Celebrating Opportunities

Ben and John (names changed for privacy reasons) grew up in Ukambani, a dry drought prone part of Kenya. They lived with their father, mother and two younger siblings. Though they were poor, they managed to get by with their small farm until their father fell ill, could no longer work , and eventually died.

By this time John had complete primary education, which is free in Kenya. There was no money for secondary school fees so John travelled the 100 km to Nairobi. There he lived on the streets doing small jobs like cutting grass and collecting scrap metal. Life on the streets was miserable and dangerous – John does not like to talk about it.

After about six months of such terror, John heard about a place called Emmanuel Center, where street kids had a place to live and a chance to go to school. After a bit of searching he found the centre and presented himself at the gate, asking for help. He was admitted and enrolled in secondary school.

The following year Ben finished primary school and also made the long trek to Nairobi in search of work. When he arrived he looked for his brother on the streets and so too learned about Emmanuel Centre. Though the centre was nearly full, space was made for him and he too enrolled in Secondary School.

Both boys did well in their studies in different ways. John was a social student (sometimes a bit too social perhaps) but worked hard. Ben was much more quiet and studious. When John graduated in 2007 he was supported by a generous donor and enrolled in a catering and hospitality diploma, which he finished in 2010. He is now working at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi.

By the time Ben graduate in 2008, their mother had fallen ill and was unable to take care of herself or their younger siblings. Ben travelled back to Ukambani, where he enrolled her in an HIV/AIDS treatment program. He got a temporary job as a teacher in a rural school. The salary of approximately $35/month helped him support his family, but he desperately wanted to continue his own studies.

In early 2011, a qualified teacher was hired for his position and he lost his job. Luckily, the HIV/AIDS treatment had greatly improved his mother’s health and she was able to take care of his siblings and the farm. John was sending money home for his job at the Hilton.

Ben seized the opportunity and travelled back to Nairobi were he began researching academic programs. He decided he would like to complete a Diploma Business Information Technology at the Presbyterian University of East Africa.

Which brings me to the present day and point of this story . . . . to celebrate my Birthday, and all the amazing opportunities and learning experiences I have had over the last 30 years, I’m trying to raise the $1250 needed to cover Ben’s first term of university.

If you would like to help me meet this goal you can either donate online via the Squamish Rotary Club (write in the note section that the money is for EBRC university fees) or contract me to get bank account/mailing details.

THANK YOU!

Reflecting on 5 years with Emmanuel Project

My first visit to Emmanuel Project

I’ve been involved, one way or another, with Emmanuel Project in Nairobi, Kenya for over five years now. Emmanuel Center provides education, shelter, health care, etc. to street children, and it has provided me with never ending learning, inspiration and joy.

However, the work has never been easy and journey has had bumps here and there. Sometimes it is hard to see that we are making a difference – when you consider there are 250,000 street kids in Kenya, for example, and we are only able to directly help about 40 a year. And sometimes the logistics, management and financials can distract from the true mission of the project – to give street kids a chance at a better life.

So when I become discouraged or frustrated I try and remember the individual stories: the first Emmanuel student to graduate from secondary school, who is now in university; the street boy who would barely speak, he was so traumatised by life on the streets, who learned carpentry in a vocational training institute and is now an apprentice in a workshop; the AIDS orphan who completed secondary school and catering training at a small college and is now working in a hotel. The list could go on. It is these faces, these stories that keep me motivated and keep Emmanuel Project doing what it does best – giving street kids a chance.

We’ve recently made some changes to how we go about this. We’ve never liked the idea of institutionalizing children. In Africa in particular, it is a foreign practice to put children into special homes; it is better for them to be integrated into the community. So Emmanuel Project has been working hard to get as many street children as possible placed with relatives – Emmanuel Project still provides for all education and health needs but the children live with families. Those children who have no relatives we are placing in boarding schools. This way we are able to close the center facility and can use all the money we were spending on rent, bills and staff to directly fund what children need most.

The truth is that this change in programming hasn’t been easy for any of us. In many cases both the children and the families need a lot of support and counselling in order to live together. For the leadership of Emmanuel Project, it has required some soul searching and remembering that our goal is to help children, not have own fancy building.

However, now the process is almost complete, I believe we are all very excited about it. The children are starting a new school year with their usual eagerness and excitement, and the leadership of Emmanuel Project is enjoying being able to focus on the kids.

If you would like to join us on this next leg of the Emmanuel journey I ask that you please consider donating to Emmanuel Project. Donations can be made online via the Squamish Rotary Foundation, are tax deductible for Canadians, and there are no administration fees. If you are wondering how much to donate these figures might help you:

• $550 or $46 a month = one year in primary school for a former street kid
• $750 or $63 a month = one year in secondary school for a former street kid
• $600 or $50 a month = one year in vocational training for a former street kid

P.S These number include the cost of school fees, school supplies, nutritious food, and health care! 

P.P.S. To donate now go here

Bits and Bobs

Well 2010 and all its adventures are coming to a close. At the end of November I said good bye to the wonderful friends and family I had created in Kailahun, Sierra Leone and, after a few days on the beach, headed home for Christmas. I am currently sitting by the Christmas tree my family and I cut down and decorated yesterday, in chilly but cozy Squamish, British Columbia. As I wrap up the year here are few bits and bobs that might be of interest to those of you who stop by here.

