What's Happening at H4H

Pole Pole - Week #15 and Week #16

2012-01-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

Oleleshwa Primary School's second classroom exemplifies the care, effort, and precision of the crew. The workmanship is incredible - one can easily take for granted that this project has been completed by hand. James, forman, has worked closely with Malcolm, Charles I and Charles II (fundis) on this classroom. The labourers: Bernard, Makomi, Lornad, and James have learned many skills and gained valuable experience working on this project. Most of the men come from Ewaso Ngiro which proves that building a school can impact an entire community for years to come. James has repeatedly mentioned that the crew has been very happy throughout this build.

For now, the project is on hold while H4H raises additional funds for the ceiling, the paint, and the benches on the outside wall. We are also raising funds to build desks for the classroom. There is a possibility that students may use the classroom while awaiting its completion. The community group is meeting to decide. Text messages are shared daily so that H4H and Ewaso Ngiro remain connected and see this project through to completion. This delay is disappointing as the project was advancing so quickly, but we have no doubt that construction will resume quickly. Please stay posted for further updates.

Thank you everyone for your well wishes and generous contributions! We are all so anxious to see the classroom completed and joined with the first class by an incredible breezeway that will serve as an outdoor learning area, community gathering place, and as water storage through rainwater collection. Alec and Karl look forward to the day their design is complete and serves its many roles.

Asante Sana and pole pole,

Kyla

Pole Pole - Week #15 Progress Report

2012-01-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

Week #15 progress report will be delayed until Monday orTuesday due to technical difficulties. According to James, the plastering willbe completed by Tuesday. This only leaves finishing the ceiling with Shuka panels, theinstallation of the glass in the windows, and the painting of the doorsbefore the classroom is ready for students. H4H is awaiting funds from theKenyan government as well as current fundraising initiatives to finish the last stages ofthe second classroom.

"Pole Pole" - slowly slowly in Kiswahili. This isa minor setback. We have certainly learned that projects may indeed take timedespite our excitement and hopes for a different timeline. We must humblyaccept that the success of the project will require further time - a smallchallenge to overcome. One that has been overcome on numerous occasionsthroughout our five years of work in Kenya. We will keep you posted as soon asupdates become available.

Asante Sana,

Kyla

Windows, Doors, and Plaster Complete - Week #14

2012-01-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all! We hope that you enjoy the photos as we enter the last couple of weeks of construction and finishing touches. There is something to be said about the heart and hard work going into this classroom as can be seen in Malcolm's photo. Oleleshwa Primary School is an important goal for the Ewaso Ngiro community who wish to see their children educated. It is also an international project which has joined the talents, the hands, and the hope of many to help achieve this vision for a determined community.
H4H looks forward to the opening of the second classroom and the construction of the breezeway which will serve as an outdoor learning area and a location for rainwater collection. H4H's team of volunteers, in partnership with Kenyan communities, work diligently to see that each stage of the project is completed. We recognize that quality, integrity, and sustainability require communication, collaboration, mutual learning, and a significant investment of time. H4H remains committed to the construction of Oleleshwa Primary School's classrooms, kitchen, landscaped grounds, administrative block, library, and agricultural centre.

Please feel free to join us in our efforts to see this vision through to completion.

Looking forward to what is possible in 2012,

Kyla McMullen-Dent

These four doors face out to the breezeway which we expect to begin in the next couple of months. You can see the other classroom's doors (red) across the way.

Quality work

Malcolm has worked on both classrooms!

Final touches to the floor.

Large blackboard in the background for even the youngest children to access.

Excitement Builds - Week #13 in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya

2011-12-24T05:56:00.000-08:00

Exciting times at such a busy timeof year! James expects the project could be completed in 16 days should therebe no unforeseen delays. We are hoping to build desks in the next few weeks sothat students can start in the new classroom. James has reported that 3 morewindows will be installed today and that much of the plastering has beencompleted on the inside of the classroom. Here are the photos from Week #13.

Numerous donations have come inwithin the last few days to support the final stages of construction for thesecond classroom. Gravenhurst PS staff and students have raised $150.00 dollarsin just four days by selling their beautiful greeting cards and beadedjewellery at recess. The impact of such kindness and generosity will reach manyin the community of Ewaso Ngiro through the completion of Oleleshwa PrimarySchool.

We are inspired daily by thegenerosity and support of Harambee 4 Humanity projects by co-workers, family,friends, long-time supporters, children and strangers worldwide. There is muchto be celebrated and appreciated! Looking forward to a classroom filledwith students in 2012!

Update from Community Leader in Ewaso Ngiro

2011-12-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

Nicholas Kimorgo, respected leader,sent this photo of a community meeting in the new classroom on Tuesday. Membershave agreed to mobilize parents in the community to clear the grounds afterconstruction and to contribute towards the construction of the desks. Thecommunity has been funding the wages for the night watchman supervising theworksite and building materials. This partnership with the community has beensignificant to the success of the projects.
The local councillor in Ewaso Ngiro has fulfilled his promise of 750 000kshto the construction of Oleleshwa Primary School. This is almost the equivalentof nine thousand dollars which will be put towards the construction of thethird classroom. Very exciting!

Week 10 and Week 11 Update

2011-12-10T17:38:00.001-08:00

Progress Report Coming Soon!

2011-12-04T08:23:00.001-08:00

We are awaiting James' latest progress report expected Monday or Tuesday due to Internet delays. In the meantime, Amos, Ewaso Ngiro community member, has been visiting the site often and reports positively on the progress of the classroom. Students will soon be off for their one month leave. It would be great to celebrate the New Year with the opening of the second classroom for Oleleshwa students upon their return on January 9th, 2012. Update and photos will be shared as soon as they are received. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement!

Harambee - Oleleshwa Primary School in Kenya

2011-11-26T04:44:00.001-08:00

The Trusses

Harambee means pulling together in Kiswahili. The steady progress of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School is due to the efforts of many, both in Canada and in Kenya. Thank you to the many generous donors who have made this project possible. Your contributions have been put directly into the construction of this primary classroom - soon to educate between 100 and 150 students. Thank you to the Mosque in the community of Ewaso Ngiro for supplying the electricity needed to drill holes in the timber for the trusses. Another example of the community coming together to ensure education for their children.

Progress Report - Week # 7 and Week #8

2011-11-20T07:26:00.001-08:00

Alecand Karl, designers of Oleleshwa Primary School, had the opportunity to updateERA Architects Inc. on the construction progress of their design in the villageof Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. Alec is a current employee of ERA and Karl has recentlyleft the firm to pursue his Masters. Alec and Karl travelled to Kenya tooversee the construction of the first classroom, and are directly involved inthe progress of the second classroom through the use of technology.Collaboration, while more challenging with the distance and an 8 hour timedifference, is going very well. Many are looking forward to its completion.

Spoke with James bytelephone yesterday. The community is so excited to be able to see the dailyprogress on the classroom. The trusses are once again posing the greatestchallenge. I'm sure Alec, Karl, and Len will remember how heavy the timber was.Not only is it thick, but it is a hard wood to saw or drill through. MANUALLABOUR. James secured a generator this time around, but it has already been overused.The search is on for another generator so that the holes for the bolts can bedrilled. If unable to locate one, the crew will have to use a brace and bitdrill – known to me as a “hand drill”. Karl, Alec, and Len should have somefond memories of the broken “hand drills”. The doors are almost complete, thewindows soon to be started, and the heavy trusses soon to be secured to thenewly poured ring beam. The truss design is pretty interesting. Please do nothesitate to post questions or comments so that the H4H team or the schooldesigners can respond.

Emma and Liam, agrade one and a grade three student, have baked 16 loaves of Banana Bread tosell for the construction of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School. Theyhave raised $100.00 in a short period of time, but the impact will belong-lasting. This money could be used to order three water trucks, or pay thesalaries of 10 fundis for the day, or be used to purchase 15 bags of cement. TheH4H team and the community of Ewaso Ngiro are inspired by the actions ofchildren and thankful for your recognition that education is important for allchildren.

Week #6 - Great Progress

2011-11-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

The doors are currently being fabricated. These 4 doors will welcome the outdoors into the classroom. They will ensure proper ventilation, filter the light, and provide security. The doors, to be painted red, will open onto the breezeway which will provide a shaded area for gathering the community or to serve as an outdoor classroom.

Please visit our facebook page. The H4H team (school designers, fundraising team, and founders) will answer your questions or welcome feedback from other global projects. Linking Hands Through Action!

Pine Glen Public School

2011-10-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

October 5th was World Teacher Day. In honour of educators and to recognize their important contributions to the lives of children, the principal at Pine Glen Public School celebrated World Teacher Day by making a donation to Harambee 4 Humanity. Mr. Crawford reinforced the message that impacting a child can have a huge ripple effect locally and internationally. The teaching staff at Pine Glen Public School will truly celebrate the construction of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School knowing that another 150 children will be guaranteed their right to an education. This will not only impact the children, but an entire community for years to come. Pine Glen Public School, you continue to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world.

These Walls Will Open Doors for the Future!

2011-10-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Week #4 Update from James.

Thank you to James, the foreman on this project, who travels to Narok every Saturday (Market Day) to use a Cyber Cafe so that he can submit a weekly report, photos, and scanned receipts to keep those far away connected to this important project. It is so difficult to watch the build from afar, but these reports and frequent text messages help us celebrate the progress with the community. The weekly trek to the Cyber is a very time consuming endeavour, but it is so important in helping us work in collaboration with the community of Ewaso Ngiro to evaluate the progress and the efficiency of the project. It also ensures accountability for all parties and supporters involved. The Ewaso Ngiro School Committee and the community at large regularly review the reports and discuss the classroom's construction to determine ways for the community to become more involved. Community involvement ensures sustainability of the project and greatly supports the learning environment for the children. Education includes Kenyan curriculum, but also healthy development, sanitation practices, conservation and collection of water, importance of culture as well as the sustainable use of their immediate environment. The walls that you see being built will open many doors for the children and families of Ewaso Ngiro! Thank you to all for your support and donations. Let's continue working together to build an entire school!

We cannot believe how quickly the second classroom is progressing. These updates are really exciting to share. Thank you for the many encouraging words and messages of support. These have been relayed to the Ewaso Ngiro community. It is so interesting to communicate with people in Kenya, the UK, South America (Alex, Len, Sue, and Mckenzie), and Canada who are following our progress on Facebook and through our web site. A "small" project in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya is joining so many together - "Harambee".

Hard Work, Skill, Heart, Generosity, Collaboration & Hope

2011-10-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Every successful project begins with a strong foundation!

Dressing the stone -shaping the stones by hand to create blocks for proper fit.

This is just the beginning as the stone walls begin on Monday. These skilled tradesmen will work with piles upon piles of stone in the coming weeks. They work quickly and with precision. You hear the sound of chisel against stone for six to eight hours of the day. The quality of their work is shown in the background - classroom #1 of Oleleshwa Primary School.

One after the other, running quickly along the ramp, to dump the fill.

Hardcore

Hardcore is broken into smaller pieces manually with a sledgehammer.

Fabrication of the forms for the pour.

Pouring of the slab

A smooth slab disguises the hard work below and a strong foundation.

The walls begin on Monday. The timber has been ordered for the trusses and the manufacturing of doors and windows will also soon begin. The classroom is progressing very well to the excitement of many!

Working Hard - The Foundation!

2011-10-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

Phase Two Begins...

2011-09-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

Construction of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School begins in the coming week. Water continues to be a considerable challenge especially when it will be needed in such large quantities for the footings, the slab, the pillars, and all of the plastering work. Many trips were made to the river to fetch water for the construction of the first classroom. This time, James has decided to build a concrete water storage tank so that water trucks can be ordered for delivery. James, the foreman for phase one and now, phase two, was joined by Bernard/Bennett, George, and Makomi in the completion of the storage tank. The crew is looking forward to building the second classroom while the community eagerly awaits the opportunity to educate another 150 children in Ewaso Ngiro. Please look for weekly updates on the progress of Oleleshwa's second classroom.

A most sincere thank you to the generous donors and supporters of Harambee 4 Humanity who have made this project possible. H4H is a small organization driven by dedicated volunteers who have spent numerous hours raising awareness about the nature of our work, fundraising, designing the school and developing the site plan. Our team looks forward to the school's progress and returning to visit a community that has welcomed us so warmly.

Leigh-Anne and John's Wedding Day

2011-09-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Leigh-Anne and John, married today in Las Vegas at the Bali Hai Golf Club! They were joined by 40 family and friends in an intimate wedding ceremony to be followed by an elegant dinner reception and a night on the "Vegas Strip".

