This has been a great week!
Naya learns to milk the cows: Naya has decided that Zachary, our farm animal manager and the executive directors brother is among her favorite staff members. In addition to helping him collect eggs, feeding the cows and pigs she decided yesterday that it was time she enter the cow pen and learn to milk, which she has watched him do most days. Being as though I have seen volunteers try and fail I didn't expect much for our eager little 5 year old. Well I was wrong...not only did she get right in there, help tie the legs, and squat right down practically under the cow but when it came to be her turn to milk massive amounts started squirting....ok...not into the bucket at this time as much as on her and Zach while she laughed hysterically but eventually she got the aim down and got a lot of milk! So proud of her. She has also decided that going barefoot is "easier to run" like the other kids and that her "toes work better". I say...good for her :)) She's lightening fast and keeps up with one of her favorite friends sospeter who is 7. I'll make sure to grab a pic of the sospeter and the kids next time. They are too cute.
My name is "Mama Kai": Interesting fact...once it is found out that you are a mother, not only is your respect and social status through the roof but also you lose your first name. Literally, it does not exist. When I meet women they will say my name is "Mama so and so" whether or not their children are around. It is typically the name of your youngest (i think) but I'll have to confirm this. I'm assuming this because staff know that I have Kai and Naya and they call me Mama Kai. I met Mama Jacquiline yesterday and upon confirming that I was in fact "Mama Kai" I got a big traditional "hand shake" which is actually the hand is going in for a hand shake but as it goes to "shake" it slaps as hard as a high five but in hand shake style. This is the same with all women young and old. I was greeted by Mary, an 83 year old women participating in our microfinance/loan program with the same "hand shake". I like the liveliness of it!
Devin (....and kai :))...take to the machetes: Ok, so truth is that I actually found Kai playing out front with one of the kids chopping of branches with a machete. I had to tell the truth about this for several reasons. :) One, Danielle would make me put away my garden shovel when the kids were at my house and I know that she'll have a heart attack reading this (hee hee! love you!). Two, I can't believe how protected (and it seems almost handicapped) American kids are by everything being so safety and child proofed. That being said, no, I don't think a 3 year old with a machete is a great starting point for this learning curve! :)) Three, I had to narrate this becasue, even I, the "anti-safety patrol" (my girlfriends can vouche for this) couldn't get it on camera as I would have had to have him freeze and pose with a 2 foot blade in his hand while I ran back to our house for the camera.
In other news: It's been a great week. We got the solar power picked up in Thika this morning and will start getting it installed tomorrow. Got the windows to the new school in and will begin that project in the morning. Got 1 more "saver" in the microfinance program who started her account with 300 shillings!(amazing since the goal for every month is 70 shillings[about 1 dollar] and most can barely make that), the Bio gas is exceeding our expectations and is producing way more than was projected.....and....it's still a perfect mid 80's during the day and a nice cool 50's at night. This is great considering that we are technically heading into their "winter".
