I want to say THANK YOU!

I want to say thank you to everyone who donated to my young mothers workshop. We raised $865!!! This is amazing and I am so grateful to everyone who contributed.

This money means Project Africa will host a four-day workshop for 30 mothers. We will have five facilitators—a reproductive nurse, a early childhood development specialist, a nutritionist, an accountant, and a female counseling expert. These facilitators will cover the information the young mothers wanted to know more about when I interviewed them.

With this money we can provide childcare services to the mothers. Many would not have come if they couldn’t bring their children and your money made it possible. We will provide a scrumptious lunch and snacks.

The best part is with the money we are able to provide a transportation stipend to each and every mother. Many do not have extra money to spend on transportation.

After all the costs of this exciting workshop I still had some extra money left.

I decided the money should be used to semi-sponsor two women from the Amalemba women’s group to attend tailoring classes at Imara College, a school near bye. The women will have to provide 20% of the costs of classes and buy their own materials, but the other 80% will be covered by the amount you all donated!

These women will take 3 terms of classes, then they will begin to teach the other women in the group.

I am thanking everyone from the bottom of my heart. This workshop is going to make a difference in these women’s lives. Without your support it would not have been possible.

From the thirty women, five facilitators, and Project Africa, I send you the biggest “Thank you” possible.

Your FRIENDS are COMING

Saturday, July 11, Kisumu

Today was my shopping day. I headed to Kisumu early in the morning ready for a day of bargaining and negotiating.

But then I spent an hour in a half in a stuffed matatu smelling suspiciously like fish. I sat most of the ride with my knees tucked up learning against the person to my right. This is mostly because there was a plank across the seat to my left which made another seat between the two seats. Thus there were four people sitting where three barely fit. I wasn’t sure how great of an idea I thought this was after the ride.

But then we arrived at the market to shop. I knew I would find lots of presents, things for myself, and more things I didn’t really need. I had packed a fair amount of money and decided I really did want to spent all of it.

About two hours later, I had shopped myself dry. I had searched for presents for most people, struggled a lot with my brothers, and decided I couldn’t take anymore. I also wasn’t sure I was going to have enough money to make it home. Wow I did feel good about everything I bought though! Real crafts and presents—something I have yet to see in Kakamega. I knew it was a successful day.

We then headed off to lunch. I enjoyed a delicious burger and a plate of French fries. The menu even called them French fries—not chops. WOW! Add some vanilla ice cream and banana fritters, some great conversation, and funny stories about my lovely family I had a great afternoon.

We then headed back to the matatu stop. We stood for a couple of minutes while trying to decide if we should call a taxi because we couldn’t handle another fishy and bumpy ride for an hour. The matatu conductor kept bothering us, so we told him we were waiting for our friends.

We were really deciding what to do and trying to find a matatu with the Celine Dion CD—because we are in Africa and taking advantage of that fact. About 10 minutes later the conductor came back to tell us he saw our friends coming.

We laughed to ourselves—wondering what other white people were in Kisumu. We asked sarcastically, “O do you now? Hmm—I wonder who our friends are?” By now after the funny stories at lunch and replaying ridiculous scenes that had already happened while we have been in Africa, we were laughing a lot.

The conductor pointed to a tuk-tuk (kinda like the car Fred Flintstone drove but powered like a slow motorbike). I saw a large white arm hanging out of it. I laughed to myself—thinking how Kenyans believes all white people are related to each other—kinda of like how all Kenyans are related to Obama. 

Then to my utter disbelief—Guillaume, another intern and an ACTUAL FRIEND of ours stepped out of the small little contraption with his host mother.

I could barely laugh, I was so surprised to find out my friends really had arrived. Who knew?

We all got into the matatu and laughed for about ten minutes. I kept saying we are in Africa, only stuff like that happens in Africa. It was so funny.

I really needed this day in Kisumu. It let me come to terms with the fact I really am leaving in one week. I had the chance to talk about my internship, the ways I have changed, and also laugh about lots of stories. It was relaxing and I got some presents.