In lieu of wedding favours, John and Leigh-Anne have chosen to make a generous donation to Harambee 4 Humanity. Each guest will have a lovely card at their place setting describing how Leigh-Anne and John are ensuring that 150 children are guaranteed their right to an education by helping with the construction of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. A sincere thank you for sharing your wedding celebration with a small community in Kenya. On your anniversary, you will be reminded of how you impacted the lives of children for years to come.

Continuous Support

2011-08-19T08:52:00.001-07:00

Toutant Business Services surprised me this morning with a generous donation towards the construction of Oleleshwa's second classroom as well as waiving their fees for the preparation of our year-end charitable tax return. Thank you Pam for the time taken to finalize our financial statements and for your generosity. Your devotion to education will positively impact children and their families in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. H4H sincerely appreciates the ongoing support we receive and remains committed to collaborating with the communities in Ewaso Ngiro and Maragua in the areas of: education, health, the environment, and the creation of sustainable business opportunities for women.

Northern Lights Leadership Camp http://tldsb.ca/students/student-leadership/northern-lights-leadership/

2011-04-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

April 28th in Minden, On - What an experience! I had the opportunity to speak to a large group of grade 7 and grade 10 students from the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. These students were invited to attend the camp because their peers and/or teachers recognize their leadership potential and their leadership skills.

It is difficult to describe the energy in the room that evening. Despite the day of rain and the power outage, these grade 7 and grade 10 students seemed unaffected by the conditions. Typically when I make presentations, I am nervous in the beginning until I am well into my talk and the passion takes over. On this particular evening, my nerves were settled before I even started my presentation due to the positive attitude and enthusiasm of the students.

Upon my arrival, students were getting up in front of the large group to offer their testimonials about their individual leadership experiences. They were so honest and forthcoming with their stories. When done, the room would erupt in applause. I was quite moved by this experience and the authenticity of the testimonials. How could I possibly be nervous? Some of the stories paralleled my current experiences and feelings. Was I really going to inspire this group of kids as I had hoped?

I started my talk with my goals for the presentation and how I shifted my thinking from hoping to inspire this group to simply reinforcing the paths that many of these leaders have already explored or have chosen. This audience was so engaged and I was therefore fueled by their enthusiasm. I lost myself in the story of Harambee 4 Humanity, the impact of so many people in our projects, and the remarkable stories of our Kenyan leaders and partners. The students' reaction to the story of H4H and their poignant questions were invigorating and a reminder of the incredible potential in our youth. While I had hoped to inspire, it is me who left that evening inspired and further committed to fostering leadership opportunities both here in Canada and in Kenya. Thank you for an amazing evening!

My highest regards for both the organizers and the participants in the Northern Lights Leadership Camp!

Kyla McMullen-Dent
Proud Educator for TLDSB

Generosity at Work!

2011-01-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe that it has almost been a year since I took my leave in order to head to Kenya with a wonderful team of volunteers. The months have passed quickly, but we are happy to report that the students are busy learning in Oleleshwa Primary School's first classroom. H4H, through the hard work and dedication of a committed group of volunteers, is halfway to beginning the construction of the second classroom. Many farmers' markets, craft shows, film screenings, and guest talks have led to successful fundraising efforts and more importantly, the telling of an amazing story! Our success has been due in large part to the time, energy, organization, and heart of this group of individuals who have been committed from the very beginning. We have much to be proud of and I am so fortunate to be working with such a team of tireless volunteers! Thank you for all of your work during November and December. You will be so happy to cease packing and unpacking all of those crafts every wknd!

Most recently, Woodville Elementary School surprised H4H with an envelope containing $90.10. Students at the school collected coins before Christmas to support our projects in Kenya. The donation is a significant contribution, but the learning opportunities created for these students by the staff are most noteworthy. Thank you Woodville Elementary School for believing in the power of Education and ensuring this right is guaranteed for all children.

Monck Public School and Bracebridge Public School's grade 7 & 8 students gathered in the Rene Caisse Theatre as part of an ongoing friendly rivalry. Rather than challenging each other to games and outdoor activities, they decided to unite in December to support the work of H4H. 240 Muskoka students walked to the theatre to watch an incredible documentary film entitled, A Small Act. The energy was palpable. I have never enjoyed speaking to a crowd of youth as much as I did on this particular day. It was incredibly powerful to draw parallels between their actions with the lives of the individuals in the film. This event also served as a fundraiser and the students should be incredibly proud for raising almost one thousand dollars towards the building of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School. It took me a few days to come down from the feeling in the theatre. Thank you BPS and Monck for making a difference that will grow exponentially!

Alex, a grade 3 student in Huntsville, recently won an important award. She won an art contest sponsored by the local hospital. Alex's art graced the Christmas cards that served as a hospital fundraiser. She was presented with a $100.00 prize and several Christmas cards to distribute to family and friends. Her school was very proud of her accomplishment and celebrated this event with her. As if this story could get any better, but it does! Alex directed a portion of her winnings to H4H and another to adopt an animal through WWF. There is a lot to be said about children's generous nature and activism.

Throughout the month of December, I was surprised on many occasions with donations coming in many forms - as Christmas gifts, as family projects to foster compassion and empathy, as a means to honour special individuals, as an expression of gratitude and recognition for those who lack necessities or the right to an education, as a service learning project for students, as a team building challenge, and lastly, to support a project that has yielded powerful results. While the work can certainly be challenging, I hope that I have highlighted the numerous examples of generosity, care, heart, devotion, and positive action that I have been privileged to experience. Harambee 4 Humanity has been successful because of the many individuals working both here and in Kenya to see the projects through to the end. My heartfelt appreciation for the partnerships and the inspiration you provide!

Kyla McMullen-Dent

Theatre Making a Difference

2010-10-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

PRISM in the Park is a non-profit theatre company set up three years ago by Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School teacher, Robin Clipsham, and a board of local citizens. It provides Muskoka young people between the ages of 13 and 30 with a professional theatre experience during the summer months. PRISM presents plays by William Shakespeare in Annie Williams Park in Bracebridge: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. This year 30 high school and university students, under the direction of Robin Clipsham, created a gem of a comedy, Twelfth Night, which attracted 1300 people to the production.

In honour of the young people's voluntary participation in the play, PRISM made a generous donation to Harambee 4 Humanity. Stage Manager, Sue McKenzie, has been actively involved with H4H and returned from a trip to Kenya just in time to begin rehearsals. H4H also works with youth and young adults in various Kenyan communities. We have been quite inspired by PRISM and hope that one day, we could also incorporate theatre to engage young people. Perhaps we can convince Robin to join us in Kenya. Thank you again PRISM for your generosity, but also for a wonderful performance on a lovely summer evening.

Oleleshwa Primary Classroom in Use

2010-10-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Students of Oleleshwa Primary School are using branches to sweep their classroom floor. The little boy in the black shorts and a black sweater is wearing the school uniform. His shirt is made from a Maasai shuka. Girls will wear dresses made from the same material. It is our hope that within the next few months, all students will be wearing the official school uniform.

The beautiful ceiling in the classroom! Brock Groombridge (http://www.backpackwithbrock.com/) recently visited the classroom in Ewaso Ngiro. He was very impressed with the classroom design as well as the unique and culturally significant ceiling. Brock had an opportunity to meet the community members, and to explain the meaning of the "Thanksgiving" holiday in Canada. Many men, women, and children expressed their sincere gratitude for the involvement of H4H donors and volunteers in the building of their first classroom.

A Small Act - H4H Film Fundraiser

2010-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Harambee 4 Humanity is hosting the screening of the documentary film, A Small Act, on Friday, November 5th at Georgian College, Orillia campus. The doors will open at 6:15p.m. to allow attendees to browse through our Kenyan Craft sale as well as listen to the beautiful music produced by a group of local drummers. Tickets are selling for $20.00 and can be purchased by contacting Kyla McMullen-Dent at info@harambee4humanity.org or by calling (705)327-2813. The presentation will begin at 7:00p.m. 100% of the ticket sales will be used to begin the construction of the second classroom at Oleleshwa Primary School in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya.

www.asmallact.com
http://vimeo.com/10188872 (A Small Act Trailer)

The Completed Classroom!

2010-07-25T16:24:00.001-07:00

Almost done the ceiling. Must add the cedar and finish the final panels holding the Maasai shukas. Two different materials were used to complete the look. The main colour was accented by panels above the windows.

We love that Malcolm, the skilled mason and carpenter, is now working so comfortably with fabric. Malcom is very proud to be a Maasai and loves that the children can look to the ceiling to see Maasai Shukas, an important part of their cultural heritage.

Completed ceiling and the impressive blackboard.

Oleleshwa bi-fold windows are beautiful, provide security, ensure airflow, and provide a SAFE exit for students. Many windows in Kenya are secured by metal bars that are fixed to the frame. While secure, the bars do not allow for emergency evacuations.
Oleleshwa Primary School is strong and safe for students.

Windows designed by Alec Ring and Karl Sarkis. You get a peek of the ceiling which features cedar and Maasai shukas.

Side view of louvered, bi-fold windows and benches.

These four doors will open to a breezeway (useful as an outdoor learning area) that will hold a 10 000L water tank collecting rainfall from the roof.

Pencil Cases Making a Difference!

2010-07-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

Asante Sana Guiding Units of Orono,

The Orono Sparks, Brownies, Girlguides, Pathfinders, and their respective leaders gathered together in early March to assist young students in the community of Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya.

The group of girls wanted an opportunity to make a difference in a way that did not involve fundraising. In collaboration with their unit leaders, North American Decal, who donated the pencil crayons, RONA- Haussmann, who donated the pens, and volunteers (Jackie Borremans, Donna Morrison, & Mary Lou Richens) who assisted with the sewing, 100 strong pencil cases were made from an array of beautiful fabrics and upholstery materials. Each pencil case was then filled with lead pencils, a quality sharpener, an eraser, pens, and a variety of colouring pencils. Also, incredibly meaningful to both me and the student recipients, were the lovely letters included in each case. Many of the letters described interesting facts about Canada, shared short autobiographies, or contained thoughtful questions about life, animals, and education in Kenya. Although our H4H group of volunteers was limited to fifty pounds per suitcase, we made sure to include this precious cargo on our trip to Kenya.

In early June, I visited two classes at Oleleshwa Primary School. The students were learning in a makeshift classroom until the completion of the new construction. The children aged 3 to 6 were visibly enthusiastic and eager to learn. Their parents have long stressed the value of education, and at school, they have an opportunity to be children, to discover their skills and strengths, and finally, to realize ambitions that have already been set at such an early age.

Many of the children have never even accessed books or learning materials. The students required some teaching on how to handle such materials to ensure their long term use. Preparation or not, the students could barely contain themselves when we brought in the box of pencil cases to be distributed. At first, we visited a world map to locate Canada, followed by Ontario, and finally, by the village of Orono. To build the anticipation, we discussed how various trades require tools to be successful. After a few examples, we asked the students to list "learning tools" that would assist them in the classroom. At that point, Joshua, Brenda, and I distributed the pencil cases produced by the Guiding Units of Orono. As you can see from the photos, the students were incredibly excited. It took everything not to open the pencil cases until the signal was given. Shortly after exploring, we took turns reading the letters to the students.

My only regret is that we did not think to film the students with their pencil cases. The squeals at every discovery, the laughter, and the sheer happiness were overwhelming. I simply became too absorbed in the moment, and wanted to be sure to remember everything so that I could share with the girls upon my return.

Guiding Units of Orono, unit leaders, skilled sewers, RONA - Haussmann and North American Decal, please know what a difference you have all made. You have helped reinforce the importance of education by ensuring that the children have the learning tools they need. Besides their parents and extended family, they now know that they have a caring community in Orono, Ontario who care about their futures. This incredible act of kindness has not only touched a community in Kenya, but has also empowered a group of girls who chose to make a difference through their actions.

Recent Photos sent from James (foreman and fundi) in Kenya

2010-06-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

We are down to the last details. On Saturday, the crew will pour the floor and finish the ceiling by Monday or Tuesday. I think that many of us are excited to see the look of the ceiling - a combination of cedar and Maasai fabrics called shukas. A celebration to be had on both continents when the classroom is finished next week! We cannot wait for the students to benefit from the work of so many - the true measure of success!

The other great news is that our fundraising for the second classroom and outdoor learning area has already begun. Sue, Janet, Marilyn, and Len organized a wonderful craft sale which has successfully started our next campaign.

Sincere gratitude to all involved in this worthwhile project!

Kyla McMullen-Dent

The chalkboard and plastering

2010-06-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Just poured the concrete step at the front of the classroom. This wall will soon become a chalkboard if you can believe it!

Smoothing the plaster and creating the edges along the chalkboard!

