Back in England, here are the photos!

So I got a bit behind with posts towards the end. I left Kenya Sunday night, arrived back in England around 5.15am GMT Monday. I have finally uploaded all pictures to Facebook (albums are public, so those of you who are not friends with me on Facebook can still see). I may try to write up about the last week or so here sometime soon, but now my priority is finding a job so I can pay off the almost £1,000 overdraft I'm into!

Enjoy the photos!

Back to School

Or so I thought. Monday my initial plan was to be back at the disability school. The new teacher was ill and told to take an extra week off, and there were no volunteers placed there, so I would be the only one. James from NVS arrived in the morning to take some volunteers to Olympic school, and asked if I could take Quinta to her university in Thika for registration day and sort out her accommodation. We first went via Olympic, where they were having a morning cleaning so there was nothing for the others, Ashleigh and Kyung, to be doing. So we headed to the doctors near Quinta's, where we went over the school fees. Unfortunately, the guys who started the programme and were sorting out the funds hadn't sent the money yet, so all we had was what was in the feeding programme purse, 24,000 shillings, out of a total of at least 50,000 needed.

Quinta had been looking forward to this for so long, and began to get upset as it looked like we couldn't take her. One option was to try to call the university to see if it all had to be paid today, or if it could be paid partially. But that would still likely leave us short with supplies to buy for her too. I decided I could withdraw the extra money needed, and have NVS pay it back when they have it sent, though this would likely leave me with far more cash than I need when I go home in 2 weeks, but it would be worth it to get Quinta out of Kibera, and not fall back into a depressive state due to university falling through. Ashleigh also offered to loan the cash she had from donations back home, so between us we decided we could cover all the fees.

So we headed back to the house to get Ashleigh's money and my bank card. I headed back to the doctors, initially it was supposed to be me, Quinta and one of the doctors going, however James had then decided it would probably be cheaper paying fuel for one of the NVS vans than using public transport, so he arranged for one of the NVS drivers, Chomlee, to pick us up, meaning James could come along too. This no doubt made things far quicker, as I had never been to Thika, and certainly had no idea of my way around the university. Plus Chomlee's best friend's (Cleo at NVS) sister in law was in her third year there so knew the area pretty well.

As we drove down a highway with a speed limit of 100kmph, I had to wonder, who on earth thought it would be a good idea to put speed bumps and zebra crossings on such a road? In most places there weren't even gaps in the barricades along the road for pedestrians to pass through. We didn't see that there had been any accidents though, I guess Kenyans are used to braking hard the way they drive.

We arrived at the university which, despite being one of the cheapest, had a very nice campus. Unfortunately the layout of everything for registration wasn't so good, we did a lot of wandering around looking for the right places to go, until Cleo's sister in law arrived to help guide us. Turns out we only needed to pay 60% of the fees initially, so this helped us out a lot. However unfortunately the school accommodation was fully booked, so we had to find a hostel nearby which was a bit more expensive.

With the tuition fees and accommodation paid for, all that was left to do was take Quinta to get some supplies and necessities. Then put her on a motorbike back to the hostel, whilst the rest of us went to get something to eat. By this point it was starting to get dark, so I'm glad we had Chomlee to drive us as matatus and buses would have taken far longer and it would be very late by the time I got back home.

With Quinta now at university, we'll continue to support her family in Kibera for a while longer, at least until we have set up a business for her mother so she is able to provide for the rest of the family, and hopefully be able to visit her at uni occasionally. Unfortunately the family were not home when we visited this Tuesday, and with next Tuesday being the next orientation, I won't be seeing them again before I leave, but at least I had the opportunity to see how far Quinta has come in less than 3 months and see her off to uni.

 

New Year, New Volunteers

The week between Christmas and new year was again quite slow, so nothing much to talk about there, though with orientation for new volunteers on new years day, the new volunteers began arriving the weekend before. Of course we couldn't go without celebrating on new years eve, so Dan and I invited the new volunteers staying with us out for a few drinks. We want to a bar we hadn't been to before, Casablanca. Turns out they had a 1000 shilling entry fee that night that we didn't know about, which seemed a bit steep as there looked to be hardly anyone else there,however Dan managed to talk us in for half price as volunteers! Unfortunately drinks were quite expensive (at least by Kenyan standards), so we all chipped in for a few glasses of the cheapest wine on the menu. This was probably for the best as I didn't want to be held responsible for the new volunteers turning up to orientation hungover! And I'd already decided to get a ride with them at 7.30am to save getting a matatu so I had to be up too.

