Hell's Gate National Park

My team and I traveled to southwestern Kenya this past weekend to enjoy the beautiful wildlife and landscapes Hell’s Gate National Park & Naivasha (the surrounding lake and town) had to offer.  We stayed at a cozy lodge called Fisherman’s Camp only about 3 kilometers from the park.  Because of the close proximity, we were able to rent and ride our bikes to the park!!

 Once inside the park we continued to ride our bikes, climb, and hike throughout the park.  Our first big adventure, Fisher’s Tower, awaited us just 2 more kilometer’s inside of the 64 kilometer squared park.  Two of my teammates and I decided to climb to the top of the 30 meter high jagged volcanic plug!  It was amazing, yet frightening to climb up the flat-edged rock formation.  My body trembled the entire way up, but reaching the top and witnessing the spectacular view made all of the hard work worth it.  On top of the tower I could see hundreds of animals speckled throughout.  Within the valleys and steep surrounding landscape, herds of buffalo, zebras, gazelle, impalas, warthogs, and giraffes grazed for miles.

After the exciting climb up and repel down Fisher’s Tower, we then hoped back on our bikes to pedal 7 more kilometers to the Lower Gorge.  The pedal to the gorge was filled with countless zebras, buffalo, gazelle, birds, and a handful of giraffes.  The animals literally stood calmly alongside the road as we pedaled by.  The only time herds would run away scared was when larger tours of people came by in buses, matatus or cars.  We took countless pictures of the breath-taking sight, but sadly no amount of pictures could capture the magnificent beauty of these animals.

At the gorge we ate our packed picnic and parked our bikes in order to make the trek all of the way to the devil’s bedroom.  Getting to the devil’s bedroom included a dangerous hike that many tourists decide to turn back from or quit after beginning.  The hike to the bedroom includes climbing up and down steep rocks, over streams, and through tight rock formations.  After climbing the tower, my teammates and I were thrilled to take on any challenge, so we gladly ran through water and jumped up and down steep rocks.  The beauty of the abrupt changes in the volcanic rock formations was just as breath-taking as the rest of the park.

Upon successfully hiking through the gorge and devil’s bedroom, we decided to bike back to our lodge outside of the park.  We were exhausted and satisfied with our adventures of the day throughout the African Savannah.  As an added bonus, when were biking out of the park, a massive herd of gazelle crossed the rode right in front of our bikes.  The herd galloped steadily together to the other side of the grasslands ignoring the presence of a few bikers.

The only thing that could have made my journey any better, I thought as we were exiting the park, would be if I could see monkeys and elephants.  Elephants did not live in this area so I was out of luck in that aspect; however, there were baboons in the park that none of us had seen yet.  Just as this thought crossed my mind, right outside of the gate to leave the park countless baboon families were playing on the rocks and beside the road.  The baboons only acknowledged our excitement with a few territorial grunts as my friends and I hurriedly snapped pictures.  I believe the adventure to Hell’s Gate National Park was a tremendous success! 

The next morning before returning back to the CYEC, we all went on a boat ride on Lake Naivasha which was just footsteps in front of our lodging area.  We hopped on the small speed boat in search of the hippos living in the area.  We had witnessed the enormous creatures emerge from the water and come next to our lodging area the evening before (separated by a high electrical fence) so we were excited to hopefully see them in the water as well! As luck may have it, we were able to see several family units of hippos relaxing throughout the shallow areas of Lake Naivasha!

The weekend adventure has been one of my favorite exploration experiences thus far in Kenya.  My dream came true of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat!!  Moreover, I was able to fulfill this dream through my favorite means of transportation – biking!

Pure Enjoyment

After living at the CYEC in Thunguma (a small village outside of Nyeri) for nearly three weeks now, I believe my teammates and I have started adjusting quite well to the cultural differences.  We are getting more accustomed the laid-back Kenyan lifestyle by learning to take things one day at a time.  Although, we brainstorm many different programs and ideas we know that they may or may not occur today or next week. 

Instead of worrying about what time it is, Kenyan’s seem to truly just value each moment.  The people around this village spend more time telling stories and building relationships than meeting deadlines as it would be in most places in America.

My typical weekday at the centre begins at 6:30 a.m. when I wake to walk several of the primary and high school girls to school.  I then return to the CYEC to relax, read, or talk with older youth until tea and bread is ready (which could range anywhere from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.) 

Before lunch I spend most of my time in the dress-making shop with two ladies Domarice and Fatuma.  These talented young ladies work on tailoring clothes & creating handbags, head wraps, shirts, skirts, school dresses, and probably anything else you ask them to do.  The CYEC is giving these two girls a place to work on their sewing/tailoring skills before entering the competitive business world.  (Both of these girls remain at the centre during the day because the lack money to pay for school fees).

