citizenoftheplanet

Yesterday I did a tour through Kibera, the second biggest urban slum in Africa (second to Soweto in South Africa). Kibera is about 2.5 square kilometres in size, and estimates of the population range from about 200,000 to 1 million. People from all of the Kenyan ethnic groups reside in Kibera, and there is a high percentage of Muslim and Christian devotees within the community. The houses in Kibera are pretty much the same as the mud houses that we build in the village, although they are smaller and more closely packed. Unfortunately, the same number of people, if not more live here, so it's usually anywhere up to 10 people being packed into a house not much bigger than a 2 toilet cubicles. There are no rubbish collection schemes, nor any rubbish bins anywhere, so ... read more

So due to unforeseen circumstances, I have been delayed in Nairobi for the next week or so before I am able to head to Kisumu/Odede. However, I have had a pretty hectic last week organising the troops who have come from the village, and those who have stepped fresh off the plane from Australia, so a little break isn't the worst thing that could happen right now. The first group of people came off the Masai Mara and I had a couple of days getting to know them a bit while they waited for their flight home. They were all really cool, and it was great to spend some time with them swapping stories of life in the village and reminiscing on my last program. The time with them got me freshly excited about the coming ... read more

Hi all, So here I am on my second expedition to Kenya to work with World Youth International (not counting, of course, the fact that it's technically my third time here due to the infamous Cairo/England fiasco). This time I'm the assistant team leader for a group of volunteers who have come here to build some eco-toilets in the village of Odede, and also to build some more mud huts for people who desperately need it, as well as a free medical clinic to many people within the village. I arrived in Kenya yesterday at 1.15pm and spent the rest of the day with my good friend Victor and his lovely (and gorgeous) girlfriend, Jane. Can I just take a moment here to highlight the utter discomfort and annoyance of being squashed in a plane in ... read more