This is how the blackboard started. First (kwanza), the masons applied the first coat of plaster to the stone walls which was pretty rough. After levelling and smoothing, they applied a second coat. Again, after smoothing, they applied a loose mixture of smooth concrete tinted with black oxide. Once this was complete, they framed the edge of the chalkboard with a one and a half inch groove in the concrete. This frames the board but also allows chalk to be stored on the natural ledges. Here, you see the touching up around the ledge. Another coat of black oxide followed by curing. Then, the blackboard paint will be applied. Nothing like a concrete chalkboard!

A better view of the chalkboard from the kids' vantage point. The two wooden boards are supporting the frame for the ceiling which will soon be covered in cedar planks and beautiful Maasai fabric. Alec, Sue, Len, Karl, Mckenzie, Judith and I would have loved to see the ceiling fully completed. Photos will have to do for now, but we all know that we will see it in the near future.

Alec and Karl's design includes a full wall for the chalkboard. The board extends low to the ground so that children of all ages may access this learning and teaching tool. We have also included a concrete step for the teacher (walimu) so that he/she is visible to all of the students. Numbers may range from 30 to 100 pupils in one classroom. This step will be very valuable.

The blackboard paint must still be applied. That is happening this coming Monday!

Goodbyes are always difficult, for me especially. I settle so easily in new places, which makes it that much harder to leave. I'm not the best with balance (work in progress). All or nothing kind of person - applies to work, relationships, commitments etc... I really treasure the people in this community and love the work that H4H is doing with the support of so many people both in Ewaso Ngiro and in Canada. A really difficult day for me, but comforted by the fact that H4H will be back and focused on trying to celebrate the many successes of the trip. Have you figured out that I am somewhat driven by emotion, but rest assured that the intellect does take over from the emotion after a short period of time. ha ha.

After exchanging words of thanks, friendship, greetings to be extended to Canadian partners, I left the Oleleshwa Primary School work site for the last time - on THIS trip. The waves are meant for the many supporters at home in Canada.

Oleleshwa is the new Oprah Winfrey Academy!

2010-06-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

George working on the first coat of plaster covering the stone walls. You will see a remarkable difference.

Malcolm, jovial, fun, and proud of his Maasai culture, but always focused on the job when working.

Charles, quiet and friendly, hard at work standing on a drum to finish around the windows. Look closely at the wall and the edges of the window. You will be impressed later on!

There are five windows on this side as well as on the opposite side of the classroom. The frames will be painted red and the shutters/louvers will remain grey. The four doors will be painted red.

Why four doors? I have been asked this question on many occasions. Karl and Alec designed the classroom to open up to a large outdoor learning area which will also house a 10 000L water tank collecting rainwater from each classroom roof. The idea is that the classroom can also be used for community gatherings or celebrations. The doors allow for traffic flow and openness. An outdoor learning area may encourage the use of objects or manipulatives for learning as well as provide an additional space that can be easily supervised for pair or group work. The four doors invite or allow the outdoors to become part of the classroom.

Between the pillars, there will be wooden benches constructed for seating and for shade. As the project progresses to include more classrooms and latrines, Alec and Karl have plans in mind for the landscaping to protect the soil, reduce the winds, create shaded areas to play and learn as well as natural divides for the livestock area, library, kitchen, latrines, and administration block. Water features will also be key.
In photos from a previous blog, you could see where stones had to be removed or chipped away for the installation of the windows. Now you can see how they have worked to finish around the window frames. Slanted ledges have been added to the bottom of the windows to allow for water run off away from the building.

Now you can really see Malcolm, Charles and George at work in their craft - masonry. The glass for the top of the windows will be installed later in the week. Once the plastering is finished inside and outside, the plywood and plastic will be installed along the edges and across the ceiling area. These will then be covered by lovely cedar planks (6 inches in width) and Maasai shukas (two types of red Maasai fabrics) to create the beautiful ceiling.

The camera cannot or I, the photographer, cannot truly capture the workmanship around the windows. To see how rough it was, and now the smooth finish and precise edges/corners for the windows is impressive.

My last hour in Ewaso Ngiro. A great group of men dedicated to the building of Oleleshwa Primary School. In Malcolm and Benett/Bernard's words, "Oleleshwa is giving hope and a future to children for many years to come. It is morale for this community." Upon which I burst into tears. From left: Malcolm, Patrick, Tobiko, George, Charles, James, and Bennett/Bernard.

Windows and Beads

2010-05-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Along the ring beam, you will notice stones and mortar. These are now completely covered with one coat of plaster. The second application of plaster will round the edges to give the school the look of a traditional manyatta. The crew tried two methods before deciding on using the stones which were readily available and much faster to build with.

Another look at the stones above the ring beam!

Here Malcolm applies the plaster to the earth bags, the other method of creating the rounded edges. The burlap bags were filled with a mixture of soil and cement and joined together with barbed wire. To adhere the plaster, the bags were covered with chicken wire.

The interior walls have received their first coat of plaster. Here Malcolm and James determine which areas need to be scraped down and which are evenly coated. Malcolm will use the straight edged piece of wood to scrape down the excess until flat or even. Off to the side, George is filling in the gaps with plaster!

Last Saturday, five windows were delivered. The men spent the day installing them with precision. Now, the masons must finish around the windows before the glass will be inserted at the top. The windows are bi-fold, louvered windows with a glass pane at the top which can be opened to allow air flow.

Sam is working very hard to finish the "special order/design" windows and doors. He has been faced with numerous power outages in Narok as well as the challenges that come with working a new design. He will be an expert in time for the next few classrooms!

Here you can see the masonry work that has to be done in the next few days to secure the windows and to finish them nicely. You also get to see how the windows will open! Their design, besides aesthetically pleasing and ventilation, is very important for security purposes.

Beautiful work! The women are learning complex sandal designs that will include the flower, tear drop, a large band, and a series of circles to adorn the leather. This group will also be learning to make the sandals from the raw leather materials in the near future. Once they have saved 15 000 Kenya shillings in their bank account, H4H will match their savings to assist in purchasing a grinder and the start up materials for the leather sandal making project. The beading is their true artistic contribution. If anyone can assist with information on treating leather, please contact info@harambee4humanity.org. We have other ideas brewing!

Nothing like sitting outside and honing your craft! Let's not forget that in addition to fetching water, finding a fuel source for cooking, milking cows and goats, cooking, cleaning, and trying to secure an income, the women are raising their children. Right side, you will see her daughter beside her. Again, I cannot believe that the women can carve out two to four hours (three times a week) to attend training and group meetings. They really want to provide for their families through this supportive group. Determined, motivated, and eager to secure change for their children and their community.

Artists indeed. As mentioned in a previous entry, the women in the beading group are trying new beading techniques as well as being introduced to new patterns and colour schemes. The variety will reach a broader market when selling their goods. The women are learning a few patterns that will eventually be used to make leather sandals. For the time being, the women are practising on cloth bags donated by a prison in Gravenhurst, On. These bags will be used to encourage the reduction or elimination of plastic bags in Ewaso Ngiro and to start up their beading business.

Farmer Kyla or Aspiring Farmer??

2010-05-29T04:28:00.000-07:00

As you leave Ewaso Ngiro town and walk in the more remote or rural areas, you will find the traditional manyattas or OTC. These are constructed by the women and require frequent upkeep. The home includes an area for "new livestock arrivals" to keep warm, a central area with an open fire, and two or three open rooms for sleeping on either side of the fire. While smokey and dark, the homes are warm and welcoming. We sit on wooden benches or beautiful seats to talk and share chai. Because of the mud/dung construction and the sweet milk from the cows and goats, there are many flies to contend with. With time, you quickly become accustomed and swatting becomes a natural instinct rather than discomfort.

We visited the Kimorgo family to milk their cows after our kicking cow remained uncooperative. Each wife in this family had two homes - one for the drier season and one meant for the rainy season. In the background, you will see that the rainy season home has a roof constructed with iron sheets. I also have a great picture of one manyatta that has been abandoned and is simply decaying or returning to the natural elements. Due to the use of sticks, dung, and mud, there is no negative impact on the environment.

On our milking excursion, Leila and I came across a little boy playing in a woodpile. I watched for awhile and took his photo to show him. A nice way to connect!

Poultry really? Life can be pretty interesting and lead you down paths you never imagined or bring you full circle. For those who knew me growing up, I dreamed of being a veterinarian and I hoped to own a hobby farm. Somehow, I ended up being an elementary school teacher whose sabbatical in Kenya has resulted in many extraordinary experiences. Funny enough, I ended up realizing my veterinary ambitions by volunteering at the Kenya Wildlife Service taking care of cheetahs, lions, various primates, and even a leopard cub.

As for farming, aside from my adventurous farming experience in Muskoka (poor cow), I am now in cattle, sheep, and goat country. I have witnessed the castration of young bulls, learned to milk a cow, observed how the various clans mark their livestock (brand or cut), played with newborn lambs and goats, and now find myself learning everything there is to know about poultry farming.

One of the women's co-operatives has chosen to pursue poultry farming as their business activity. I have been spending the last couple of weeks in "poultry training" and doing a great deal of research on this type of farming. The ministry of agriculture and ministry of livestock are providing weekly training sessions for the women. The photo was taken during one of the class sessions. I am also meeting with various "fundis" and farmers to see their poultry house designs.

While the women do have a few hens and roosters at home, we want to ensure that the specialized housing and the training will assist with running a poultry business with numbers of close to 100 chicks, hens, and a rooster or two. Special consideration for hygiene, sanitation, daily cleaning of feeders, vaccinations, disease prevention, and scheduled feedings are areas the women will focus on to ensure the success of their business. The poultry house will be key to prevent diseases and to provide security from hyenas, serval cats, predatory birds, snakes, and dogs.

I am learning a great deal about small-scale farming in rural Kenya. The people in this area are now turning to agriculture as the government established or demarcated parcels of land for the Maasai community. One of the observations that I have made, which then led to numerous discussions with community members, is the low price they receive for their agricultural goods. I have really been investigating the role of the "brokers or middle people" in keeping the prices extremely low so that goods can be sold in Nairobi or other huge centres for much higher. The labour, human wildlife conflict and costs of farming are certainly not recuperated in the meagre prices for their efforts. Another observation is the low prices the people in Ewaso Ngiro receive for their goat and cow hides. More on this topic later...

It is funny because at times, I really reflect on just how much I have learned through my work with H4H and feel good, but often, I am reminded or amazed by how much I do not know. I see that whatever path I choose to follow - teaching, international work, farming, veterinary work or public speaking, I see that I will always be in a position to learn and to further develop my ability to be flexible and adapt to change. I mean really, did I ever think or predict that I would be collaborating on a construction project in Kenya????

Mama Tobiko's goat gave birth the very morning this photo was taken. Really cute to see and of course, I was incredibly excited. However, Mama Tobiko followed this news with a description of how her manyatta was surrounded by hyenas the previous night. They managed to take a goat from the boma (sticks, thorn bushes woven tightly together to protect the animals in the centre). She explained that the hyenas are many and that their sounds keep her up at night. She also said that the lions often frequent her area after the rains. Interestingly, her home is less than a kilometre away from Oleleshwa Primary School. Lions do not seem to pose a huge threat in the other areas due to the number of people living in close proximity. Still unnerving to think that the very areas I walk frequently can be home to dangerous predators and scavengers. I must really be in denial or taking this completely for granted. I do make a point of walking during the day and avoiding peak "attack" hours, but still...

Not the best photo BUT Leila was afraid for her life while we were in the boma milking the cows. She was trying to take photos while also running away from any approaching animal.

We woke up early Saturday morning to walk to Mama Chris' home a few kilometres away. The weather was quite cool and the air very misty as we walked along the river. Again, I cannot believe how much the temperature has dropped in the last few weeks. Either it truly is colder or I am becoming a Kenyan because I am finding myself wearing a light coat in the mornings and at night.

The cow you see in the photo is normally milked at around six a.m. but we arrived an hour later. As a result, she was quite testy and proceeded to kick on a few occasions. In the end, I was wearing more milk than what I managed to collect in the container. Mama Chris had to tie her to the fence and hold her legs, but still she managed to kick.

Mama Chris (without a head in photo) was coming to instruct me on proper technique. Despite being kicked and swatted by the tail, I was determined to fill the pail. After quite a long time, it was determined that I needed additional practice! It really is about technique. Poor Cow!

After milking, we proceeded to visit a few families in different manyattas. Each so welcoming and serving us chai. I wish you could see the inside of the manyatta as my description is much too limiting. One observation (in all of the homes) is the thickness of the smoke that is produced from the open fire located in the centre of the manyatta. The smoke has only a very small hole to escape from. On either side of the fire are the two sleeping areas for the family. One mother recently gave birth and her newborn was sound asleep on the leather hide beside the open fire.