Plus I got to ride home in the matuatu with my ‘friends’.

To BE 20

Thursday, July 9^th, Kakamega

Today I turn 20. I am no longer a teenager and I have now entered the decade of my life where I will officially grow up and build a life as an adult.

I’m scared. I don’t want to be 20. I like being a teenager. I like being a kid. I’m a responsible kid—it’s not that I don’t want to have rules and obligations—I just don’t want to be a fully grown-up.

It is interesting to celebrate this birthday in Kenya. Turning 20 isn’t overly exciting—I could already vote and I still can’t drink (well legally), but here in Kenya I don’t feel 20.

I have thought about this before—how I represent myself in Kenya. Many girls are married with one or two children at 20, although many are not. In the more rural villages, I have acted more like a teenager. I have tried to look younger so that no one would judge me for not being married. I have felt younger here because the high school kids I see look older. Many young girls are married, they have tough manual jobs, and they help with their families a lot.

I haven’t had to do the same things. Now at home I do help around the house and of course I am responsible—but it doesn’t feel the same here. I have been allowed to have a long and wonderful childhood. Even my entrance into adulthood has been sort of easy. To me if feels like many girls have not have the same privilege—and thus it’s easier to seem younger.

But then I’m in Kenya, on a different continent—mostly by myself—working for an NGO, doing interviews, and planning a camp. That is not something a kid does. I walk around town by myself, talk to strangers, and go to work like an adult.

This is a really interesting time in my life. Caught between being a child and an adult. The thing about being 20 though, is that it seems less likely I can pretend to be a kid. It’s harder to trick myself into thinking I don’t have to grow up yet—if I still have “teen” in my age. Now I don’t.

All of this is not to say I am not excited about my future. I want to be older. I want to continue with my life, get a job, have my own apartment, and build a family—All the things you are supposed to do. But it all means change.

It means I will have to make decisions about my future. It means days are not going to be easily classified as ‘days at home’ and ‘days at Duke’. My routines will not be those of my family or those of my school schedule—they will become solely mine.

This summer has been a taste of all this. However I still had a lot of guidance from FSD and I was still a kid living with a family.

I’ve still been a teenage girl watching a love triangle work itself out on the TV screen.

Maybe that will never change

To FLY Like an AIRPLANE

Wednesday, July 8^th, Kakamega

This evening six little girls playing pretend made my day.

I had spent the day walking back and forth across town trying to have a meeting with the nutritionist. I had gone there in the morning—she was going to a meeting and said to come back at 11. I went to the cyber for a bit and then went to the market to thank Esther for the present.

I enjoyed sitting with Esther for a while, talking about going home, people in Kenya, and laughing about the clothes people were picking out. I then headed back to meet this woman. She wasn’t there—she said to come back at 2. So I trudged back across town to Project Africa to pick up my lassos (in hope Angie would take me to the tailor) and walked back to the other office—again on the other side of town.

By now I was grumpy, tired, and frustrated. I needed this meeting but I felt like I was trudging around town for no reason. Plus I knew I wasn’t going to make it to the tailor.

Finally at 2PM the nutritionist and her boss arrived. We had a rather short and very productive meeting. They agreed to participate in the workshop and are very excited about it. I left super happy. Although when I was walking to the cyber I was thinking about the clinic day of the workshop. Lucky doesn’t have the ability to do immunizations and vaccinations for the young kids. I didn’t now who else to talk to—plus I was frustrated because this wasn’t even really my idea. I didn’t know whom to ask next and I couldn’t spend money-buying vaccinations for these children—that would not be sustainable in any way.

Luckily as I was going to the cyber I passed Angie. I vented for about two minutes and she suggested I ask Richard to do some research and figure out this clinic day. I told her she was brilliant—this was Richard’s suggestion and he would know who to talk to and he’d figure it out.

Thus I walked back to Project Africa (again) and spoke with Richard. After some explaining on my side and the suggestion that HE call the hospital and HE talk to them, I felt better.

I then spent some time reading over the final report I am going to have to fill out for FSD and filling out my budget now that I had Lucky’s information.

