Outreach program: January 9 and 10
DAY ONE
We met at junction at 7 am but of course didn't leave until 8:30 thanks to African time. It's fine, had time to use the internet. The outreach program is two days. The first we see projects by other volunteers then the second day is all fun. I wanted to go on the program to see other projects, how they started and learn about their situations.
Our first stop was a school for kids 2-6 years old that live in the nearby slum called the KCC slum. They have a few basic building/rooms. We learnt about the work the Australian man does for these kids then he took us on a tour of the slum. People started the slum to live next to a factory. They don't like to call it a slum, they use the term "temporary living", but it definitely is a slum. We went to a women's store where they make jewelry out of recycled newspaper. It was a much smaller version of my volunteer placement. We headed back to the school and served the kids lunch. I didn't feel as though I learned a lot, seemed to me as another school for another group of kids that live in slums - nothing different than what I've seen in Kibera, either. The kids were cute but they only wanted me to take photos of them and give them my camera so they could take photos. Last time that happened was in Rwanda and the kids accidentally deleted half my photos so I wasn't about to let these kids take my camera.
One interesting thing I noticed were the shoes of some of the kids. Two kids had Tom's shoes, the shoes that when you buy a pair another pair is donated to kids in the third world. The only problem was that the shoes were torn up and had a few big holes.
We went out to lunch then headed to our next stop.
We went to a Kenyan refugee camp. Six years ago, during a Kenyan election, parties started to fight and it got violent. People were killed, homes were burnt, and people were displaced. The government put up tents that were meant to be for two weeks for those displaced, and were supposed to give them money to find new homes. The government completely ignored these people. They have been living in the temporary tents for 6 years now. They are all moldy and tiny. In tents the size of a normal bathroom in America there would be 6 people living there, mom, dad, and four kids. The mom was suffering from malaria and whenever it rained, the kids slept on the bed and mom and dad slept on the floor.
Another tent housed a grandmother and two grandchildren. The father was never in the picture and the mother couldn't handle the situation so she ran away leaving her kids with her mother.
The women make handbags out of plastic bags and sell them for 500 shillings, about 6 or 7 dollars. Oh, and these people have to pay to live their. Rent is 200 shillings a month and when they got to sell their bags, they got enough money for two and a half months rent. When the grandmother shot that I mentioned before sold a bag, she literally started dancing and clapping she was so happy.
They lived on two anchors of land and to buy that it would cost $10,000. Then they could build on the land and have real homes. My mind started racing about how to raise the money and how to get these people publicity so they can get what they deserve. They try to find work, but their "casual work" is never enough.
The kids were incredibly dirty, their clothing was torn, and they jumped all over us. We hung out with them for a little bit then all together played some games in a big circle - that was fun. We played classic Kenyan childhood games and their version of duck, duck, goose. We also showed the kids hockie-pockie!
Just before we left we gave them two crackers and a lollipop. I'm all for giving the kids things that will make them happy, especially in their horrific situation, but I didn't like that we gave them a lollipop. I know it's sweet and delicious and they deserve that, but they need nutrients more. Giving them sugar will just rot their teeth more and they definitely don't brush their teeth. When we were done giving out the box of crackers, the principal threw the box up for the kids to have like the bouquet of flowers at a wedding. One kid fought for it and ran. Even a box to play with is incredibly valuable.
The worst part of the day was getting back in the van, not because I was sad to leave, but because I could leave. I had somewhere else to go, I was about to go to dinner where I could eat as much as I wanted, even though I ate nothing according to my American standards because everything was either meat or I didn't love the taste of the food. Then I was driven to a hotel (that used to be a jail) where I had my own room bigger than their tent. And that's amazing for them. In a little over a week, ill be able to fly back to America where I live like a queen compared to these kids, and my living situation in Binghamton just okay compared to life in America.
While we were sitting in the van to go back to the hotel with hot showers, I got a little hungry and remembered I had chips, so naturally started eating them, but the kids were still watching us. Two kids even tried to get into the van. They seemed like they were scavenging. Children were scavenging. No child should ever have to do that.
And we left leaving the kids behind. What can I do? What can't I do? A group of muzungus come here every 2 weeks, why has no one ever done anything? Will I do something? Only $10,000 to start their lives and give them a somewhat proper home. If we fundraised from every resource we have, all 15 of us from the US, Canada, and Australia, why couldn't we raise $10,000. But I have other passions and I don't think that just giving them money will help because it will just create dependency and that may only hurt them. What am I supposed to do with this information that I've learned today? Am I supposed to only just appreciate my life more? What's the purpose of going to visit? Will there be a tangible and positive outcome of my visit other than them thinking white people are money trees? I hate that they think that about me. I rather them use my skills and resources that I naturally have from living in the first world than just a piggy bank.
I debriefed with a new friend about what we saw, how we feel about it, and how other people digest the information. It's sometimes hard because everyone us here volunteering for a different reason and I've only met two other people that are here because they are genuinely interested in development work. These things we are doing here are really interesting and very hard and people are barley talking about it. They say it's horrible that the women are beating the kids at the orphanages or that they are just thrown into a classroom and expected to teach on the spot. We aren't talking about solution. Maybe it's because the solution is too hard and being here for a few weeks won't do anything, but does that mean we should stop trying?
The interest in children's education doesn't tickle my development fancy because they are young, they can be molded easily. I'm more interested in fundamental issues in poverty in the third world and how to address the problem from the roots rather than the leaves.
I am very glad I went on this program. It's made me soul search and attempt to wrestle with tough questions questions that I'm sure I will be tackling my whole life.
Small points about the rest of that day:
- I taught Zumba to some girls back at the ex jail hotel
- after dinner we went to a bar and hung out a little bit
Day one was hard. Luckily for me, day two would be all fun.