• Alan Whiteside and I have published an article on AIDS exceptionalism which can be read here.
• Emmanuel Center, a home for street children in Kenya, is very grateful for any donations that might help the children have a bright Christmas. Donation can be made online via the Squamish Rotary Club here.
• After my fill of skiing and shortbread,  in January, I will be heading back to the Peace Studies Department at the University of Bradford to begin my PhD!

I wish you all a very happy holiday season and a peaceful journey through the new year.

Julia

Bumpy Roads Through Paradise

I convinced a friend from Canada to join me on mini West African tour, and as often happens getting from place to place was as much of an adventure as any destination......

The road to Safari Beach Eco Lodge, on the coast of Ghana, was full of craters. It was narrow and twisty. It scratch the bottom of the taxi S. and I rented and made our driver swear. But it was worth it when we arrived in paradise.
Paradise included our own private beach, our own private waiter/bartender/cook, even our very own palm tree. We spent the next three days like this: wake up when we want to, pretend to do yoga on the beach but mostly just stare at the waves crashing, eat a delicious breakfast of yogurt fruit and honey, sit under the palm tree and read, jump around in the waves when it gets too hot, drink a great big beer, eat a delicious lunch, move lounge chairs to other side of palm tree, jump around in the waves when it gets too hot, drink a beautiful cocktail, eat dinner of decadent seafood such as lobster, drink a bottle of wine, walk on the beach looking for sea turtles, which we never did see.
Despite the absence of turtles, it was perfect. Then we had to brave the road again, but this time it wasn’t the dirt part that was the problem but the way our driver drove on the paved part. It tried to fall asleep but every time I opened my eyes our bumper was one inch from the bumper in front of us. It was the most terrifying drive ever – and I’ve had some pretty terrifying drives.
The ‘final’ day in Ghana was spent navigating Accra’s crazy traffic to find Global Mama’s and do Christmas shopping. We then went to the airport where we spent the better part of three days thanks to idiocy of Kenya Airways. We will not discuss these days, as we now refer to them as ‘The Lost Days.’

Back in Sierra Leone, we wound through the old mountain road outside of Freetown – causing yet another taxi driver to swear as his car scraped over the boulders – to Tacugama Chimpanzee Reserve. This magical spot is home to over 100 rescued chimpanzees and has delightful little forest huts for accommodation. Watching the baby chimps play, looking out over the forest of a million colours of green, it was easy to see we had found another corner of paradise.
We spent a final day on the beach in Freetown and then headed out on the long journey to my own little corner of the country. First we had to navigate Freetown traffic though, which meant that the one hour it should have taken us to leave the city took three. This meant we got on to ‘the real bad part’ of the Kailahun Road as dusk was falling. S. turned to our driver and said ‘Are you sure this is a road?’ At which point he burst out laughing. However, for the next three hours there were times when we did wonder if we were following a road or a long mud puddle/ baboon track/ old river bed/ etc. in the dark by accident. Thankfully, it led us back to Kailahun, which may not be paradise, but is pretty darn lovely after a long journey.

A Goat Named Turkey

Turkey had four legs, two horns and brown fur. He was a lucky goat to have survived Eid in Sierra Leone a month ago. However, unbeknownst to him and the rest of Sierra Leone, Canadian thanksgiving was just around the corner. He died at dawn, shortly after my co-worker arrived with a large knife.
While Turkey was being cut up another friend arrived with a huge pineapple – he too had heard about thanksgiving. Shortly afterwards school children arrived carrying a papaya nearly half their size – they too want to give ‘thanksgiving gifts.’ Within a few hours three friends arrived with their aprons on - it was time to get to work on Turkey dinner.
First we cleaned out the intestines and stomach, and cut up the lungs, liver and kidneys. These went into the pot with a whole lot of pepper for ‘pepe soup.’ Mmmmmmmmm.....
After we had feasted on this lunch, we boiled up Turkey, mixed in more pepper, plus onions and garlic, and then skewered the small pieces of meat which we barbequed – boy did Turkey smell good.
He was done just in time. At 5 pm sharp the friend I had asked to bring his laptop and speakers, for music, arrived. What I hadn’t anticipated was that the speakers were borrowed from Kailahun’s only night club, complete with a full sound system and turn tables. The DJs set the speakers up on the porch and pretty soon the whole village was dancing in our front yard.
Sierra Leonean’s like formality, so we (my Canadian roomy and I) made a short welcome speech (because we don’t like formality). We then asked everyone inside to introduce themselves (there was about 30 people in the house by this point and 60 outside) by saying one thing they were grateful for. This turned out to be very good for the ego, as most people said they were thankful for us Canadians!
We gobbled Turkey all up, and danced a little more. Then there was a call for us to teach another Canadian game. You see ever since our Canada Day Party, there has been a lot of talk about the funny games Canadians play. So we introduce charades, which was, well – quite a charade. There was a lot of yelling, a fair bit of cheating and tones of laughter.
We finished the night off with more dancing, of course, and then fell asleep content and exhausted. It was a very good Canadian Thanksgiving in Sierra Leone for everyone except for poor Turkey.

