month of August.

The Proper Walk (MCP fundraiser) people and MCC founder, Winnie, will be here soon so everyone is excited for that event. I have a Peace Corp meeting in Kakamega (Western Kenya) and I am taking a few days leave to visit the national forest in that area so I will miss their arrival but I'll get to see Winnie when they return from the walk. I'll be away the 10th until the 22nd.

That's the update - still going on with every day programs trying to help where I can. We will be heavily focused on income generating activities and livelihood security from now until my departure. Our biggest challenge now is the monitoring and reporting part - measuring their IGA impacts on lives. Not as easy as it sounds. Still some frustration in how slowly change happens here so two years seems ever more a short time. But change will come in time . . .

I hope this blog finds all of you doing what you love with people you love and that your life is good; full of happiness and joy!! I hope all of your summer vacations and those to come are grand and safe. I miss you ALL very much.

Happy Birthday to my family members for August; Amanda, Peri, Lori and me!!!! Next year maybe we can celebrate together. Also a BIG Happy Birthday to Joye Brady who turns 90 years soon - way to go Joye!!!

Take care all . . . until next time. Yours truly from Kenya, Paula

P.S. Remember MCP (Makindu Children's Program) and WOPI (Wings Of Peace International) if you have monetary donations burning a hole in your pocket!!!

Nikotu . . . I'm just here!!!

2010-07-01T03:57:00.000-07:00

Hello all - I hope this blog finds all in good health and happy!!!!

All is good here . . . we at MCC are continuing with trainings (although June is the end of training, now we are looking for IGA action)in water harvesting in preparation for the next rains!!! soil conservation, indigenous feed formulation for chicken (cheaper than store bought!)and again, poultry keeping as a BUSINESS. Some have taken up the business aspect of the trainings but it is a slow go. There is no hurry in Africa, they say . . . and it is true. It will happen if you have the patience to wait, I am learning. MCC is preparing silage and feeds for the dairy cow we are supposed to get. I am not in support of this project but I try to keep my opinion to myself. I am sure the Director knows better than I about the prospects of the dairy cow project. Our classrooms donated by the Sikh Temple have yet to start but I am hopeful that late July will the time. The Sikhs have been generous in other ways . . . the Makindu Temple Committee donated 12 mattresses for our pre-primary school children and a wonderful Sikh gentleman that I just met in March from Canada,Banwait and his wife, Surjit, donated another 18 . . . then Mideh, another Sikh and his wife who own an upholstery shop in Nairobi donated 30 mattress covers to us so as to extend the life of the mattresses. I am not good at raising money/donations but things are going well in that regard here. It is easier when they ask you what is needed and I tell them and they donate. WOW!! We are so grateful and lucky to have the Sikhs as generous friends of MCC. Banwait and his family have an NGO (www.ipfcanadas.com) check it out, they are wonderful!!! I was invited to attend the dedication of a borehole (water) at Ngumano Secondary School in rural Kenya that they paid to dig and construct. The area MP, Dr. Philip Kaloki (schooled in Texas, USA)attended - that is a big deal in Kenya. The villagers of Kalii will now have water piped from the ground rather than having to walk many kilometers to fetch it from a dirty river. They were all smiles and very amazed.

June 23, 2010; this day an airplane landed at our airport. This is the fourth one I have seem since January 2009. It normally means there has been a bad accident and the airplane is The Flying Doctors. Not sure about this one. The airport is directly behind MCC so ALL the children and adults run screaming to watch. It was the highlight of the day . . . second only to lunch. More Makindu events . . . on the 26th a Lorry runs through the front of one of the roadside hotelis, injuring several who were having their morning chai (that hoteli is not my chai place, glad for that!!) How that happened - who knows?? There were many onlookers, I was not among them. We also had a lost buffalo from one of the national parks, he injured a soldier who was trying to help him return - buffalo killed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) - no choice unfortunately for him. It doesn't happen often. We had a zebra and now this buffalo that all I have heard about. On Monday, early, early in the morning someone climbed over our compound wall (gate was locked) and helped themselves to one huge stalk of bananas (cut them right off the tree), all the chicken and one jacket off of the clothesline - I didn't have anything outside so I wasn't affected except it sucks that crime is getting worse here as the town grows. I felt very safe until then - not careless ever - just safe. Not so much now.

I have been introduced to a wonderful group of Makindu community leaders called the Makindu Elder's Society - although most are not elderly. They are non-political (that is possible here, I think) and really have a wonderful agenda for Makindu development. They are very new with an aggressive charter. I have been attending their meetings as I am interested how they can come together to get things done here. This town needs a lot of assistance from leaders like these. I hope they can get the necessary government support. Careful what I say here . . . best stop.

We will be on a restricted travel alert for awhile in late July and early August until after the vote on the new constitution, it has been very hot in the news and much campaigning is happening on all sides. You can't wear red or green as those are the Yes and No camp colors or someone claims you are being political. Anyway . . . I am trying to avoid those colors for now also. The vote takes place on August 4th (someone's birthday) I hope all is peaceful in the end.

Just an alert . . . of course there are scams, I understand there are a couple using Peace Corps volunteer contacts hacked thru email, they ask you to donate on a volunteer's behalf and the money goes to them not to where you intended. For the record, I am working on only two projects (MCC through Makindu Children's Program .org in the US; and KISMA through WOPI; Wings of Peace International.org in the US). So if you get any requests from any other - it isn't me!!! Also there have been some ransom requests using PCV info - Peace Corps knows where I am all the time so don't respond to those either. Peace Corps will let you know if there is a problem and you can verify who they are. No worries I hope, just be aware there is some bad out there . . . bummer.

I guess that is it for the month! Happy July! Here it is winter, cool nights and hot days . . . pretty nice, but dusty and windy some days. Happy July Birthdays to the USA, family; Roger and Sondra and Breahna. Happy 4th of July!!! Enjoy!!!

Love and safe travels for the summer! Paula

P.S. Want news of Kenya online - www.nation.co.ke

People cling to life and are not at the stage where they will fight for the quality of that life. They feel as long as they are surviving, that is enough. Bantu philosophy of past times, I hope.

Nikotu . . . I'm just here!!!

2010-07-01T03:56:00.000-07:00

Sad News and Other News

2010-05-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all!! We had some very sad news at MCC this last week. One of our sponsored orphans, Faith, passed away after complications from TB. Faith was living positively(HIV/AIDS)and on ARV's but the addition of TB was just too much for her system to handle. Faith was a lovely girl, age 12 in Standard 3 (primary school) here in Makindu. She was always friendly,playful and respectful. She is survived by her older brother who is also sponsored by MCC and her grandmother who was her guardian. The funeral is tomorrow (Saturday) and we will all attend. Faith will be missed by all. Kenyans are strong people and I saw few if any tears. I wonder if it is because they have dealt with the death of so many loved ones in the last few years because of the HIV/AIDS issue - I of course shed many tears and I am not sure what they think of that - but I couldn't help the emotions although I tried really hard to keep them inside.

All else is just going on - we continue to have trainings at MCC for the guardians in all locations, many are now accepting that donor funding has its limitations and may not go on forever - it is time for them to settle into to self sustaining income generating activities. I have talked about the choices here before, at least the ones we are focusing on; they are ropemaking, liquid soapmaking, goatkeeping, poultry keeping and weaving. My favorite is poultry keeping as many of them are currently doing that activity, they are just doing it more as a "hobby" rather than as a business. Many have now vaccinated their chicken, with our encouragement and assistance. They have not vaccinated in the past. They pay 5 shillings per bird and we have vaccinated well over 250 to date. They are now understanding that a 5 shilling investment will get them 350 - 500 shillings later at the market when they go to sell their chicken. It has been a slow educational process but once they see one of their neighbors vaccinating and then selling healthy (live) birds they are "sold" on the idea. So every one you get to vaccinate and then sell when the market is good is a success. It is really fun when they see poultry as a business and share with you their plans for the money. Three of the groups in our Twaandu location sold goats this year to help cater (buy) for the needs of their children as they sent them off to school - they and we were very proud of this accomplishment and I know it will continue. They have good leadership in their community and they have the desire for independence. I hope before I leave Kenya - we will have a model here at the centre for indigenous poultry keeping. It would be good income for MCC and make us less reliant upon donor funding.

MCC's founder, Winnie Barron, visited earlier this month - she was a bit delayed (a week or so) due to the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption but finally made it. The eruption(s) have really had a major negative effect on the economy in Kenya, billions of losses. Winnie visited for about 10 days and of course the children and the entire community love to see her. Winnie continues to work tirelessly in funding raising for the centre. Thanks to those of you who have supported MCC. Donations are always welcome at www.makindu.org. As I always have said, this is a well run centre doing a lot of good things for the orphans in this area. Winnie will return to Makindu in August with several folks who have raised funds for MCC. MCC is the starting point for The Proper Walk adventure. Their main fundraiser that happens every two years.

Several fun and good books read in the past weeks - The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J Maarten Troost; Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux (Peace Corps Volunteer 1963); Down Under by Bill Bryson and many more of his books and also Our Turn to Eat by Michale Wrong (about corruption in Kenya)there are more but it is probably not very interesting to you what I am reading but maybe it is?? Currently finishing up (again) short stories by Joseph Conrad.

That's it for now. Thanks for your continued support and thanks to those who write and email, a word from the States is always welcome. Stay healthy and happy!!!

May birthday wishes, again to DAD, Scott. Brooke and Lilly in June.

Love to all, Paula

The Latest From MCC and Makindu . . .

2010-04-15T02:42:00.000-07:00

Hello from Nairobi, I hope this blog find you all well and happy!! I am currently attending a planning meeting for upcoming new volunteer training with other Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps Staff. It is always flattering to be included in planning. It is time consuming and long days but I hope what we are doing will make a positive difference to other volunteers that follow us. Peace Corps really focuses on making sure the volunteer gets the most of out this experience.

We have had some good Food Security trainings in Makindu with our MCC guardians since I wrote last. They have taken one day and learned to make cassava (local vegetable)fritters, pumpkin chapati, sorghum pilau, donuts and cake . . . ALL very tasty. They seem appreciative and excited to learn new things. This lesson will provide them with better nutrition options using locally produced food and I hope some will choose to cook for others and sell their wares. Many will try it on their own - my hope is all will but we will see. Our new DC (District Commissioner) in Makindu is on an environmental platform and lots of tree planting (much needed) is happening currently. It is a youth project which is good as they are often idle with no local work. In March a local (Nairobi) radio station MUSYI FM paid a planned visit to MCC and donated clothing, blankets, t-shirts and bread. It was a grand event with their LARGE caravan of vehicles - the event brought out a lot of interested spectators from the community. It was great exposure for MCC. One of our guardian groups had a honey harvest - that is always exciting as the honey is wonderful. That's the good news, the bad news is the harvest was small because they did not harvest all hives at the right time, i.e. late, so the bees had already consumed the honey. BUT, it is a learning experience for them and we will do a refresher course in beekeeping to help increase the harvest for the next time. We have had good rains this time around so the flowering is good which means the honey should be plentiful. MCC has been blessed with a donation of two new classrooms for the Educational Development Center (Winnie Academy Pre-School). We hope that the classrooms will be completed for the new school year in January. Marketing the school for paying children will help the ongoing support of the orphans and vulnerable children who cannot pay school fees.

Recently we received donor funding to help suport the purchase of chicken and goats for some of our MCC guardian groups to help support them in making poultry raising and goat keeping into IGA's - income generating activities - profit making businesses!!! We had an interesting time at the chicken market choosing the initial chicken stock for our first project. We were fortunate to have the assistance of the Division Livestock and Fisheries Officer - he really helped them make the right choices and pay fair prices. I am hopeful of this project as a good business opportunity for them. We have also had success in mobilizing many households in the area to vaccinate their chicken - we have to date vaccinated well over 200 in 12 households. It costs 5 shillings to vaccinate a chick that can be sold at maturity for 350 shillings each minimum some for 450 to 500 - they are learning it is a small investment for a large return. Our goal - independent living vs dependent living.

Mt. Kilimanjaro has provided us with spectacular views of late - it has lots of visible snow as we have had rain. It is visible to us in the early morning before the clouds cover it and again sometimes just before sunset. We are a long way away from it so we really appreciate how large a mountain it truly is. Beautiful too!!