As one of my projects at the centre, I have taken the initiative to help organize the shop with the girls as well as teach them basic record-keeping skills.  I enjoy spending time with the girls while also helping them with the business enterprises here in country and back in America.  Currently the girls are working on making handbags and headbands to sell back at K-State’s local bookstore, Varney’s.

In the afternoons we have lunch, which consists of rice and kale (my favorite), anytime between 1 and 1:45.  After this, many of my teammates and I have either gone on walks through the surrounding hills and village or ventured into Nyeri Town.  I visit Nyeri at least once a week to barter for fresh fruits and vegetables and just to explore the local shops and vendors.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings from 5-6:30 I lead an art class for the children when they return from school.  Some of the projects I have planned are print-making, string art, bracelet making and blow art.  All of the projects I brainstormed with the local art room volunteers utilize natural resources I can find in the surrounding area (leaves, sticks, dirt, water, etc).  I really enjoy watching the children get so enthusiastic about something they created.

In the evenings we have supper anywhere from 6:30 to 8 and (most of us) eat the same food as the children.  Suppers consist of either: rice and green grams (garden nut/beans); beans and corn; ugali (yucky huck of corn starch-like substance); chapati (delicious) and beans; very rarely we receive freshly made yogurt or picked bananas.

After supper we play games with the children then help them with homework.  Every weekday evening the children also have homework time between 7:30 and 9 p.m. then go to sleep around 9:30.

I look forward to each moment I have to spend with the children and youth and I cannot believe this experience is almost half way over!  I’m trying to make the most of my time here in Kenya by just truly enjoying time spent with those around me.  As Issa, the art volunteer I work with always says, “Every day is a miracle.”

CYEC!

After a couple exciting days touring Kenya's capital Nairobi, we have finally ventured to the CYEC lying in the outskirts of Nyeri.  I love Nyer's smaller town feel and physical environment so much more than Nairobi's.  Nyeri has significantly less people (250,000 compared to 4 million + living in Nairobi) and therefore has less pollution in the atmosphere.
The people are even more friendly and welcoming at the site than in Nairobi as well.  As soon as we arrived at the site the children greeting us with hugs and smiles.  Although the children here have went through horrific circumstances, they remain upbeat and optimistic about their future plans.  The children and staff are so inspiring...it's impossible not to fall in love with them.  I know these next eight weeks will fly by while in their company.
Since we arrived on Friday evening we have just been relaxing and getting to know the local town and children better.  Most of the children will attend primary school or high school nearby Monday through Friday. (Several of the children do not attend high school because of the fees attached - primary school is free besides books and uniforms.)  During their times at school we will work on our projects by ourselves, with the staff members, and the remaining children.  There are numerous projects which have been introduced to us.  One is a peer mentoring program which involves older students being matched up with younger ones.  Younger children at the centre need the motivation, guidance, and support to further develop.  Another program, one that I am very excited about taking over, is the Art Therapy program!  As of recently is has been dwindling so I would be thrilled to add new ideas or just further aid in the art room where youth paint and sculpt.  Volunteers from Penn State are also starting to make profiles of the children, before they leave for home, to put online for potential donors to the children or the centre.
Furthermore, I will also spend my time volunteering in the shamba (garden) helping some of the youth with their chores.  I've been helping feed and water the goats, rabbits, and cows; there are also ducks and chickens (which I stay away from).
I also look forward to working on more environmental programs in a couple weeks when another former Penn State graduate, and soon to be staff, Carolyn returns to the centre.  She would like to see trash cans returned and a new system of waste be further developed.  The waste at the centre, just like the rest of Kenya, is thrown on the ground and (some of it) collected and burned.  Everything is burned right beside the children's soccer feild and near the cow pen at the centre.  Yesterday I cringed while watching one of the cows standing in the trash pile eating garbage.  The children and staff are unaware of the damaging affects they are causing the environment, themselves, and their animals.  Carolyn and other Penn State staff/volunteers and introduced a machine (one of the only two in all of Kenya) that converts plastic to diesel.  However, very sadly to say, there is a significant lack of communication between everyone at the centre, so the machine is barely in use.  When Carolyn returns in mid-June she will provide more structure and sustainable guidance to the centre to have programs like these in better use.
This coming week I am looking forward to observing and helping existing programs.  I am also thrilled to have the opportunity to (hopefully) volunteer at a Red Cross event where we will clean street children's feet and provide them with shoes.  After volunteering at the event we will visit a neighboring orphanage and school to learn about their current programs and strategies for child and student success.