One thing that H4H has learned is that our solar lights are not as effective in the manyattas because of the smoke. We piloted three lamps and all three families reported the same. We have adjusted our thinking based on these observations. Retrofitting smoke hoods or installing chimney stoves will become an important area to focus on rather than solar lighting for now. Indoor air pollution is responsible for the deaths of almost two million children under the age of 5. This highlights the importance of visiting with the community members or undertaking a community needs assessment before initiating a project.

Before heading home at nine in the morning, Mama Chris served us beef stew and chapati for breakfast. Nicholas is determined that she feed me. He is worried about my "shrinking". Covered in milk, cow dung, flies by the thousands, dust (winds are strong and rains have ceased), and newborn lamb, Leila and I chose to head home to shower before coming to town to begin this blog. No complaints about a cold shower that morning! I just needed to feel clean. Another incredible experience to say the least.
Just love the sky and tree line hapa (here) especially in the evening light!

Women's Groups and Never a Dull Moment!

2010-05-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

After a day of work, it is routine to visit the local women at the market to purchase vegetables for dinner or fruit and eggs for breakfast. We try to purchase from each woman to ensure that we are supporting equally. As the sun sets, we begin the walk along the river towards home for the night. Often, I stop to greet a group of children who have learned to call me by my name rather than "mzungu". This is always an opportunity to practise my ever-growing Swahili vocabulary. It is also a reminder to stop and slow down as I have been pretty driven in the last few weeks.

On this day, I was hurrying home when i spotted this little boy in the tree. I could not help myself and took out the camera. Before I knew it, many children surrounded me striking various poses asking for their photo to be taken. Unending joy for both the children and their parents when they see themselves on camera. As it was getting dark, I needed to be on my way and promised to return the next day with the camera. Yesterday, another photo shoot!

The first introductory session for the Sewing Group. By the way, each group has chosen a name in KiMaasai that represents their purpose or their determination. I will include these in my next blog.

I will be adding better photos of the sewing group who are now operating three machines and one "overlock" - serger purchased through the support of H4H donours. Kennedy is a dynamic tailor from Narok who comes twice a week (7 to 8 hours) to train the women. Kennedy has started his class lessons with how to repair and oil the machines. Next, he focused on teaching the women how to take precise measurements from clients. Today, Kennedy is focusing on how to cut patterns and to sew straight lines. These eight women are incredibly motivated and feisty. They are quite focused during their classroom lessons, but at times, you can also hear their laughter from across the road. This is really what it is about!

This project did not get off the ground after my 2008 visit. The reason - no training. This time, two months of training - twice a week - was part of the H4H start-up for this group. Kennedy, Leila, and I have introduced the sewing of cloth bags (recycled materials as well as beautiful Kenyan prints) to reduce plastic in the community, the sewing of washable sanitary pads, making beautiful shirts or bathing suit wraps from Kenyan Kangas, sewing their traditional shangas, and lastly, MAKING THE NEW SCHOOL UNIFORMS FOR OLELESHWA PRIMARY SCHOOL! Under the direction of two tailors, these women will learn valuable and marketable skills. For the time being, the women are each donating a sum of money per week to establish their bank account and to purchase materials for training. The personal investment was decided by the women's group to ensure accountability and seriousness. Next, business training and how to get their products out on the market. To contribute to their community, the women will donate a few school uniforms per month to a family in need! Amazing really!

The Knitting Group.

H4H and its supporters were able to purchase two knitting machines for this group of ten women. In addition to the machines, we are paying for six weeks of training. Janet, expert, meets daily for 4 to 6 hours to train the women in two shifts. Mama Daniel spent an entire day cleaning out her "store" - storage shed - to be used as the knitting classroom. Janet has started teaching the women to make knitted hats. Once they have been successful in knitting three hats without any questions, the women will move onto socks. Once their socks have met Janet's standards, the women will begin knitting the PULLOVERS (black with white detailing) FOR OLELESHWA PRIMARY SCHOOL UNIFORMS. Some of the women have already started selling their hats which is great. More importantly, the women are quite motivated, and really excited about their skill development so far.

When the women are not using the machines directly, Janet is teaching them to "darn" and mend knitted items. While the women are learning, they are often caring for or breastfeeding their young children. Incredible, because they still have so much to attend to when they return home.

The Nadupa Women's Group is a group of twenty women starting a poultry business. This Friday we have a two hour training session with the agricultural officer to ensure proper standards are followed as well as health and sanitation methods. Here we are meeting for the second time in the outdoors. Some women became distracted by the digital camera and proceeded to take a variety of photos.

This group will be longer in getting started as we feel training is critical to their success. Many of the women have "local poultry" at home, but it is something different to raise several dozen for the purpose of hatching chicks, selling eggs, or selling meat birds as a business enterprise. Our first few sessions focused on challenges the group may face, the knowledge that already exists among the women (point of departure), the opening of their bank account and its structure (savings, contributions to Oleleshwa Project, and money set aside to run their project independently), and where/how to market their chickens. While H4H will assist with the start-up costs (housing, fencing, feed, vaccinations, nesting boxes etc...), the women have presented a clear plan of their contributions which include: donation of time to build the poultry house, commitment to all training sessions on a weekly basis with livestock and agricultural ministry, daily upkeep of the poultry according to the standards, contributions from their "Merry Go Round" to build up their bank account for project maintenance or expansion, and working with Leila on a monthly basis for accountability and support.

Again, these women are so devoted and serious about the project. They are quite excited at the prospect of running a successful business.

During the women's beading group, I had the opportunity to just sit among them and watch their creative talents at work. I took out my camera to capture different images, but I am realizing the camera is not always effective in doing so or should I say the photographer is not always effective. There are some landscapes, candid opportunities, and cloud formations that are so beautiful and yet, i cannot manage to photograph their true likeness or wonder. Any photographers out there? Please send any tips or advice.

Because I cannot depend on the camera or myself, for that matter, I always make sure to view the image with the eye so that I can remember its true beauty. The camera has become a way of documenting incredible experiences so that I do not forget or so that I can share with others. It has also been a tool to stop and admire what is around me.

I happened to watch several kids playing around their mothers for a period of time. First, I was struck by the independence of the children who occupied themselves for a long time without toys or constant reinforcement, and secondly, the ability to turn any found material into a game or exploration activity. I just watched and took photographs which was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. These two kids caught my eye!

Mama Chief. This is the mother to the Chief of the area. You will see his photo further below. Mama Chief is quite a contradiction. She carries herself in a regal manner and wears a stony expression. Rarely does she show emotion which can be rather intimidating. Sue and I commented on her stern disposition earlier on our trip. However, when she smiles, she is the warmest person. Since then, I have come to see what an incredible woman she truly is.

Mama Chief and I have started to communicate more frequently through limited KiMaasai, gestures, and touch. She is a lovely person when she lets her guard down. Mama Chief is part of the beading group, but she has difficulty seeing at times. We gave her reading glasses left by Tom, Lorna, Bob, Shirley, Ann and Vanita. I am not sure if they left them intentionally or not. Although she is not wearing them in this photo, Mama Chief has since joined the beading training. Here, she is beading a flower pattern newly introduced to the group! Behind her, you will see the structure of Mama Tobiko's manyatta.
The scary part is that I am becoming so accustomed to my life here that I am no longer surprised by much. However, as I was sitting among the beading group members, I made a point of taking in the scene. How amazing to be sitting in a rural area among traditional Maasai women collaborating on a beading project!! Would I ever have predicted this a few years ago?

This group is really special to me because of their sheer determination and motivation. Five of these women walk several kilometres to attend these beading sessions - often arriving two hours late. The group is supportive because of the many responsibilities they must attend to before embarking on their journey to our meeting place. We will not be using chairs or tables as you can see Mama Tobiko's house in the background!

The women are excellent in their craft, but they have come to realize that traditional Maasai beading has a limited market. The group has welcomed Leila's training in different beading techniques (faster and less damaging to their fingers) as well as the variety of patterns that she is introducing. While the group is enjoying Leila's training, they repeatedly ask to get started on their work.

The women will be starting with adorning cloth bags made from the prison in Gravenhurst, ON to assist us with reducing the use of plastic bags in Ewaso Ngiro. They have agreed to use a Merry Go Round format to save money to purchase beads for this work. Their bank account will be structured (as agreed by the group) to include a savings plan, money set aside to purchase materials for their next BIG project (leather sandals), funds to support Oleleshwa Primary School, and beading materials. The rest of the money is deemed profit to be split among all the members.

Attention Safari Operators, look for this business to be established right beside the Oleleshwa Primary School signboard. Please stop with tourists to support a wonderful group of women and also the construction of Oleleshwa! Amos, project leader as well as safari operator, will be working closely with the women to attract the numerous safari vans that will pass them daily. Our long-term goal is to build a large community centre on the school property -30 acres- so that the various women's groups can each work on their craft while being visited by tourists, school groups, or other women's co-operatives. Rather than a curio shop, the women would run a gift shop with a part of the proceeds benefitting Oleleshwa Primay School and the Secondary School which is part of our long-term plan as well. Leila will be visiting the women monthly to assist them and to help them access key markets for their wares.

Never a dull moment and be prepared for anything.

I was approaching the school site when the district chief greeted me and informed me how impressed he was with the school. He proceeded to tell me that he was shutting the town down for a period of a few hours, so that we could greet the Provincial District Officer. He mentioned that I should be on site to greet him followed by attendance at a community meeting. Now, without zooming in on this picture, please look at my attire. I believe I forfeited the cold shower that morning and simply threw clothes on knowing it was a full day of work and delaying the torture of a cold shower with blowing winds. Only then to find out that I was greeting the provincial D.O. and briefing him on H4H projects in the community. Oh well, just another part of the adventure.

The chief saluted the D.O. on several occasions. Now, while I do respect authority and proven leadership, I am not in favour of hierarchy and rituals that establish rank. However, I know it exists and I must get over my idealistic notions. It was interesting to watch all of the saluting and formalities.

I had the opportunity to represent H4H, the donours, school design team, and volunteers. The D.O. and I had the opportunity to discuss the origins of our project as well as our future goals and plans. He was very attentive and asked many direct questions. Part of his message was to ensure co-operation and transparency by the community when collaborating on this project. He was also in town to monitor community development initiatives in the area. The D.O. was determining the chief's role and his level of support for infrastructure, agriculture, education, and poverty reduction. The D.O. and I spoke at length about the need for education in Ewaso Ngiro especially at the Secondary level. He was quite upfront about his desire to see a Secondary school in the future. I assured him that H4H had developed a relationship with the community that supports a long-term collaboration, but that his cooperation and support would also be of great value - to which we all laughed.

Soon after the tour, we finished our photo shoot and proceeded to the town meeting which took a couple of hours. I was given a seat alongside the chief, the D.O. and special guests. Again, look at my attire. The meeting was powerful because of the respect, honesty, openness, and opportunity for all to have a voice. I am hoping that more women will address the D.O. in the future as some issues were neglected that day. The D.O. finished the meeting by addressing all of the issues that were raised and pledging his support to the work of H4H and the community. Very interesting day that requires further elaboration indeed!

The D.O. wanted photos of this day to record community initiatives that could be shared with other areas, but also to record his activities for the day. Accountable and Transparent! The Chief is on my left and the D.O. is on my right. We are surrounded by the school construction team and the school committee members.

Following this exchange and photo op., we attended a community meeting which was mandatory for all members of Ewaso Ngiro. The town was shut down and attendance expected. I was really happy to have attended as members of the community had an opportunity to raise issues that concerned them. I learned a great deal that day that will assist me with our future work. It also gave me some insights on the politics, the issues, and security threats that affect Ewaso Ngiro. The community is so protective of us that we were not made aware of certain points. While I do understand that their intentions are well-meaning, this information really does assist us with project completion and certain decisions we must make. Interestingly, it was through this meeting that I found out about the theft of the timber that had taken place the night before. All in all, another interesting experience and some insight into the political workings of the community, local government as well as provincial government.

I was sitting at the table recording my many receipts from the day's purchase of building materials for the school when I noticed a pink glow on the wall. For a moment, I was too lazy to get up and see, but fortunately, my curiosity prevailed and I was rewarded with this unbelievable sky. I called out to Leila (project leader currently visiting Ewaso Ngiro) to admire the sky with me. We ran across the field with our cameras and cell phones to try and record the sight. The sun was setting so quickly, but we managed to take in its final moments. Absolutely, beautiful! I'm not sure that I finished my receipts that night. Such distractions, wonders or not, are not good for someone looking to procrastinate from bookkeeping.

