Kena in Africa

UGANDA | Thursday, 21 January 2010 | Views [10]

Just wanted to check in about a beautiful experience I just had last
weekend and to let you know about this amazing opportunity to come
live for free while you farm on this amazing tropical paradise of
banana and pineapple mango and avocado plants along side monkeys and
chameleons. This man is a wonderful person just entering the organic
farming world as he has 300 acres of land which he and his brother are
currently developing while supporting Congolese refugees by providing
work and land to live on. You would stay in a wonderful new home with
a private bedroom dining space, gas stove, lights, shared bath. I’ll
have pictures later but at least look at the description. He wants
volunteers to share ideas and help invent a wonderful space for
sustainability and community development. even if you’re not down to
do farming but would like to share skills in the community we can work
on getting that set up. Very flexible!

A group trip is being planned for aug. 2011 to get to Uganda if anyone
is interested in coming please let me know as we will begin fund
raising soon!

peace and loves

sister kena achieng

padres farm:

PADRES ORGANIC FARM

At Padres Farm, volunteers have the opportunity to join the local
community on the 300 acre plot of tropical fruits and free roaming
animals. The farm located in the Toro kingdom of Western Uganda, is
comprised of local farmers and Congolese refugees who enjoy sustaining
the land and selling the products at the market.

Volunteers can choose to retreat to the farm for a weekend getaway, or
arrange a program of an extended period where they will help with
maintenance of the land or other areas of community development based
on their skills and interest. From the Kin house, guests will be
escorted in Padres private vehicle to the kingdom. Upon arrival,
visitors stay in Padres home with a private room, shared bathing
space, a gas powered stove and lighting system, and plenty of space
for rest and relaxation as they enjoy the view of the tropical
mountain landscape and starry night skies. Food and hospitality are
provided.

On the 300 acres, Padre and his brother have succeeded to create a
sustainable space for land and community development by planting seeds
of varying indigenous species of tropical vegetation and providing
work trade opportunities for the less fortunate. The recent project of
planting 6,000 pineapples, and an uncountable number of banana trees
are proving prosperous as many are currently ready for harvest. Other
crops such as groundnuts (peanuts), rosemary and yams are flourishing
as well. Freely growing species of mangoes, papayas, avocados and
cabbage produce great treats year round, although competition from
local primates like the ……monkeys proves difficult.

Grazing land is provided for cows, goats and gees which freely roam
the grassy slopes of the mountain sides and prairies. A short walk
from the guest house leads to the fish pond surrounded by tropical
trees and hundreds of species of butterflies.

Padre and the local community welcome anyone with an open heart and
mind who are willing to share their time in the rural landscape of
Western Uganda amongst conscious driven individuals and those
determined to experience life in a sustainable manner.

I apologize, this one got posted out of order: ::Yma::
Kenya| Friday, 18 December 2009

