Just Another Day in Kibera

It started with a pre-unit (Kindergarten) lesson in Kiswahili...

...then came the books...

...then the balloons...

...then the kids...

...and finally, the chaos!

Monday Movie Madness!

Dre, Lyndsay and Lauren eagerly await Fame!

I'm trying to bring back an old volunteer tradition. Every Monday the movie theaters in Nairobi run a promotion - movie, popcorn, cold soda and either a hot dog or a Mars bar for about $5. They refer to the promotion as Monday Movie Madness and the VICDA volunteers in Nairobi used to use this as an excuse to all see one another at least once a month. It's nice to connect with volunteers at different projects and to hear more about what they are doing, and what better place to do that than in an air conditioned movie theater? Yesterday was Fame, and about 10 volunteers (plus Bridget and baby George!) were the only people in the theater!

Glad Kids Brosis

A bunch of us - Nikki, Heather, Lyndsay, Lauren, Dre and I - set out in the hot sun down Ngong Road yesterday to meet with Abel Siro, the director of Glad Kids Brosis Education Centre in Lenana. It was great to see the centre and how far they've come in the past three years. My siblings and I sent money through Irene to purchase food for the kids at the centre back in May, and they were able to have a feeding program for about 8 weeks because of that. They still have porridge at the morning break, but, due to a lack of funds, the lunch program has been put on hold. Otherwise, the school is doing very well and the students seem happy and well cared for. If you would like to donate to the Brosis feeding program, please email me for more information safarijenn@gmail.com

Locked Out

As mentioned before, Sunday was Clare's last day in Kenya, so we made the most of it. After heading to the Yaya Maasai Market for a little shopping, Nikki, Heather, Clare and I made our way to Irene's where we piled into the car and headed out to check on the progress of The Lord's House of Hope orphanage in Waithaka. Sadly, being Sunday, the project was locked up and the workers were taking a much needed rest. But that didn't stop Clare from jumping the fence and taking some pictures! My camera battery died once she jumped the fence, but here are some photos of the progress as seen from the road.

Clare's Farewell - The End of a Kenyan Feminist Movement

Just as I get used to people from home being with me in Kenya, they start to leave! Sadly, Clare is the first to say kwaheri and board a plane bound for Chicago via Istanbul. It's been so wonderful having Clare here, and I hope that this is her first trip of many! To read more about Clare's experience in Kenya, visit the blog that she shares with Lyndsay and Lauren.

The Value of a Shilling

Just an observation that Nikki and I were discussing last night - what is the value of a shilling? Mathematically speaking, at the moment about 75 ksh (Kenyan shillings) equal $1 but, unless you're trying to figure out how much money you have in your bank account, that's irrelevant.

400 ksh - A taxi ride from Adams to my house at Dagoretti Corner that took about 5 minutes
400 ksh - The cost of Heather's swank braids that took about 5 hours

Something here isn't computing...

The Many Looks of Heather

I think that it's fair to say that Heather has really embraced Kenya, especially when it comes to her looks. The past two weeks have been a transformation as Heather looks more and more African-chic. Let the photos tell the story...

Jennifer Yard

I am DELIGHTED to report that the chicken coup for Baruku has been constructed and is eagerly awaiting chickens next week! The residents worked hard to get it done ahead of schedule and are extremely motivated for this project. I'm flattered (and a little bit embarrassed) that they have decided to call the project Jennifer Yard. I'm fully expecting, and secretly hoping that they spell my name creatively for the sign - Jenepher, Jenefir, Jinifir.

And, as always, some more shots of the famous DUST BABIES!

200 Chicks!

George and the shop owners helping to load the chicken feed, feeders
and water drinkers in the back of George's car.

This is just a short update to report that George and I went to Bul-bul this morning to order 200 Kenbro chicks and, if all goes according the plan, there will be chicks at the Baruku Chicken Farm as early as next Friday! We are heading back to Baruku tomorrow so stay tuned to read about the progress of the project and, of course, updates on the Dust Babies!

Be A Part of BARUKU!

Baruku: a view from above

Yesterday was a holiday in Kenya, for the end of Ramadan, so the Yes We Kenya girls headed back to the Baruku IDP Camp, making it my 4th visit with the Dust Babies. It was a very productive day - the chicken farm details were worked out, the proposed site was marked, construction materials were itemized and purchased and more baby clothes were handed out to the several infants at the camp (over 10 babies under 1 month old). I'm extremely excited for this project that is now quickly taking shape! We are planning on visiting again on Thursday, and most of the construction should be completed by then, all we still need are chicks!

George, my host dad (pictured above with Lyndsay and a Dust Baby) came with on Monday and was extremely helpful in helping us manage everything. We've decided to go with a new breed of laying chicks called Kenbro - a crossbreed of two popular Kenyan breeds but are much healthier and less expensive to maintain. We are ordering the chicks tomorrow from a lady near Karen, and hopefully in the next two weeks they will arrive and be ready for their new home in Baruku! Kuku for Baruku is the name of the project, it has a nice ring to it, don't you think? (FYI: Kuku is Kiswahili for chicken.)