Good books read lately; The Lunatic Express by Charles Miller; Standing In The Rainbow by Fanny Flagg; The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs and Down Under; all entertaining in their own way.

May birthday wishes to my DAD!!! and Scott. Happy, happy days!!

Personal update . . . healthy and happy!! Missing you all! Thanks for staying in touch of thinking of me. Love from Paula; PCV, Makindu

P.S. Also in March I was asked to speak at an event in a nearby town, Kibwezi, for Internatinal Women's Day - I was flattered that they asked. The "speech" went OK. I focused on how important women are to the future success of Kenya - they are the backbone of a measurable amount of business success that happens in this country. It was well attended and I met a lot of powerful, successful women that are making a difference.

On Leave In Kenya . . .

2010-03-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

This was my first leave since arriving in Kenya. It was nice to have a little vacation and see some more of this beautiful country. I traveled to Pat Novak's site on the 26th of February. She is in Nguluni about 1 1/2 hours northeast of Nairobi. We toured around her small town and met her friends and work counterparts. It is so much greener than Makindu and unlike us, they have had good rains and a nice harvest. The next morning we traveled the back way north and west through Thika, the countryside was beautiful, lush and green with tea plantations and other crops. The road was a little rough but passable, the heavy rains would make it impossible to go that way, but we had good weather. Then on to our destination, Naivasha. This larger "city" sits on a large lake, Lake Naivasha. Unfortunately the lake has been in the news lately due to pollution from flower farms and others around the lake. So we did not try the fish for any meal. Sad, but they are focused on the problem and they will fix it. We stayed outside Naivasha, about a 30 minute matatu ride, at The Fish Eagle Inn - they offer dorms, hotel rooms and campsites. It was a great place. We stayed in a 4 person dorm. They had hot showers, what a TREAT!!! It was quiet and cool, good sleeping weather. The hippos come to the lake shore to eat very early each morning and each night. Birds are also plentiful - one large one with a wing span of 3 meters. We awoke early the next morning and headed off to climb Mt. Longonot, 2776 meters, in a National Park. It is a dormant volcano with a large steep crater rim. You climb to the crater rim then around the crater - there are some very steep and narrower places and we were very glad for no rain or the climb would have been impossible. Erosion is not the mountain's friend and you could see in some places where they are losing the battle. The climb was about 5 hours with beautiful views all around. The British Army was training on the crater and of course they were running as Pat and I were walking!! They were getting ready to return to Afghanistan, some for their third or fourth tour. We thanked them for their service. We could also see the IDP "refugee" camps (internally displaced persons)from the mountain - these are the Kenyans that were relocated after the political violence in 2007. We had great weather this day as it poured rain the night before . . . we were lucky with weather the whole trip. The next day we headed by matatu north thru Gilgil, O'Kalou to Nyahururu to see Thomson's Falls named after its founder. We stopped for chai and met Charles, a retired teacher and avid environmentalist whose son owns the restaurant. Charles was kind enough to act as a gracious and informative tour guide. It drizzled all day so we picked a good day to go here as much of the day was travel in matatus. The scenery was magnificent - Charles asked the driver to stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint for us on the way to Nakuru and he did - Charles was right, it is the BEST view of the Great Rift Valley - 50 miles wide. We traveled back through Nakuru for new and beautiful scenery then on to Naivasha and our dorm room. The next day we set off early again but as we were leaving the inn we were approached by a small, thin, aging, delightful, gray haired man named Peter. Peter is the chef at a small restaurant owned by a Tanzanian women just 100 meters up the road. He invited us to have dinner at his restaurant that night, asked us to choose what we wanted to eat then so he could be ready with the proper ingredients at dinner. We chose vegetables and told him we would come around 6 p.m. after our trip to Hell's Gate National Park. Off we journeyed to Hell's Gate. We walked and walked in Hell's Gate, we estimated around 27 kilometers, I think. The walk also included a steep gorge which is not passable when it rains - it didn't rain so the gorge was magnificent. It is Masai land - our guide was a nice young man hoping to earn enough money from guiding to go to the University to study medicine. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was great. It reminded us of the areas in Utah and Arizona - large beautiful rocks, trees and shrubs. We saw giraffe, warthogs, zebra, gazelles, many butterflies and birds - you know there are 900 species of butterflies in Africa!! We ran into the British Army again, this time repelling on the rocks. We befriended a couple of young female medical students from Holland staying next to us in the dorm and invited them to join us at Peter's place for dinner. They did and we had a nice time chatting together. Since they were a surprise to Peter, he fixed what he had for them. That being omelets with spicy potatoes - we shared the vegetables and omelets family style - the food was great. Pat and I had breakfast there the next morning. We were a little early and caught Peter in his bathrobe. The breakfast omelets were different but equally delicious. Then we headed back to Nairobi - I stayed in Nairobi (where I am writing this blog) for three nights, Pat went back to site then returned on Friday for a meeting. While in Nairobi I had a chance to spend many hours in the National Museum and botanical garden, which I had not seen. Pat and I toured the Kenyan Archives on Friday. Both were wonderful and I learned so much more about the history of Kenya. It was a good leave packed with good adventure, good company, new friends and lots of new learning.

Today is Saturday and I am headed back to Makindu. Refreshed and enthusiastic about what is to come next . . .

Have a great day and love to all!!

Paula

A Little Update . . .

2010-02-24T02:08:00.000-08:00

It has been a while so I'll let you know what I have been up to of late. I participated in a Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Workshop at Peace Corps' request . . . sounds dull but it was very good. It will turn our activities as Peace Corps Volunteers into the numbers that Washington needs to "help our cause" i.e. MONEY!! The reporting formats are new so a few of the existing volunteers representing all sectors (secondary education - math and science, deaf education, public health and Small Enterprise Development (me) and ICT (techology) were asked to help make them more understandable. I hope we helped a little. This reporting is due three times a year and is all completed on the computer which can be a little challenging for some of us. Anyway, it will give the "powers that be" the information they need to evaluate the job we do in the field. Money well spent is our goal and hope.

I continue to work with the Ministrey of Agriculture and Livestock to organize relevant trainings for the Makindu Children's Centre caregivers. We are currently focused on Food Security. That is a BIG topic with lots of training needed and available. We should have around 8 trainings at each site to get through the curriculum. The last one we had was in Makindu and 66 caregivers participated in learning the process of drying vegetables. They learned some "theory" then did a pratical session on drying kunde (cowpea leaves) VERY nutritious and good. The finished product was great. I now hope they do this one their own in their homes . . . we will follow up to gauge results. Feed Security training is essential if we are to move the culture from maize growing to agriculture more likely to survive in this semi-arid land . . . 4 years of failed maize harvest should send a clear message but the culture of planting maize is a hard one to change - slowly by slowly we are trying to help. We are encouraging drought resistent crops and more livestock keeping, as a business rather than just for home use. Livestock like goatkeeping (including dairy) and indigenous chicken keeping for egg and meat sales. The market is good for both, it is quite simply a matter of treating both like a business . . . buy low, sell high (at the right time) keep good records and save a little for a rainy day along the way. The rainy day being primarily school fees - that is the BIG expense. There are a handful of caregivers that "get it" they are beginning to see that goats and chickens sold at the right time and cared for properly can yield may pesa (money) when the need arises and the market is right. They are good role models and will teach others about their success - others will try it then, I hope. Liquid soapmaking and its sale continues to be a good income generating activity for at least two groups. It is easy to do and easy to sell - the market is there for its success also. The challenge has been to get these caregivers to tell us how these income generating activities have changed their lives, if indeed they have. Some fear that we will recognize their success and "take away" a benefit they currently receive That belief is helping them or the children, who are our main focus. Time will tell . . .

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a Child Protection workshop with MCC staff and other stakeholders in the MCC community. It was a great workshop I learned a lot. The genesis of focus on Child Rights began with the UNCRC - UN Child's Right Convention adopted in 1990. As of November 2009, 194 countries have adopted the UNCRC, all UN members have signed except Somalia and the USA. I believe the USA didn't sign because our government believes we already have sufficient laws in place for the protection of children and Somalia didn't have a government to sign apparently. Having never focused on Child Rights specifically in my career, the workshop was very interesting to me. I learned about some chilren issues unique to Kenya but we share many of the same issues. Those unique to Kenya and some places elsewhere in Africa, there is FGM (female genital mutilation) and witchcraft and medicinemen predictions (beliefs so strong that predictions do come true). There are now safehouses available in parts of the country where FGM is still practiced so girls can escape this abuse if they are able . . . that is a good start along with it now being illegal to practice. The workshop content sparked enthusiastic conversation, opened eyes about important issues involving children and most importantly provided Community Owned Resource Persons (CORPS) with valuable iinformation to enable them to create awareness in their communities about the Right of a Child.

Life is going on at MCC. The children have all returned to school. We have inducted 7 new children into the pre-school academy. All very needy and happy to be a part of this great organization. A wonder supporter of MCC, Lochab, a Sikh man from Nairobi, has commited to build classrooms for MCC in our compound. This is must needed so the academy children can attend classes in their own age group. Right now we have only one classroom (that is really conference room) and every age group learns together - that is a real challenge for the teacher. So we are hopeful the classrooms will come this year. Recently we learned that AMREF is commiting to funding for programs at MCC for the next 12 months. That is a real WIN for MCC. It also is a show of confidence in the integrity and "make a difference" operation here. So many children are benefiting with excellent care and protection. Plans are aggressive and on-going to use the money to improve the lives of these now 432 children and their caregivers. We are busy!!

My other project, KISMA, in Loitokitok, is doing well. We have 30 sponsored children in secondary school. Thanks to all who are helping in that effort. Sponsorships for children going to secondary are not easy to obtain and are much needed. The community group has really embraced this project and they are running it efficiently and well. That is what is supposed to happen - it is THEIR project. You cannot be successful without the support of the community. Thank you WOPI, Wings of Peace International.

NOW . . . wow lots to report, sorry. I am going on leave, that's vacation, for the first time since I arrived. I leave Friday for Naivasha, Kenya, for a week. Another PCV, Pat (also a member of PCV/AARP) and I are going to do some hiking in a couple of the national parks; Mt. Longonot, Hell's Gate, Laker Naivasha and the Buffalo Circuit. I am looking forward to a few vacation days in a beautiful location.

Family birthday wishes; January belated to Mackenzie, sorry. February 29th (sorry no 29th this year) to Sister Patricia; that's why she never ages. March birthday wishes to Lucas, Lewis, Tyler, Carter and Duston - an all boys month!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! Safe travels to my friends Lyzette and Larry as they dash off to live in New Zealand for 6 months . . . wow!!! AND . . . everyone else, thanks for all of your support. I appreciate the letters and calls so much. I hope some of you send me some good news soon from the USA or I may consider staying but if you are all healthy and happy that is what is important.

Thanks again!!! Love to all, Paula

A New Year Always Brings Hope . . .

2010-01-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

Here we are in 2010!!! I celebrated Christmas Eve with PCV Erin and her visiting parents, sister and other Kenyan friends. We ate traditional goat (we witnessed the slaughter that morning) with a variety of side dishes, ALL fresh and good. Garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and beans, very traditional ugali (Kenyan cake) and greens, all wonderfully prepared and fun. We had a follow up dinner the day after Christmas at the rural home of MCC's new chairman, Joseph Kithome and his wife Mary.
New Year's Day I did community trash clean up - the group said they would be there but were not, I wondered about that when they said they would be there,then the next week they told mee they had forgotten that it was a holiday. Oh well!!! It kept me busy anyway - good way to start the new year - clean up!

During December, 25 new PCV's (education) came to visit MCC from PC's training site in Loitokitok. They toured MCC, met our staff and a few of the children. I gave them a briefing on our mission, vision and program content, as well as, my opinion and experience regarding the importance and manner of community integration. Our Winnie Academy (pre-school) children sang songs and recited portry. One of our MCC "graduates", Babu, who is now attending Moi University in law, told them about his life and the role MCC has played in it. Juliet, who is just moving from primary to secondary school, and has been in MANY poetry competitions and always does well,recited a beautiful poem in Kiswahili for the group. Recently (August) Juliet competed for her school, Kiambani Primary, in the Nationals in Mombasa (coast). The PCV's seem to enjoy themselves. 15 PC staff and trainers also accompanied them. MCC has many stars! Another is our academic star, Fidel. He recently completed Class 7 (primary) as the number 1 student in his class, again!! Fidel always finshes the year in the top 1, 2 or 3 spot. He loves to read which thrills me as I rarely see that in Makindu children or adults. Probably because their access to books including school books is limited. We have no public library of any kind and often school textbooks must be shared.

