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.