Thanks for all the kind words, prayers, and responses to our blog and pics on facebook. We love reading them and love keeping our friends and family up to date. :))
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
This is Africa...Patience...Patience
Hello from Kenya where nothing happens on time...So two of the projects we are working on are the tuition center and solar power! Aaron and I go into Thika to get the windows for the tuition center and pick up all of the solar panels and boxes. Because Kai is sick and Ann is home with him I decided to take Naya for her first trip into the big city...she did great by the way :) On the Matato/bus ride there, we take dirt roads for half the trip to avoid police checkpoints so a 40 minute trip takes 1 hr and 15 mins. When we get there we go to get the windows and find they are ready...amazing! We decide we will pick them up after I go to the bank and grocery store and aaron talks to the solar power people. Naya and I get to the bank at 3pm just as they are closing the doors. Thankfully they let us in, unfortunately we wait in line for 40 minutes to get help, oh well at least we got in! Then we go to the grocery store and finish all of our shopping...while shopping I meet aaron who tells me the solar power will be ready to be picked up in 15 minutes. While aaron secures a taxi I finish the shopping. I haven't brought a backpack because I know I can put all our groceries in the taxi and the taxi will take us right to WWB a lot closer than the half mile walk from the matato stop. Naya and I finish the shopping...quite a lot because it's our last supply run for a while and then we are waiting for Aaron. Aaron then comes up and says the solar power stuff now wont be ready until tomorrow or the next day (T.I.A. This is Africa). Because of this its not worth the extra money for a taxi..so we don't get the solar power stuff or the windows becuase we could never take the windows in a Matato!!! SO we are unable to complete the goals for our trip which were to get the windows and solar power. Naya and I did get a lot of groceries and supplies and the Matato ride back took the customary 40 minutes. Although the half mile walk home was difficult carrying about 50 lbs in groceries/supplies and Naya on my shoulders since she was tuckered out after a long day in Thika Town! I am learning that getting one thing done on a ten thing to do list in a day is considered efficient in Kenya...AMAZING! Much love from Devin, Ann, Naya and Kai
Learning the harsh realities of Africa...Kai gets sick
We found out last night what it is really like to have a sick kid wake up in the middle of the night with raging diarreah, no toilet in the house, a hole in the ground around the brush and past the animals,a water shortage, and a 30 minute walk to the Makuyu Clinic with him on my back to wait line outside for ages with tons of crying babies and mama's ahead of us. It was a tough but humbling experience to see how strong these mothers have to be to help their children to survive over here.
My thoughts were mixed as I stood in line with Kai to get our "pink card"(line 1)then stand in another line for the "dr visit"(line 2) and finally to our "lab visit"(line 3). On one hand I felt very lucky knowing that he is vaccinated against everything major as none of the children in this region are. (we are pushing for tetanus and polio as a start but so far nothing) as I looked around and saw mumps (which at least 8 of our kids have had since we've been here), malaria, yellow eyes, horrible coughs, and babies to weak to even cry. Here I was with my son who weighs so much that the check in person had to laugh that he was "sick". In reality though, Kai was fevered, stomach cramped, and had diarreah which is common and easily treatable as it is usually worms or amoeba's. So as I stood in line I guess I began to feel grateful that I wasn't standing there waiting to see if my baby might die as so many of these mother's do each day that they line up at the clinic as many as 6-8 hours to see a Dr. In the end, Kai is recovering today, fever is down, diarreah fewer and farther between....I've washed and hung 9 pairs of underwear today and 4 sets of sheets...:)) and Grace our cook had "special water" pumped for her use to make the food for the kids tonight and offered me the opportunity to draw 3 buckets full from her supply as she knew that Kai was sick and I needed to hydrate him and continue to wash his soiled clothing. This is interesting as well because something as simple as getting water holds so many meanings...I know that I need water for my son but by taking water I am taking the very little water we have that might be needed to make the food for the kids tonight(ours included). In the end I took about 2 quarts for drinking and 1/2 a washing bucket. We are learning that the smallest decisions can have a huge chain reaction impact on multiple systems and people in a region where resources are so scarce. These are exactly the lessons I hope to continue to learn and the ones I hope my children will learn while we are here.
On a lighter note, we spent a day in the field learning sustainable agricultural practices from a master farmer. He taught us the method of sileageing (sp?) the napeer grass that we feed the cows through a process of cutting it with a special time of chopper that makes it small then preserving that grass with a layer of molasses and water covered in black plastic. When it is preserved it is the perfect consistency and nutrient level for the cows to eat in order for them to make "perfect" manure for the Bio Gas system. It eliminates the need for "straining" which was shown in pics with us hand removing grass and other larger particles from the thinned manure. Also, as a back up taught us a tri feed system to dry other types of feed such as left over maize stalk bases in the event of a bad harvest, drought, etc.
