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.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
On Leave In Kenya . . .
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
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
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A Little Update . . .
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
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
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A New Year Always Brings Hope . . .
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
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
Monday, December 7, 2009
More from Makindu and Nairobi . . .
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
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!!!!
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!!!
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!!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
LET THE RAINS BEGIN . . .
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
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
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