I finished around 4PM, I then realized Kana had put a DVD in my purse—Sylvia wants to watch Twlight and so I borrowed it. I discovered it also had other movies on the DVD as well—I decided to watch The Last Templar. I spent my last 45 minutes watching a kick-ass female archeologist go on a quest for the Templar’s lost treasure. Plus her love interest wasn’t so bad either.

So my day ended with a quest in history. I considered the movie my ‘vegetation time’ of the day. I needed it.

Then I began to walk home. As I turned the corner to the main road, six little girls went running by. They were pretending to be airplanes. I smiled at them and joined it. They laughed and giggled and made airplane noises. Then I suggested for us to be birds, then lions, followed by giraffes, fish, elephants, dogs, cats, and a cheetah. We walked together being different animals, as people laughed as they walked by. I was laughing and smiling a very large smile. I was disappointed they had to turn to the right when I had to go left. These little girls—probably only 5 years old—made my day.

I never knew stretching my arms out could be so wonderful.

Things I WILL MISS about Kenya

1. The tea—I know I have mentioned on more than one occasion how much I like Kenyan tea. I like the stuff made from real tealeaves with some water and milk from the cows in the backyard. I don’t think I’ll ever find anything quite like it.
2. Sylvia—I am going to miss my host sister a lot. She is funny and an interesting character. I am very happy she was living at home during her winter break. It made my trip a lot easier and worthwhile.
3. The smiles—All the little kids smile when they see me. I have to admit it’s kind of nice.
4. The landscape—I imagined Kenya would be flat savannah. Well part of it are—but Kakamega is surrounded by great foothills. The valleys are sometimes deep, sometimes shallow—each with a collection of trees and brown or red houses scattered across the slopes.
5. Eating ugali! Haha maybe a little bit. I have grown accustomed to eating dinner with my hands. It will be puzzling to go back to fork and knife.
6. Riding a boda-boda. I love riding on the back of the bicycles here. It’s the perfect amount of wind in your hair. Sometimes it’s a bit bumpy but my ride to work is always enjoyable.
7. Esther—I am going to miss going to the market to have a Coke with Esther. She is a lively and energetic woman whose smile I have greatly enjoyed during this trip. Plus she brings out the best humor in me.
8. Ziborrah tickling my feet as she passes my chair. When I sit in “my chair” in the living room my feed hang over the edge of the arm, whenever Ziborrah walks by she always tickles my feet. I always smile and laugh and she does the same.
9. Jam puffs from the bakery—I pass by the same bakery everyday. They make this delicious
10. The pattern and clothing combinations of some of the women here. The dresses combined with different patterned lasos and scarves. Plus the sparkles and Cinderella blue silk colored dresses are fantastic.

What I Started With

This is my essay on my DukeEngage Application. I applied directly to the Foundation for Sustainable Development program in Kakamega. It might give you a sense with the notions about my time in Kenya that I started with. Plus I like it. 

My preparation for the DukeEngage Program in Kenya does not include reading three historical novels about the politics of Kenya.  Nor are classes on sustainable development required.  My preparation for this program lies in my knowledge of the potential of my gender. It lies with my ability to hope and dream and to imagine a world without barriers in which all human beings can relate to each other and the world around them.

The foundation for my interest in Duke’s Kenya program is my life, my passion for the human race and my commitment to women from all walks of life.  An invitation to participate in the DukeEngage program would be an honor and stepping stone on my quest to learn, help and give. 

As a student at Duke, I have had ample opportunity to begin the study of life and how each individual relates to their world around them.  As a sophomore this year, I am participating in CAPE, a Baldwin Scholars’ volunteer opportunity at the Duke Brain Tumor Clinic.  Every Thursday afternoon around 3:06 PM, as I walk out of Davison onto Main Quad, I call my Mom. She knows why I am calling, answering with “How was clinic today?” “Today was great. Very interesting patient, her tumor was on the left side of her brain, but she’s left handed so her symptoms do not present as normal. But Mom, what’s more interesting is seeing how this young woman relates to her disease; how she is managing; how she is living.”  Where does she find the energy and will to fight? How can her doctors make her quality of life comfortable and give her strength?

