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Published: October 6th 2006
I believe the jet-lag has set in. It is the end of my second full day. I am so exhausted and sleeping has not been easy. Today was spent in Nairobi. I have been in Dan's office working with two other gals who are volunteering as well. One is from CA and one from Canada. We are putting together from scratch a waste management program. Kibera needs this more then ever. No garbage pick up for almost one million people as you can imagine is a nightmare. (not to mention no sewage disposal). Walking through Kibera you step over the streams of sewage and the garbage is everywhere. But there is no program in place for the people of Kibera. Some have tried and many have failed. One area has started to have some success, but even that is only one small area.
This project will start with us creating a firm foundation. It will be hard to help communicate our ideas to the people of Kibera. They feel that if we are doing something it must be making us money. We have to help them see that this is for them. We want this to be their project, we
only want to help faciliate it. Many of your donations have gone directly to this. We are working on cleaning up the slum so there can be less disease. I saw piles of garbage covered in human waste and children actually playing in it. This is how disease like typhoid is spread.
On another note, I have woken up by 4:30 or 5am each morning to the sound of these chants or prayers to music. It was loud and reminded me of the military for some reason....like a wake up call through the loud speaker. It goes on for 45 minutes or so. I inquired and found out that there is a large Muslim population in Kibera and this is the time known as Ramadan. During this time they pray and fast. I believe the music is some type of remembrance of this. The first night I was very startled by it and had no idea what was going on outside...I mean, it was still dark out....who could possibly be up? After this morning I feel I am getting used to it.
As for the bathroom....or lack of. I am thankful to have one at Dan's home. He and his family are so generous. The water is randomly turned off and that is always a delight to discover just before you are about to brush your teeth or wash your face. Even in public this happens. Today I have not be able to wash my hands and it feels awful....and for me that is only one day. I can't imagine how it must feel to go so many with out. In Kibera the "latrines" are not even as nice as an out house. I have pictures to show when I return. Basically you have an area that has coverage and you just squat and go. Most of it will run down the side of a hill and into the other streams of raw sewage.
On yet, another note the avocados here are amazing! They are so large and so fresh...we have nothing like it in the states.
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Darlene
non-member comment
You are amazing!
Amy, it sounds like you are in great hands and all is going to be fine. You are amazing to be doing this work and to be sharing your journey with your friends and relatives. It sounds like a strange dream - such a mixture of incredibly beautiful (like the people and the music) and incredibly dreadful (like the garbage and sewage). Be well and be careful. You are in my thoughts. (And all at ALG send their warm wishes and greetings.)