Tuesday in Nairobi

Part of our group went to he Masai Market and others went to the Museum of Natural History. Joan found all the gifts she was looking for and became a master ‘bargin hunter.’ Carol and Claudia spent a couple of wonderful hours at the museum, including a display of art by street children.

“Landscape with Lake” Alfajiri Stree Kids Art

Stuffed Secretary bird – Carol’s favorite from the safari.

A lunch and a celebration! A chance meeting in the museum gift shop with Dr. Yu-wan Wang, Stony Brook College, created a very festive change of ideas at a restaurant at the YaYa Center (Mall).

Monday in Nairobi

Let’s start with a delicious breakfast at the Jambo Chester Hotel.

With an early start, part of the group went on  safari and they were not disappointed!

Carol, Tom, Catherine, Joan and Steve told me that they saw giraffes, lions, water buffalo, ostriches, impalas, hart rests, hippos, crocodiles, mountain red bucks, a black rhino, and a wart hog. However, I have yet to see any pictures except. This giraffe! As soon as I get the pictures, I will confirm their sightings and post many of the pictures. Meanwhile, they are Rotarians so I don’t doubt them at all!

In the afternoon, we all visited the Giraffe Center. In addition to a very well stocked gift shop, we enjoyed feeding the gentle giraffes.

 

Sunday – April 8 – We are off to Nairobi but with a side trip to see Lake Victoria

We met with John, Ida and Dorothy on Saturday afternoon. After hearing Ida’s story, we talked about ways that Rotary District 7780 might help with funding specific areas of the program.

After dinner, it was time to pack so that we could leave by 7:00am on Sunday. Ida and Owen drove us to Kisumu and a look at Lake Victoria at Hippo Point. Unfortunately, we saw no hippos.

Giant cactus and giant tree with many birds’ nests.

Off on Kenya Airways to Nairobi.

View from the ‘pent house’ at the Jambo Chester Hotel.

I love this picture. The workmen are receiving instructions from the foreman. So much was being done by hand including pulling long strips of rebar as if in a tug-of-war.

Joan and Claudia had a ‘dove’s’ nest outside their window.

With a Domino’s Pizza right next door, the team ordered take-away and ate in! After a steady diet of delicious beans and rice, the pizza was a welcome treat.

 

Saturday – KOCC Children Go Home

We knew it would be quiet when the children went home, but we were not prepared for silence and broken hearts.

The day began with the distant Muslim ‘call to worship’, the rooster’s repeated hail to the sun, and the footsteps and chatter along the cement stairways outside our doors. Although it awoke this writer, I was pleased and a little amused as I witnessed my dear roommate sleep through the entire noise! Carol had conquered the ambient noise disruption!

After breakfast and the arrival of the guardians – some parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles – we all met in the dining room for instructions to the caretakers and awards for outstanding students.

Kelvin, the one in charge of all educational needs of the CC children, speaks to parents and students about the importance of keeping up on their studies during the three week vacation.

The students with the highest scores were called up to receive recognition.

The top students in the older primary grades were singled out for their achievements. After the next school session, they will be moving on to high school. Other students are expected to be inspired to excel and insure their entrance into high school. KOCC funds the students through high school and college.

The girl on the right is named Lucy. Above, Lucy is serious and humble. Below is Lucy as she borrowed my sunglasses and posed for a picture. Lucy is a popular, fun loving girl. I predict she will be president someday.

Saying goodbye and watching the children leave.

And a final goodbye rainbow around the sun.

 

 

Friday – visit farms and home based KOCC children – pack food for children to take to their homes and a party!

Believing in transparency, we visited with Nathan on his farm. Nathan was struggling as a farmer and had dreams of attending technical school to become an electrician. He had also had some bad luck with crops being stolen from his farming efforts in a field some distance from his home.

Below, John asks for clarification from Nathan.

Joseph was especially concerned about the health of Nathan’s cow and promised to send a veterinarian to dehorn the cow and treat her for worms and other diseases. The cow was undersized and not a healthy specimen. A cow is like a bank account in rural Kenya and not to be wasted.

Ida invited us to his home where we toured his successful farm and met his wife. The animals were flourishing (chickens, cow and pigs) and the fields were green and beautiful.  A lawn!!

Ida is building a new house.

The children of KOCC have a three week vacation in April. It is a time that the guardians come to the care center to hear about the scholastic progress of the children. The families receive a food allowance of toilet paper, soap, oil, sugar, rice, and beans. The team, under the direction of Lydia, helped to pack the very heavy bags.