We are all good, supplemental water may come tommorow if we can sweeten up the water delivery person who quit delivering after he got in an argument with a local staff member here how was angry and wouldn't pay him...so he decided to withhold leaving us only with our 1 well, (# 2 well is in progress). I was with Boniface in the village yesterday while he apologized in Kikuyu to the water guy for our other staff member and gave the water guy some cigarettes to try to get water....but so far..no dice. I will hope for tomorrow. :)) Kenyan business...a WHOLE 'nuther' can a' worms... :))
My thoughts were mixed as I stood in line with Kai to get our "pink card"(line 1)then stand in another line for the "dr visit"(line 2) and finally to our "lab visit"(line 3). On one hand I felt very lucky knowing that he is vaccinated against everything major as none of the children in this region are. (we are pushing for tetanus and polio as a start but so far nothing) as I looked around and saw mumps (which at least 8 of our kids have had since we've been here), malaria, yellow eyes, horrible coughs, and babies to weak to even cry. Here I was with my son who weighs so much that the check in person had to laugh that he was "sick". In reality though, Kai was fevered, stomach cramped, and had diarreah which is common and easily treatable as it is usually worms or amoeba's. So as I stood in line I guess I began to feel grateful that I wasn't standing there waiting to see if my baby might die as so many of these mother's do each day that they line up at the clinic as many as 6-8 hours to see a Dr. In the end, Kai is recovering today, fever is down, diarreah fewer and farther between....I've washed and hung 9 pairs of underwear today and 4 sets of sheets...:)) and Grace our cook had "special water" pumped for her use to make the food for the kids tonight and offered me the opportunity to draw 3 buckets full from her supply as she knew that Kai was sick and I needed to hydrate him and continue to wash his soiled clothing. This is interesting as well because something as simple as getting water holds so many meanings...I know that I need water for my son but by taking water I am taking the very little water we have that might be needed to make the food for the kids tonight(ours included). In the end I took about 2 quarts for drinking and 1/2 a washing bucket. We are learning that the smallest decisions can have a huge chain reaction impact on multiple systems and people in a region where resources are so scarce. These are exactly the lessons I hope to continue to learn and the ones I hope my children will learn while we are here.
On a lighter note, we spent a day in the field learning sustainable agricultural practices from a master farmer. He taught us the method of sileageing (sp?) the napeer grass that we feed the cows through a process of cutting it with a special time of chopper that makes it small then preserving that grass with a layer of molasses and water covered in black plastic. When it is preserved it is the perfect consistency and nutrient level for the cows to eat in order for them to make "perfect" manure for the Bio Gas system. It eliminates the need for "straining" which was shown in pics with us hand removing grass and other larger particles from the thinned manure. Also, as a back up taught us a tri feed system to dry other types of feed such as left over maize stalk bases in the event of a bad harvest, drought, etc.
We are all good, supplemental water may come tommorow if we can sweeten up the water delivery person who quit delivering after he got in an argument with a local staff member here how was angry and wouldn't pay him...so he decided to withhold leaving us only with our 1 well, (# 2 well is in progress). I was with Boniface in the village yesterday while he apologized in Kikuyu to the water guy for our other staff member and gave the water guy some cigarettes to try to get water....but so far..no dice. I will hope for tomorrow. :)) Kenyan business...a WHOLE 'nuther' can a' worms... :))
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Getting our hands dirty...learning the in's and out's of development programs in a 3rd world country
This week has been full of new experiences and and increase in our management responsibilities.
Microsavings project: We both made field visits to villages even farther out than our own to meet with the mircrofinance and savings groups that have begun to form. What an AMAZING group of women. They are eligible for interested rewarded saving at the end of a year if they individually meet a 70 shilling per month goal. At the end of the year if they have faithfully saved they are then eligible for a loan that includes the interest accrued over the year(thanks to donations) as well as their actual input. Through group meetings facilitated by WWB the women then decide whether to pool the money to buy a larger item such as a foot pump to irrigate during the dry season which helps them to increase the amount of crops that they can grow, or a smaller individual purchase such a a goat, or rabbits which can be sold or used to supplement the meals or both. We walked close to 10 miles round trip to get to these homes which is the same distance that the women travel anytime that they wish to make a "deposit" to WWB. Again, amazing, strong ladies.