I’d never considered candlelight as anything other than an added romantic substance or a relaxing vibe for a massage session. But, for the last month I’ve realized there’s no luxury in 8 boys and 2 girls crowded around a candle to read a book and eat food under the only light possible. Of course it’s great fun and I appreciate it, but I’ve been enlightened on this natural source of light. We don’t have electricity so we cook our food on a jiko (a small charcoal burning metal stove) and sometimes a blast from the natural gas stove when we’re in a rush. We then only use the candles after we cant see each other’s faces in the house anymore which is at about 7pm. We only used 2 electronic devices which are the radio which runs on battery, and our phones which are charged by my solar powered battery charger. I love this. In will admit i miss making smoothies but with 8 guys around to smash bananas who cares. Plus with no refrigerators to hum loudly in the background, i save my sanity; and, it requires us to purchase fresh food every day. I love it!!! A downside is that often we have no water. Together now we have 1 50 gallon drum, 2 25gallon plastic holders, and about 5 large basins where we can store water for drinking (after boiling of course) and bathing and cleaning. these work great for the most part. But, now that we live with about 8-10 people in the house, water goes fast even when you’re saving. Recently the water was shut off for 4 days. By the last day we had about 2 gallons of water and no signs that the water would start back again. You never can predict when the government will choose to bless you with this natural resource so preparations are essential for existence…I was so thirsty. When we heard the dripping water from the faucet late Wednesday night you’d think someone had won the lottery as we were all so excited and happy. If things like water made everyone in the world happy just think how simple our lives would be. I’ve realized so much the preciousness of our earth just by being surrounded by this poverty which I now see as a beautiful life’s lesson. Let’s just say if the world comes to an end because we run out of supplies, Africans will be the last breed standing as they know the true meaning of living on meager supply. I challenge anyone to just try this one day for fun and learning. Get all your buckets, pots, pans, whatever can hold water and fill them up. Then do not use a faucet until these run out. bathe, washe utensils, clean whatever you use your water for only by getting the water from that which you have saved. This will teach you the amount you commonly use in a day or a week and also show you ways in which you can easily conserve like being able to bathe with a half bucket of water. It has really helped me to see the vision of simplicity and really it’s kinda fun to see your footprint in our water table. I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday. We had a celebration with about 20 people of all ages in the house. It was great fun filled with much food for all and many bottle of liquor for the drinkers in the dessert section of the meal. I thought I’d go without a birthday cake since no one here actually has an oven and buying one would mean a loaded pastry made of sugar egg and milk. But, then I discovered the wonders of African creativity in the kitchen. Aunty zippy came over and I prepared a lovely vegan batter filled with coconut milk and chocolate powder. Then we took red hot coles and put them on the floor and and top of the pots lid (yes it was not a pan). These hot coles cooked the cakes within 20minutes. We covered the cakes in coconut frosting with smashed groundnuts and wow this was a luxury I never thought I’d have. My birthday was wonderful and I appreciated all the help and learning from that day. I’ve also hired some kids to teach me Swahili. I’m learning fast and these kids are the best teachers. Watu nenda basi, we travel by bus…jino lacko ni nani, what is your name…they’re great and this language is very wonderful. I don’t know why it’s not considered a romance language as I melt every time I hear the rolling r’s and sliding z’s coming from these African mouths. Hehe i think ill be heading to Uganda soon. My visa end dec. 29th so I’m planning to hop a bus on the 27th and head west. However last night at 9pm I was givin a possible job opportunity doing massage in a hospital. I will find out whether or not this will work out for me by Monday so I will get a ticket for the bus to Uganda, or ill be extending the Kenya visa for a year. ill let you all know where i am soon. check the map! love you all and have a wonderful remaining 10days of 2009!!! amani (peace in swahili) kena achieng

It’s been so long since my last entry and transitions of great
magnitude have occurred. On a lighthearted side, I celebrated
Christmas with a bang of the Congolese drums and rumba rhythms of the
luo. On the eve the 6 roommates and I headed to our favorite outdoor
club which hosts Congo bands every night. There we danced our hearts
out till 3am. Now we go to this club often as it is free and has the
best music and dancing in town. I join the African beauties on the
floor and get down with my dance side for hours on end. But this night
was special. The professional dancers pulled me on stage twice to
perform with them as they taught me the routine and I stayed on stage
for near 20mins. They were so amazing and they were impressed by my
progress as I get gradually better at moving my butt as if it’s not
attached to my torso in the usual African style. This I learned from
the little boys and girls in our compound who dance like I’ve never
seen children dance. Anyway it was probably the best way to bring in
the holidays ever! But for new years I decided to travel on to greener
pastures….

To the black gold and red nation of Uganda. Body sunshine and blood
are the representative colors of their flag here. I’m about 5km
outside the capital Kampala. I’m currently residing in a compound of
great enormity which caters to about 25 children and young adults. It’s
a beautiful space with great potential as there is much space and a
high capacity for support for volunteers and well wishers. It is
called the kin initiative organization. The motto is to provide kin for
the kinless. In other words, the orphans who usually go to extended
family members after parents pass are often neglected of basic needs
like food, education, emotional, and spiritual support. With the kin
initiative, those in need find a new sense of hope as they are giving
a new family of others in the same position as themselves who are
willing to open their arms and accept them as a member in the
community. Children stay here and attend school during the day and
return to study and also work in the compound doing cleaning, cooking,
and group care.

When I arrived in Kampala after a long 12hr bus ride from Nairobi, I
had to wait for about a half hour to be picked up by Uncle Ben, the
founder of kin. While sitting on the sidewalk with my big pack and
rain jacket on, a woman came out of her juice restaurant and told me
to come inside, even if I didn’t want to buy anything, she didn’t want
me in the rain. She gave me a large bowl of roasted groundnuts and
even helped me find some things I needed to locate. I thought wow!
Only in Uganda would people be so willing to share without
compensation. I felt at home already.