The holidays have been celebrated and the children of MCC are returning to school. MCC was closed for a few days, staff is now back renewed and refreshed and ready for a year of challenges, some new, some not so new, coupled with ambitious goals for improving the lives of more and more OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children) through program improvements . . . like a permanent classroom for our younger students in pre-school. Our 2010 goal amoung others!! Raising funds will be a 2010 focus to meet this goal.

The rain continues to pour all around Makindu but little, or more like none, in Makindu. Our crops look dwarfed compared to the areas around us. The green is a wonderful change, however, from the brown and dust that will return here too soon. But hope rings eternal . . . so we continue to hope for rain. I like that about Kenyans. All is lost without hope. They are predicting more famine - I hope "they" are wrong!!!

MCC has a new finance person, Ruth, a welcome and valuable addition to the team here. Cathy, a board member of Makindu Children's Program (MCP)in the US, who works for NYU paid us a visit in December. It was good meeting her. The children always enjoy visitors!! Her goodwill and enthusiasm are what helps the continued success of MCC in Makindu. She is currently working in Abu Dhabi setting up a new campus for NYU. MCP coordinates a major fundraising event evry two years called the Proper Walk . . . through areas in the Rift Valley of Kenya so Cathy; MCC's founder, Winnie Barron and others will return in August to Makindu to kick off that event - Winnie and other board members do the walk as well as donors who are tough,don't whine and can raise, I think $10,000 USD. It sounds like a great challenge and FUN!!

This week we were without water for four days . . . who knows why but rumor has it that the water company didn't pay their electric bill to run the pumps - anyway, whatever, it was a little inconvenient but you just adjust and today all is OK with water again. The mama's with young children have the hardest time as they wash (by hand of course) almost every day!!

As I told you, I read a lot. That's my night life . . . EVERY night and Sunday (my day off). So I have a couple of books to recommend, Richard Branson's (Virgin Companies) autobiography is a good read - what a full life he leads. Also, 2 books by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yumus - Banker to the Poor and Creating a World Without Poverty - I should have been HIS kind of banker, it fits me better . . . maybe there is still time? Erin (PCV Makindu) and I visited a similar banking operation in Nairobi, Jamii Bora, check out their website; www.jamiibora.org. if you have an interest, our friend there is Gabriel Kadidi. He is their communications "guy"; born and raised in the Kibera slums in Nairboi - a great success story. He has a weekly radio program also. The company appears awesome from what we saw and learned. My kind of banking . . .

A quote came in our monthly PC newsletter as a reminder to us from our Country Director, Steve. I know you have heard it before but it always a good reminder . . .
"The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving, friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are." Thomas Dreier. It's a good reminder to all.

That's it for now. All is good here. The BEST to all in 2010. May you have a year of hopeful dreams that you assist to make come true!!! Love to all my family and friends. Paula

More from Makindu and Nairobi . . .

2009-12-07T01:56:00.000-08:00

More from previous blog . . . Winnie Academy is our "pre-school" at MCC. It is set up for ages 3 - 6 or 7 and currently has one teacher. Most of the children are sponsored by MCC but we also take in self-pay children for 2,000 shillings per term, a very reasonable price. Currently we ahve 10 children who were eliglble to more on to Primary School - of the 10, 8 tested very well and will be moving on, that speaks very highly of the academy and we will use that information for marketing purposes. One of the students didn't test because of the fee and hopefully will test in January - the other student is a slow learner and will have to be placed in another environment for further learning. I hope we are able to attract many new self-paying students during the intake period in December and early January.

I am still working on IGA's (income generating activities) with the guardians of MCC. We have certainly provided a lot of training and 2010 will be or should be the year of implementation - I remain hopeful. We have two groups and some individuals doing liquid soapmaking and they have been very successful so far. It is a WINNER!!! There is a good market for liquid soap to sell and if they also make it for themselves, it lowers their monthly expenses. All groups have been trained some are slower to embrace the opportunity - that's OK, they will see other's success and that will motivate them. We have also sourced wonderful trainings in goat keeping, poultry keeping both as a business and currently we are doing our third of four sessions on Food Security (production, utilization, nutrition, preservation. Oour multistory garden training went well - a few guardians have constructed their own and we are on our third harvest of kales from the 3 we used for demonstration purposes at MCC. We are also working with WACAL (another PC volunteer's site - Erin) to bring camels in for plowing - due to a funding snag - that project will happen next year sometime. We have chosen three sites in another community called Twaandu also an area served by MCC. They are anxious to see how the project will go. They will use the camels to plow their own fields then contract them out to others. Our guardians will be trained on "camel handling", feeding etc. prior to their arrival. Should be very interesting!!! Camels will survive well in our semi-arid region . . . drought often!!

Erin and I have been doing some great walks - trying our best to stay in reasonable shape living with no gym and in a VERY flat area. We have been hiking on Sunday for 5,6, 7 hours to the next town of Kibwezi (20-25 kilometres). There is a little "hill" on our way so we climb it to the summit!!! It is a small hill but it is all we have, great view - we visit with the guards who watch the cell towers, have a break with a banana or mango some water and trek on!!! Erin is training to climb Mt. Kenya - I considered it but I am going to donate the fee to climb to KISMA in Loitokitok sponsor a child to secondary school for a year - it is about the same amount. I'll do it some time.

Currently (December 6-10) we are in Nairobi for our mid-service medical checks. We get our teeth cleaned - boy did that feel great!!!! Then they just check vital stuff to make sure we are OK. I have a funny not serious fungus that liked my left hand fingernails exited there and went to my left big and little toe . . . so . . . I have an appointment with a doc to figure out what that is all about. It could be related to the fact that I volunteer with two community groups twice a week to pick up garbage. I wear gloves but one never knows. Otherwise I have been in perfect health - I feel lucky, although I have tried to do all the right things with food and water - and it is not hard. It sure beats being sick, I know that from others.

I think that is it for me . . . I am pretty settled so life goes on here about the same everyday. I am trying to help where I can and be a good citizen, friend and volunteer. I have met so many wonderful people here and have tried to embrace the differences and share what I have. Mostly that is just a greeting or a smile everyday to everyone. I do get teased by some because I greet everyone but I like that!!

I miss you all and think of you frequently. It is hard to believe that we have been here a year already . . . it really has gone fast!! I hope to blog again before Christmas but just in case . . . Merry Christmas and the BEST to all in 2010!!!

Love to all, Paula

Happy Holidays!!!!

2009-12-07T01:45:00.000-08:00

It has been a while . . . I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. A few of us volunteers celebrated in Nairobi. We cooked ALL the traditional foods and ate a lot!! It was fun to share the cooking and the day with other volunteers. AND you really can thaw a frozen 15 pound turkey the same day you cook it!!! Thankfully!!!

We have been busy at MCC. The children are now out for the December break so many of them come to the centre for lunch everyday. It is good to see all of them. They have a great time together, playing and assisting with the cooking and cleaning. We think we finally have the good rains - I hope they last. Some people planted to early and lost their first seeds because we had too long a break in the rains but lately we have had rain about every two to three days so I hope that lasts through January. EVERYTHING is so much greener and beautiful. I am working on a project to do water harvesting (catchment) from the roof of our buildings a MCC - we are just waiting for the costs and everytime it rains I "cry" because so much water is "lost" that could be harvested and used later. The estimate we have is that we easily could harvest 90,000 litres from our roof - that is a lot!!!

I am in Nairobi for our mid-service medical check up and have to leave now . . . so more later!!!

LET THE RAINS BEGIN . . .

2009-10-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

It is raining . . . more about that later. September 23rd - transportation to and from Makindu was a challenge this day as a new police chief decided to enforce the laws pertaining to matatus (taxi vans that carry 14 (ha ha) passsengers) i.e. seatbelts installed and working and used (I guess), speed governors, rearview mirrors and ACTUALLY only carrying 14 passengers on board . . . a rarity. So . . . there was about one matatu that qualified as OK and that one decided to hike the fare since all others were temporarily out of commission so we postponed our trip out of Makindu for another day. Matatus are famous for skirting the rules and it is the #1 mode of transport here. Things will be fine and back to normal in a few days or maybe even in a few hours.

One Makindu MCC guardian group has built 3 multi-story gardens (Dad try this one) and planted kales (sukuma. They planted them at the centre, NOW, we would like them to all plant one (or more)at home. They take very little space and are very water efficient and easy to build and require little investment. Each family would then have a nice green vegetable to supplement their diet everyday . . . spinach also works well. You need a gunnie sack, compost and dirk, small stones for the center and seedlings, that's it!! One Kiboko (MCC) guardian group is doing well with soapmaking. They are on their third batch of 20 litres. It is a strong IGA (income generating activity) IF they will stay with it. It is easy to make, the profit is 100% of the original chemical investment and EVERYBODY uses soap. I hope they are successful it would help their lives so much.

We lost one MCC caregiver in September. She had been battling HIV/Aids and opportunistic infections for over 10 years (before ARV's). Her daughter is an MCC sponsored vocational graduate and is now working successfully in dressmaking and tailoring here in Makindu with support from MCC for the short term until they are established - which will be soon. Two additional vocational graduates have set up hairdressing and beauty therapy salons (pronounced saloons in Kenya so we have some fun with that difference). MANY women get their hair woven in Kenya so there is lots of room for salons.

I just finished reading the popular book DEAD AID - get it, read it then send it to your Congressman because she is "dead" on right about the subject. I would also recommend The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, from a historical perspective it is relly good, the story is also interesting although grim. Also jusy finished a conspiracy theory . . . Alice In Wonderland and the World Trade Center Disaster by David Icke, makes you wonder . . . we have "pass around books" among PVC's so there are some interesting opportunities.

October 10 - RAIN!!! It finally rained this p.m. HARD . . . It tried to make up for two years in one afternoon; not really, when it rains it really rains HARD. There is more to come, we hope. Those that planted are very happy, most are waiting to make sure the rain is really serious.

October 19 - We (MCC staff and community stakeholders) had a 2 1/2 day strategic plannning session with MCC's major donor AED (Academy for Educational Development)under US AID as the facilitator. It was a very productive meeting providing valuable, actionable input for MCC to develop a way forward. It's their first strategic plan, a very necessary step.

So far it has continued to rain almost everyday so people, including MCC, have started to plant. Most wait until they know or believe tht the rains are serious. They appear serious to me but I am far from a local. Even though the rains are coming we will continue to focus on trainings related to drought issues, i.e. food preservation, water harvesting (catchment) draught resistent crops development, etc.

Tomorrow, Erin (PCV) and I are going to Tsava East National Park with 60 other mostly government employees and their families. Tsavo is promoting local tourism since you guys are coming . . . anyway, they asked us to go so we are. It will be fun making new friends and seeing the park. The price was very reasonable for locals, which we are considered since we are volunteers in their country. It's called a PERK!!! Then I am traveling to Nairobi for 4 days to attend a site exchange visit with Beacon of Hope. They are a model school and other things that the direcgtor of MCC wants me to see so we can duplicate any good things happening there at MCC. I am traveling with the pre-school teacher from MCC. It will be a very worthwhile visit I am sure.

That's the update from here . . . the MCC children continue to do well. Primary and secondary students are getting ready for their final exams. School ends again in late November and start the new year in January. We will be "advertising" for new MCC children next month. We want to get more self-pay students into the pre-school to help sustain and expand our program. I think we can take on 7 or 10 new MCC sponsored OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children)also. We are also focusing on ways to be self sustainable . . . more on that later.

Take good care!!! I greet you all and hope all are healthy and happy!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN BIRTHDAY to my brother John and Sister Paige. Happy November Birthdays to my family; Shelli, Pamela, Tori!!!!

Love to all! Paula

On we go . . .

