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!
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