Uncle Ben escorted me to the compound where I was greeted by all the
women and children as they kneeled to the ground and took my hand
above their heads. I had heard of this custom and before I came I was
somewhat disgusted by the idea of one person kneeling to another as if
a hierarchy existed. However my recognition of this amazing sign of
respect has completely shifted as I have seen women do this to older women
and children even to older children. It is a way to level oneself to a
person in a manner of acknowledging the importance of their existence.
I highly respect this custom!

In the compound I have been waking each morning for a lovely session
of yoga as the sun hits my bedside by 630am. I start art and listen
reverently to the BBC world news as they give a great presentation on
African updates. I do art for the local school to make teaching aides.
At around 10am, I have a group of kids who started at 10 in number but
since they spread the world like wildflowers, I now have over 20 who
come learn arts and crafts. We then play a large game of Tipo, or an
African version of hide and seek. Let me tell you it is the most
extreme and fun game I’ve played in years. Our area is covered in
banana, papaya, tomato trees, water catchment tanks, large African
drums, and many other natural systems for hiding. As 19 of us run and
hide, one tries to see us all behind our natural hiding spaces yelling
out my name….”sister” they call. This is my name here btw as we’re all
a family here. We play for a few hours until I’m called for a delicious
lunch often filled with pineapple avocados, rice and local veggies. By
2pm I have a group of 7-10 girls coming to learn how to use a type
writer for typing class. This consists of me getting creative with
words and writing them on the board to practice memorizing keys. Very
simple but fulfilling. I finish my evening often with a walk through
the fruit tree bush here in Gganda village and then head in to read a
book and do more art before dinner which is served at around 10pm. The
hospitality is divine and somewhat embarrassing. I want to clean my
room and help cook and such but I rarely get the chance. At least
twice a week a child is in my room when I leave sweeping and hand
mopping the floor. When they enter a building they remove their shoes
and I try to as well. I tell them I want to keep their space clean but
they chase after me with my shoes saying, “Sister your feet will get
dirty”. Makes me laugh but feel so shy as I feel like a porcelain doll
they don’t want to have broken. I was allowed to chop potatoes last
week and once even removed my shoes without them noticing, a freeing
experience. This place is beautiful and I love my new family.

The Kin Initiative is a registered NGO non governmental organization,
which strives to help the less fortunate. Here I have purchased and
begun creating a website www.kininnitiative.org for them and I am now the
official international volunteer coordinator for them. They have a
grand potential for hosting volunteers and the cost for time spent
here is the most minimal I’ve come accross since I started my journey.
I encourage everyone to keep checking on the site as I will be
attempting to have it running soon and if you are willing to travel
abroad to Africa, this is the #1 place I’d recommend. I could see
people coming to this location seeing it as a paradise setting you’d
find in a 5star hotel but with less noise and friendly atmosphere with
very concerned beings. You will feel welcomed as a family member and
appreciated on all levels as the KIN understands that even the most
meek have something to give.

Monday, 30 November 2009

This week has been one of the most fulfilling yet.
I had a great time playing with the kids here at faith Christian school and loved working on the art for their teaching aids; but, when i realized the Congo situation i just couldn’t sit back and let them go hungry. So I gathered information and collected supplies.

Currently in faith Christian school there are 15 refugee families with about 42 children attending school. They have no home and no food. I found out that the reason they are refugees is one of the saddest stories i could imagine. The representative told me there are 460 tribes in the Congo. 459 of those tribes share one enemy tribe…which is their tribe. Imagine in your own country taking one step into boundaries of another tribe means your life.  Many fled immediately after being kicked out of the final region they attempted to inhabit, others died instantly, and others still remain with no way to survive as the other tribes are now killing and steeling livestock and supplies to starve their population for an all out tribal genocide attempt. The fleeing tribe (i wish i knew their name) is now located in camps in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. Unfortunately there are conflicts inside the Kenyan camp and so the camp is actually dangerous for them to be in. So here they are basically hiding out in our area of nairobi being housed in the guest homes and personal spaces of good samaritans.