Ramadan

It’s nearing the end of Ramadan. Villages are over flowing with goats, encouraged to grow fat for a few days more. Women sit under trees elaborately braiding their hair. Tailors bend over piles of colourfully died clothes, sewing dresses to compliment the new hair styles.  The roads have been turned into long strings of mud puddles by a persistent rainy season. I am travelling back and forth over them conducting a social impact assessment of the community credit unions and supervising the beginnings of a microfinance program.

At the credit unions I hear the members explain how loans have helped them pay school fees for their children, buy tools for their farms, and buy land to build on. They explain that people in the community are not used to savings but are learning slowly. One woman says there is now peace in her family because she deposits the money she earns from making soap in the credit union; when her husband wants to go use it to buy palm wine he can’t get at it and so they never fight about it.

The women come to the first microfinance sensitization meeting in colourful traditional dresses, bright cloths wrapped around their heads and strings of beads around their necks. They laugh and tease each other, and yell and argue with each other all at once. There is nothing quiet and meek about Sierra Leonean women. I take their energy to mean engagement and therefore a good sign.

By the time I reach home in the evening,  the rain is falling in hard drops making a racket on my zinc roof. I fry some plantains and stand in the doorway eating them and watching the rain splash off the banana leaves. 

Awesome Kailahun

I recently downloaded The Book of Awesome on to my e-reader. The internet connection is so slow here that my patience is usually exhausted by the time I’ve loaded the e-book store and searched for a title. Since downloading a book is at least a 45 minute commitment, I don’t usual bother to read descriptions. Instead I put blind trust in recommendations from friends and family.
So I was surprised that The Book of Awesome is not a novel but a serious of descriptions of common place, but AWESOME, events: such as the smell of freshly cut grass. It’s a wonderful idea, and I opened it on a day when I really needed to be reminded of the small but precious details of life. But I felt most of it didn’t apply to my life in Kailahun – so far away from things like snowflakes, lawn mowers and grocery line ups. Then I realized that I should make a list of Awesome Kailahun. The list reminds me of what is great about this place and gives you (my friend/family/reader) a little insight into my life. Here it is.....
Impromptu Dance Parties
Sierra Leoneans like to shake it whether they be toddlers or seniors, and impromptu dance parties are a wonderful part of life here. Sometimes they happen with the kids on our front porch when the a driver decides to crank the car stereo, sometimes they happen in the office when we catch the accountant listening to lively Ghanaian beats, sometimes dancing just bursts out of nowhere. No matter what – Sierra Leoneans can dance AWESOME!
When Gmail loads on the first try
As I mentioned, the internet connection is crazy slow and for some reason Gmail is especially stubborn. So I usually have to refresh the page at least three times. This can be frustrating when I can see an email with a subject line like “PhD Application” and have to wait 10 minutes before it loads properly and I find out if I’m accepted or not (I was!). However, every now and then Gmail just loads, I don’t have to wait, I don’t have to pound my computer keys, it’s just there - AWESOME!
Jolof Rice
There are three ‘restaurants’ in Kailahun. Each serves one dish per day. Most days this dish is cassava leaf and rice. For variety it is sometimes potatoes leaf and rice. Every now and then it is Jolof Rice (rice cooked with tomatoes and spice) and soup (usually with chicken or fish), and the complete absence of slimy green mush is AWESOME!
Holding Hands
Sometimes when I walk to or from work, or through town, one of the little kids from the neighbourhood runs up and grabs my hand. We walk down the road holding hands until he or she skips off back home. Nothing is said, nothing is accomplished, but it sure feels AWESOME.
Mastering Mende
So far I have learned only the basic greetings in Mende (the local language). I’m trying to learn more and every now and then someone calls out to me and I reply in Mende, and they don’t burst out laughing, but respond as if I’ve said something that makes sense, and I feel so proud of myself - AWESOME.
Motorbike in the Mud
I always thought those guys who say motorbikes are awesome were just trying to be macho. Now I know better. I love riding the motorbike down the mud roads, walled by jungle trees, rain falling, sun beating, whatever the day is like – it is AWESOME!
Cold
It is hot here. Even now, during the rainy season when all my colleagues tell me it is ‘cold’, it is still hot (at least 28 degrees). However, there are pockets of cold – the refrigerator at the office when the generator is turned on; drinks at one of the restaurants when they turn on their generators; heavy rain drops at the end of especially hot days. In the heat, these things feel AWESOME!
Papaya and Pineapple
You know that 4 pm fade? You’ve worked all day and still have a couple of hours to go but really need a shot of energy. Well sometimes, right around this time, someone in the office busts out a pineapple or papaya. It’s cut up and distributed one plate per office. We all pause what we are doing and let the sweet fruit run down our throats and chins. It’s AWESOME!
Emails
When Gmail finally loads and I see an email from family or friends it is AWESOME. It can be juicy gossip, detailed description, silly jokes.... it doesn’t matter. I just love getting news from ‘home’. It brightens my day.
And the list could go on and one......