On that note, I will take the opportunity to journal a little on my recent experiences. As I have mentioned in previous blogs or correspondence, there has been a great deal to learn especially in the area of construction. I'm sure Len, Alec and Karl shake their heads when they read my description of the various phases of building. When unsure, simply make up your own terms. While incredibly labour intensive and usually requiring a full day in Narok, it has been a positive experience to purchase the materials for the project. This has really helped me to understand the magnitude of the project and the importance of certain design features. Purchasing the materials has really helped H4H's accountability and quotes for future classrooms. Overwhelming and exhausting at times, but also empowering to learn something new. I can talk the "fundy" talk - well, almost.

This has been my longest trip yet to Kenya and absolutely my busiest. In addition to the school building project, H4H continues to work with Charles in the central province supporting various agricultural and tree planting projects in the community/schools while also working alongside a committed group of women sewing washable sanitary pads. A most successful project.

Because I have been able to spend so much time in one community, I have had the opportunity to really dialogue with the community members in Ewaso Ngiro to determine their short-term and long-term needs. Issues such as: sanitation, elimination of solid waste, viable business opportunities, education on small-scale farming, knowledge of target markets for their crafts or agricultural products, and the Maasai people capitalizing on goods in their area rather than simply exporting to the Nairobi market for low, low prices have been addressed and discussed. Educating all children and engaging idle youth were issues deemed as priority!

H4H has been able to host discussion groups and to research/provide information to help raise awareness or to help set an informed plan of action to address some of these issues. Sharing information and introducing small ideas have been powerful tools to initiate dialogue and action among the community members. They are such a strong, cohesive group, that when armed with information, forge ahead to combat issues that affect them.

One of the biggest challenges that I have faced, but also the most rewarding is the formation of five women's groups in Ewaso Ngiro. Each group is committed to learning and developing a new skill that will provide them with a business opportunity to improve their family's living standards and to ensure education for their children. The groups have come up with their own ideas on how they can play a role in supporting Oleleshwa Primary School or a community initiative that will benefit high risk individuals. Another important reason to develop the women's co-operatives is the support that they can give one another when facing difficult circumstances.

Have I taken on too much? Perhaps, but the work feels right. I have learned so much sitting with these women and really believe they can impact their families and community.

I have since discovered that passion can only carry you so far! This week I found myself rather tired and too driven. I was trying to meet too many demands at the expense of my food intake (which I love) or rest. My first realization came when Nicholas approached me on Saturday to say that I was not like myself. He was worried that I looked tired and was "shrinking". What got me was when he said he was calling on the women to check on me and bring meals to my door. Here, I am trying to work on lessening the burden carried by women in this community and now, I was becoming one. Nicholas also insisted that I take a day off. He spread the word in the community that nobody was to call me or request my assistance. Leila stood watch at home to make sure that i did not leave. I did manage to sneak a visit to the school site late that afternoon but was sent away for they feared going against Nicholas' wishes. ha ha!

The epiphany for me was when I realized I was becoming disconnected from the people so that I could meet my goals for the day. I was not noticing the scenery nor taking the time to chat with people offering chai throughout the day. I was beginning to do what I often do at home which is to postpone social engagements. What has made me love my time in Kenya is the spirit of community, putting things aside (no matter their importance) to have chai, and the beautiful landscape. For a week, I could not remember enjoying the above-mentioned list. I was even beginning to get annoyed with "African time" and people being late for meetings. I was even bypassing the standard warm greetings to get right to the point. I am also sure that I possessed that look of intensity (where do I get that from? ha ha) I get when driven to finish projects. I believe this is what Nicholas was referring to when he said I did not look the same.

While there are no worries to be had that the school will not be completed, there were days that the budget had to be squeezed to its limit to reach all of our goals. I certainly know this is part of construction, but it did get to me this week. Sorry for the cliche and being all spiritual but the universe does sometimes provide a gentle nudge. As I was hurrying to my meeting late Saturday after facing a few challenges, I came across a Maasai man walking 20km home after the Market Day. He stopped me to ask where I was from and what was I doing in this part of town. I pointed him to the school and explained the building of Oleleshwa. The man grabbed both my hands and assured me that I (H4H) was doing the best thing possible for the community. Even though he would not benefit from the school directly, he spoke at length of the benefit to the children and how education is a powerful instrument of change. Now that lifted my spirits but still the universe continued....

As I continued walking, two girls (age 10 or so) approached me to buy them "sweets" argh or to buy them something at the market. I simply replied "shillingi kwa shule" meaning money is for the school. They asked if I was part of Oleleshwa. I proceeded to explain that we were committed to building many classrooms and remain committed until a secondary school was started on the remaining acres. I emphasized that I wanted them to become future leaders in the community and that I expected future scientists, mathmeticians, or linguists of them. The girls thanked me sincerely and said that going to school was indeed their wish. Another boost and reassurance that this is indeed the right thing to do despite any challenges. I feel that I must interrupt this episode of Chicken Soup for the Soul to state that we have been truly fortunate when facing challenges. All have been small or manageable and readily solved. This has been a successful project from the start! I had my eyes opened once again and began slowing down to enjoy the journey for all of its experiences - goals or not.

For those of you who know me personally, there is a cow theme in my life for some reason!

Such a serene photo. I had the nice opportunity to walk among many cows and their newborn calves ranging from one week to two days old. It was so funny to watch the calves run around and kick their legs after a full belly. The variety in colour and in the size of the cows was really something to appreciate - cow lover or not! But then... a moment that was going to shatter this lovely image for me forever. A very scary instrument was placed before me among the snickering of the men around me. Please imagine a very large or industrial sized eyelash curler or the biggest set of pliers you have ever seen. Although it did not require explanation, It was announced that the castration of the three year old bulls was to commence.

It had been a really long, productive day as I was entering the gate where we live. My thoughts were consumed with food, a refreshing beverage and sitting down to relax. Not to be the case! Amos and his friend, William, yelled from a car window to join them on an adventure. They were laughing and suggested that I should really join them. I took a breath and reminded myself that part of my time here was to experience new things and so i agreed.

We drove about five kilometres from our home when we came across many zebras. Amos mentioned that the zebras come to graze close to the manyattas at night to remain safe from the lions. This really surprised me because I just assumed the lions were close to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and not close to where I happened to live. Denial or city girl - not really sure why I would have held this particular belief considering the terrain and what I know of the Kenyan wildlife. However, I was shocked with this news. Amos informed me that this area has numerous lions as well as hyenas, jackals, and elephants. Usually, the life around a manyatta is enough to keep the wildlife away, but lions sometimes do attack the local cattle. An incident had occurred only one week ago. I laughed thinking about the daily walk we take to the school grounds!

Back to the castration... It really was something to watch the men capture the bulls from among the many cows in the boma. I stayed far away as no close-up was desired. I also had a tremendous fear of being trampled, but the men were quite skilled in their capture. As for the actual castration, I will spare you of the details. I spent a lot of time gazing everywhere but where the work was taking place. I felt incredible empathy or sympathy pains for those poor boys. The men thought this was a great experience, but I don't believe this will be repeated in my lifetime. Curling my eyelashes will never be the same. At some point, I will have to give a more personal account of this experience in true Kyla fashion.

The musings of Kyla... While saving this blog, I lost a few photos and anecdotes. Hopefully, they will surface at another time.

The Roof is On!!!!!!!!

2010-05-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

May 9th, 2010.

May 17th, 2010

One week ago! A community effort as many people were asked to report to the site on Market Day as well as Monday to lift the trusses! In true form, community members came out to support their school! This is not a light request as many people are taking care of their livestock or working in their shambas (gardens) harvesting, watering the crops, or repairing the damage from elephants. A lot of work goes into the shambas and a huge financial commitment when you consider fertilizers, pesticides (talk on this later), seeds, and fuel for generators for those who can irrigate.

The really sad fact is that much of their produce sells for as low as five shillings up to 20 shillings (One Canadian dollar equals 75 Kenya Shillings). Small-scale farming is a lot of work for very little return. The price of some produce has not changed in over twenty years while the cost to operate farms has increased dramatically. Brokers or "Middle People" really keep the price down, but turn around and sell the produce for very high prices in Nairobi or other distribution areas. The brokers have a lot of power which keeps the farmers selling at such low prices. Certain produce, like Kale, has flooded the market leading to low prices as well. I have since had the opportunity to research some information on farming and produce variety to share with the community. Hopefully, this is something that will change in the future as too much hard work is taking place for very little return especially when surviving is at stake.

Sorry, off on yet another tangent! The point was the investment of the community in this school building project.

Ahh, the infamous truss! It was great (more than great, actually) that Alec, Karl and Len could be here to work with the wood and make the necessary adjustments. We have shared many laughs over the hard work required to build these trusses as well as the number of broken tools and innovative designs using drill bits, a welder, and a steel bar to get the job done. The wood has certainly been a challenge, but the design is wonderful.

Measuring and setting string lines for the supporting timbers. Many precise measurements were taken to ensure the iron sheets would reach the edge just so. That is exactly what happened! A great deal of time has gone into ensuring precision and exact calculations. This conscientiousness is not always apparent to the outside observer, but our volunteers, designers, and skilled workers have demonstrated such on numerous occasions. Sometimes deadlines must be flexible to allow for problem-solving and quality work!

This is when I had to stop watching. While Malcolm seemed quite comfortable and agile walking around, I thought it best to leave the site for awhile to avoid transmitting any of my fear and worry. I know some of you are nodding your heads right now!

George is sitting on a length of timber that was moved forward as he worked so that he could nail down the supports for the iron sheets and saw off the overhang. Health and Safety - What!?

It almost looks posed, but I assure you, it is a candid photo. Bennett/Bernard seems to like being framed by the window of the school. This is not the first photo of him in this location.

At one point, all the men had sunglasses on to complete the roof. It was a sight but I can just imagine the glare. What amazes me is the ease with which they walk around the ring beam and trusses without any safety lines. At one point, I could not watch the men standing on the top beams lifting the heavy timbers or the iron sheets.

An aside (linking to previous comment about the sun's glare), since the two weeks of steady rain, the evenings have started to cool down significantly. It is really difficult to persuade yourself to go outside to take a cold shower when the temperatures are so cool and the winds so strong. The days continue to be hot but the temperatures do drop significantly as the sun sets. I am finding myself wearing warmer clothing which has not been the case in the last two months.

I also must mention that with the two weeks of rain, came many insects. We could not go outside at night because of the numerous toads and the swarm of locusts attacking the doorway. With the rains, came cockroaches and the absolutely dreaded Nairobi fly. We came to learn of the fly after Sue's eye swelled and caused her considerable pain. She was a trooper indeed because I have heard horror stories and I have seen significant scarring from this fly. In the last two weeks, we have found many in our beds, the kitchen and the outdoor toilet.

The fly (not really a fly but a beetle - thanks Len) does not bite but releases a toxic compound that burns the skin and leads to a bacterial infection. Since Sue's departure, we have come across three other people who have come into contact with this fly. Their injuries were quite significant to their face, arm, and leg. Sue, I cannot believe how well you handled the pain and pushed onwards with your work. Needless to say, the drier and cooler temperatures seemed to have reduced the number of insects in the last few days. I don't experience the imaginary crawling sensation that plagued me for a few nights while trying to sleep.

. Close to the "sundowner" but working onwards to finish the roof!

A view of the heavy trusses supporting the iron sheets. It took several community members to lift them onto the school to be supported in place by the fundies. The trusses are held together with special order bolts from Nairobi and NUMEROUS kgs of nails. The community is proud, not only of the beauty of the design, but also the strength.

In the end, the foreman arranged for a generator and a power drill to make the holes in the last two trusses. It was agreed by all workers that a generator would be welcomed for the next classroom to drill and to saw this very strong wood. It took a lot of muscle, energy, a constant rotation of workers/volunteers, and broken tools to construct this roof!

Love the ladder. Tobiko (seen on ladder) has been devoted to this project from the very beginning. In addition to full days at the site, he will now be sleeping on the school grounds as a watchmen. We faced a small challenge this week with the theft of some of our timber. When the workers arrived on site, they noticed the footprints and followed them. The thief and the "buyer" were caught.

The community has decided to mete out the punishment rather than send them to jail. The community decided that the "thief" must pay three times the amount taken. We can expect 21 timbers or the value of such by May 30th. To lift one timber takes great effort as they are so heavy - no small feat!

It is really fascinating watching the community at work. The elders are given such respect and each member gets an opportunity to be heard. For this reason, meetings last for hours, but solutions are community based and cannot be disputed later on. An interesting experience to go through especially with such a positive ending.