With 200 dollars i made packages of 30lbs of rice, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tea, and sugar. Each family received them at the final graduation ceremony for the school last Thursday. They were so happy. They only speak Congolese so i had to communicate through other people but i could tell this was something they never thought would happen. It was a good gift for Christmas celebration and the women mounted the supplies on their heads and walked away that day happily being able to feed and bathe their families. It was so fulfilling but i wanted to do more.
Besides these refugees, the only Congolese I have met in Kenya have all been musicians. For the educated Congo, in order to pass classes you have to know how to play the guitar. Music is regarded as highly important to cultural protection there and so its their livelihood and often times a means for survival as they come to large cities and are hired for entertainment. After talking with the representative, he encouraged me to attempt to form an NGO (non-governmental organization) centered around supplying children with a means for survival. Now I know this is a big project and i already have a million other projects I’ve talked about doing, but i feel right now that the Congo are the worst off group of people I’ve come into contact with. They really have no support outside of samaritan acts. So i will put this out to the cosmos and hope for support in any way possible.

My idea is start an NGO where children who are performing well in their classes are allowed to have a section of their education going toward music education. In this I would be able to hire Congo musicians who I already know, to come teach music to the children where I could provide a simple meal and education on the art of music. I realize that after getting the supplies like instruments and a space for learning, there would be little costs for this project besides paying the teachers and providing rice and veggies for food.

This is a very immature concept I’ve thought up but what I want to make clear is that my desire to do this is very much based on cultural emphasis. I believe that when a society loses its culture, it loses the resources and skills to survive. Therefore, by doing the opposite, by uplifting ones culture, we can empower our youth to gain control of their rights for life. That is the main focus of this idea and who really knows how far it will go? On the side I could also be teaching basic art skills to those more interested in physical art.  In reality I would love to help facilitate this and start a self sustaining NGO project out of it. Maybe one day you’ll see our band in the hottest club in Africa. Anyway if you have resources on NGO creations, I’d love to hear about them. I’ll have a full history of the tribe soon, and you can see how hundreds of years of history is still forming their future….I’m just waiting on contact from the representative.

Something I’ve started to realize about these Africans, as well, is the amount of pride they have for their lives. You may think this is a very dirty place but besides the fact that there are garbage heaps and car fumes, for the most part this is a squeaky clean civilization. The clothes get washed frequently here and their homes are a spectacle of perfection. When you walk into a home you won’t find a piece of dust on the floor or tables. They keep everything extremely sanitary and they cherish the idea of having nice looking things. I’ve walked into the homes of several bachelor houses and was amazed at the order and manner of arrangement. At any time you can even see women sweeping the dirt for small specks of trash outside their doors.They take their goods and treat them with respect. They are sure to care for their possessions with all the pride they have. This could be that they don’t have much so keeping order is easier, or maybe its just that they appreciate their possessions more than what I’ve seen in western culture. But, in any light I respect and admire the hard work i see out of these African families.
Also the pride they have in their country is amazing. Everything is Kenya here. Kenya shirts, Kenyan futbol, Kenya T.V. EVERYHING, they love it. they also love obama. I’ve seen more Obama propaganda here than I’ve ever seen in America. Of course he is their brother so it is to be expected. But it’s funny to see “I love you Obama” shirts on kids and women. In fact, the road i live off of is called Obama Street. I found out people actually created balled boxes during the election and were actually putting in votes for Obama. Most people took the day off from school and work and had wild parties the day of commencement. Oh these African people are so funnily beautiful.

Thats all for now, thanks to all of you who are continuing to contribute and i will be starting the art project for the holidays with the kids as soon as the supplies come in. Also the water catchment tank is on its way. It should be ordered this week i believe.

peace!…or amani (swahili)

kena achieng

While Kena is in Nairobi drawing pictures for students with no books and helping to feed orphans with sad stories we could never imagine, here in Eugene we have been continuing our efforts to provide Kena with the funds to make this all possible!!! This weekend we had a booth at the Holiday Market. I would like to give a special thanks to Jennah, Lisa, Elin, and Roy for their contributions. At this point we have been able to raise about $750 which will go towards buying a water catchment tank so the children will not have to drink so much polluted waters, uniforms, seeds, and art supplies. Thanks to all who have helped and all who will help!!!

Peace, Love, and Harmony!
Amy

KENYA | Monday, 16 November 2009

I spoke of poverty a few months ago but I’ll admit i spoke too soon.

