Kenya: Week One

Jambo!

As you know, on July 21 I headed to the Toronto City airport to meet the first group of youth for our Me to We trip to Kenya. We then travelled to Montreal to meet another group before heading to Nairobi! From the second I arrived at the airport, all I could think was "Wow, two years ago I was trying to fundraise to go on a Me to We trip to Kenya... now I am facilitating one", it was exciting!

The first couple of days consisted on lots of traveling. We stayed at a place just outside of Nairobi for the night, and were on the road early to head to Osenetoi. On the way, we stopped at a giraffe sanctuary to learn about the beautiful animals. While there, you are allowed to feed the giraffes... which resulted in everyone (including myself) kissing a giraffe! I was speaking with some of the people that worked there and when I mentioned that I worked for Free The Children their eyes lit up. They engaged me in conversation to tell me how incredible the work we do at FTC is and how much they appreciate it. It was so great to hear that.

After the sanctuary we continued on to Osenetoi and stopped at the Great Rift Valley for some lunch. It was a breath-taking view and while we were eating, another Me to We facilitator (and a FAM for Change facilitator) stopped by with his group! I was surprised to see Steve but then Sally (my co-facilitator) said it is very common to run into the other groups while in-country.

Once we got to our campsite, we went over camp etiquette and told the group a bit about the drought and famine that are happening in Kenya. We agreed to a clean plate policy so we could do our part in not wasting food while we were there - the kids agreed to it which was really inspiring to see. We spent each morning of that week at the buildsite working on two classrooms for the youth of Osenetoi. The group was really excited to be building and got so much accomplished!

The highlight of the week for many people was when we went on a water walk with Mama Purity and Mama Rose. We walked with them until we reached a borehole which was filled with water that looked more like chocolate milk. It hit me when Mama Purity and Mama Rose walked down the side, knelt down, and started filling jerry cans... that these families drink, cook, and bathe with this water. I watched as the Mamas filled jerry can after jerry can then took a long rope and wrapped it around each can. Finally, the called over youth one by one, and slowly put the strap around the youth's forehead. Suddenly 20 litres of Osenetoi's water problem was on each person's back. While walking, Mama Purity informed Sally and I that during the worst times of the drought, they sometimes have to walk for four days with their cattle to find water. This broke my heart because clean water is something that every person should have access to.

Another highlight of the week for many participants and myself was beading with Mama Leah. This was special to me because Mama Leah is Robin's Mama and I've wanted to meet her ever since reading "My Maasai Life" last year. We all sat in small groups and Mama Leah taught us how to bead through the leather backing. We made circular patterns, but the Mamas make all sorts of things from bracelets and necklaces to belts and clutches. The work is incredibly beautiful... Mama Leah told us a bit about the women's group she is a part of with Me to We. She explained how they make however many necklaces and other Artisan pieces that they have time for, then Me to We will pay them for it. They also participate in merry-go-rounds where the women each pay a certain amount of "dues" and the Mamas rotate as to who gets the money at the end of the month for their family. It was incredible to see how these community members work together to take care of each other.

If you ask me... Americans could learn a lot from the Maasai community.