 

Thursday – visiting farms and Kakamega Rotary Club meeting

After spending half a day with the Strong Young Women, we were ready to visit the farms that they have been managing and working. Most crops are harvested twice a year. The women are encouraged to feed their families and then sell some of the produce. Many had done that and then bought chickens. Some had plans to buy a cow.

We began by visiting the farm of Silas. Silas began an agricultural program sponsored by Avison Fund three years ago. His accomplishments were astounding and an example of successful farming and entrepreneurship. He began growing green leaf vegetables for market, and with his profits he bought a milk cow, then began a fish farm on his property! Tilapia!

• Kale, chickens, and then a cow!

Alfred and Silas.

Visiting SWY Juliet. Juliet, accompanied by one of her two children, gave us a tour ofthe acre she had planted with kale and maze.

Juliet is a good student of agriculture and entrepreneurship. Alfred is listening and offering advice.

Juliet progressed from crops, to chickens and now owns a small cow.

She served us sodas and mandazi (sweet fried rolls)  in her home. She was so happy and proud!

I was fascinated by this alphabet chart. Y is for yacht!?!?

Everywhere we went, we attracted the attention of children. Some were just curious, others were genuinely amused by our funny looks, and a few of the young ones were afraid. 

The evening Kakamega Rotary Club meeting was held at the Golf Hotel. We all introduced ourselves, KRC had a short meeting regarding the activities to come, and District 7780 Rotary Clubs was the main attraction. We presented a short power point about the location of our District, and our projects. Each of us spoke about our club and exchanged banners.

 

Workshop with the 25 members of the Strong Young Women Project – Wednesday

The women chosen for this program have been recommended as community leaders and industrius women. They gathered at KOCC from all around the district of Kakamega. They came in their most beautiful dresses and skirts, making it hard to believe that their expertise was in farming!

Ida Nelson began the session with some wonderful warm-ups that had us all laughing. He is charismatic and his experience as a camp counselor was on display. He was enchanting! What a pleasure to be in a country where singing is a spontaneous response to joy!

We broke up into five groups, one member of the team, 4 or 5 SYW and a translator/facilitator. Here is Tom with his group.

Catherine listens to her group while holding a baby!

Joan is thrilled to hear of the progress of these inspiring young women.

Owen translates for one of the women with Steve and Claudia listening intently.

Group photo!!

Visiting the Kakamega Rain Forest on Tuesday

It was a perfect day to visit the Kakamega Rain Forest. We had a wonderful guide, Patrick, who was a self-taught naturalist and brilliant!

We saw three different kinds of monkeys in the trees. These pictures require your imagination but I promise, there are monkeys in those trees!

The wild flowers were beautiful.

A termite mound in the center of a tree. Fascinating!

Patrick explains the symbiosis of the trees and their surroundings. His stories of the way nature speaks to each other made the science easy to appreciate.

Where’s Patrick?

Watch out for the ants! We hopped over the march of the fire ants.

A field that is slowly closing in on itself.

And finally, the group photo.

Easter Monday – a holiday for the kids – a busy day for the team

The kids walked to the pool in the morning and the team took a ride. It was fun just to watch all the action but Steve and John got right in and joined in with teaching them to swim (or were they just playing?).

The girls are waiting their turn.

 

in the afternoon, we head for lunch at Dorothy’s house and a visit to her surrounding farm.

On the road!              Below, Dorothy’s daughter and granddaughter serving the feast.

Carol, Catherine, Tom, Joan and Steve, enjoying the meal.

Below, scenes from the farm.

Group picture!

After our lunch visit with Dorothy and her family, we visited with home-based families where we were greeted with much enthusiasm. It is inspiring to witness the joy, dignity and hope of these families.

We went for a late dinner in the town of Kakamega where we met with a local Rotarian and continued to share our observations of the day.

On a usual day, we find ourselves around a table in the KOCC dining room eating the deliciously prepared food, or working on our various devices.

Sunday evening with Dorothy and the kids

 

Tom Wilbur explains the tradition of the Easter Bunny with Dorothy Selebwa, Director and Founder of KOCC, translating. Then we passed out chocolate eggs from Tom and Catherine’s shop in Freeport.

Dorothy enlightens us on the history of KOCC. What an inspiring story!

Then we broke out the bubbles! What fun!

Dorothy Selebwa, director and founder of KOCC, enlightens us on the history of KOCC as well as her personal journey.

Poor John. I think we have worn him out. John, who first came to Kakamega when he was 16-years old, is a wealth of knowledge and a tireless host.