So much Kenya, So little time.

This summer (winter/cold season in Kenya) has flown by!  In all of the excitement, mixed with frequent power outages, I have not made time to blog or journal as much as I would have liked. 

In between working on our projects we have made time for fun and exploration. 

Karatina Children’s Home

Two Sundays ago, June 30^th, we were invited to travel to Karatina, a town about 20 kilometers from Nyeri, to attend church and visit another children’s centre.  My team and I were invited by the boy’s house father Matthew (he takes care of and disciplines the boys); Matthew’s 19 year-old daughter has been living at the centre in Karatina the past few years.  After his wife passed away a number of years ago he needed a new means of supporting himself and his daughter with just one income.  He struggled for years working various odd jobs and barely making ends meet.  Throughout this time he worried about his daughter who continuously worried about food and school fees.  He remained at unease until he found a position as house father and a home suitable and supportive of his daughter.

The children’s home (one of many in the surrounding area) in Karatina was quite small in comparison to the CYEC.  It houses about 25 students in one small building that includes a living room area, study area, bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom.  In the back, similar to the CYEC, they have their own goats, cows, chickens, and shamba.  Overall, I believe the centre has a much homier feel because of the quaintness of size, but it was very much lacking in support and opportunities that the CYEC has. 

The two main staff at the centre in Karatina is a married couple who also lived in the home with the children.  At the CYEC numerous volunteers and staff are always around for ideas/work/support.  At the CYEC there are 15 full-time staff, over 20 older youth live-in volunteers (age 18 and up), 150+ children year-round.  It is interesting to compare and contrast the two different children’s homes and see the benefits both a small and large centre can offer in a country whose growing number of children vastly outnumbers the adult population.

Equator

Later that same week my teammates Kelsey, Teryn and I ventured, on another matatu, to the nearest town encompassing the equator - Nanyuki.  At the equator line, just outside of Nanyuki, we bartered back and forth with tourist shop owners to get the best deals on souvenirs.  Afterwards we walked a couple kilometers into town to eat a delicious Kenyan lunch of beans, potatoes, carrots, chapati and Coca-Cola.  While waiting seemingly forever in the hot matatu to go home we all bought ice-cream from one of the many pestering salesmen that walk around. (Matatu vans do not leave base until they are crammed full – the drivers want to make as much profit as possible.  One ride I counted 22 adults and 7 young school children in my matatu that was only supposed to seat 15 – they literally fill up like clown cars, it’s crazy).

                  

Bamboo

As I’ve mentioned before, Kelsey and I like to go on walks frequently in the afternoons to pass the time and explore the countryside.  Last Thursday we ventured to the other side of the river, crossing a log bridge in order to reach the bamboo side.  It was breath-taking to see natural, towering bamboo in the wilderness.  As we walked off the bridge, we could see the bamboo seemingly engulf the end of a river forming a paradise-like bamboo forest.  A trail continued all along the edge of the river banks where several Kenyan families were enjoying the afternoon warmth by fishing off the edge.  Kelsey and I journeyed along the path, weaving in and out of bamboo, so as not to disturb the joyful Kenyans.

Football

This last Friday we finally got an all-girls football (soccer) game together!!  After weeks of sitting on the sidelines and watching the boys and older youth play the 3 other girl volunteers and I got the girls on the field.  On most days the girls seem more relaxed than the boys - helping in the shamba, cooking, cleaning, studying, or enjoying light-hearted volleyball; however, during the game they were all so competitive!  It was so much fun to see the girls running around, laughing, and expressing themselves in a different way than usual.  Although most of us were just good for a few laughs from the boys, there were several talented, athletic girls. 

By the end of the game, the girls were rowdy, full of energy and hard to pull away from the field.  They didn’t want the boys to play next because they feared they wouldn’t have another opportunity to play for a while.  Since my K-State team is only here for another 2 weeks, we have made it one of our top “fun goals” to organize a soccer tournament with the girls again before we leave.

Field Day

Currently there is another teacher strike occurring all across Kenya and the children at the centre have been out of school for nearly 3 weeks.  Needless to say, the 100+ young children have been getting bored and into some trouble in all of their new free time.  We decided to utilize the children’s energy and keep them entertained by organizing an afternoon field day. 

At the field day we planned 5 stations: volleyball, half-field soccer, obstacle course, three-legged race, and a trampoline fun-jump (past volunteers donated).  We invited all of the children and youth to participate in the Fun Day and split them all into 5 different groups.  Unsurprisingly, we had most of the children and youth participate and fully enjoy themselves.  We made up team names (My groups name was “Wazito” meaning “Strong”), chants, and bonded more with the children in that afternoon than we had in some time.  It was great to see everyone come together, play, and not worry about the next task at hand.  Towards the end of the day we even had some of the staff jump in and play the games.  As a reward for everyone’s hard work and cooperation we also gave out small candy pieces as a treat.

Church

Quite possibly one of my favorite days of the week here in Kenya is Sunday.  I thoroughly enjoy waking up early and walking with the children to their church services.  Everyone dresses in the nicest clothes they have in order to celebrate/praise God, each other, and the day that has been given.  I believe I enjoy the church services so much because I can feel the passion and energy from the members.  Every member from the smallest child to the eldest woman [who walks in 30 minutes late with her toes poking through her worn shoes and back bent over from the years of using the jembe (small hoe) in the shamba], fill the church with their sweet voices, dancing, and clapping. 

The past several weeks I have been attending St. Josephs Catholic Church, which the majority of the children go to.  At the beginning of the service they line up the children and youth have them chant and dance their way through the aisle (my favorite part).  Although the majority of the service is in Kikuyu (tribal language) I like to imagine what they are referring to by watching their gestures and expressions.  Normally, towards the end of talk or sermon they speak briefly in English to clarify for the two “white people” in the church (my friend Kelsey and I).

No matter where we go in our small village of Thunguma, we all seem to be welcomed with open arms.