Bio Gas Project: We have been working all week to arrange for delivery of manure to continue to get our bio gas up and running. The goal is to reduce fire cooking by 50%. This will increase respiratory health of children and staff who are constantly exposed as well as reduce the labor required to forage, chop, and haul wood each day. If the 50% goal is not reached we will be looking into a more efficient cook stove in order to reach that goal.
Sanitary Pads Program: I had an excellent time teaching a class on decision making to a group of 60 girls that arrived from all over to recieve sanitary products(which are shunned in this area, as are the women during their cycles) It is held once a month and we use the time to teach life skills to the girls included, goal setting, college, personal safety, etc.
HIV/AIDS community outreach program: We had some excellent volunteers sherry and laura who had been here for 6 months (both in the medical field) who took this program to a whole new level. Recruiting and training community members to teach to their own communities on the risks, causes, stigmas and prevention of HIV which has really hit the mid 20's to mid 40's age range drastically. I got to make a field visit to meet 3 of our trainers who have taken this on as their own. What an eye opening experience. I look forward to continuing the program as Sherry and Laura had to leave. They were amazing and left an amazing legacy behind.
Community Education Center: This has just been completed on our campus and we just put the 2nd coat of paint on yesterday. I will be heading this initiative and hope to get a fully operating classroom with lights, boards, books, posters, teaching material etc.A longer term goal would be computers and sewing machines. Starting with developing curriculum and teaching our children here and extending the schooling option to children in surrounding villages on Saturdays, particularly those who are being cared for by our microfinance women. We also have a new volunteer here for 6 months who is trained in teaching English as a second language to adults who would like to use this classrom for that purpose as well. The furniture(real hardwood) just arrived from Nairobi today. Very exciting and I will keep you posted on this!
Animals and Agriculture: We just bought and walked home a pregnant cow yesterday. It was a good purchase as she is vaccinated, dewormed, pregnant, and producing 3 times as much milk as the other. We also have a prego pig so will be learning to take care of piglets soon too! I haven't had a milking lesson yet but know that it's on the way. Actually looks pretty difficult to do it correctly.
Solar Power Project: We are putting solar power in this week too! However, I'm down to 3% battery power and have to power in the house so I better publish and go before little mackie dies :)) I posted an entire album of pics on facebook. Love to all and we are doing great.
Microsavings project: We both made field visits to villages even farther out than our own to meet with the mircrofinance and savings groups that have begun to form. What an AMAZING group of women. They are eligible for interested rewarded saving at the end of a year if they individually meet a 70 shilling per month goal. At the end of the year if they have faithfully saved they are then eligible for a loan that includes the interest accrued over the year(thanks to donations) as well as their actual input. Through group meetings facilitated by WWB the women then decide whether to pool the money to buy a larger item such as a foot pump to irrigate during the dry season which helps them to increase the amount of crops that they can grow, or a smaller individual purchase such a a goat, or rabbits which can be sold or used to supplement the meals or both. We walked close to 10 miles round trip to get to these homes which is the same distance that the women travel anytime that they wish to make a "deposit" to WWB. Again, amazing, strong ladies.
Bio Gas Project: We have been working all week to arrange for delivery of manure to continue to get our bio gas up and running. The goal is to reduce fire cooking by 50%. This will increase respiratory health of children and staff who are constantly exposed as well as reduce the labor required to forage, chop, and haul wood each day. If the 50% goal is not reached we will be looking into a more efficient cook stove in order to reach that goal.
Sanitary Pads Program: I had an excellent time teaching a class on decision making to a group of 60 girls that arrived from all over to recieve sanitary products(which are shunned in this area, as are the women during their cycles) It is held once a month and we use the time to teach life skills to the girls included, goal setting, college, personal safety, etc.
