Day 9 - the end of our first week volunteering at the projects

Jubilee Project

Today was the last day of a full week at our projects. However this morning was a very different morning for the jubilee group because we went to visit eight different children’s houses who attend the school. We all contributed by buying different house hold essentials from the supermarket for example tea, sugar, flour and soap, so then we could give them these as a way of saying thank you for welcoming us into their home.

 The children who we visited with our gift bags of food

 

 

Our group walking through the slums to the children's houses

 

 

We visited the home of Nelson, Jubilee's handyman

 

This was a very different experience as we have never walked along the Kenyan roads as we have been transported everywhere by the minibus. By walking through the slums it was an eye opening experience to see how the Kenyan people lived. We also gathered a large following of children from the slums along the way, who were fascinated by us ‘muzungous’ (white people) and by the end of the family visits we had quite a following! The houses that we visited were very basic and most families had just one room with some families as large as 9 members, yet despite this poverty all of the families were so welcoming to us all, confirming the kindness once again of the Kenyan people.

The parent of one of the Jubilee students - a blind widower with 9 children

 

 

Another student, with only a mother who looks after 5 children

(2 of which are extended family)

 

 

One of the street children who were following us everywhere we went

 

At the last but one house we visited we experienced a very scary and frightening situation. We walked through a small alley way, and there was a long street of houses and at the end we all saw a group of puppies. A couple of us, including Mr Hill decided they wanted to move closer to the puppies to get some pictures. However after a few growls we noticed the other children suddenly started to scream and run in the opposite direction. After seeing three hounds barking and coming towards us we decided to copy the children by legging it down the street and pushing in to strangers houses doors to protect us.

 

The puppies that led to us being chased

Luckily these hounds did not get to us after the owner got them all under control. This was by far one of the most scariest experiences we have had, plus we have never seen Mr Hill run so fast.

Luchema Children’s Home

It was Emily and Beth’s turn in the kitchen today and the experience of cooking for 200 children is very different to at home.  Dinner today was maize and beans and one of the first tasks was to separate the beans from the mud and stones.  The food is cooked over an open fire, the wood was wet from the rain last night so dinner was late as the fire wouldn’t light.  The maize and beans are then cooked in boiling water for 2 hours until they are soft, salt is added to give flavour.  The smoke working in the kitchen is unbearable.  Then its all hands on deck to serve the lunch with each student receiving half a cup of food with some liquid.  All of this is eaten with fingers – no utensils.

Last night Fred took us shopping to the ‘Honest Book Centre’ in the centre of Nakuru.  Lumumba had given us a shopping list of text books that the Luchema teachers desperately need to allow them to teach the children attending the school. 3,900KSH later we had purchased one new text book for each class (9 in total) and were able to hand these over today.  The teachers were really grateful and enjoyed teaching using their new books. In the pre-unit class the children were learning three letter words and they all enjoyed the smiley faces for completing good work.

 A song used to educate the children about Aids / HIV

 Class 3 children at work

One of the highlights of the day was teaching the children to play rounders having taken a cricket bat with us today.  Mr Hodges was in charge, and 2 classes at a time the children came out for PE and were taught the rules.  Class 2 played class 3 and class 3 won by 1 point, 12-11 - there were great celebrations once the scores were announced.  The children really enjoyed this and were cheering each other round although there were some communication problems with the occasional child forgetting to run round the chairs and unintentionally cheating by cutting across the middle.

Class 2 versus Class 3 at rounders during PE - Mr Hodges in charge

 

Progress on the fence has continued and we have now completed both short sides and one of the long sides.  On Monday we are expecting delivery of the additional poles we need and offcuts.  We are determined to get the fence finished to secure the Children's Home site.

Progress on the fence today

 

Tom at work



After a busy and tiring week both emotionally and physically we are all looking forward to a weekend off and the opportunity to recharge the batteries.  Although no lie in for us tomorrow as we are being tourists for the day and off on our Adventure Day to Lake Nakuru Safari Park, the Equator and Thomson Falls.  Everyone is really looking forward to this and an early night is on the cards for everyone ready for a 7.30am departure.  More about our safari experiences tomorrow……