The last row of iron sheets (mabati) to be placed on the trusses during the late afternoon on Saturday, Market Day! The team agreed to stay until the roof was complete. They were pretty pleased to see the roof finished, but even more impressed with their precise planning and measurements. The iron sheets came right to the edge of the supports, looking very impressive! Unfortunately, I did not witness the placement of the final sheet due to a meeting. However, as i was walking home, I turned to look in the school's direction and I could clearly see the roof. I must have been smiling because I was soon joined by people leaving the market. I took a few moments to talk about Oleleshwa Primary School with them and we parted with lovely words of gratitude. Wow! Alec and Karl, you would have been at the "Favourite Pub" celebrating a great day and milestone.

Ring Beam, Trusses, Windows/Doors, and Pot Pourri

2010-05-10T04:41:00.000-07:00

Habari za siku nyingi? (How have you been since we last talked or blogged?)

Oleleshwa Primary School will have 10 louvered bi-fold windows made from steel (designed by Alec and Karl). Here, they are discussing the angle and spacing of the louvers on the sample window which needed to be changed. The windows are designed to allow for air flow but also to reduce direct sunlight. The glass at the top will allow for diffused light and the windows will ensure proper security for the school. We will also have 4 double louvered doors opening to the outdoor space. Again, designed by Alec and Karl. All will be installed in approximately three weeks time.

Malcolm and James are placing anchor bolts and steel plates into the concrete while it is curing. These bolts will safely fasten the trusses in the near future.

No cement mixer here! Many buckets of concrete were carried up to the top of the wall by the hard working crew.

Karl climbed up to the top of the wall to take this photo of the form work just prior to pouring the concrete.

Placing the rebar in the forms!

Final preparations for the pouring of the ring beam!

While this is not the best photo, I was excited to show you all the sign board for the school. Eventually, the sign will be redesigned to include the logo and the motto for Oleleshwa Primary School, but this will happen with time and as a mission statement evolves. The sign board was erected on Sunday when over two hundred community members were gathering to bid us farewell. It was great to see the looks of surprise and joy as they witnessed yet another milestone. We also wanted to highlight that this project is indeed driven by the community with support from Canadians. The centre message on the board states, "A Proud Collaboration Between the Ewaso Ngiro and Canadian Communities". The community really values the support received!

Everybody's Doooooing a Brand New Dance Now...

Think - This is The House that Jack Built... What I really mean is that this is the drill that Greg built - well, sort of... After Greg's cordless drill failed and the men on site contended with poor quality "hand drills", they devised a new strategy for Greg's heavy duty drill bit. James took the bit to a welder who attached a 16 inch bar for the incredibly low price of $2.50. Now, we have the drilling machine that we need to complete all the trusses and step trusses. More effective problem-solving!

The timber work area! The building at the back is being used as a classroom and a storage area for construction. Students are learning despite their curiosity and the obvious distractions that come from a work site. However, when you think about it, what a natural classroom! The problem-solving, math calculations, estimating, interpreting drawings, and re-design are valuable learning scenarios indeed.

Six trusses will be built in total as part of the uniquely designed roof structure. Each truss will be the same size which will make future construction easier. The slope of the roof will come from the step trusses supporting the trusses. Sorry, for using the word trusses so often, but just could not word it any other way.

Don't let this photo fool you! I have only drilled one of many holes. No power tools on this site despite our best efforts to use my husband's cordless drill. Brace and bit or "hand drill" as I call it have been used to penetrate the strong, green wood to drill through more than two inch holes. After a few broken tools, James (foreman) suggested welding a piece of metal onto a drill bit. Now, you need to see our new DRILL! Kudos to all who have worked on the trusses! A lot of sweat and thinking! As an interesting aside, they will now all have to be oiled to protect from the termites!

Daniel, 22, is an amazing young man that Greg and I met four years ago on our first trip to Kenya. He made an impression because of his knowledge, interpersonal skills, and desire for education. Daniel and I have continued to communicate because I recognized such strengths and leadership qualities. We have had many conversations about his community and engaging "idle" youth! For the last two years, Daniel and I have been working on a way to clean the community of Ewaso Ngiro from solid waste, plastics, and compost. Daniel has taken on this challenge while also trying to educate himself and be responsible for his many siblings.

Daniel has spent the last few months researching livestock death due to solid waste, health hazards of waste as well as insect or pest infestations. He put forth a proposal on how to educate and engage youth in his community to take an active role in improving their community. Daniel and I have had several meetings to discuss and make minor revisions to his proposal. We have set the project in motion. We have engaged the help of the public health officer, youth representatives, elders in the Ewaso Ngiro community, school and church leaders as well as district gov't officials.

This photo shows this impressionable young man chairing a meeting to present his proposal to the elders in the community. This morning, Daniel and the group, travelled to visit with the Narok Town Council to present the issue of solid waste disposal in the town. Daniel led the presentation to highlight the issue and its dangers, but also what role businesses, families, women's groups, churches and schools were willing to play in Ewaso Ngiro. Daniel was requesting that if a waste collection plan was put into place, would the Narok Council be willing to come and collect the waste from a transfer station. Daniel also highlighted that health education, water pollution, the shift from plastic bags, and sanitation would be part of public seminars to raise awareness and to engage the community. The project is in its infancy, but holds great promise. On thursday, we are having our first waste collection day!

Daniel's major role will be to mobilize and empower youth in his community! Wonderful things to come with this young man!

Nature's Playground!!

Toys... what toys? We simply use found materials. We played for several minutes with a tire and a stick. Kyla tried to take a video of us, but we kept stopping to pose every time the camera was pointed in our direction. Unfortunately, she prefers the candid!

Construction Updates

2010-05-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Karl and James preparing for ring beam pour

Tying the rebar!

The pillars are complete. These are framing the metal doors that are being fabricated as we speak. Like the school design, the doors and windows are unique. We see the samples today!
Members of the Oleleshwa Team.

First row: Charles (fundi/skilled labourer), Mckenzie (filmmaker), Judith(sound), James (foreman and skilled labourer)

Missing: Nicholas (in-country partner/community leader), Patrick (volunteer labourer), David (community leader and School Committe Treasurer), Charles (fundi/skilled labourer)

Second row: Amos (in-country partner/community leader), Alec (designer), Sue (dedicated volunteer), Len (dedicated volunteer and fundi), Tobiko (community volunteer), Geoffrey (Kenyan consultant), Kyla (Director of H4H - Karl and Alec's revenge with unflattering photo), Karl (designer), Bernard(community volunteer).

Back row or top level: Malcolm (fundi/skilled labourer)

Behind the Scenes - GPS and Macaulay P.S.

2010-05-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

Habari ya asubui (good morning),

The gang has returned from their safari but nobody is awake yet but me. The sun is rising as I write and the air is quite cool from last night's heavy rains. I'm wrapped in my colourful new kanga to keep warm. Interestingly, I am watching people walk by in coats and toques to ward off the chill.

As H4H works directly on the projects here in Kenya, we never lose sight of the efforts and generosity of many individuals and groups back in Canada working hard to fundraise or to raise profile about the nature of our work. It is really a collaboration by so many to see these projects through to completion. It is for this reason that Harambee 4 Humanity chose the tag line, "Linking Hands Through Action".

The community of Ewaso Ngiro has really been moved by the actions of people in a far away country like Canada. I have been pulled aside on many occasions to ask why there is such a willingness to become involved with this school project and how is it that children are helping so much. Each time I answer the questions, there is a pause before I am touched on the arm or I am blessed on behalf of the contributors or there are sincere expressions of gratitude to be shared upon my return home to Canada. There are many messages to share with you all on the community's behalf. The involvement of children has really made an impression on the men, women, and children of Ewaso Ngiro.

A little background....

Three years ago, Pine Glen Public School teacher, Shannon Creasor, and I developed a beading project for students. This idea came from a successful beading program that Shannon had already started in her classroom and as an elective program in her school. We purchased materials to make beautiful beaded book marks and zipper pulls from hemp materials in the Kenyan colours. I took this project to my classroom at Gravenhurst Public School where we had a large group of boys and girls making book marks, zipper pulls and crocheting items to sell. We began selling at school events and soon a committed group began gathering weekly to continue the project.

Today, the beading group still has its core members after three years. Leigh-la, Julianne, Natalie, Alyssa, and Alissa continue to meet once a week to create, talk, laugh incessantly, and to ask questions about issues in Kenya. They have also grown to include other devoted members to the group: Sienna, Aquilina, Jordyn, Sarah, Sierra, Josh, and Deep. The beading group is now led by Cara, Ms. Mckenzie, and Ms. Libke (who has started younger group). They are constantly coming up with new design ideas and products to sell such as bracelets, zipper pulls, wine charms, friendship pins and beaded animals. These students range from Grade 5 to Grade 7 and remain committed.

In the summer months and at peak holiday times, some of the beading group members attend craft shows and farmer's markets to raise money through the selling of their wares. They also help to raise awarenes of issues affecting the communities in Kenya. Many people have stopped to have conversations with the beading group and are quite impressed with their knowledge of issues and their skills in commerce. Thank you to Cara, Ms. Mckenzie, Ms. Libke, the parents of the students and the group members themselves. You have raised a significant amount of money for Harambee 4 Humanity projects but more importantly,
you are empowering youth by example and you have touched the community of Ewaso Ngiro in ways you cannot imagine.

To Gravenhurst Public School and Macaulay Public School staff and students, Harambee 4 Humanity would like to recognize you for your incredible generosity and commitment to the building of Oleleshwa Primary School. There is much to be gained by studying other countries or communities, but it is not easy to do so with a heavy curriculum and various other school demands. I know this firsthand! But yet, the staff at both GPS and Macaulay have gone above and beyond to enrich the lives of their students and to provide them with an opportunity to make a difference - to facilitate change in the world.

Both schools have welcomed presentations about my experiences, have pledged their support to the projects, have helped to mobilize youth or to provide them with a venue to brainstorm ways of assisting, and have raised significant funds to be used towards the building of Oleleshwa Primary School. They have used the following fundraising methods to assist H4H: Used books sales, selling beaded bracelets, selling beautiful cookies, yard sale, the selling of Pampered Chef products, and Ms. Hoskins and crew who made soup and now hamburgers to sell to hungry students and staff. Educators and students in both schools are making sure that children throughout the world are guaranteed their right to education. My work in Kenya would not be possible without the support of both schools. It serves as an inspiration to me and the community of Ewaso Ngiro! Asante Sana for your devotion to such worthwhile work!

A follow up to Ms. Nevison's grade 6 class... Through various activities: car wash, selling freezies, selling lemonade, taking pictures, selling handmade bracelets and even a video game competition the grade 6s have raised about $150 to donate to H4H this week! Ms. Nevison and I are very proud of those students who took on such an important challenge. Thank you for following the blog and for your questions. The two communities have so much to share and so much to learn from one another. Thank you for making a difference! The great part is that you will see your fundraising put to work, but you will never really know just how many people will be affected by your efforts. Your act of kindness will grow beyond what you can imagine - powerful indeed!

To the Gravenhurst women's group, thank you for meeting every Sunday to bead or to brainstorm creative beading products to sell. Beading plays a significant role in Maasai culture so your project is rather symbolic and parallels the women who gather in the community on a weekly basis to support one another. Despite how busy we are, we must not forget the importance of gathering and the spirit of community. There is much to be gained from the collective.

Just a look at some of our partners behind the scenes who are on my mind every time we move forward and experience success!

Ms. McMullen-Dent or "Kyla"

So Far So Good....

2010-05-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

I have tried walking with water on my head and with a bucket of fruit and vegetables, but with little success. Perhaps this is how I should begin my training!

And this photo opportunity! Perhaps Sue has found someone to help collect bottle tops.

Walking to my meeting with a women's group to establish knitting co-operative when I saw this photo opportunity!

Straining the soup through Oleleshwa tree roots and leaves!

Mixing the soup after removing the goat parts which were placed in the pile of leaves on the right to be shared. The soup also contains plant leaves and roots considered to be medicinal. The other men are tying up bundles of leaves to act as a strainer when pouring the soup into cups.

Sitting around the fire enjoying our goat- much respect to the goat! A wonderful experience. It has been said that the Maasai really know the art of roasting meat as it is such a part of their lives and culture.

Sorry Ms. Willis, but just one photo of my goat and the soup base behind the goat meat. This is NOT the goat that your class raised for the school; I assure you. Mama Asha and the guys were explaining that when the men and young boys would graze the cattle far away from home, they would have no supplies with them. They would simply slaughter a goat and cook much the way you see here. Nothing is wasted. All parts are roasted or boiled to make soup. I had the opportunity to experience traditional Maasai cooking. The head, part of the intestines, fat, stomach, part of legs are boiled to make a soup base and other parts will be cooked over the open fire. When the soup is ready, they will add herbs to aid with digestion and to make you strong. YES, I TRIED THE SOUP! Our soup did not contain the head today. I saw Tobiko present it to the foreman, James, to take home.