2009-09-19T00:12:00.000-07:00

Here we still are in Makindu, again jua kali na kauka (hot sun and dry. Food shortages continue and animals die. Large tree branches are being cut down for animal feed if they have a hint of green left on them. Most animals that are alive are very skinny and scavenging for food and eating "stuff" they really don't like normally. All are praying, hoping and waiting for the rains to come . . . soon we hope!!
The MCC children are GOOD!! They returned to school after a one month August break. Those in pre-primary (Winnie Academy) who don't come for lunch at the center during the breaks often return thinner, sick and unhappy. After one week, they are well fed and happy again. They LOVE school and their teacher, Peninah. Thank goodness for MCC in their lives. Their home lives are good because MCC social workers monitor that they are,they just don't compare with the life and feeding opportunities at the center. All 444 MCC sponsored children are doing well.
Winnie Barron, MCC founder, arrived on the 17th for a two week visit. She always brightens faces, everyone loves to see her. She is kept very busy while she is here attending to children's needs and administrative concerns . . . on going and future funding is always on the agenda.
Earlier in the month I attended a day long event, themed, International Adult Literacy Day, not a "Hallmark card holiday", yet. It was interesting and very well attended by the community and MANY political dignataries. The literacy rate in Makindu is 69%, in our Province (Eastern) it is 54.7%. Machakos, a larger town, halfway to Nairobi from us is 75%. While the government says it is important, it remains underfunded. Most teachers are unpaid volunteers or poorly paid part-time. But, there are success stories in some adults improving their literacy. Hopefully more focus from government leadership on funding for ALL education will come soon.
We have a new DC (District Commissioner) in Makindu. I liked what he had to say when we met, we will see if his words are matched by actions. Makindu needs a lot of help. One of his projects is tree planting which we desperately need. People continue to cut down trees to make charcoal to make money to buy food to eat with no thought about replacing the trees. People show me where there used to be large forests, now it is bare land and dust. SAD . . .
The income generating activities and food security activities with the
MCC guardians are a slow go but we have now shown them better goat keeping methods, soapmaking, value addition for food products and food security ideas and how to build a multistory garden to grow spinach, onions and kales (sukuma) at home, so again . . . it is up to them to move forward with these ideas for their own livlihood. We continue to encourage them and we'll now start asking more questions about why they don't all take advantage of the trainings we provide.
I'm now working with 2, sometimes 3, groups on my takataka (trash) clean up project. 2 are community groups on Friday mornings and 1 is an MCC guardian group on Thursday morning. We haven't had a response back to our trash bin and equipment proposal that we sent to Safaricom Foundation in Nairobi in June but we remain hopeful. Nothing happens quickly here. We do know that it has been forwarded to the Foundation Board of Trustees for approval.
I was able to pay a short visit, in August before school resumed,to my first PCV project in Loitokitok. KISMA and friends are doing OK. The addition of Fredrick and William to the KISMA volunteer staff will only help strengthen the cause of funding secondary school fees for children to help bridge the huge gap between primary and secondary school attendance. As of this writing we have 17 sponsored children and over 200 on the list (the list needed to stop here so as not to disappoint, I remain hopeful). I loved meeting the students and their families. They are all very appreciative. Loitokitok was also very HOT AND DUSTY!! Thanks to David, Susan, Joseph (just diagnosed with TB unfortunately)Fredrick, William and many others for your tireless work for the KISMA-Angels in Kenya children.
My good friend, Joshua Kilonzo, my Kiswahili teacher and a model primary school teacher and father of four, just passed the certification as a Senior Examiner for the Kenya National Exam (KCPE). That is a big deal here. He qualified 3 to 4 years earlier than he anticipated!! Kilonzo (many here go by their last name)teachs Class 7and 8 at Kiambani Primary School. Kiambani has nearly 1500 students in pre-primary through Class 8. I visit there often and try to provide the teachers with posters and information I obtain that might be helpful to them. The school is currently involved in a tree planting project on their grounds . . . over 1,000 trees is their goal. They also are trying a "shamba" small farm currently growing vegtables to supplement the school feeding program. This Sunday the 20th, we are building a multistory garden at Kilonzo's home so he can use it as a model for others in addition to feeding his family.
That's some of what is happening here . . .
Happy Birthday to my family members for September (some a little late, sorry) and October; Trenton, Vince, Clayton, Corbin, Gene, John and Paige, Zoey, Cole, Kerry and Jason!!!
Have a wonderful Fall season, treasure your cooler weather. Stay safe, healthy and happy and know that I miss you all, family and friends. Thank you each for all of your support for the children, my life and work here in Kenya!
Love to all, Paula; PCV

Back In Action . . . MCC; Makindu

2009-08-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

We (some PCV's) have been away (Nanyuki and Mombasa; Kenya) for the last 2 1/2 weeks in Permaculture Training and HIV/AIDS - PEPFAR funded program - this one with our counterparts. So . . . late July and early August were great in the "treat" department for MCC children. Our friends from the Sikh Temple passing through on their way to either Nairobi or Mombasa stopped to provide milk, juice, snack foods, clothing, new serving dishes and candy for the children. ALL is greatly appreciated and it is fun to watch the children enjoy these special gifts so much.

Due to the drought, we had a zebra friend have a bad experience next door to our school. At about 9:00 a.m. one morning we observed a zebra in the "water district" compound, he apparently had jumped the fence looking for greener pastures and water. Next thing we knew, he jumped into a shallow well, a dry shallow well, and got stuck. Several men came to pull him out, successfully, but he was very weak and couldn't stand after his atruggle to free himself. Later the Kenyan Wildlife Service came on the scene to assess the situation. They had a hard time believing our story but eventually they did. The zebra was allowed to rest for a while but wasn't recovering very rapidly. The KWS returned after a couple of hours and loaded our weak zebra into the truck. We all believe he was nursed back to health but . . . we won't know. The animals we see everyday, mostly cows and goats are very skinny as we still have had no rain so there is little or NO food for them to graze on. Most are seaching for water. I hope the National Park's animals are in better shape. We have had no further wild animal sightings.

Permaculture Training (permaculture is integration of beneficial relationships/use what you have at hand) was great!! It was held in Nanyuki, a view of Mt. Kenya everyday that the clouds allow; I hope to climb it before leaving Kenya. Our training was focused on how to make life better for PLWH (People Living With HIV). We learned how to make compost for shamba (farm) use using indigenous materials, soapmaking, how to make beet root juice, aloe juice, sack gardens,along with various cultivation and planting methods (I'll fit right in back in the US if I can find a farmer who needs help!!) Seriously, it was all very useful information that we can pass on in our work at our individual sites. In fact, we had a soapmaking training just yesterday for 17 guardians in the Kiboko area for MCC.

Then . . . we traveled to Mombasa, on the COAST of the Indian Ocean. Our training facility was right on the water, tough to concentrate but the sessions were interesting and helpful. We focused 2 days on more language training and then on HIV/Aids issues and information. We were asked to bring one of our counterparts with us. One of the social workers from MCC, Mumbe, accompanied me. She has been at MCC since late last year, a recent graduate of Kenyetta University in Nairobi. She had a great time, learned a lot and it gave us a chance to get to know each other better. Our interactions with the other Kenyan counterparts was very valuable. We are different in our approaches and cultures and the exchanges were enlightening and valuable for better communication. I stayed with a few PCV's one extra day to do some siteseeing. Mombasa is a large port city and very diverse in culture and people. The people are very nice and take life at a slower pace. I think because it is SO hot and humid most of the time. It felt very much like Florida in the summer and this was their winter. The summer is supposed to be almost unbearable.

I plan to travel to Loitokitok next week to "check on" our KISMA project there. I will meet and talk to the sponsored children before they return for their final term of school for 2009. They have been off for much of the month of August except those who stay for special/extra help.

We have more income generating activity trainings scheduled for the guardians at MCC during the next few months. My hope is that they will really take hold and make a different in their lives. It is frustrating when we have to cancel a training because they would rather (or are forced to because they have no food)stand in line for Red Cross food relief than learn about an activity they could do that could earn them income and they wouldn't need food relief. That happened today - we had a training scheduled to teach them how to make donuts and crisps (potato chips made from cassava and sweet potatoes) both are popular and could generate good income but the Red Cross is doing food relief and no one would come so we cancelled and rescheduled for the 3rd. They admittedly have a culture of dependency,we are trying to break that but the task is not easy. Day by day we work to change it . . . my belief is that there are those who want to change and those that will never change, we focus on those who want to change, you can't force it. We are all waiting for a copy of the book Dead Aid, which has been sold out here, but it might be better to read it when our service is complete.

Tomorrow, Friday,I am headed to a three day meeting in a town close by called Kibwezi. The staff of MCC is getting together to discuss policies and procedures and develop some new ones for the organization. It will be time well spent.

The children are doing well. I am anxious for the small ones to come back to MCC in total in September. They also have been "off" for August although we continue to offer lunch for them every day, not all of them come and it is quiet.

Thanks to my friend, Lyzette, in Winter Park, you can see some photos on the blog!! Thanks Lyzette!!! Thanks to each of you who write and send "stuff", it is a delight to get mail. I'm good and continuing to do what I can to make a small difference, one never knows. The only small issue . . . I think I may have broken my toe in April and it healed kind of crooked but adhesive tape works wonders . . . repair before I leave Kenya . . . maybe. It is not a big deal!!! Love to all and the best in whatever is keeping you busy these days. Be safe and healthy!!

Paula

Photos are finally up

2009-08-15T10:23:00.001-07:00

Lyzette here for Paula, I've finally got all the photos up and captioned.
Cut and paste this link to access:
http://picasaweb.google.com/LyzetteSG/PaulaSAfrica?feat=directlink

Winter Here . . . Summer There!! Greetings from Makindu

2009-07-19T05:41:00.000-07:00

June 16^th was the Day of the African Child . . . typical Kenya . . . start two hours late, finish even later!! Oh well . . . we are getting used to the “time” thing. The day was good once we got started. We paraded with hundreds of children from one venue to another most of the day then we settled at the District Offices so the dignitaries and others could be entertained by the children and a few adults with songs and poems and dramas. Our friends from the Sikh Temple among others provide snacks along the way for the children and others (tag a longs for free food).

I have organized several training sessions for the MCC guardians and between rescheduled ones and cancellations they all happened in one week – but they happened that is the good news!! They received trainings on goat keeping improvement, food preservation and value addition using locally produced vegetables and seeds which are dried, thrashed and milled into flour. The women’s group we visited in another town makes snacks, varieties of flour, handicrafts, dehydrated vegetables & fruits, they weave, make purses, ropes and handicrafts in addition they farm their own shamba and own their own mill. They are awesome and a wonderful model for others in Kenya. I hope my MCC guardians will be motivated to follow in their footsteps. They also received training in soapmaking, water catchment and sorghum planting and small farming (thanks to the Erin’s organization WACAL). Erin is the other PCV in Makindu.

We have three (at least) MCC children excelling at Kiambani Primary School. Juliet Ndunge Mutiya, Class 8; Fidel Muisyo, Class 7, and Ingina Mulwa, Class 8. Juliet, since 2005, has participated in individual and group Kiswahili poetry competitions. Each year she has excelled. This year I was lucky to see their competition at the District Level here in Makindu. As of this writing, they have now qualified through the Provincial Level and are going to the National Competition in Mombasa August 1-7, 2009. Juliet will participate in four group poems and one poem as an individual. Ingina is competing in the choir. They qualified with three songs. Fidel, is an academic star. In his class of 210 students, he is always ranked in the top 3, most often #1. Kiambani teachers recognized the potential in Fidel and the school assists MCC in sponsorship by providing his boarding free of charge. This removed Fidel from an undesirable home environment and allows him to focus on his studies in a disciplined, supportive and healthy environment. I think I may have mentioned Kiambani Primary School before – it is the top school in a very big area and also where my Kiswahili teacher teaches. It has almost 1500 students now I believe and is in such demand that they have to keep building classrooms. They just have a real nurturing attitude about their students and their education. Every chance I get I help them where I can – posters, books, anything. I know they will use it and they are always very appreciative

It is Winter here now (this month) so it is 85 instead of 105 degrees during the day, I think, who knows. No flashing neon temp signs and no clocks!! Dry, no rain of course and windy. It cools off at night but that’s it for cool. We are anxiously waiting for the rains – October/November we hope.