HIV/AIDS community outreach program: We had some excellent volunteers sherry and laura who had been here for 6 months (both in the medical field) who took this program to a whole new level. Recruiting and training community members to teach to their own communities on the risks, causes, stigmas and prevention of HIV which has really hit the mid 20's to mid 40's age range drastically. I got to make a field visit to meet 3 of our trainers who have taken this on as their own. What an eye opening experience. I look forward to continuing the program as Sherry and Laura had to leave. They were amazing and left an amazing legacy behind.
Community Education Center: This has just been completed on our campus and we just put the 2nd coat of paint on yesterday. I will be heading this initiative and hope to get a fully operating classroom with lights, boards, books, posters, teaching material etc.A longer term goal would be computers and sewing machines. Starting with developing curriculum and teaching our children here and extending the schooling option to children in surrounding villages on Saturdays, particularly those who are being cared for by our microfinance women. We also have a new volunteer here for 6 months who is trained in teaching English as a second language to adults who would like to use this classrom for that purpose as well. The furniture(real hardwood) just arrived from Nairobi today. Very exciting and I will keep you posted on this!
Animals and Agriculture: We just bought and walked home a pregnant cow yesterday. It was a good purchase as she is vaccinated, dewormed, pregnant, and producing 3 times as much milk as the other. We also have a prego pig so will be learning to take care of piglets soon too! I haven't had a milking lesson yet but know that it's on the way. Actually looks pretty difficult to do it correctly.
Solar Power Project: We are putting solar power in this week too! However, I'm down to 3% battery power and have to power in the house so I better publish and go before little mackie dies :)) I posted an entire album of pics on facebook. Love to all and we are doing great.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Settling in at WWB - Week One
Hello to all our family and friends!!!
What a week...the plane rides were long but the kids did great. Geoffrey was at the airport in Nairobi to pick us up, and he was a welcome site after going through customs and visa checks. After spending the first night in Nairobi (a little scary :)) Geoffrey picked us up and took us to WWB.
On our way we stopped in Thika, the closest real town to WWB, it's about 40 minutes away. Here we picked up some supplies at a store and exhcanged some US money for Kenyan shillings. In the bank I saw the only other white person I had seen in Thika, and wouldn't you know he and his wife are volunteers from Portland.
When we finally arrived at WWB we were greeted by wonderful smiling children and a very helpful group of volunteers. Aaron and Kaitlin showed us our house, and it is pretty amazing compared to what most people have. A great room that serves as the kitchen, family room, and kids room with bunk beds...and the second room our room with a queen bed and a shower stall. No running water anywhere, but we are working on bringing in solar so we will have electricity in our house. No running water means we all go to the bathroom in a hole...check out the picture! Also laundry by hand, bucket/sponge showers, and carry all of your water!
The place has been amazing so far. We have a great cook named Grace who makes all our meals from things grown here at WWB. We also have three cows, five or six chickens, two goats, and two pigs. We use the milk from the cows and the eggs from the chickens.
The kids are adjusting well and are becoming used to being the focus of all the other children. When we walk the younger kids to school in the morning, we walk them to a school in Pundamillia village only 15-20 minutes away. With Naya and Kai being the only white children around they are quite a hit! The other village nearby is Makuyu Village, about a 30 minute walk. Makuyu has a few stores, fruit stands, small eateries, and a medical clinic...VERY BASICS only for everything. We are all adjusting to this way of life and Ann and I are excited to start doing more work this week. Ann has already accompanied our medical volunteers to an HIV meeting in Makuyu.
For my cop buddies, on our second day here a neighbor who borders WWB property stole our fan and IPOD dock out of our open window sill. Aaron and I were able to follow the footprints, and with the help of Geoffrey we recovered the property and got a full confession...still playing detective!
So far the experience is everything we have hoped for and more...electricity isn't completely reliable and the internet is slow but we will continue to email and update this blog. We will talk more about our upcoming needs and projects at WWB in the future posts! For more pics check out Ann's facebook album!
Thanks and love, Devin, Ann, Naya and Kai
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