With 6 of us we would have needed 2 taxis to get to the club, so instead we called one of the NVS drivers, George, with a van. He agreed to take us, and pick us up, even though we had no idea what time we'd be back. At almost 2am I checked my phone to find a missed call and text from him at 1.45, saying he was by the gate and to call him back if we're ready. I thought by that point he'd be long gone, but I went to check anyway. Outside I saw the van, front seat reclined, with George asleep. He had to be up earlier than we did for picking people up in the morning l so we gave him a bit extra for waiting for us.

Next day we all felt fine and made it up in time to be picked up for orientation, though a bit tired, shown by the fact in have since spoken to some volunteers that I apparently had conversations with at orientation but have no recollection of. It seems that, despite hating talking in front of large groups of people, and pretty much blagging the speeches again as I wasn't much more prepared than last time, I still get people interested in the feeding programme. Thursday we had another group of 15 volunteers. This makes catching a matatu into Kibera difficult as they are only 14 seaters, and most people had no idea where they were going. Fortunately we didn't have to on long to wait for a bus to arrive with plenty of seats available. And despite missing one of the guys from Kibera who joins us, we didn't manage to lose anyone, always a bonus!

Schools were still closed that week, apart from one in Kibera I had only recently found out about, Damside school. They have a few children who turn up over the holidays, and teach them whenever they can. There are also five children living there, in one small room, along with the cook. Friday some of the volunteers headed there in the morning. Not wanting to intrude on other people's placements, I headed to Junction. Later in the day the others headed there for a few supplies and found me in the coffee shop, and asked me to join them at the school. With some persuasion I decided I would. The head teacher was most welcoming, showing me around, explaining everything they are planning to do in the future (including building some proper housing for the orphans living there, and getting some ply wood to separate the classrooms). After the tour in helped the others with some teaching, then we were going to sort out the library (small room with a bookshelf and books everywhere). However before we could make it there we had kids climbing all over us wanting to play, and ended up too tired to do anything else after! The head teacher was fine with this, and we said we hoped to be back in the week to do it, between other placements.

One of the new volunteers at the house, Ashleigh, had some donations she wanted to take to orphanages, so Saturday NVS arranged a taxi to take her to orphanages in Rongai and Ngong. As there was space in the taxi, I was invited along for a visit, and one of our hosts jumped in too. Unfortunately though, the driver had to be at the airport later, so we were pushed for time, the children at the first orphanage were in church so we couldn't stick around to meet them, and the second orphanage we didn't have time for, only to visit the host family there. The donations were left anyway, and of course much appreciated.

Sunday was one of the most productive days I had in a long time. Beginning with laundry (I really ought to do that more often in smaller loads instead of leaving it all for ages to do all in one), then heading to a local barber shop for an overdue haircut. Or rather, haircut, shave, face steam and head massage...all for 200 shillings (~£1.50). Following that, Ashleigh was heading off to Damside school to get started on the library. Having nothing else to do that day, and being in a productive mood, I tagged along. We only had a couple of hours, but we had a lot of the books arranged far better than they were, and rearranged the tables and chairs making far more room to move around. There's still a lot to be done, but hopefully we can get back in the week to carry on.

More posts coming over the next few days, still writing them up as I've been busier recently.

Christmas in Kibera

Christmas in Kenya, certainly one I'll never forget! Christmas eve we had an overdul house, people sleeping in the living room on sofas and the floor. There are usually only a few people at the house this time of year apparently. Some people arrived back from safari that day, and were keen to join us on the feeding programme Christmas day so stayed the night. Usually there would be maybe 5 or 6 programme on the tour, yesterday, 15 volunteers, plus Jack and Dan from Kibera and the pastor who had left the church service to his wife to be with us and the families. A fantastic turn out, thank you to everyone who came!

Christmas eve we got some drinks in to celebrate, and listened to Christmas songs in the house whilst I wore my recently purchased Santa outfit. The following morning, a couple of the girls cooked pancakes for us all, before heading into Kibera with the food, my Santa outfit, and lots of sweets for the kids.

Reactions throughout Kibera were mixed, the kids were excited just to be given a couple of sweets, some people expected us to have something to give to every single person, asking what we are doing to help them specifically, and some said they don't celebrate Christmas. It was positive reactions for the most part though.

We did our usual route, stopping at a viewpoint over a large area of Kibera for photos and a brief talk about what Kibera is (I left the speeches mostly to Jenny this time, a volunteer who started last week who is helping me on the programme for a couple of weeks). Then off to the disability school, although closed for Christmas, just to show people what else the money goes towards on the programme. Then the four families on Tuesday's visit.

Quinta, who I took to apply for university last week, had her computer course results, passed! And, has been accepted on her university course, starting 7th January! We also have the money now to help her mother start up a business. With Quinta moving to the university campus, this means the family can be removed from the programme as soon as the business is set up! Before leaving, we had to get a few photos of me in my outfit with her (as usual I forgot my camera, so will have to post those at a later time when I steal them from others), then headed off to the other families.