Erin, the other Peace Corps Volunteer in Makindu, is an avid reader and has been keeping me stocked up with every book ever written that mentions Africa – I read a lot before I left the States but I really read a lot now. She is wonderful to share. I am old enough to be her mother, in fact I think her mother is younger than I am so we have fun with that with the locals – teasing isn’t really part of their culture so they just believe everything we tell them without sorting through the teasing/kidding parts. It is harmless entertainment for us. Just finished three good books – The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, The Bottom Billion and The Zanzibar Chest

We have Peace Corps trainings for two weeks in August – so we will be traveling July 29^th and returning to Makindu August 16^th. We are taking a couple of days to do some hiking in the hills about 3 hours north of Nairobi in the area where our training is being held. It will be fun to the hills and the coast and Indian Ocean – I haven’t seen either yet. We are going to Nairobi on the 29^th to welcome the new volunteers in Public Health. They will be sworn in on the 30^th.

All else is good. Still working on a variety of things every day – resting on Sunday – sometimes we hike!!! I sent the proposal into Safaricom Foundation for my trash project (Tupa Takataka Hapa). The group I am working with heard back this week that the proposal is being forwarded to their Board of Trustees for consideration. That’s great news – I am hopeful for full funding – we will wait and see

Erin’s parents shared better dialing/calling options, if you care to call me. You can go to http://www.therichcom.com to select Kenya cellular type cards for calling. Dial the access # (usually 1-800#, when prompted enter PIN, when prompted again dial 011-254-722-370-165 (that’s my cell #) Apparently international calling cards have problems connecting with cellular service in Kenya – so maybe this is an alternative to anyone who cares to pursue and call me.

I miss you all and hope everyone is healthy and happy. HAPPY AUGUST BIRTHDAY to Amanda, Peri and, Lori.

Love to all; Paula

All for today . . . Third try

2009-06-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

That is all for today - the computer keep posting for me before I am finished so I am finished. The last of the previous post was . . . we are hopeful that our proposal will be approved. We will see. I am sure I made some mistakes having never done this in Kenya and the group hasn't either but I tried to ask as many questions as I could think of to make a go. When I shared it with the DC (District Commissioner) he said it was a good start but modest in shillings requested, wished me good luck and went on to tell me that I should focus on emergency preparedness for Makindu along with trash and MCC - a little large for me and beyond my scope I thought but I told him I would consider it . . .

Have a great weekend all!!! Next week we are celebrating Day of the African Child - that is Tuesday. Lots of activities planned at least we have planned them in the meeting - we will see what happens on the ground. Sometimes these celebrations are more focused on the politicians and their speeches that they are on the real meaning of the celebration . . . we will see.

Love and good health to all! Paula

OOPS . . . continued from previous post . . .

2009-06-13T01:31:00.000-07:00

We mailed our proposal for our TupaTakataka Hapa project yesterday . . . I am working with a community group called Kazi Kwa Wote on the project - their name means We Work For All. Part of what they do is volunteer to do trash clean up in various needy areas - there are a lot of them. I met them as I was doing clean up all by myself each week in the district office compund area - sometimes it is better to just let people fiure out what you are doing and volunteer to help rather than recruit them. Volunteering is a new concept for Kenyans. Our proposal is for 20 trash/dust bins for the village and associated work tools, the proposed budget is 302,450 Kenyan Shillings about $3,877 USD. The DC (boss of the district) thought that was modest . . . but it is a start. We are asking Safaricom Foundation for funding. They are the largest telecommunications company here; cellphones plus airtime

YEAH PHOTOS!!! and Other Info from Makindu

2009-06-13T00:56:00.001-07:00

Many thanks to my friend Lyzette in Winter Park, FL for posting photos to my blog . . . I sent her the chip which obviously arrived OK, I hope you enjoy them.

Today is Saturday . . . another "work" day . . . the children come a little later on Saturday as there is no school. Most of the older sponsored children in the area come for lunch and then play together inthe afternoon . . . a little football (soccer) and sometimes now video watching as our videa player has now been installed in the dining hall. They play very creatively as they do not have all the interesting plastic vehicles and toys that US children toys. In fact, any toys they have are hand crafted from whatever available materials there are . . . wire, wood, plastic lids and cartons.

My friend Barbara Verchot in Winter Park has been very nice to assist my project in Loitokitok (KISMA) with funding through her organization - Wings of Peace International; if you are interested in donating to that project please visit their website at www.wingsofpeaceinternational.org and/or email Barbara at bverchot@gmail.com. They also have projects in Thailand and Peru that I am aware of - I am grateful to Barbara and her organization for embracing the KISMA-Angels in Kenya Project. This project helps fund secondary school fees for children whose parent(s) or guardians are not able to afford these fees due to HIV/Aids related factors. Her organization has offered to match part of the funds donated for KISMA - please visit their website or email Barbara if you need further details. Thanks in advance for any help you choose to send us. Thanks already and again to those of you who have already contributed either directly or through Wings of Peace. Currently we have 17 children sponsored and in school who would not be attending except for your generosity. THANKS!!!

Our young boy, Nyamai is doing well. We continue to practice speech with him daily. Progress is slow but it will come. His attention span for practice is of course that of a 5 and 1/2 year old!!

Our visit to the HURUMA Community Group in Kibwezi ( a 20 minute matatu ride) was beyond wonderful and a real eye opener to many of our guardians at MCC. The women in this group are doing so many income generating activities it it hard to count them all. They are lead by Rehema who is becoming famous for all she has done. She is not a young women but has the motivation and enthusiasm for so many projects and she has motivated her group to success. I plan to take another group of MCC guardians there again in July. The first group came back motivated and I have already seen some good signs - I hope these signs turn into income generating realities. I have planned a soap making training for some of them for next week. This is a good startup project as it is relatively inexpensive to start and the market is already there for buyers; everybody uses liquid soap for everything!!! One of our groups is considering the rental of a shamba to grow drought resistent crops and we are planning a water catchment training for July (when it rains again, we can capture the water if we build water catchment retaining "ponds"). Rain has failed us for now but we are hoping for the December rains - when rain comes we hope to be ready to capture it and make it last!!

Yesterday, we mailed our Tupa Takataka Hapa trash/clean up Makindu project proposal to Safaricom Foundation in Nairobi. We

David Kioko and family

2009-06-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

David is the KISMA Coordinator.

My Loitokitok family

2009-06-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

View from my home: Mt. Kilimanjaro

2009-06-01T14:20:00.001-07:00

Hiking in Loitokitok

2009-06-01T14:13:00.001-07:00

World AIDS Day in Loitokitok

2009-06-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

Elephants at Ambosseli

2009-06-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Photos are in. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

It's MADARAKA DAY in Kenya

2009-05-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Madaraka Day . . . it is independence day in Kenya . . . a holiday for most but not for us. MCC is "open" and working everyday except Sunday and some of us are here others are celebrating the holiday. The children will have no school but they will get lunch. I am going to see if it is possible for me to take some of them to the celebration . . . some is not possible, it will be all or none, I suspect. I an not sure yet how many will come today. The celebration starts at 10:00, Kenya time that is anywhere from 10 until noon. I say this from past experience here although I am seeing more and more that people are getting better about being on time!!! That is a good change. This past week we (MCC) has distributed "relief" food to the guardians for the children in our three areas - Makindu, Kiboko and Twaandu. They received beans, sugar and maize flour. It is probably enough for a few meals. They seemed appreciate, or most were, however; in this culture, please and thank you are not common.

I received a message from David Kioko from KISMA in Loitokitok last week and he informed me that your generosity has now sponsored 17 children to school. THANKS again!! Barbara (Wings of Peace International) tells me that $600 plus is targeted for November. David and Susan, the fund coordinators, are thrilled. Thank you again . . . only through education of the youth in Kenya will life ever change here. It is so important and they deserve the opportunity to go to school and it is NOT free!!

Tomorrow I am taking 10 MCC guardians on a "field trip" to see a very successful women's group oin a nearby town. Their group is called HURUMA. They are 30 plus women who work together on MANY income generating activities to help better their lives. They own their own thrashing and grinding machine and it is located in a building which they also own. They make many, many different types of flour from every grain you can think of and many that you don't even know in the US. They also weave, sew and cultivate a shamba (farm) which they are currently renting. I am hopeful that this group of guardians from MCC will learn from this group and take their ideas back to Makindu and put them into action to better their own lives and the lives of the MCC children. It is my "job" to provide them with information, it is their job to turn that information into income generating activities. I cannot give them the motivation, that has to come from them. I can only hope that this group, chosen by them, is the right group to lead others to "do something". Many just wait for something to be given to them while others go out and "get" and "do" for themselves.

Yesterday my Kiswahili teacher (Kilonzo) and I visited (for the second time) a VERY successful shamba. The owner and his wife, Pascale and Christine are wonderful people with a nice "big" family. Their shamba is so productive and beautiful because he dug a 40 foot well to irrigate - what a difference!!! It is all about water and people wanting to work hard. They grow virtually everything you can imagine; maize (corn) 3 types, bananas, papaya (the trees must have 50 plus on every tree), sweet potatoes, onions, beans, tomatoes, cassava, mangos, sugarcane, watermelon, pumpkin, kale, kunde(like kale). That is all I can think of at the moment. They are also very generous, they give the first harvest to the church, then they eat then they give and sell to others. They gave me a watermelon, papaya and corn. I regifted the watermelon and the corn to my neighbors. It is so good to see some people doing so well. They also have a dairy cow and chickens. They are few (the ones doing well) here but the ones that there are, are GREAT MODELS for others.

This week (Wed-Fri) I am attending a workshop in Wote - a town not too far from Makindu. It is sponsored by the group that the other PCV (Erin) works with in Makindu. They were gracious to invite me. It is a training for farmers who do "collective marketing" of indiginous chickens so they might train others. I never knew when I was assigned to Kenya I might return to the US trained as a farmer . . . one never knows what opportunities lie ahead in one's life.

I also plan to work with our MCC boy, Nyamai, on his speech. That will take some time but he will come around in time.

We are also making plans in Makindu for a BIG celebration called Day of the African Child, that takes place on June 16th. It is a busy month . . . that is all good.

I hope everyone is doing well and all are healthy. I think I gave the wrong info to you in case you want to call me. I believe you dial a + then 254-722-370-165. Don't be shy, you can call me anytime, I would love to hear from you. The phone service is FAR superior to the internet service. Take good care!!

Love always!! Paula

Second Post Attempt on DAD's Birthday!!!!

2009-05-28T00:14:00.000-07:00

This must be a lucky day . . . continued from last post. I don't think I have mentioned this before, if I did, sorry!! There must be around 25 to30 children (growing by the day) that I see and greet on my way to work and home again. I have taught them to greet me with a high-five hand slap then I say "watcha" which is hello in Kikamba to young people and they respond "ah", then we do the Obama fist bump and we say "Obama"!! This is so much fun and the word is spreading fast - so now instead of greeting me with "mazungu" meaning foreigner or "how are you?" we greet the NEW way, I love it!! I also taught the kids in Loitokitok the same. I wonder if our President knows how often his name is spoken with love and respect EVERYDAY? I for one am glad Obama is taking a harsh stand on the government corruption here, it has to improve before the people of Kenya will benefit from the decisions of their elected officials. I want to THANK!!! so very much Lyzette and Barbara for all they have done to help with donations and understanding of our work with the children here is Kenya. So little goes so far and as I keep saying to all, the future of Kenya is the youth and children, change will not happen without them. So all we are doing to make their lives better is ALL GOOD!!!
I have sent my camera chip to Lyzette who will try to give my blog some spice wth a few photos . . . I hope all goes well in this regard. I really believe is is hard for you to believe that internet access and reliability is hard here in Makindu - a lot of it is probably me too.
I hope you are all well and happy . . . all is good here!!! Happy Birthday to my relatives in June; Broke and Lilly!! Thanks to those who write to me . . . I love getting your letters and cards. Sorry about those who email - those responses from me are less frequent and will continue to be. I love what I am doing and can only hope I am making a little difference to some. Bye for now. Love to all, Paula

Frustration . . . Patience . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

2009-05-27T23:55:00.000-07:00

Hello . . . it has been a while . . . I tried to publish this blog on May 16th and the internet failed as I was attempting to send, so here goes again, I hope it is successful this time. It is now the 28th of May; HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!
I had a good first success this week (May 11th). I was successful in securing a surgical procedure for one of our MCC children, Nyamai (5 1/2 years old). This was a follow up request from Winnie Barron, MCC's founder. She visited us in April for a couple of weeks from Oregon. After a few blunders trying to navigate the hospital system, the doctor agreed to do the procedure on Wednesday, May 20th. Nyamai cannot speak at all clearly because he is "tongue tied". We have to go thru one more appointment to reconfirm but I am hopeful all will go well. Now this is the 28th, I can tell you that all went WELL!! The doctor agreed to do the procedure free of charge. Otherwise we would have had to wait until AMREF sent a doctor in June. The procedure is normally done when children are very little. I have no idea why Nyamia fell thru the cracks for so long but he was scheduled last year and "they" scratched him off the list and told him to go home and eat sugarcane . . . that obviously was not the answer. He has now returned to school and I and the teacher will work with him to improve his speak by teaching him how to use his tongue. His father is very happy and I hope in time Nyamai will be too. I am not too sure he understands what happened, it will take time. It was supposed to be a simple procedure but he ended up spending 4 nights in the hospital, I'm still not sure why about that either.
The MCC guardians finished up 5 sessions of goat keeping training that I arranged thru the Ministry of Livestock. The trainers were very good. All was in the Kikamba language, but I benefited as well. The guardians seem very appreciate and have already made changes in feed, housing, grazing and they have used medicines to improve the health of their stock. I just hope this improvement continues. They are reporting that their goats are much healthier. YEAH!!! I am hoping that some will be interested in dairy goat keeping. This milk would be very good for the children and the milk production is much greater than in meat goats. I am going to send this blog now and continue with a new one so I don't lose this one again!!