When the meat is roasted, it is placed in a pile of Oleleshwa leaves to protect it from flies (to a degree), predators, and the elements. The leaves give it a nice aroma and keep the meat warm. I really was not expecting such an experience. We ate the ribs, legs, stomach, intestines (large and small) and the blood. The liver and large intestine were being taken home by Tobiko and his family to be roasted. So... yes, I tried a few pieces of the stomach which were fried and yes, I ate a small piece of intestine cooked in goat's blood. The flavour was good but the texture and the sight of the open tube freaked me out a little. The rest of the meat was delicious and quite tender. I can't seem to get the aroma off my fingers. There is something to be said about eating with your hands - no pretenses, no formality, just the act of eating and tearing into your food. The washing of hands before and after the meal (pass a water jug along) really creates community.

I really felt honoured to share this experience and to learn more about Maasai culture. It was a memorable afternoon that I will cherish for a long time to come.

Kyla

There once was a goat....

2010-05-04T01:43:00.000-07:00

School has resumed. I'm not sure where the teacher is but the class is pretty rowdy. Even though school started yesterday, many families will take days before their children return to school. Interesting! Tomorrow, I hope to write about the many powerful meetings that I have held with the women. Also, you may be interested in knowing that my dinner party for 10 women went over well. Mama Asha was successful in teaching me to cook ugali and sukamawiki. I received approval from the group. An amazing afternoon with this group of women - also, intimate discussion about their lives. My mind rarely settles at night due to everything I process. Having said that, I fell asleep early last night due to the absolute quiet in the home here. For now, this is all I have because I'm on my way to consume roasted mbuzi (goat) with the crew.

I will save you from any goat pictures but here is the sacred Maasai cooking pot for the intestines, the legs, the liver, and other parts that I'm not asking about. Sometimes living in denial is preferable!

Again, I just love this photo. Taken just this morning. However, there is more to the goat story. I arrived on site today ready to take the goat to the local hotel/butchery for eating at lunch. The boys informed me that we were slaughtering the goat on the school site (meant to be special). Tobiko (boy in red shuka below) and his young brothers and nephew in this photo were going to slaughter the goat and then cook it on the fire within the trees by the school. They are also going to prepare ugali (maize flour and water). I just kept laughing because this was not my "schema" for the lunch idea. Of course, I was agreeing to this but I just could not believe how far removed it was from my vision of our gathering today.

The young Maasai boys brought the special "Maasai Pot" for boiling parts of the goat. While I did not stay for the slaughter - I became attached to my goat - I returned to see how the meat was prepared. Every part will be used.... Every part will be used and consume! I will be adventurous but in small doses! Some parts of the goat will be boiled while other parts will be roasted. I am writing to you as it is cooking. I will be feasting in less than thirty minutes with the group of workers, fundies, and Tobiko's warrior brothers and nephew!

The goat is no longer! As a token of appreciation and because some of the volunteer labourers do not each lunch, I suggested we head to a hotel to eat nyama choma (roasted meat) on Tuesday before the pour. Well... things are never what you expect! Patrick and I met yesterday morning to make the arrangements and to order the quantity of goat needed. I thought we would be no more than ten minutes in the town centre and I would then continue with my day. My first clue that this was not to happen was when Patrick appeared with a sheep on a rope. He said that we needed to walk up the road to the slaughterhouse as per his brother's request. We would then choose our goat at the same location. I was puzzled as I thought the restaurant/butchery took care of this. As usual, I went along open to the experience.

After we dropped off the sheep, we began looking at fat goats. Interestingly, the price of goat meat increased dramatically at the sign of a mzungu. Patrick decided that we should walk through the rural area in hopes of catching someone before they entered the market/slaughterhouse. We just started walking looking for flocks of sheep and "herds"?? of goats. Patrick asked me what I thought a goat was worth. I picked some random number not sure that I passed the test or not. Little did I know that was going to be the beginning price when bargaining.

When we came across a man and his goats, Patrick offered my asking price. Obviously, it was low because the man simply walked away without acknowledgement. Patrick advised me that my price might be too low. I laughed but told him I had no idea that was the reason for his question. I threw out another figure which was accepted. Now we had a goat in the middle of nowhere. Now what?? I detached the strap from my travel bag and I walked with my goat on a leash. He (I think - did not look) put up quite a fight to the amusement of Maasai walking by. We tied the goat at the school site and then dropped it off at a nearby manyatta to await its fate the next day!

Tying the rebar together with binding wire. The forms for the ring beam are being constructed on the walls of the school. Tomorrow we pour the cement!

Just loved this photo! Also, you can appreciate the beautiful Maasai bead work.

New Experiences, New Learning - ALWAYS

2010-05-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

Meet Benett! He has volunteered his skills and labour since the beginning of the project. He will not miss a day and will not take longer than necessary on break. Benett has been providing language and history lessons while also taking Alec and Karl to play football long after dark. He has unbelievable energy. Karl has wonderful footage of Benett displaying some Maasai hunting skills using a wooden hunting club. He threw it very quickly at quite the distance with unbelievable accuracy. It has been a pleasure working and learning alongside this dedicated community volunteer.

Malcolm is one of the skilled fundis working on the project. He works long hours with steadfast determination. Malcolm will pause briefly to teach Kiswahili or KiMaasai and exchange some pleasantries. However, he resumes work quickly and puts in a full day I assure you. Here Malcolm lays one of the last blocks in the pillar before ending his day on Saturday.

Charles and Malcolm again ensuring precision by using their plumb-bobs. I, personally, could not dangle off the edge of a tall wall. It really feels like a building now. Next week, the roof!

Good Morning,

Sue, Len, Mckenzie, Judith, Karl, and Alec have headed out on a four day safari to the Masai Mara game reserve followed by a trip to Nakuru and Naivasha. It will be a quiet four days which already seems to be filling up quickly.

As I'm writing, the preacher next door is warming up for his sermon. Remember the church services that last FOUR HOURS! The best part is the music. They were a little shaky getting started but the momentum is building. The lively, energetic music does entice you to join the community. Churches should be filled with dancing and singing. As I look out the window, there are many men, women, and children dressed in their colourful Sunday best coming to the church.

Am I attending? No! I am nervously preparing for the arrival of ten women. This group of women are coming to discuss their proposal for a sewing project and to discuss the school uniforms for Oleleshwa Primary School. I have asked the women to think of a business plan that would: allow them to gather as women to support one another through the various challenges they face, generate income for their families and education fees, identify training opportunities and skill development, identify whether a microfinance loan or matching grant would suit their group, identify a leader in the group to be accountable for reports and accounting and lastly, how can their business become self-sufficient while also supporting women or children in the community. This part I am comfortable with! It will be the cooking for the women as many have already opened their homes to us and shared meals.

Today, I am preparing ugali, sukamawiki with spinach and onions as well as chai. An assortment of fruit will be served at the end of the meal to ease that sweet tooth and perhaps fill their stomachs if my meal does not work out. Mama Asha is coming to help me along and teach me the finer art of Kenyan cooking. Often, when women are serving a meal to a large group, they will ask for assistance from relatives and friends to help prepare. Mama Asha is my source of support. We have already laughed at the thought of today!

Yesterday, I was able to spend a few hours in the huge Maasai Market that attracts people from many parts of Kenya and even along the Tanzanian border. On Friday, the town of Ewaso Ngiro fills with livestock (goats, sheep, and cows) as well Maasai dressed in their bright shukas or beautifully coloured kangas. Ewaso Ngiro must triple in size on Saturday. From our home, we watched lines of cattle and Maasai walking into the town. The day is two-fold. One part is the livestock auction which attracts masses of people and the other is the market where you can find an assortment of objects, fruit, vegetables, mandazi (doughnuts), fabrics, and clothing to purchase. It is nice because you can wander freely without being harassed and purchase items at low prices. Now the community is used to our presence but the Maasai congregating in the town for the market are quite curious by our arrival in the market. Even so, many friendly exchanges and conversations took place.

Here, Mama Asha and I spent time buying carrots, kale, onions, tomatoes, bananas, oranges, and some cooking utensils. I spent no more than three dollars I am sure. The hardest part was carrying the items home on our 2km journey. Carrying my wash basin filled with my goods on my head did not work for longer than ten minutes. This is life in Kenya! Transportation is not at your disposal. You must carry and you must walk. Nicholas advised us that it is common to take Route 11, meaning walking! A woman named Mary who is related to Amos must walk a very long distance to reach home with all of her market goods. We left her at almost six nearing dark and she still had to dismantle her display and begin the 7km journey home. It is at this time of night when elephants are most dangerous. Mary's response, "You do what you have to do!" Again, I must be more careful about when I complain or exclaim that I am tired.

I may have forgotten to mention that in the morning I shared public transportation with 6 passengers, the driver, and three sheep. On market day, it is not uncommon to see livestock hoisted onto the roof of a large van or transport or into the back of a car such as ours. Last week, I travelled into town with several bags of goat intestine. Charles the butcher is waiting for us to come and sample this delicacy. I assured him we would!

A few photos before I begin preparing my meal. I imagine there will be a few laughs this afternoon related to my cooking attempts or methods. No matter where in the world, it is great to gather as men or women. There are just some topics, challenges, or behaviours that are indeed universal!

On Friday morning, Sue led a meeting with the three teachers who have been and will be working at Oleleshwa Primary School. While the meeting was to start between nine and ten Kenyan time, we actually started closer to eleven which is true "Kenyan Time"

We organized this meeting to share some of the teaching resources and learning materials that have been donated or purchased by Sue, H4H, Janet, businesses, and individuals. The meeting was held to share ideas on education and teaching strategies as well as to discuss how to handle and secure these items so that they can be used by many students in the future. We managed to bring many books (both new and used) that are both culturally relevant and reflect the students' lives as well as books that will compliment the Kenyan curriculum. Some books were chosen to target early language development!

H4H was able to bring over 100 pencil cases filled with pens, pencils, erasers, and personal messages from the guiding group in Orno. This was a collaboration of several girls, leaders, parents, and local businesses. We also brought over 25 pounds of colouring pencils donated to us from a business in Toronto. Sue purchased pattern blocks and 3D shapes as well as collected a huge bag of bottle tops (pop lids) to demonstrate how these items can be used to explore and reinfore important math concepts. Sue demonstrated several ways to use the objects to teach patterning, sorting, and classifying (to name only a few). We also shared some phys. ed. equipment as well as educational posters and flash cards for numbers, shapes, orders of operation, and colours. We have learned that training is an essential component when working with community groups. Sue was successful in providing training by modelling the use of such materials which should ensure their use in the classroom. As a follow-up to the meeting, Sue and I will co-teach with the Kenyan teachers to reinforce what was shared on this day. The children resume classes this coming Wednesday. Again, training and discussion are key to successful implementation. We have no doubt that Joshua, Brenda, and Elijah will devise lessons that far surpass what we have shown. We are hoping that an exchange of teaching practices will develop in the future.

As a retired teacher, Sue was looking forward to sharing some of the skills and learning tools that she felt were integral to her program in the classroom. Sue is looking to make slates to be used in the classroom to develop sound to letter connections. Because the slates were not yet ready, the teachers gathered on the concrete floor with chalk to become students themselves. Sue modelled lessons from the McCracken book which teaches phonics through writing. We shared many laughs and could really determine what type of students Joshua, Elijah and Brenda were as children.

Again, this full day proved to be a wonderful exchange of ideas, philosophies, ministry curriculum, challenges in education, and teaching methods. I really enjoyed the day and I believe Sue's smile depicts the same. The teachers ended the information filled day by being interviewed by Mckenzie and Judith for the documentary. Their words were moving and will really speak to you when we all have the chance to see them on screen.

The forms have been built. The concrete was poured all day Saturday. Next the ring beam!

The final stones in the pillars before we start the ring beam. Malcolm and Charles are both using (with expertise) their plumb-bobs to ensure vertical lines. Again, more learning for Kyla.