Every Thursday, for just a little while, I consider how people react to situations and relate to their worlds.  I contemplate what experiences and influences I have had that would determine how I might react to any given situation. For example, what might give me the strength today’s patient has?  What might keep me fighting against the odds? 

I am interested in the program in Kenya not only because my relationship with the world will be drastically altered, but also because I will meet so many people who relate to their worlds differently than I do. My interest in going to Kenya lies in meeting each individual and hearing her/his stories. I want to know how they’ve become who they are today and understand the connections they have made.

Much of my time in both high school and Duke has been spent listening to people and finding the connections when they may not be so obvious. What are the commonalities in the human experience? We are all a part of the human race yet we often live in differently defined worlds: modern society versus third world; middle income versus extreme poverty; advanced medicine versus AIDS-beset. Can the commonalities of the human experience unite these worlds? Can I ever relate to a woman’s experience in Kenya? Could we break the barrier of definitions between these worlds?

I believe with programs like the Foundation for Sustainable Development in Kenya we can. To some this may seem too lofty of a goal: changing the world. But I have faith in humanity. I believe working with women or children in Kukamega would give me the chance to broaden someone’s understanding of the world, as well as my own. I believe that my experience can help to augment the views of those around me back here in the United States, with each story that I tell.

Specifically, I am interested in working in the women’s empowerment sector of FSD, working in group therapy sessions or gender specific education about HIV/AIDS. Gender equality is important for basic community and economic development. Women need to be educated and equally represented in their communities, and studies demonstrate that strong women have powerful impacts on their family and community, improving education, minimizing violence and ensuring a level of democracy. In some small way, I could demonstrate the potential of my gender. I have seen women run businesses, raise single-parent families, and go to college.  This program would give me the opportunity to help another woman see her own powerful potential.

My faith in humanity summarizes both my interest in and preparation for this program in Kenya. Humanity is defined as human collectively, or the condition of being human. The program is not about changing the world or making drastic differences to a community. It is about listening to someone’s story and changing how they relate to the world, helping them find their own strength and reasons to fight each day, and reminding them we are all human. I want to help others hope, dream, and imagine, just as I have (and will continue to do so).  I want the chance to experiences stories beyond my own, to celebrate the commonalities and help to express just a portion of the opportunities.

A PRESENT from Esther!

Wednesday July 1^st, Kakamega

With less than three weeks left my planning is in full swing. Actually yesterday was the first day I felt like I accomplished something productive for the camp.

Angie visited the office in the morning. We discussed the happenings or lack there of in the office. She also mentioned, somewhat in passing, that I need to have a budget and workplan for my online fundraising. I had assumed there would be something I needed to tell FSD about my camp and turn in a budge to them. However when I heard Angie say it in the same sentence of having about three weeks left I felt as though my stomach was going to fall out.

Three weeks! And I didn’t even have any facilitators. I had no idea how much anything would cost nor which days of the week the camp was going to be on.

I was supposed to be my first meeting with another the head of another organization similar to Project Africa. I hoped she would recommend a nutritionist who would be willing to facilitate. Angie suggested I go to the meeting and see how it went. She wisely told me to chill out for a couple of minutes and it was all going to be fine.

It wasn’t as though I was freaking out on the exterior—more the internal stomach thing. I felt better when Angie left.

I instantly went to work. I decided the camp would be August 12-14^th. I also figured each day would run from 10am till about 3:30pm. We would have around 25 or 30 mother’s, and we would use the Project Africa office as the location. Food would be provided for by the Catering women and I got a name and number for a women who rents out chairs and tents.

Okay things are now looking brighter. I was excited about my meeting and a bit nervous. Richard and I walked to the other side of town to the office. To our dismay, when we arrived the woman was not there. She was home sick and would not be back. Great! (NOT)

We said we’d be back tomorrow if she was feeling better. I then headed to Ambalemba to have a meeting with Joy.