A shy Dust Baby

Like I mentioned before, I've now been to Baruku several times and feel strongly that this is my 2009 project in Kenya. So many people have been generous to send me here armed with donation money, and for that I'm so grateful! Without your help, I would not be able to do this chicken farm project in order to assist the Dust Babies and their entire community. Of course, any other donations made through this blog or through sending money in care of my parents or family will be used to assist not only in this project, but, hopefully, in other projects at Baruku. Long term goals include a house building project so that theses families can move out of their long expired tents, a couple of water tanks to help sustain the communtiy during the long dry season, medical camps and other forms of medical care for the residents of Baruku and paymet of school fees so that children from Baruku can continue their education. I feel so inspired that people from home have taken to this project and wish to take part in it. As hopeless as the situation at Baruku and other IDP camps seems, I am confident that they can rebuild their lives.

Lyndsay and Lauren taking a "football" break

A couple of the older girls at Baruku - I think that they really
enjoy practicing English with us.

George, Steven, John and other Baruku committee members
discussing the project

One of the original Dust Babies.

My host sister, Bridget, joined us on this trip. It was really
special to have her there.

One of the refugee tents. They expired in June 2008, and the rains
are about to come. A longer term project, Baruku needs houses.

George marking the corners of the proposed chicken coup
to be measured for materials.

Helpful older siblings.

Heather's fun hair is a HIT with the Dust Babies!

Sharing Baruku

The dustiest Dust Baby

Yesterday was a big day. After two days of orientation and Java House in Nairobi, we all hired a car for the day so that I could introduce my friends to the Dust Babies at Baruku IDP Camp. The ride there was full of conversation, zebra and baboon sightings and laughter. The ride home was silent. As Danny, another volunteer, informed me - "You're a terrible friend to bring those girls here first." They really did jump in head first to this trip by making Baruku their first volunteer experience in Kenya, and I admire the way that they handled themselves.

Safari Jenn

We loaded the hired van with clothes, biscuits, stickers, story books and jump ropes and were immediately the makeshift day care. Even a couple of the mothers came over to skip some rope and laughed to see us wazungu do the same. Honestly, it was great to see these people laugh about anything, they're normally so sullen and quiet. The kids had a blast and I know that yesterday is a day they will remember for years to come.

Heather and her famous red hair - the kids LOVE it!

We spent the morning in the hot sun, just playing, singing songs and passing out some new clothes (photos below, thank you to all who donated!) Then we were joined by Irene and some of her friends, including Josephine from last week. It was then that we had a conversation about the idea of a chicken farm with the committee members at Baruku. They were extremely humbled and gracious, but would like to meet with the community to talk about it before they accept. The committee struck me as very wise to do this, especially since I don't want to invest money on a project that will fail. We've agreed to meet about the matter again on Monday to hear what they have to say and move forward. Hopefully George will be able to join us then and we can get busy with buying materials and drawing plans.

Nikki with the Disco Snoopy

This smile makes me smile - Dust Baby in a new shirt!

Baruku is depressing, and it's hard to imagine how they will survive. Having lived on that land and making no strides forward, it's disheartening to see, especially for people who have only been in the country for a couple of days. Because of that, I decided that we should continue down the Nakuru Highway to pay a visit to the IDP camp at Pipeline. I thought it important to end the day on a positive note - to show the rest of my group that there is hope in this situation and that things can turn around. We took a quick tour of the camp, led by Moses the camp secretary. Then my friends met the rest of the committee and heard about their needs and their attempts to move forward. We ended the day by passing out infant clothing to the new babies at the camp - at least 10 new babies were born at Pipeline in the past month. Again, thank you to all of you generous people who have donated baby clothes. They are desperately needed at the camps, and we plan on bringing another load out to distribute on Monday.

Showing off stickers and new shirts.

As I mentioned above, the ride home was silent. Everyone deals with emotional situations in different ways, and I got the chance to talk to Nikki and Heather about their initial reactions last night. I think that the entire day was spent holding back tears for these girls (and, at moments, for me too) which added to their dazed exhaustion. I mentioned in the previous post that my friends are all on Safari this weekend, and I hope that seeing the other part of Kenya will give them time to process what they experienced at the IDP Camps. Please see our Yes We Kenya site to follow their experiences and read their reactions to the various projects we will be visiting over the next month.

Go Blue! (Thanks, Mom!)

Chicago Invasion!

I'm happy to report that Clare, Lyndsay, Lauren, Heather and Nikki have all arrived safely in Kenya! They are now out enjoying a long weekend on the Mara (don't worry, Tami, I'm waiting for you!) but I thought it only appropriate to post photos from our Animal Orphanage visit on Wednesday. Enjoy!




So weird (in a good way) - I still can't believe that my friends from Chicago are now in KENYA!

Mexican Invasion!

Fernanda

On Monday I brought three visitors to Jamii - Carmen, Fernanda and Sonia - volunteers from Mexico who were in town for Safari. It was so much fun to have them there, and the kids loved learning new Spanish songs and dances. It was also nice to be able to share my project with other volunteers and to get ideas from them. Best of luck to las chicas in their own project, they will do wonderfully!

Carmen

Sonia