Back "Home" In Makindu

2009-04-25T03:39:00.001-07:00

This is my second try, I completed a long blog and it disappeared . . . who knows, quite frustrating . . . anyway, here goes again. I have just returned from Nairobi after nearly 2 weeks of Peace Corps training (IST) inservice training. It was good to see our volunteer group again, share 3 months of varied stories, have a hot shower and experience rainfall and cooler weather. We had good speakers and learned more and more about our jobs here and resources available. ALL GOOD! I finally passed the required Kiswahili language test . . . a relief to say the least. I am anxious to use more of the language, I like it a lot and it helps so much with communication in my rural areas even though they speak Kikamba, some Kiswahili is similar enough that you can get by. Many thanks to all for the wonderful cards, letters and a couple of care packages, all is appreciated. It is always great to get mail. The customs charges are beyond my PCV salary but they are worth it!!!

Winnie Barron, the founder of MCC, has been in town from Oregon for the past 2 weeks and I have had an opportunity to meet, chat and work with her briefly. She is medically trained so her primary concern is for the health and welfare of the children, of course, she was very busy. I am going to do some follow up for her on a few hospital tests for the children and I am happy to do so. She and her friend, Pat, are headed back to the states tomorrow. Pat has painted some beautiful murals on the walls of the center and the children are delighted with her work.
There work here is doing so much for the children - currently 450!!

A little on current events - there is a new pension scheme (plan) for government civil servants, teachers and police. It will involve 400,000 people in job classes A - L with monthly salaries from $100.37 to $421.46 USD. 15% of each worker's salary will be contributed by the government - people are not confident about this part. The employee contribution will be 2% in 2009, 5% in 2010 and 7.5% in 2011. You are required to work for 5 years to qualify for a share. There is a teacher shortage of 64,000 teachers, a 4 years degree is required, starting salary $166.67 USD; any takers?

You may have read or heard about the gang of Mungiki in Kenya. They are not in my province (Eastern) they have caused some real problems and death. Peace Corps is very astute about security so no worries.

The guardian goat training continued in my absence ( we have had around 60 or more at each session) and I understand that they are excited and motivated about it. That makes me feel great. I hope I can continue to find the same in other areas as my time here progresses.

Our water bill at MCC has quadrupled and our budget is now gone for the year so sadly we may have to let most of our shamba die . . . our bills went from 3 - 4,000 KSH per month to well over 20,000 . . . ouch . . . water is now unaffordable for most. I am not sure what will happen.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful dad and my cousin Scott in May . . . a little early I know but I am never sure about internet access.

Health report . . . I have been very lucky and very healthy . . . I currently have a little fungus problem under six of my fingernails caused by wearing latex gloves underneath my leather work gloved while picking up trash. Peace Corps has given me some cream and I hope it will heal soon. I also stepped on a sharp rock and bruised the ball of my right foot - limping a bit and feeling a little old temporarily!!! ALL will heal soon.

I better close and send now - I am afraid this connection will disappear on me again. Love to all!!! Stay healthy and happy!! Sorry about no pictures yet - it is too hard. But I do have some!!

Paula

Greetings from Hot, Dry and Dusty Makindu . . .

2009-03-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

The long rains are due to start any day . . . they say. They are unpredictable so people do not plant until actually see the rain.

I have scheduled some goat raising training for 54 guardians at MCC. They have never had any formal training and our hope is that the training will help them be more aware of how they need to improve feed, disease control and housing in order to gain increased production from healthier animals. I made a site visit day before yesterday with the District Vet Officer to the best goat raising site out of the guardian group (their choice). We found 7 goats and 4 sheep sharing the same small pen, the goats were visibly infested with fleas and tics and the pen was heavy with animal droppings . . . all not a good environment. They have been raising all livestock the same way "forever" according to Chege, the vet officer, so culture change is our major hurdle. Our role is to provide the information and training, the guardian's role is to make the necessary changes. I can only be hopeful. As happens more often than not here, we have had to reschedule the training at least once. We are now scheduled to start on April 2nd, we have scheduled nine sessions of two hours each. The guardians seem very interested as they all showed up early the day we were supposed to start . . . that is unusual . . . meetings sometimes start here up to two hours late. If the rains do come, we may have to reschedule again as the guardians will be planting their shambas (farms). We will wait and see . . . Livestock ownership, mostly cows and goats, is a sign of wealth in Kenya so that is why everyone has or wants them. They may have no money but they have goats. Goats are also their savings account. The problem with this cultural norm is that they sell the goats only when "times are tough" and tough times normally happen to a large percentage of Kenyans at the same time so the market price for goats or any livestock drops significantly and their "wealth" is diminished often twofold. Changing this cultural personal financial practice will take much education and time. Language is a bit of a barrier but I am working with and through the MCC social workers who speak Kikamba (the mother tongue here) they also speak Kiswahili and English! Some communication gets lost in translation I am sure but I can only hope it isn't a lot. The social workers are young, just out of college, so they understand the cultural barriers but are not tied up in them.

Our shamba at MCC is currently producing sackfuls of tomatoes so it is a great treat to have them with lunch now right off the vine, virtually, with hot chilis and onions!!!

I had one large (30) community group join my "tupa taka taka hapa" trash, clean up project this morning. We will work together every week now. One other group is supposed to join us next week. I am excited to see if we can make a difference. I need to contact the Marketing Directors for some major companies here to see if they want to donate trash bins, I think I mentioned that before. I think people might respond better if they had a place to dump their trash besides on the streets.

The community is currently having a major outrage over the water company billing rates. They have had one community baraza (meeting) and have now scheduled another after they drafted a letter to the local officials and the water company. People's bills are four to five times what they should be . . . MCC just received a bill for 23,000 shillings, our normal bill is around 5,000 and the pattern of water usage here has not changed. People cannot afford this and most are not paying . . . so we will wait to see the outcome of this. You cannot live without water so the situation is getting desperate.

Yahoo has been very unreliable here for the last month, so if you have emailed me and I have not responded, please be patient. I still only have access about once a week. Thanks to those who write, it is always great to get a letter. It sometimes gets a little lonely but I am happy and working hard.

My best wishes to all!!!

Paula

It's Saturday . . .

2009-03-07T02:13:00.000-08:00

I'm working at the center today, as I do every Saturday, and have access to the computer today - so I'll do a little update. This week I had the experience of working with one of the social workers in the field to try and locate two (twins - boy and girl) of our sponsored children who have been attending school rather irregularly. The way we find that out is due to the neighbors who noticed that the kids would leave for school, stash their uniforms in a bag, then head for who knows where, but not for school. Then they would change back into their uniforms to come to the center for lunch so we were none the wiser. Thank goodness for good neighbors. We tracked both children down, on foot, eventually, one was actually at home preparing food and the other was miles away at her sister's house (a 16 year old, pregnant, primary school drop out!! nice example) watching the house while her sister did who knows what. The kids have reported back to school with the promise to attend regularly - we'll see. We spent half a day walking to find them both then speaking with the deputy at the school they are supposed to attend. They avoided the usual discipline of caning - I said how about giving them a break just this once. They are orphans (mother died of aids) father is not responsible, so they are cared for by an elderly grandmother who can barely see - not a good situation. The shelter they have is poor at best and I would guess the best and maybe only meal they get is the one from the center every day. They are beautiful kids, smart and I hope they make it. Education is their only hope. They are both in Class 4 - primary school. You really have to pay attention because the school has so many kids (1400) they really cannot help track down the ones who choose not to attend so they get lost in the shuffle. I hope these kids do not continue to be influenced by their older sister, she is a very BAD example for them. Anyway . . . there are lots of cases like this.

Water . . . there was a community meeting this week about the cost of water. My Kiswahili teacher gave me an example of his escalating bill - it has gone from 1300 shillings per month to 16,000 - unaffordable even for someone with a good teaching job. One grandmother said her bill has gone from 300 shillings per month to 13,000 she stopped watering her banana trees so they died and the children (orphans again) have no fruit to eat. The District Commissioner has also been affected so there will be something done - he says. We will see. Something has to happen because no one can afford to pay their water bill. The water company in Makindu, at least, is a government/private partnership - it started two years ago. The managing director, I am told, drives a big fancy new truck, while his customers cannot afford to pay the escalating rates . . . where is that money going? People just aren't paying or they are paying a portion so their water won't be shut off. I hope some relief will come soon. Fortunately, my water is included in the rent . . . so far!! But I am very conservative with usage - it is a prestious commodity here.

We have a gang of bad "young" men in Nairobi called the Mungiki . . . I am not sure that they get any press in the US but they are disrupting public transport this week. They are enforcers or something like that . . . they force duca (store) owners to pay or they decapitate them, I am told. Sorry for that graphic . . . this week the matatu (public van transport) drivers refused to drive because of their threat. Not a good situation but they are not in Makindu and I hope they never are!!! I am not a fan of travel to Nairobi so I go only when Peace Corps calls a meeting - the next one is in April for a few days. Everything will be OK - you just go your way and mind your own business.

I have been working in the shamba (farm) at the center - we grow a lot of our own food. They cannot believe that I actually enjoy it but I do. I have my own rake and I borrow a jembe (hoe) from the "guys". I weed and water. It really is "relaxing" but it is a lot of work and I get very dirty. Hauling water is heavy and tedious but good for the biceps!!! We grow bananas, avocados, mangos, kale and 4 other green Kenyan vegetables, oranges, tomatoes, onions. I suspect their are 5 acres or so. The maize crop failed because of no rain so we are also growing "grass" for cow feed - I think we are planning to get a dairy cow eventually. But for now we can sell the grass to other farmers.

Tomorrow is National Women's Day in Kenya - not sure if that is a world event or not. I think they have to have it on Sunday in Kenya because that is the ONLY day the woman don't work from sun up to sun down - they get a break to attend church. I will attend the event after church with Erin (the other PCV in Makindu) and see "what's up". It should be a good one.

I am continuing my Kiswahili lessons . . . I hope someday I can actually speak some fluent sentences. I know a lot of words but their sentence structure is so different from English that I struggle a bit with putting it all together. But I study 2 to 3 hours everyday and am putting forth great effort. It will be great to speak Kiswahil then I can learn Kikamba which is similar and the language that the people I work with actually speak most often. Kiswahili is the national language but each of the tribes have their own tribal language and I am in Kamba land.

That's the update . . . good health and continued good happiness to all!!!

Love from Paula

Here's What's Up!!

2009-03-02T21:41:00.002-08:00

Currently we are experiencing fewer days with water and electricity. The government has increased the price of water to discourage use. It has become unaffordable for some. The water and electricity so off and on irregularly now; you just never know so you always have to plan for no water. Electricity is easy to live without - rise with the sun and retire with it (kind of). The weather here has been extremely HOT and DUSTY. We do get a little breeze in the late afternoon which helps.