I arrive in Nairobi and am ready to start my volunteer work in the so called orphanage here called ‘Faith Christian’. I show up two days early to check the place out and i cant believe what I see. Over 450 kids at a school which is actually a vacant cement building where each room is approx 10ft by 12ft wide and over 50 kids (one with 65) in each room. No desks just rugged bench like things that hold about 8 kids each. Some kids even just stand in the back. Many rooms don’t have doors but the ones that do force the children to stand up and move to open as i try to enter. One room even has the kids sitting on the cement dirty floor. There is no paper, no pencils, chalk only for scribling on the uneven wall. The teachers are the only ones who possess books which there are about 2 books for each grade; basically, a social science book and a math book. I want to pretend I’m not shocked at this point. What they call a kitchen is a 2 ft by 10 ft hallway with a jiko and a pot in it where they give the kids teach for breakfast and rice for lunch every day. This is only for the kids who are absolutely without…like the 60+ congo refugee children.

So, then I ask about where I’m going to stay…here goes another adventure. I find out they have booked me in a guest room nearly 10 minutes drive away…which is a long way to travel in this dangerous slum area all alone. The guest room is right near the road where rowdy crowds of youthful men gather each night drunk, high, and who knows what else. This was a bad idea….I felt doubt fill my body as my heart pounded and I was not sure what to do….however…(of course there is a however)

Out of all of this huge area of Nairobi, my friend jojo who has been showing me around for the past 3 days just happens to live a 10 minute walk away from Faith Christian. In Nairobi there are probably over 500 schools and somehow I’ve managed not to know this yet still contact and connect with one that is so close to my friends home I can almost hear the children laughing. This is fate. the other amazing part of this is that jojo is living with 1 cousin in a 4 bedroom house meaning there are 2 extra rooms available. So father sun up above has blessed me with 2 kind young men who are allowing me to stay in their home free of charge. Jo jo warms bath water for me when i want it, makes me porridge for breakfast and walks me to and from the school each day. Not just this but they are some of the funniest people I’ve met. Always down to go out and dance till all hours of the night after a long day of volunteer work. I cant explain how things like this work out, i just know they do for reasons of bliss.

I am finding this sacred path even more each day as I realized I can take my passions with me and do good with them wherever I go. So at the school I’ve begun making teaching aids which we are pasting to the walls. Things like charts with animals, numbers, science figures, weather charts…basically things the kids never see since the only pictures are in the teachers books. The kids are now showing up at school early and voluntarily a child leads the others in lessons with the aids that are on the wall. And, the kid’s school usually starts by 630, so imagine what showing up early is like for them….this is pure passion for knowledge. I am so blessed that i can do art and make a difference with it.

Recently while walking home another school asked me to join them in the same project after i finish at Faith Christian. They are basically in the same situation so i will keep on arting it up in the area till all the schools are bright and colorful.

I’ve also taken on teaching and leading art at jojo’s home on sundays for the neighborhood kids. They sit outside for hours each morning just waiting to see signs of movement from my room and when they see me they say teach us teach us. Its so hard to refuse even if I have plans I have to search for paper for them because its a new experience for them…most have never even seen a marker or colored pencil and their addiction to this new past time is a great addiction i can help feed.

So anyways, I am working hard to get these schools stocked up with artistic aids but it has been a challenge for me to get the supplies I need as art is not common here. So here I am asking for any assistance again…

I’d like to mention the situation in Faith Christian. Over 60 of the kids who are in the school are refugees from the Congo. They have 1 set of clothes to wear and they stay in a room with over 20 of them where there is nothing but bodies. No blanket pillow or warmth. Nothing. They came with nothing and they have nothing. If I could possibly get a few big blankets for them to use or pairs of underwear, toothbrush and paste or even a bag of rice….or more art supplies like markers and paper, their lives and the other students lives would be drastically enhanced. It is amazing small things like this can help so much.

Anyways, I am asking for funds or supplies which can be sent electronically over the net on my site…or if you’d like to send supplies send them to jojos mailbox at:

joseph arthur ogonda
po box 75715-00200
nairobi kenya

call me or email before sending supplies please 011 254 732 573 149

Thanks to all who are helping in the world and please keep Africa in your heart this holiday season. I’ve heard people who keep track of holiday spending and at the end they donate the same amount they’ve spent…a very cool concept. Just consider what we all could do if we are willing to give as much as we receive.

Amani and aheri msuri sanas

(peace and love beautifuls)

kena achieng

From Nairobi

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Great news!

The coordinator’s husband came into town to visit and asked a simple question: “How are things going, I usually check in to see what ideas, or proposals volunteers have?”

