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Published: August 9th 2007
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This is for the Children.....
I arrived in Kisii Town after a relaxing week in Naivasha tired, hungry, desperate for a pee and a bath only to have another hours drive back towards Naivasha and out into the bush along bumpy unpaved roads. But the ever rolling hills of the Kisii Highlands are breath taking and the views as you drive are able to ease your mind away from any irritations. As I gazed out the window, fillings my lungs with the fresh highland air, I saw a bit of Jamaica. In this new place that would serve as my home for the next four weeks I found a bit of the beauty of home and I half expected to see Bromley at the top of the next hill, just round the corner... dogs, family and friends, some chilled pinapple and ting waiting for me. But I am a long way from home.
The clouds had been bundling around the hill tops since I had arrived and now it started to rain. This was my first real Kenyan rain, and as I sat with my window still rolled down I wished for it to wash me clean
and put me to bed. Just as the rain started to fall heavily a small boy by the side of the road stopped his walk home, raised his arm and pointed at me, "Mazungu!" My new name.
"I want you to remember this rain Tessa," my host Samwel said to me. "It is a good sign. It is a blessing from your arrival." I smiled and was not sure what to think, I was not even sure what I would be doing out in the Kisii highlands, where I was exactly, how I could help. If I could help at all. We turned off the rough road onto a smaller rougher road, a cattle path, up towards the childrens home at the top of the hill. I would not be staying up on the hill with the kids, and I was desperate to put my bags down, change my clothes, take a bath, have a pee, go to bed. But instead I was ushered around this small compound as my host proudly showed me each building. I was too exhausted, to disoriented to take note of the work that had gone into this home.
We came to the
Peter and Kisii Highlands
This is Peter. He walked with me up the hill to the home this day and I couldnt help notice his stride... see that stance, his posture? He walks like a soldier, but he walks with such a rhythme that onw could snap their fingers and sing in tune. You should see him snap when he sings! last building, the largest one, and before entering I was told that here I would meet the kids who had been peeking out behind doors as I toured around. I walked into the small hall and looked about me at the shy, smiling and wondering faces. Four picnic tables with benches, a bright coat of purply paint and about 16 children. They quietly introduced themselves one at a time, and I used all my energy to greet them with much enthusiasm knowing that they would become dear friends over the next few weeks. They then all stood in the front of the room, leaving just me to sit before them, and they welcomed me. They sang, and I cried.
My Plan! Of all the entries I will write on this trip, this is the most important one. This one is for them, the children living in Kiamokama, living and singing so sweetly because of the goodness of a few people who volunteer their time and money, their hearts.
As I have been working out here I have been learning and examining the politics and problems with international aid. I do not have any answers to the issues concerning
Suggary Snack
Snack time at the home, the kids chew on cane, the cheapest most available snack. Contently, they all stand around spitting the rest out and feeding the donkey who carries their water from the river. the World Bank and IMF projects. I do not have any answers to government corruption and accountability. What I do know is that working on a local grassroots level, on a person to person basis, with face to face encounters works. Unfortunately we do not all have the priviledge to travel to Africa and wonder about as we please, or maybe we believe that it is more important to work in our own backyards. But as the Global community is becoming increasingly important, as our world is getting smaller and our actions have a global impact I believe that it is crucial for us to interact with as much of our world as possible and what a better way is there than through aid and volunteer work.
I am asking you to use me as your vessel! I am here, I am living with the children, learning about their life and the issues they deal with on a daily buisness. I am here and if you trust me, which I dearly hope you all do, I am able to get a lot of good work done. And this is the plan I have come up with, this is what
Dorkus!
I love this girl, so sweet and precious... this is her on her first day back to school. We piled into a Matatu (14 person bus that fits about 20) and took her to school. At the home, Mary my hosts daughter, acts as mother to all the kids, visiting the ones at boarding school and making sure they all have what they need and are doing well! I believe I can effectively accomplish with your help.
If each person subscribed to this blog donates just $10 I can raise enough money to help finish the construction of the new kitchen at the childrens home by supplying a new durable stove. I can go to the market myself and buy the stove, assure that they have the money to transport it back to the home and that it gets installed.
The benefits of having this stove would be astronomical as all of you, especially mothers, can imagine cooking for over 15 hungry growing kids. At the moment they use only a small wood or charcoal fire and two big pots to cook the ugali and beans or rice and beans that are the staple of the childrens diet. The health and environmental hazards of this method of cooking are well known and studied in the Western and First world countries. But out in Kiamokama it is not only a traditional way of cooking, but it is the only way of cooking unless one has the funds for electricity and a stove. Fortunately, because of the kindness of others, the wireing has been set and electricity is Awaiting a stove...
This is their new kitchen. As volunteers pass through they leave behind something in exchange for the experience they have been given... everything at the home has been donated, the time and materials to build this new site for the kitchen... see that open spot? That is where I want to put a stove! With your help of course ;) on its way to the childrens home. Can we help them put it to good use?
Again... If every one who reads this message can send just $10 (or an equivalent amount in another currency) I can succeed in my mission here to help these kids. If you do not have $10 handy, then I am sure you have 9 friends, family or neighbors who have an extra dollar in their pocket... and of course there is no limit to what you can give! Any extra dollar will go towards helping to pay for electricity, food, clothing, cups for them to drink their hot tea, school fees, and to finishing other on going projects at the home. Just one dollar can buy one child a new shirt and trousers at the local Matumbe (clothes market) much cheaper and more efficient than sending clothes down yourself! And the faster I get the money the more I can do myself while I am here.
It is set up so that money can be sent to an address in California where my father will be able to handle the transition of money to me, or to an address in England,
The Current Kitchen
This is where, on my first day, I met Joyce and Charity, two women who donate their time to the childrens home to help prepare the food, mostly Ugali and Beans. This is where, over an open wood or charcoal fire all meals for the 25 children are prepared. if its faster, where my cousin will be able to get a count more promptly before sending it onward to California. Please, the faster that you can put this money in the mail the more convenient it is for me to get the stove in place while I am here.
Just $10 in an envelope.... from you, from your friends and neighbors.... from anywhere to here! Please address to:
Johnathan Edwards
15 George Lane
Sausalito CA 94965
USA
Laura Edwards
Furrows
Bramfield Rd
Wenhaston
Suffolk IP19 9EA
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at tess.edwardsNS@gmail.com. I would also ask that you send a pledge to donate money so that I may make a tally and put forth my own money to buy the stove in the case of limited time.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.... I hope that you can all trust me and help me in this situation and know that I am using all of my heart to accomplish me goal here. So thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for helping me. Much Love to all from me and the
Hazards
Hazards ...
If this does not scream health hazards I dont know what to say. I walked in here when they were cooking and could hardly see let alone breathe. All environmental politics study the issue of women cooking like, the health and environmental dangers. ...
If this does not scream health hazards I dont know what to say. I walked in here when they were cooking and could hardly see let alone breathe. All environmental politics study the issue of women cook... Children.
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Ali in Cyprus
non-member comment
Experiences
Hi Tessa - the experiences you are having in Africa will stay in your mind and your heart long after you leave - probably forever. That is the wonder of travel. We will be sending our $10 asap. Take care of yourself and those lovely children. Much love, Ali