Nothing too exciting to report on the others, everyone was doing well and so happy to see us on Christmas. Got photos with some of the others too, and we also visited the pastors family. Finally, at the end of the tour, Dan took us back to his place where his wife had cooked us chapati and lentils for lunch. It was a bit tight with all of us sitting in his living room eating (as it had been in every other house too), but we managed and were very thankful to he and his wife. Finally, we headed off too the bar for a drink in Kibera, before heading back to the house for Christmas dinner, pasta, chicken, and vegetables, the hosts must have been cooking all morning to prepare that!

The rest of the day we just chilled out at the house, more music and some snacks. Overall a fantastic day, a Christmas I'll never forget and will probably never experience anything like it again!

An Overdue Update

Haven't got round to updating for a while, at first because there wasn't much to report on, then I have been too busy to write anything up. So long post incoming.

Last Monday Dan and I had our first class with the computer course, the lesson was mostly basics about how the computer works and how to find your way around it, to make sure everyone was at the same level. It's sometimes difficult to get them to understand things, but with trial and error, we're beginning to learn what works best with them.

The second lesson was due to be on Wednesday, however this was Kenya's independence day, or Jamhuri Day, so the school was closed. And Friday the school had no power, so we had to postpone the class again.

Tuesday I went along with the feeding programme in Kibera again, with another volunteer, Mac, who had just taken over from the previous volunteers running it who left last weekend. However Mac is now wanting to try something new, and switching placements today. So Thursday, I took over the programme, giving my first tour, and writing up the weekly report for the director of the programme currently in Canada.

This Tuesday, I saw one of the girls on the programme who I've not seen since the first time I went on the tour, a 20 year old girl, Quinta, with HIV, recently recovered from TB, and previous suicide attempts due to her health. The first time I saw her she looked unwell, depressed, this was the one that got to me the most. However, when I saw her yesterday, she is looking so much better! Very happy, just finished a computer course and awaiting her results and certificate, feeling pretty confident about it. And excited to be applying to go to university in January, thanks to funding through NVS. Today I was asked to join her, and one of the guys in Kibera who helps with the programme, heading into town to take her to apply. She'd not left Kibera for a while, so was a little scared with all the traffic in town, grabbing my hand as we crossed the roads.

After queueing in the bank for ages to pay Quinta's application fee, and wandering around looking for somewhere to get passport photos for her, we finally completed the application, to find that it has to go to the campus in another town. This means another trip for Jack (who came with us today) and Quinta tomorrow, though it is good for her to get out of Kibera and see something new, and I think the campus that she will be staying at for her studies.

As Christmas falls on a Tuesday, there is interest from some volunteers to join the tour on Christmas day. It wasn't yet decided whether it would be happening or moved to another day, however I've persuaded NVS and Dan in Kibera (who also joins us on the tour) to go ahead with it. This will likely mean packing the food the end of this week and taking it back to the volunteer house as the office will be closed Christmas week. After speaking to the families when on the tour yesterday, they are all going to be around Christmas day, and welcome us to visit them! Especially Sebastian, in his 70s, who is very much looking forward to receiving a photo of he and the volunteers who joined the tour yesterday. Hopefully Quinta will have received her results for her course by then too and will have good news with that.


Saturday I went to my first Kenyan wedding, of one of the guys working for NVS. This meant orientation, which usually happens on the 1st and 15th of every month, was postponed until Monday. The wedding was interesting, 15 minute long songs of praise and worship, most of the Kenyans very enthusiastic for it, whilst all the volunteers looked a little lost. However it was still a great experience, if not a bit long. The food at the reception was good though, volunteers invited to eat first, food piled up on our plates, far more than I could possibly eat! There were many new volunteers for Monday's orientation too, so it was a good opportunity to meet some of those.

As I'm now running the feeding programme, I figured I would be wanted to speak about it at orientation, so went along to that (the lunch is also good there, so I was keen to go for that!). Having only given one tour before, I wasn't very prepared so kind of blagged it. The other volunteers insisted I didn't do too badly though! Next time I'll make sure to have something better prepared. Someone also told Joe, the head of NVS, about my pick pocket and mugging experiences, so he asked if I could do a talk about that. With only 5 minutes notice about that, it was even more of a mess than the feeding programme talk! But I guess it got the message across, don't walk at night, and be careful in the clubs and bars. Then finally, as Kush spoke about the Outreach weekend, he decided, as I was one of the most recent volunteers to go, to put me on the spot and talk a little about it! So once again I blagged another speech. I guess I'll be more prepared for all 3 speeches next time.