I thought, Should I tell him this huge concept I’d thought of for hours on end the past few weeks? I was so intimidated but how could i not say it out loud when I’d been dreaming it and here he was asking. So i said it. I layed my idea out there, “I want to buy land and create an educational permaculture farm for the community and feed the kids with it”. Before I could say more he said “follow me”.
He led me outside and there I was on the hill where he said he wanted to build a 2story hut w/an upper room for watchin the sunrise “and doing yoga”. I added, “I’ll do it with you”. He said “but dont buy land, you can have this land.”
I wanted someone to pinch me, was he serious…oh yes he was! We talked completely committed for the next half hour and then again the following week where we layed out the ideas and concepts of the farm. We were both on the same thought process of creating a community sustained farm and building a beautiful new hut. Amazingly the hut he described was the near exact replica of a dream home i had drawn 3yrs ago when i was in eugene. I am now convinced the universe is on my side more than ever.

Thankyou father sun, mother earth, moon child, and ancestrial stars for guiding our paths in unicen.

Tomorrow I find out details about costs and we begin the paperwork and fund raising.

Also I leave the village in 3 days and we are going to purchase a huge rainwater catchment tank for the kids so they wont need to drink gross lake water anymore. Please help donate online. $1=1 liter…we want at least a 500liter tank. thanks soo much all!!

kwe aheri (peace, i love you)

kena achieng

Krafting for Kenya will have a booth at the Holiday Market this year on opening weekend November 21st and 22nd.  We will be krafting away to continue in our efforts to raise funds for the people in Kunya Village!!  If anyone has any homemade crafts they would like to donate to the cause please e-mail me at amynheidi@gmail.com.  If you are in the area that weekend please com check us out.  We will have jewelery, gloves, 3-D catchers,  paintings, and clothing all made by the Krafters for Kenya; all proceeds go to the Africa Fund!!  We are very grateful for this opportunity and think it is wonderful that the good people at Saturday market offer this opportunity to non-profits!!!  Hope to see you there!!!

Peace,

Amy

KENYA | Saturday, 3 October 2009

So the big news…if the tides work out correctly i will be having land in Kunya village.

The idea:

Purchase 2 acres of land (1acre=600usd), use the land to grow food sustainably through permaculture design and deliver the food to the mama na dad group of guardians and circle of hope day care. Also provide an educational center on site to teach sustainable farming methods and natural energy techniques (ie:solar), and roof water catchment systems. also during the prep and caretaking of the land, we will select the most needy and most trusting community members who will be given some temporary and some permament jobs aiding in their providing for their families.

1.5 acres used for growing crops like, bulgar, cowgris, groundnuts, kale, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, mangos, oranges, papas (papaya), lemons, green grams, soya…

.5 acre will be used to build a hut for myself & a good friend to live in for 6 months out of the year where we will be caretakers for the land, maintain and revise the property and project as needs arise. We will also build a structure to hold classes and demonstrations open to all memebers of the village to learn about farming techniques such as the raised bed and companion planting presented through permaculture design.

There would be an initial hiring of community members to prepare the land for the first planting. Once the land is ready, the guardians wil be responsible for the upkeep and planting and harvesting throughout the year. I and my partner during our stay will oversee and train members to care for the property as needed and after our 6 months we will return to the states to gather another years worth of needed funding and of course be able to see family and friends.

While we are away we will have a young male who will stay in a built facility on the land which will provide the security and upkeep of the land ensuring him a safe place to stay, and a job to fund living. Each day we will have a donkey carriage run by a man in the village deliver water form the lake (50cents usd) which aids in a secure income for his family each day and also ensures our plants get water each day (this is the main reason many crops don’t currently grow here is because water is expensive and lacking in resource). 2-4 times per year harvests will be made and the children and families in the community will receive rationed amounts from this field as well as the day care.

after estimating costs of all materials needed along with the work to create this amazing place, I’ve realized it should take no more than 10-15thous usd for the initial start up and only 1-3thoususd/ year for upkeep, job payment and seed/supply purchase.

Once we have established the project, we will open the opportunity to stay on the land to the community. This means that any of you, beautiful family and friends, would be able to get to the village and stay at very low cost for up to 6 months in a year. we would require you to pay for travel to and from kenya, and ask for a small fee probably around 800-1200usd to aid in food and thats it. You’ll be welcomed into this wonderful bright village where education in aspects of agriculture, caregiving, and brother and sisterly love are provided. Who could ask for more? A paradise in the making! Our utopia!