Things are good at the children's center, money is very tight due to the world financial crisis, donors are fewer and money flow slows. Currently school exam fees (yes they charge you to take a test!!) are due so money appears to be a daily challenge. It is ow even more important that the guardian groups I am working with become more self-sustaining. Food is becoming more of an issue every day.

February 25th I did a flip chart presentation on pig farming as a business for a group of guardians in a rural area. Pig farming could be a very good business for them if they can get over the initial investment hurdle. Unfortunately, they are more concerned with feeding themsleves and the children currently vs growing pig feed. But I am giving them ideas to help them think about the future focusing on less water dependent income generating activities. Water is always an issue regardless of what you are doing. We are also focused on more drought resistent crops.

I am expanding my trash project (Tupa Taka Taka Hapa) AKA put your trash here! We worked
today 2/27/09 with a group from the County Council. We (3 volunteers) picked up trash, they lit the fires to burn it. It's a dirty project but one that can make a difference. I hope to get funding for dust bins (trash receptacles) eventually. It will be a complete culture reversal to make Kenyans in Makindu believe they are responsible for disposing of their trash in a receptacle other than the road or ditch. I commited myself to trash pick up volunteer duty every Friday at 10:00 a.m. Nairobi has big fines for littering and their streets are better so it can work here in time, I hope.

Today, March 3, I am sending 22; 11 by 17 poster entires to PEPFAR (HIV/AIDS)in Nairobi. The U.S. President's Council on HIV/AIDS Relief is having a contest with the theme Celebrate Life. 36 of our children (some in groups and some individually) drew posters based upon this theme following an educational presentation on HIV/AIDS prevention. HIV/AIDS information is presented here at a very young age usually in their second year of primary school if not before. Their school system here is nursery, class 1 - 8 then form 1 - 4. Most children finish 1 - 8 a very small percentage move on to form 1 - 4 (basically high school) mostly due to cost. Secondary schools (form 1-4) bid for the best students. Schools send out letters inviting students to atend, you must receive a letter in order to atend secondary school.

I am scheduled to attend a 3 day language emersion workshop this month. It will be a great learning experience.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MARCH FAMILY BIRTHDAYS !!! Lewis, Duston, Luke, Tyler, Carter and Chase.

More soon, I hope . . . love and good health to ALL!

Paula

More News from Kenya . . .

2009-02-06T02:51:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone!!

This week I witnessed my first famine feed relief gathering. This is the second one in our area. The people (mostly the mamas) gather near the Chief's Office - that is where the storage warehouse is located - although there is nothing to store at the moment. I saw two medium sized trucks unload large bags of maise and a few boxes of cookng oil. The leaders from each village receive heir allotment then they distribute to their village people. This time people will receive 2 to 5 Kg's of maize (which they will take to the mill to grin for about 4 shillings) and 1/2 litre of cookng oil. I am told that this is about enough for one meal for a family. I asked the Chief where the food was from, he only knew it was from the government. The bags were not marked so I couldn't tell either - usually relief food is well marked on the bags so maybe this as from a Kenyan Cereal Board warehouse. The people are so patient - they gather, talk and wait then received their food and leave; sometimes this takes many hours as they are not sure what time the food will arrive or even if it will. Each person carries their own bag for the maize and a small plastic jog for the cookng oil. Prices are still high here and food is scarce. The children I work with are lucky that they get a good nutritious lunch 6 days a week and I get to eat it also. For some; however, that is their only meal of the day but it is big, nutritious and good.

I have met many of the guardian groups for MCC (Makindu Children's Centre) now and I am researching possible IGA's (income generating projects) for them. Ones that do NOT require rain. We are lookng at chicken raising, dairy goat raising and pig farming. Also beekeeping, if the rains come again in March or April. I am also looking at interest in dedydrated fruit if I can get someone from the US to send me some mango and papaya - they have no idea what dehydrated fruit is because they eat it all fresh but we may be able to creat a market - they definitely have the inventory of fruit.

A mention about dress, the African women dress wonderfully elegant. Their clothes are blouses and skirts or suits. They are always very colorful. I love the patterns. Their headwrap most always matches their skirt aka leso. Whatever they don't have, they are always clean and well dressed. The men look very western, a few suits/ties but mostly just shirts and trousers as it is very hot here. The women are always cleaning, sweeping or washing. There are many tailors to make whatever clothing you require for a very reasonable price. Where I live they don't have racks of clothing to choose from. There are some small shops with a very limited selection. Shoe repair is plentiful also. I have had my shoes and boots repaired a few times as I walk everywhere. They usually will repair while you wait. Shoe shines are also popular but they only last about five minutes with all the dust. A shine runs sbout .25 US and repair between .06 and .63 US depending on the complexity of the repair.

Thanks to those of you who have written. It is great to get mail and feel somewhat connected to home. It is only taking about a week for mail to arrive here. The internet remains a mystery, yahoo is up and down in terms of connectivity - it lets me respond to about one email every now and then and even then I am never sure if the "sent" really gets to you. Having said that - please email me and let me know what other information may interest you about this adventure/project and I will try to include it in the blog. I'll also try to do photos soon - it is a challenge here . . . sorry!

CONGRATS!! to my sister, Patricia, on her upcoming wedding. I am sorry to miss the celebration but will be thinking of her and Ted! The very best to you both.

That's it from here for now . . . good health and happiness to all!

Yours in love, friendship and peace!! Paula

It's Friday . . . again!! Time Flies!!

2009-01-30T00:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings All!

I have started a neighborhood trash cleanup project - it happens every Sunday after church. There is so much , it will be a forever task. Plastic bags are everywhere! They are the worst offender. I am looking for a community group to help - I met with the County Council and a member of a youth group, we'll see what happens - everything moves more slowly here.

The food and water situation is deteriorating here . . . food security situation is a alarm stage as of Janaury 15, 2009. The population in my district has experienced 100% crop failure, rationing is ongoing, one bag (40 lbs) per person of maize per month. People are consuming boiled maize without beans due to low purchasing power. Food prices are high, livestock (goats and cows) prices are low (they sell in bad times for oney for food) and school fees are due now. Water availability too has deteriorated; the average trek for water has increased from 3 miles to 6 miles. We are lucky so far and have water about 4 to 5 days per week, some are not so fortunate.

If you would like to know more about where I am working here is the website address www.makindu.org. It is a wonderful story, it will help you better understand how hard things are here to accomplish and how great the need. I am currently researching project potentials in village poultry raising, dairy goat keeping and beekeeping . . . who would have thought! I am also doing some counselng for the older school children about hopeful futures with an education . . . this one is the real challenge.

The teacher's strike was settled last night . . . that is a wonderful event! The teachers accepted the government's offer to pay a raise in three installments. The first promised installment is for July it represents a 40% pay increase, the highest paid teacher will now take home $1001 per month, the lowest $251 per month.

Times up . . . more later. I hope everyone is well and happy!!

Pole pole diomuendo! Paula

Current Events

2009-01-24T02:32:00.001-08:00

Teachers strike in Kenya; teachers are demanding a salary increase the lowest paid 183 USD per month the highest pais 1600 USD per month. The government has offered to pay the increase in 3 installments - union said no. The increase amounts to 152 USD per month for the lowest paid and 951 USD per month for the highest paid. An average Kenyan lives on less than 2 USD per day - 730 USD per year. Teachers have not had an increase since 1997. Primary teachers currently earn 120 USD per month secondary teachers earn 240 - 335 USD per month. The members of parliament in Kenya earn 10,256 USD per month and pay no taxes!!
The primary teachers as of this writing have not settled, the secondary teachers have settled but are out on a sympathy strike for the primary teachers. The children are surely the ones who are hurt by this - hopefully it will be settled soon.

Famine issues: the government must feed one million even with a good harvest year. The government is currently working on an irrigation masterplan - Kenya is very rain dependent. Past plan have failed since 1980. Volunteer organizations try to help initiate sustainable ncome producing projects that are not rain dependent. But then the rains might come and all is forgotten. This is the second year of no rains so the harvests have failed - food is scarce and vry expensive.

Tourism issues: inefficient ferry service on the south coast, mechanical breakdowns etc. From the airport to the coats is 24 miles and it takes 4 hours to travel that distance. Tourists are forced to walk 5 miles to ferry services. Frequently the tourists miss their flight and must be reimbursed so they are going elsewhere more reliable like Tanzania. Investors are looking to expand potential of Mt. Kenya i.e. tourism circuit to include 33 lakes, trout sport fishing (John and Louis!!!), MauMau caves, traditional shrines and landscapes. Country needs diversification from wildlife attractions.

Sorry about any spelling errors - I am trying to hurry to get everything in before the internet goes south again - we still cannot get yahoo at all - so I apologize to those of you who have emailed, I'll get back to you when I can.

Thanks to those few who responded for child sponsorships for education. The need is great and every little bit helps. The Kenyan Government states that education is free - that is not a true statement. I personally know children who are at home because their parents cannot pay the fees. Every little bit helps even if it is an inkind donation of any amount. Thanks!!!!
The address again is: KISMA ANGELS IN KENYA C/O Loitokitok Lutheran Parish, P. O. Box 147, Loitokitok 00209 Kenya - email me if you want to sponsor an individual child and I will get you the form and photo.

Sorry about no photos yet - maybe in a couple of months - that's really hard!!

Love to all, Paula

My Work Life

2009-01-24T02:09:00.000-08:00

I am working at Makindu Children's Center from 8 to 5 six days per week. The center supports 400 orphans and vulnerable children. The center has a nursery school for 15 currently, the balance are im primary and secondary schools in the district. Lunch is prepared 6 days, if the child is within an hour walking distance they come for lunch everyday. This insures one healthy meal everyday except Sunday. The children are in the care of a guardian. Due mostly to HIV/AIDS the children have no parents. Their lunch meal varies little everyday but is very nutritious. Sukumawiki everyday (kale,spinach, tomato,onion) then either corn and beans or rice and beans or ugali and beans (ugali - maize flour the consistency of thick mashed potatoes) sometimes we have fruit grown here - bananas or mango.

My typical day . . . up by 5:30 or 6 a.m., heat water for a bucket bath (I have a single burner paraffin jiko for cooking) bathe, dress, make chair (tea with diluted milk) or coffee (a luxury) and cereal with a banana; sweep house and fron "patio" and dirt yard - NO grass here, few trees and bushes (none) then wash breakfast dishes, clean outhouse then walk 20 to 30 minutes to the center for work. I eat lunch at the center. I'm currently focusing on learning Kiswahili, Kikamba and planning income generating projects for the guardians including dairy goat raising for milk, cheese (new to them) and yogurt ( almost non existent here) also poultry raising for eggs and meat, cotton for seed oil - focus needs to be on projects not rain dependent. I start for home sometime after 5 p.m., sometimes I stop for a cup of chai and talk with the cafe staff or stop by the Sikh Temple to rest and study in their shady oasis a cool spot - it is VERY hot here in the p.m. I'm always home by dark - a PC rule!! I prepare dinner, sometimes it is just fruit as lunch is very filling and I usually don't eat until 1:30 or 2 p.m.; sometimes I'll buy veggies on the way home and fix rice with them. If I can find raw peanuts (another luxury) I eat a few of those for protein. Without refrigeration your fruit and vegetables only last a day or two so you have to buy everyday at the market but that is pretty easy - the stands are everywhere. I study and write then go to bed. On Sunday, I try to attend the early "youth" service at church at 8 a.m. then return to home to wash clothes, that usually takes a couple of hours - all by hand of course. Then I take a walk to get some exercise - no mountains or hills here to climb - flat and desert! I am starting a garbage clean up project this weekend in my neighborhood - our compound is very clean but outside the gate is a bad scene. I am going to pick up the plastic, trash, dead batteries, etc. that are all around - they are supposed to go into a pit and be burned - yes, everything!!!! You name it, it goes in the pit for burning. Goats eat the fruit and vegtable scraps, in fact they roam free and eat about everything with a hint of green. I hope the project is successful and send a good message. Some people are really good about trash others not so. The African people are very clean - they are ALWAYS cleaning either themselves or something so the trash thing puzzles me. More later . . . just in case I lose you again.