I was a bit early and sat on Joy’s couch watching a country gospel singer on her brand new TV—it’s very snazzy with nice speakers. I talked to her children-both home from school, one with typhoid the other with a cough. Her daughter’s name is Charity and we discussed the chapter book she was reading and the types of food we have in the States. It was really cool because she kept asking tons of questions about my family, my school, my hobbies. She may have just been trying to entertain me but it was still nice to talk to her. She is about 13 and in Class 7.

Once Joy arrived we began to discuss my interviews and the camp. I said child development kept cropping up as a topic the mother’s were interested in and her name kept popping in mine and Martin’s mind as a great person to facilitate a lesson on child development. Joy has a degree in early childhood education and is actively involved in her church community.

She graciously accepted my challenge and was excited about how she can help these mothers. She instantly began talking about what topics she would cover—physical and emotion benchmarks, the transition to school, and stimulating a child’s brain when they are still young. She made my excited about it as well.

I then showed her a list of my other topics. She thought it was great. I told her all the ideas came from the interviews. A mother may have answered a question with, “I wish I knew what to feed my daughter” and I put the word “nutrition” on that statement but it was still the mother’s idea. I was happy she was excited.

We then talked about option for the family planning section. Milrine, the other coordinator in Ambalemba, is a nurse. She specializes in reproductive health and family planning. YAY!!! Joy also said she would have suggestions for other people if Martin and Richard did not recommend anyone.

We then spoke with Milrine. She also graciously agreed to help. Now I was super excited. This morning I had no facilitators and after a two hour meeting I had two and some more suggestions.

YAY!! This camp is actually going to happen. It is going to be planned before I leave—I’ll have facilitators, a budget, and a work plan. This camp will make an impact on these mother’s lives and hopefully help them care for themselves and their children better.

I sat and talked with Joy and Milrine for a while longer. Then it rained so we had some delicious tea. Finally it was only drizzling and they sent me home on a boda. I was even excited about this because they made me ride with a leg on each side—not sidesaddle female style. I think they suggested this because it was a longer ride and it was raining a bit. I was pretty wet by the time I got home but I was in good spirits about the day.

Then I got home, played with Ben a bit, and waited for Sylvia to come home. Finally she came back. She said she had a present for me.

I was surprised but I had a sneaky suspicion of who it may be from—ESTHER.

She handed me the bag and inside was a beautiful blue and yellow laso. A laso is a specific kind of fabric. They come in different colors but with a basic similar pattern. TH exacts are different but each has a beautiful outer boarder and a saying at the bottom.

My plan is to have a tailor here make a dress out of it—maybe even a skirt.

So it turned out to be a really good day—excitement about my workshop and a beautiful laso.

I need to go and thank Esther sometime later this week!

These Last Weeks

Monday June 29^th, Kakamega, Kenya

This weekend was our midterm retreat. It was nice to be away from Kakamega, work, family, and enjoy some animals and beautiful scenery.

But it was a reflection period. It was about assessing the time we have spent in Kenya, our projects, and the next three weeks here.

My goal for the rest of my time is to be a positive assertive problem solver. I have to admit some of my mornings have been filled with books like Pride and Prejudice Twilight, and Mountains Beyond Mountains (I suggest all of them to you). But now I have about two weeks to plan this camp. I know it is going to happen but I am going to be very active in making sure everything is set up before I leave.

I am already disappointed I am going to miss this workshop. Yet as Liz, another intern, pointed out that’s the point. Project Africa will be conducting this workshop without me. The community has an invested interest and my time here will be spent on something, which is sustainable. I am going to make sure I pressure my supervisors to make the meetings we are supposed to have with possible facilitators this week. I am going to finish my reports and even make several charts and graphs related to the information I have found.

I am going to continue with the relationships I have already built. I am going to go see Esther in the market this week and I am going to enjoy my time with the women in Ambalemba.

My impact may be on a few people. It may not be very much at all—but the impact on me has been very great. I have met some really amazing people and enjoyed learning about Kenya and the culture. I’m going to smile about all of this for the next three weeks J