I was given the big OK by the head coordinator to start this project and the villagers who I’ve pitched the idea to say “please come!” So if we get the money, we’re in. I say “we’re” because this all only is happening and will happen because of the support you’ve already shown, and any further support i can receive.

Currently I’ve spoken with my Aunt Tammy who has connections to grant writing/writers and i may be able to get funding in this manner. I will also check into aids in the Eugene area seeing as the community garden efforts there are extremely advanced as compared to other areas of the states. if anyone has connections to grant writers, or you know an elderly couple looking to put their money into a good project near their final days…steer me in their direction! I would love any support weather financial means or just data and info.

Suggestions welcome of course!!

KENYA | Saturday, 3 October 2009

Karibu all!

loads to tell ya,

Tuesday was fantastic. I went into the fields to work with the guardians; most had no shoes, one woman had only 1 shoe, they were all in skirts. I showed up in pants and boots…a little overdressed I’d say. Anyway, they welcomed me by placing what they call a ho (a piece of wood w/a hooked metal piece on the end, tiny) in my hand and loaded a hand full of seeds in the other hand. We bent down and I planted two rows of maize along side these beautiful guardians. They sure loved to see a mzungu (white person) work. and they were so grateful to get the seeds in the earth….wouldnt you know, that night there was a huge storm bringing rain…glorious sprouting soon to occur im sure.

Thursday was the most difficult day i have faced so far. We did home visits. These children show up to school in uniforms and smiles upon their faces. Although you know they’re probably hungry, they’re happy to be there; but, these images hide the truth. When i went to see their huts I could not believe what I saw. The first home by foot was over 3 kilometers on a thick muddy path, no more will I complain about walking. when we arrived at the hut, there was a mom with two of the children present. The hut was a mud hut which was falling apart, the 4 of us barely fit inside the 8 by 8 ft home which was shared by the 7 kids (all under age 7) and two parents. There was no blanket or bed,  just 4 chairs and a sheet hung to separate the parents sleep side from the kids. The parents were both mentally a bit gone. How can 7 kids fit in an 8 ft by 8 ft space? Now I realize this world is not overpopulated, we just feel the desire to have so much space to ourselves that feel we are running out of room…so wrong.

The next home we found 3 kids approx age 4,6,7 alone in a hut. We opened the door to see a jiko (a fire pot run with charcoal and wood) burning heavly inside. I was standing outside the door and my eyes were burning I could barely breathe. I could not believe these children were preparing food in this smoky area that was such a lung hazard, and they were so young. When I saw what they were cooking i wanted to grab it and throw it in the forest so they couldn’t have it. Would it cause more harm than good? I had no idea. there were fish piled in a stack on the floor with no refrigeration, obviously this means the fermenting had probably taken case and disease was most likely present. I just hoped they would know to cook it for a long time to be sure.

This is when i realized POVERTY DOES NOT EXIST IN AMERICA!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I attended a wake (funeral viewing) for a woman who was a head of a child compassion center. This was an amazing but strange experience. Strange because I did not know her yet I still was overwhelmed with emotion at seeing the love in the room. They welcomed the body into the church by yelling and waving arms to chase the evil spirits from her body. Once in the church, drums and shakers were used to force peace and harmony. Their voices were magical. The children she helped save at one point circled the body and performed a small dance and large singing production praising her life. This was breathtaking. They really rejoiced this life gone and their voice rung out in pure raw emotional love and compassion. I don’t like funerals but I did enjoy this experience. I was told she would then be taken to her home where for the rest of the evening there would be a party-like scene with ceremony and scripture reading until early morning when she would be taken to the earth for burial. what an amazing departure for a loved one.

anyway I just arrived in Kisumu after a crazy experience on the matutu (mini van fitted for 15 people) we crammed 24 people in and were stopped by the police who wanted us all in seatbelts which only 1/2 worked. they arrested the driver for lacking safety and we were shoved in a bus for the rest of the way. when we arrived I sat on the bus till they unloaded, open buckets of mini fish were being brought down from the roof and my open window allowed a few to fall and hit my shoulder…I wanted to gag but held it back due to cultural significance of food…I then hopped on a tuktuk which is a small cart enclosure that goes tops 40kmh. I am here relaxing at present taking a breath….read the following journal for the big surprise!!!!

kena achieng