Home In Makindu

2009-01-24T01:59:00.000-08:00

Finally . . . the internet here has been unavailable and unreliable for days. I think it is hard for you all to even imagine that but it is VERY frustrating, but I am lucky to have it at all. I share a compound here with 3 other women and several children. I'm still unsure exactly how many. There are no fathers around that I have seen anyway, this is common. My space is big for here, I'm guessing just a little smaller than my Winter Park apt. maybe 800 SF. I have 2 bedrooms (one for storage??), small kitchen, bothing room and sitting room. I have puchased 2 hardwood chairs and a small table 3x2 and a mattress. The space is more than enough for one person. The outhouse is close by. Water is also near. I have electricity but no running water inside the house but the tap is nearby, I share this with the others. Water is available 5 days per week so you have to plan ahead a bit. I have a 100 liter storage tank that I bought for days with no water. Life is simple but everything is "hard" i.e. it takes much more time and effort for anything to happen. People move at a sloer pace but everything gets done in it own time. I'll post this now in case I lose the connection. More later . . .

New Contact Information In Makindu, Ke

2009-01-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

Here is my new mailing address for the next 2 years:
Paula Dorney; PCV
c/o Makindu Children's Centre
P.O. Box 101 - 90138
Makindu, Kenya

My cell number from US; 011-254-722-370-165
Your calls and letters are welcome, please keep in mind the 10 hour time difference if you choose to call. I'll not call you, sorry!!! It is unaffordable . . . but you are all in my thoughts.

I am looking forward to my new assignment . . . I'll let you know how it is going as I go. I am gettng settled in to my "new" home. Keeping very busy . . . this will be a real challenge going forward, I hope I can make a difference. The cultural differences are remarkable and very interesting. I am working with a wonderful groups of Kenyans and over 400 children and their guardians ( due to parent deaths from HIV/AIDS). There are plenty of projects so the choices are varied and there are a lot of them. I am walking everywhere so far - maybe a bike purchase later. I am only about a 30 minute walk to the school where I work. I am close to town in a small little residential area with chickens, goats, cats, dogs and children all around. My place is spacious and so far has one stool for furniture, but I am working on that. There are many carpenters to make whatever you want for a reasonable price. I am on a borrowed mattress until one arrives on the next truck - February 1st. The floor was very hard the first night!!! Cooking on a small one burner gas stove is fun and challenging, it makes for a one course dinner with fruit as a second course - the fruit is VERY good, picked right off the tree probably yesterday!!! More later . . . love to all!!!

I hope you are all well and happy!!!

Our Next Step . . . and Update to Date

2009-01-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

January 5th . . . yesterday was Sunday, our final full day in Loitokitok town. Saying goodbye for now was sweet sadness . . . so many friends made in such a short time. I attended church for the final time here. I have been attending the Lutheran Church for the last 6 weeks, it is where my business partner attends - and you DO attend church here as a cultural "requirement". It is a very big part of the cultural experience here. You go to church . . . it usually lasts from 2 to 5 hours depending on your choice of denomination. Yesterday I was honored during the service with songs, photo sessions, speeches and clapping all in my honor . . . what an experience. I was "dressed" by the mamas in two beautiful sets of traditional clothing in from of the congregation as a gift. I said a few words of thanks in Kiswahili then a procession of hugs followed. It was very interesting because Kenyans don't usually hug. It was an emotional experience. They were so nice to me and very appreciative of my effort to find funding for the education of children in their community.

This a.m. (Monday) we are loading for our trip to Nairobi. We will spend one day driving then 4 more days of more site orientation and training, meet out site partners and find out where we will be living and working for the next two years. I will continue working with KISMA in Loitokitok to help find education sponsors. Later . . . I have been selected as one of three volunteers to speak at our swearing in ceremony on Thursday the 8th. There is a speech in Kiswahili, one in sign language and I will be delivering the one in English. Later . . .

January 7th . . . I an now assigned to Mikindu Children's Centre in Mikindu, Eastern Province, Kenya. 4 plus hours drive, due to road conditions . . . dust and not much pavement, southeast of Nairobi. The centre (yes, the spelling is correct) focuses on education and job opportunities for at risk youth, i.e. orphans and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS related deaths of parents. The area where I will live is hot and dry. There is some agriculture BUT there has been NO rain and crops have failed for the second year so there will probably be a food crisis to deal with soon. I will let you know more about my site later . . . when I know more!! I'll arrive there this weekend. There are 3 other volunteers within a few hours of me so I'll have some contact with others fairly frequently. One other volunteer is actually in the same town.

I will provide another mailing address when I establish one - for now, keep using the one I gave you . . . the P.O. Box 30518, I think in Nairobi - mail is getting to me eventually - thanks to all of you who have written - it really means a lot!!! Noreen and Dad - you WIN!!! Aunt Patt and Doug, I received your Christmas card yesterday, what a treat!!

80% of Kenyans have cell phones WHILE 80% of Kenyans do not have electricity - so we are required to

have one - I now have one BUT it is extremely expensive to call you and my budget is very slim, so. . . if you want to call me you are welcome to do so. You dial 011-254-722-370-165, PLEASE keep in my the time difference and that I have a job to do here. There is no voicemail but you also can text me - yes I do know how to do that now!!! My phone does have internet access WHEN the internet is up . . . that's the question. I can check mail about once a month maybe on a "regular" access line.

Thanks so very much to those of you who have emailed me with interest in my sponsorship project - you cannot know how much that means to these kids, parents and me.

January 8th - we are now officially Peace Corps volunteers - all swearning in is complete!!!

I'm off to my new site early in the a.m. Love to all!!!

Tutaonana! Paula

My Peace Corps Project

2008-12-08T01:05:00.001-08:00

Last Monday was World Aids Day, a very big deal in Kenya. We attended an all day event with a parade, singing, speeches, dancing and eating.

For eight weeks/six now, here in Loitokitok, we are being trained in 3 areas, language (Kiswahili), culture and business/technology. In order to "graduate" from trainee to volunteer, we must show competency in all areas. We are requird to seek out, design and implement a sustainable project during this time working with our project/business partner. I have been assigned, David Kioto, an HIV/AIDS communal, co-op volunteer coordinator. HIV/AIDS is a huge problem in Kenya. His group, KISM, which stands for a well of hope, meets weekly. There are a proximately 107 members of this group in 4 villages, 50 plus in Loitokitok near whre I live. They all are HIV/AIDS positive. My proect focus is finding sponsors to fund secondary education for children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school (it is not free here). There are currently 70 children in eed just in this one group. I will be looking to America for sponsorhip funding. Since teechnology is so limited, other then cell phones, we may be dealing with snailmail, and email versus a websit, the ideal. I'll need and apapreciate any help you all gvie provide. The highest level of sponsorhip is a $350.00 per year commitment for four years. The lowest is $245.00 for one year, there are 6 levels needed. This is the amount needed after the government has paid $135.00 and the parents have paid $27.00 plus books and supplies. A Kenyan family of four needs about 25,000 shilingi to live ($340.00 USD) per month. School begins again on January 5th- but this a long term project. I am currently developing a sponsorship form with a child/family bio, photo and need.

Current issues - people in Kenya are very hungry as prices of some staples have doubled since May. The rains have been coming but it is not enough for the maize and beans. To send a blog is about twice the price of lunch so today it is the blog!! My family here is praying for me not to leave - I take that as a compliment. Everything else is good, I am adjusting perfectly and I love the food, it is very healthy. We have taken long hikes on some weekends .

More soon . . . they love Baarack Obama here . . . I hope ALL is well with all of you.

Greetings From Loitokitok

2008-11-25T01:21:00.000-08:00

I am living with a family at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro very close to the Tanzania border. The mountain is a spectacular sight every morning and night, it hides in clouds during the day. My family is wonderful, Mama Mary, her son Francis, wife Mary, sons Daniel (8) and Peter (6). We have no electricity or running water as expected but everyone in Kenya has a cell phone. We live about a 30 to 40 minute walk from town and our training sight. Internet access here is VERY limited and very expensive (4 computers in town) so I will blog more hopefully when access is better and cheaper. Due to the devaluation of the dollar the Peace Corps budget has been stretched so they are condensing 12 weeks of training into 8 weeks; so there is tremendous pressure to learn Kiswahili, the culture, how to live on your own in Africa and our job for the next 2 years. There are overwhelming hours of homework done by lantern or candlelight. It rains most every afternoon ant it is very muddy, nights are cool and days are very warm. I love the food, lots of FRESH fruits (oranages, bananas, passion fruit, watermelon, papaya, mango) and veggies, some meat (cow and goat), lots of chai tea, no coffee. Your diet varies very little.

This experience is wonderful and challenging and not for the meek or timid.

More later . . . Salama sana and Happy Thanksgiving!!

The First Day, Plus . . .

2008-11-12T03:59:00.000-08:00

Habari za asubuhi my family and friends!

The first day was good fun, meeting new people and generally getting oriented to the Peace Corps way and turning in paperwork, etc. We have a large group (43) from all over the US - 2 of us from Central Florida. Most are young people just out of school or very early in their careers, about 6 or 8 are closer to my age, all singles, I believe. Nine of them are Deaf Educators the balance of us are teachers, business and technology folks with a wide variety of backgrounds. The instructors are full of energy and a wonderful group of return volunteers.

Today we leave for Kenya; bus departs at 10:00 a.m. (of course I have been up since 5:00 a.m. or so) then our flight leaves JFK at 6:15 p.m. arriving in Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) at 8:25 p.m. on Thursday. We spend one night at the Lukenya Getaway 30 minutes from the airport. We begin (Friday) with breakfast at 6:00 a.m. followed by a few hours of administrative paperwork, instruction and meeting our in-country Peace Corps staff. Then at 10:30 a.m. we depart for Loitokitok (where they are just beginning the rainy season and expect it to be very wet and muddy) by bus for a 6 1/2 hour (270 kilometers) trip. The next two days are spent learning about our host families, receiving additional immunization shots as needed. We started malaria prophylaxis last night and that will continue during our entire service. We will also meet our medical and training teams and begin one-on-one interviews with trainers, I expect for placement purposes. That is what I know for now.

I am thrilled to finally be on my way. I can't stop smiling, my heart is filled with hope and my eyes (at the moment) filled with tears of joy!!

More later . . .

2008-11-11T02:35:00.000-08:00

Veteran's Day 2008, today I depart for Peace Corps service, how appropriate. My life "reduced" to two (I hope not too heavy) duffel bags and a backpack. They have yet to tell me where in Kenya I am going, I assume they know or not . . .

Yesterday, I walked and walked, enjoying everything about the beautiful city of Winter Park I have grown to love and thinking about my wonderful family and the many friends I am leaving behind for now. I cherish each of you and will think of you often.

I have a few butterflies but I am filled, sometimes overwhelmed, with anxious anticipation to start a new chapter in my life.

Thank you for all of your love and support.

LIFE IS GOOD . . .

Credit Where Credit Is Due

2008-10-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to my good friends Larry and Lyzette for their blog setup assistance and photo contributions!!

I remember sitting at their computer the first time just to complete the Peace Corps application process in February . . . now it is two weeks until I leave for Kenya. Lyzette's encouragement and support has seen me through. Many thanks to all my friends and family for their support as well. It means the world to me.

I still have a few loose ends to tie up but all will happen by the time I leave on Tuesday the 11th. I feel like I am camping out in my apartment . . . good training for the next 27 months. I treasure the running water, the light switches and that little handle on the toilet, for now.

More later . . .

2008-10-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

2008-10-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

2008-10-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Getting Ready To Go!!!!!

2008-10-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is my first practice blog . . . thank you Lyzette for making this happen! I will have limited computer access - they tell me, maybe once a month but I will try to stay in touch as is possible.

Today, just before I am scheduled to leave - I see the dentist for a "surprise: root canal. Better now than 3 weeks from now.

Received my ticket yesterday to report for "staging" in Philadelphia on Tuesday, November 11th - staging is more paperwork and some government required information prior to departure on Wednesday night for Kenya!!

I try to accomplish a bit more packing and "getting" ready each day. My goal is to fit 55 years of memories and very little "stuff" into a 5x10 space - lesson in creative stacking.

Thanks to all of my wonderful Florida friends for the "good-bye" get togethers. I will miss you all!!!