DAY ONE
We met at junction at 7 am but of course didn't leave until 8:30 thanks to African time. It's fine, had time to use the internet. The outreach program is two days. The first we see projects by other volunteers then the second day is all fun. I wanted to go on the program to see other projects, how they started and learn about their situations.
Our first stop was a school for kids 2-6 years old that live in the nearby slum called the KCC slum. They have a few basic building/rooms. We learnt about the work the Australian man does for these kids then he took us on a tour of the slum. People started the slum to live next to a factory. They don't like to call it a slum, they use the term "temporary living", but it definitely is a slum. We went to a women's store where they make jewelry out of recycled newspaper. It was a much smaller version of my volunteer placement. We headed back to the school and served the kids lunch. I didn't feel as though I learned a lot, seemed to me as another school for another group of kids that live in slums - nothing different than what I've seen in Kibera, either. The kids were cute but they only wanted me to take photos of them and give them my camera so they could take photos. Last time that happened was in Rwanda and the kids accidentally deleted half my photos so I wasn't about to let these kids take my camera.
One interesting thing I noticed were the shoes of some of the kids. Two kids had Tom's shoes, the shoes that when you buy a pair another pair is donated to kids in the third world. The only problem was that the shoes were torn up and had a few big holes.
We went out to lunch then headed to our next stop.
We went to a Kenyan refugee camp. Six years ago, during a Kenyan election, parties started to fight and it got violent. People were killed, homes were burnt, and people were displaced. The government put up tents that were meant to be for two weeks for those displaced, and were supposed to give them money to find new homes. The government completely ignored these people. They have been living in the temporary tents for 6 years now. They are all moldy and tiny. In tents the size of a normal bathroom in America there would be 6 people living there, mom, dad, and four kids. The mom was suffering from malaria and whenever it rained, the kids slept on the bed and mom and dad slept on the floor.
Another tent housed a grandmother and two grandchildren. The father was never in the picture and the mother couldn't handle the situation so she ran away leaving her kids with her mother.
The women make handbags out of plastic bags and sell them for 500 shillings, about 6 or 7 dollars. Oh, and these people have to pay to live their. Rent is 200 shillings a month and when they got to sell their bags, they got enough money for two and a half months rent. When the grandmother shot that I mentioned before sold a bag, she literally started dancing and clapping she was so happy.
They lived on two anchors of land and to buy that it would cost $10,000. Then they could build on the land and have real homes. My mind started racing about how to raise the money and how to get these people publicity so they can get what they deserve. They try to find work, but their "casual work" is never enough.
The kids were incredibly dirty, their clothing was torn, and they jumped all over us. We hung out with them for a little bit then all together played some games in a big circle - that was fun. We played classic Kenyan childhood games and their version of duck, duck, goose. We also showed the kids hockie-pockie!
Just before we left we gave them two crackers and a lollipop. I'm all for giving the kids things that will make them happy, especially in their horrific situation, but I didn't like that we gave them a lollipop. I know it's sweet and delicious and they deserve that, but they need nutrients more. Giving them sugar will just rot their teeth more and they definitely don't brush their teeth. When we were done giving out the box of crackers, the principal threw the box up for the kids to have like the bouquet of flowers at a wedding. One kid fought for it and ran. Even a box to play with is incredibly valuable.
The worst part of the day was getting back in the van, not because I was sad to leave, but because I could leave. I had somewhere else to go, I was about to go to dinner where I could eat as much as I wanted, even though I ate nothing according to my American standards because everything was either meat or I didn't love the taste of the food. Then I was driven to a hotel (that used to be a jail) where I had my own room bigger than their tent. And that's amazing for them. In a little over a week, ill be able to fly back to America where I live like a queen compared to these kids, and my living situation in Binghamton just okay compared to life in America.
While we were sitting in the van to go back to the hotel with hot showers, I got a little hungry and remembered I had chips, so naturally started eating them, but the kids were still watching us. Two kids even tried to get into the van. They seemed like they were scavenging. Children were scavenging. No child should ever have to do that.
And we left leaving the kids behind. What can I do? What can't I do? A group of muzungus come here every 2 weeks, why has no one ever done anything? Will I do something? Only $10,000 to start their lives and give them a somewhat proper home. If we fundraised from every resource we have, all 15 of us from the US, Canada, and Australia, why couldn't we raise $10,000. But I have other passions and I don't think that just giving them money will help because it will just create dependency and that may only hurt them. What am I supposed to do with this information that I've learned today? Am I supposed to only just appreciate my life more? What's the purpose of going to visit? Will there be a tangible and positive outcome of my visit other than them thinking white people are money trees? I hate that they think that about me. I rather them use my skills and resources that I naturally have from living in the first world than just a piggy bank.
I debriefed with a new friend about what we saw, how we feel about it, and how other people digest the information. It's sometimes hard because everyone us here volunteering for a different reason and I've only met two other people that are here because they are genuinely interested in development work. These things we are doing here are really interesting and very hard and people are barley talking about it. They say it's horrible that the women are beating the kids at the orphanages or that they are just thrown into a classroom and expected to teach on the spot. We aren't talking about solution. Maybe it's because the solution is too hard and being here for a few weeks won't do anything, but does that mean we should stop trying?
The interest in children's education doesn't tickle my development fancy because they are young, they can be molded easily. I'm more interested in fundamental issues in poverty in the third world and how to address the problem from the roots rather than the leaves.
I am very glad I went on this program. It's made me soul search and attempt to wrestle with tough questions questions that I'm sure I will be tackling my whole life.
Small points about the rest of that day:
- I taught Zumba to some girls back at the ex jail hotel
- after dinner we went to a bar and hung out a little bit
Day one was hard. Luckily for me, day two would be all fun.
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