Due to orientation, I was unable to make it to our second computer class, though as there was something else going on at the school that day, only 5 students attended. Then again, as I was out with Quinta, I didn't make it back in time for today's class, leaving Dan with a full class, quite a struggle. Hopefully nothing else will come up for Friday, and I'll have some better progress to report on that.

Besides all that, I've been showing some the new volunteers around. With so many having left recently, I and the others who were at my orientation have become some of the most experienced current volunteers. I'll be sure to take people to the monkey park every opportunity I get!

A trip to the police station

After losing my British SIM card a few weeks back, I now find myself with no phone at all. Last night we went out for a few drinks again, visiting a bar we have not yet been to. As I walked in I felt something at my pocket, and quickly put my hand in my pocket as it seemed someone was trying to slide my phone out. Shortly after I felt a hand in my back pocket, fortunately I had nothing in that pocket but I moved away quickly anyway. After this I was trying to keep as aware as possible, but it seems I let my guard down at some point as I checked my pocket later to find my phone was gone. One of the other guys also had his wallet stolen, with a couple of thousand shillings, debit card, drivers licence and social security number, I guess I got lucky!

The bouncer on the door was quite helpful, apparently someone had reported seeing a guy run off with a wallet, a guy who had later returned, and so the bouncer called for a cab, taking us, the person accused and the person accusing to the local police station. Not really where I wanted to be at 5am. As we gave statements to the police, and they searched the guy and hit him with a stick, we began to wonder whether this really was the guy. All we had as evidence was the word of a random Kenyan girl (who we later decided was quite likely a prostitute). We told the guy if he can get our phone and wallet back, we wouldn't take it any further, but as the police continued to hit him with a stick, he showed no sign of wanting to help us get it back. Either he was innocent and this girl had something against him, or he just doesn't care and doesn't want to confess. We are kind of worried that we've really ruined someone's day, but the police and bouncer assure us this is not the first time they've had such dealings with him. I guess the main thing is we have a crime reference number and hopefully the travel insurance will cover it.

This comes just a few days after I and another volunteer were almost mugged. I say almost, I don't think they were serious muggers, more just trying their luck hoping we would get scared and give them everything with little effort on their part. They approached us, demanding 'give us something', we explained we had just come from the pub and had no money left, as we are simply poor volunteers, not rich mzungus that they seem to think all white people are. They felt my pockets, asking what was in there, I took out my wallet and showed them the few shilling coins I had, and my phone, which they made no attempt to take from me, leading me to think they weren't serious muggers. We continued talking to them for a while, explaining why we have nothing to give, they asked if we were going to try to run, I guess trying to make us feel intimidated. Eventually they asked what we do as volunteers, teach in Kibera. 'Oh we live in Kibera, you are helping us!' They then shook our hands and somehow we became best of friends.

Hopefully that and the pick pocketing is the worst we'll experience in our time here, else I'll be beginning to wonder whether extending my trip was a good idea!

Disability School Party

Yesterday the term finished for the disability school, and so to celebrate, we had an end of year party, inviting the parents/families of the students along too. NVS put some money towards it, and so we had hot dogs, biscuits, juice and balloons, as well as some bits for the families to take home.

Fortunately all 5 students were able to make it, unlike the previous 2 days where we only had 1 person due to a broken wheelchair, seizure and the weather making it difficult for this in wheelchairs to get to school. The school now has a teacher, who started about 2 weeks ago, up until then, the students were taught by volunteers only, which is quite challenging as they are not all good with English. The party was the first opportunity the parents had to meet the teacher, so there were a lot of introductions to be done, volunteers and NVS staff included.

There were plenty of hot dogs to go around, and even some to go to the kids playing outside the school. Unfortunately I managed to forget my camera yet again, so I've only got a couple of pictures from my phone, though I have a load of pictures from the day before, when Collins got hold of my camera.

Given the chance, Martin would have probably eaten all the hot dogs in front of him. He had his fair share though! Wouldn't even stop to answer us when we asked if the food was good:

Gertrude and Elizabeth listening to Jack's speech before we eat:

The kids playing outside the school:

Group photo of the staff, volunteers, students and families (stolen from Josh's Facebook, thanks!):

After the party, we helped to clear up, as the school would be closed for a month. Then one of the staff, Dan, invited us back to his home in Kibera for a drink - nonalcoholic on this occasion, but we aagreed we'll be back for a proper drink soon.

On another topic, my new favourite place to get a burger is Steers. Recommended by a former volunteer a few weeks ago, I finally got round to going. Unfortunately, as with most places, it lacks bacon. I guess I'll have to find some and take my own when I go to get a burger!