Hard Wood - Soft Nails

2010-04-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we all had the opportunity to visit a couple of different shambas (gardens/farms). This photo does not do the garden justice but I just loved the tree and the shamba worker's home in the background. Many areas are covered with numerous healthy tomato plants, kale, cabbage, maize, and french beans. These shambas are located next to the river and therefore can be irrigated. It is really neat how they do so! Shambas further from the river depend solely on the rainy season which has become highly unpredictable. Another serious challenge is to harvest prior to June when many elephants leave the Masai Mara game reserve in search of food. The people in this area as well as the Kenya Wildlife Service face many issues involving elephants. They destroy shambas to consume the produce and they pose quite a danger to people who cross their paths. There are many widows in this area due to elephant attacks. Monkeys and zebras have also entered into the human/wildlife conflict.
Another serious challenge has been the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Many flights were cancelled into Europe due to the ash including flights from Kenya. Many roses (hmmm) and harvested produce could not reach their export market resulting in huge losses for people in farming. It has affected people in the Ewaso Ngiro area.

The shambas require a lot of hard work. When the men leave with the cattle or because of employment outside of the town, the responsibility for the shambas fall upon the women. In addition to fetching water, obtaining fuel sources, raising children, looking after aging parents, milking cows or taking care of livestock, repairing the manyatta, and earning money for school fees, the women also oversee the shambas or work in the shambas themselves. When the men are home or in times of drought, the shambas become their priority. I have certainly lost the right to whine or complain!

While Alec, Karl, and Len work on re-designing and building the trusses, the community volunteers and fundis continue finishing the block. We have almost completed the order for the window and doors. More unique features for this classroom! Sue is meeting with several vendors to locate wonderful items to bring home to sell in order to raise money for additional classrooms. Tomorrow, we meet with the local teachers to present the teaching resources and books that have been donated to Oleleshwa Primary School. It will be a great time to discuss and share teaching methods. We hope to learn a lot from one another. Sue will be modelling some strategies using manipulatives/objects to teach and reinforce important concepts. I will be working alongside a youth group taking on the responsibility for cleaning the Ewaso Ngiro Town from the solid waste and compost.

It is not all work! We have been fortunate to visit family homes during the day to share wonderful meals together and to learn more about the people we are working alongside. It is an incredible experience to just sit and listen to people's stories. At times, I wish I could just take the time to travel and document people's lives through pictures and words. There is so much to learn about others and about yourself when doing so!

Pouring the concrete into the forms to build the four corner pillars. Errors in construction vocabulary need not be pointed out. Let me assure you that my lack of knowledge does not fairly represent the quality of work being done on this site by the many volunteers and skilled tradespeople.

More calculations... The timber is NOT exactly 2 by four (four by two in Kenya). It is more like 5 by 2.5 and it is incredibly hard. Each piece just slightly different from the rest. The Blue Gum wood is very difficult to saw by hand and even more difficult to drill through. A half dozen holes will wear out the battery for the cordless drill. Hand drill and sharpened saw on the way! Due to the strength of the wood, we may not need as many trusses for the building. Hence, more calculations! Thank goodness Alec and Karl are here on site. I can't imagine having these conversations through text messaging and email.

Another wonderful example of kids creating change in the World

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Liam is a grade one student who independently took on the challenge of raising fifty dollars (H4H "100 Fifty Dollar Bill Campaign") to assist the Ewaso Ngiro community. These acts inspire and quickly build momentum to create change. Thank you Liam for making a difference!

Getting closer!

2010-04-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

I just love this photo of Mckenzie filming the school's progress. We look forward to the day when we are viewing Mckenzie and Judith's documentary on the building of Oleleshwa Primary School.

"Did we happen to say that we sold 22 foot lengths? Sorry, we only carry 18." Alec and Karl must now redesign the trusses. Every problem can be met with a well thought out solution or an evening meeting with "Glen".

Just a lovely image of the school wall. The volunteer labourers continue to be devoted to the project putting in many hard hours in the hot sun and gusting winds. The fundis are working well together under James' guidance and precise measurements. A wonderful working team who take every opportunity to teach us KiMaasai or to share a laugh.

Community Welcoming and School Updates

2010-04-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ewaso Ngiro community members welcoming Mckenzie and Judith.

Just another couple of days before we begin the ring beam!

The walls are going up and up!

Purchasing the timber for the trusses! Quite an experience.

Greetings Ms. Nevison's class and Liam!

2010-04-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

Supa,

Well, I hope some of you are quick to see the title of my post when Ms. Nevison brings our blog up on the smartboard!

Hello Ms. Nevison's class and to Liam. I have been communicating with Ms. Nevison and I'm hearing all about your fundraising efforts to assist H4H with our 100 FIFTY DOLLAR BILL challenge. I really like how she presented the challenge to you and I'm anxious to read all the ways you brainstormed how to spend fifty dollars. I can tell you that fifty dollars will do so much here and that H4H will only spend the money in ways that will create future change. Your money will keep on building.

Grade six students, you are doing a wonderful thing and I can't wait to show you pictures of your fifty dollars at work. I promise you that I am working so hard, but more importantly, the community is putting in so much effort to show our Canadian donours how grateful they are. The men, women, and children of Ewaso Ngiro are so hopeful and happy that education is coming their way. I wish you could see how badly the children want to attend school. Ms. Mckenzie and her family are also working really hard. She says hello to you all!

Liam, I was so inspired by the fact that someone your age would take on such a big challenge. Again, I can't wait to show you pictures of whatever you choose to support with your fifty dollar donation. I told the community about your fundraising, and they were really happy and touched by the love of a young boy in Gravenhurst, Canada. Keep up the good work and keep your parents busy! ha ha

Please send me updates when you can and feel free to ask me questions that I can answer either on my blog or through email. There is no better way to learn. Please say hello to the grade 5 class for me. You can even encourage them to write a message. I do think of them often, but I know they are doing well.

Until we speak again, thank you so much for making a difference in the world. You are changing the future for so many children here.

Be well and talk soon,

Ms. McMullen-Dent

Random Thoughts

2010-04-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

Habari Gani (what news?),

Well, a few days have passed since I have last written. Time is passing me quickly and there is so much left to do. I must carve out some time in the day to write about my experiences or at least to reflect on them. There is always so much to process and so much to pay attention to which is sometimes the reason for my bout of melancholy upon my return home. While the pace of life here is pole, pole (slowly, slowly), all my senses are in full alert due to differences, danger, new customs, or new adventures. When I return home to Canada, it takes awhile to adjust to the difference in stimulation, which in turn, creates the sadness that usually takes a few weeks to overcome. This has certainly been the case on my last three trips. I do not believe this trip will be an exception seeing as so much happens every day!

That was an uplifting start to an entry... Let's start anew.

There is a certain energy required when living or travelling in a new location. You must always be aware of your surroundings, your possessions, your travel routes, availability of toilet paper (sorry), traffic, access to funds, and different safety standards. I've noticed that walking in Nairobi or in rural areas takes a lot of concentration because of the huge holes or raised areas in the roads or sidewalks as well as the various vendor displays, wooden walkways, or concrete safety barriers that can pop up at mid-level while you are walking looking straight ahead. The point is you must be aware of direction and safety, but also a great deal of concentration is required to avoid the stumble or collision that can lead to a ridiculous injury. For those of you who know me, you can imagine my broken bone phobia at work here! Just an epiphany that I had after finishing a walk through Nairobi the other day.

I have been travelling frequently between Nairobi and Ewaso Ngiro to determine the progress of our other projects and to connect with other groups succussful in certain areas. Water harvesting and economic co-operatives for women have drawn my attention so far. One such trip led to a bit of an adventure. I decided that I was pressing my luck travelling by matatus (public transport) so I decided to hire a driver for this excursion. Unfortunately, he was two hours late picking me up for our return trip home due to an accident on the highway. These things happen and let's hope nobody was hurt. We carried on until his car broke down on the side of a busy highway a few hours from Nairobi.

The problem was that I was supposed to greet Judith and Mckenzie (two Canadian volunteers coming to film a documentary on the work of H4H) at the airport. The driver flagged down a passerby on the highway to drive me to Nairobi to make sure that I arrived on time. I already know what my parents are thinking reading this. No worries, I was cautious and I really look to that gut instinct when I am here. You must be safe and cautious, but at the same time, take a few chances on the goodness of people to assist you to locate destinations or drive you to the city of Nairobi. I was fortunate that this man was not only kind but also generous. He did not accept my contribution for fuel and he purchased a bag of oranges for me to take to Judith and Mckenzie as a welcome to Kenya.

Time was running out due to heavy traffic. He proceeded to drive me to the airport (out of his way) rather than chancing a return trip in the traffic jam from Mama Monica's. Although I was 90 minutes early for the flight, I kept thinking what the day would have been like stranded on the very hot highway. An act of kindness that soon will not be forgotten. As for the driver, he is stuck for a few days while they rebuild the engine in his fairly new car. Steve checked on me quite often during my ride and arranged for Martha, his wife, to meet me at the airport. Thank you Steve and Martha. Again, a network of kindness. Matatus hmmm?

Tomorrow, we return to Ewaso Ngiro in the morning. I will be dropped off in Narok Town to accompany Nicholas, Amos, Alec, and Karl in purchasing timber, bolts, nails, etc... to build the trusses for the school roof. Alec, Karl, and Len will begin building the trusses while the walls of the school are being finished in the next few days. They will also train some local members which will assist with future classrooms. This is rather exciting and so positive as we learn skills from one another.

I have been chastised by Karl and Alec for the poor photo that I have included of them in my previous blog. The funny thing is that I had so few to choose from. I was so caught up in their reaction to the Maasai welcoming and their reaction to the school that I forgot to take pictures of them. I was too in the moment. The picture was taken by a young boy who was fascinated by the camera. My apologies to Alec and Karl. They looked great in person. More flattering photos to come in the future - I promise.

Judith and Mckenzie will be welcomed by the community tomorrow. I will do better!

Sue has been incredibly busy scouring areas of Nairobi (interesting areas) and meeting with talented craftspeople to purchase wares for sale in Canada to support H4H. Sue has been taking stock of interesting items, purchasing, negotiating and forging relationships with wonderful people while buying beaded jewellery, sewn bags, beautiful linens and cloths, artwork and sandals to be sold upon her return. The great thing is that Sue is assisting women while making these sales. She met with a group of women from Kibera (thank you Ronnie) who are HIV positive but leading a healthy, constructive life due to their beading project and accessibility to ARVs. Sue is also supporting individual mothers raising and educating their children. Her purchases go a long way in giving the women the opportunity to house, clothe, feed, and send their children to school. A win, win situation! Just wait to see what she has personally selected - beautiful!

Today, I met with Charles who leads our tree planting and sewing project in Maragua. I'm hoping Mckenzie can capture Charles in an interview. He is so eloquent and a natural leader. His entire life philosophy blends so well with H4H. He is not looking for a hand-out but rather means of empowering his community. I am also hoping you will have the opportunity to meet with Nicholas and Amos on camera so that you can see why education is vital to children and youth in Ewaso Ngiro. Again, you will see how an entire community benefits due to the generosity of our Canadian communities and strong leaders with vision.

Monday, I also meet with Daniel to review his proposal on cleaning up the town from solid and animal waste. It is my hope to link youth, businesses and the women on this project. On Tuesday, I have a meeting with the women in Ewaso Ngiro to determine the needs and feasibility of women's co-operatives or income generating activities. I have many great ideas to share based on other projects that I have visited and I hear the group has much to share with me. It is my hope to connect the group with Leila, a vibrant and articulate leader, who was overseeing our washable sanitary pad project in Dandora. I am hoping Leila may be able to assist the community with some of her wonderful initiatives for women.

I will have to inform you of exciting developments in Charles' village. It is my hope that Mckenzie, Judith, and I will have the opportunity to visit the tree planting groups as well as the women's group working on the pads in the next two weeks. Until then, Charles will be bringing some women from his community to present H4H with a proposal on building a centre where more women can gather to sew. This project is growing rapidly in Maragua. We will then visit a very successful operation (work with beads) already in place which now exports to several countries around the world. I am hoping this model may spark some ideas with Charles' group. The next part will be to connect Charles and Daniel, from Ewaso Ngiro, to explore environmental issues. It is my hope that Daniel will inspire his community to take on important issues which affect health, education, and agriculture.

Too much writing and not enough photos....

Please look for more school updates as construction is progressing quickly! We have managed to raise 30 fifty dollar bills so far. Only 70 more to reach our target! Thank you so much for your donations. Trust me when I say your contribution is making a huge difference in the lives of a community. These funds are designed to be received in such a way that they grow in funds or in skill development. Your fifty dollars is not a one stop shopping. It is supporting change that is creating more change!

Much appreciation and Much love,

Kyla

More Photos

2010-04-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Alec and Karl's Arrival in Maasai Style

2010-04-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Wamefika Salama! (They have arrived safely)

I will be brief for the moment as I wish to post the photos of Alec and Karl's arrival. Of course, I will have some detailed anecdotes to accompany the images that I have included in the last two posts.

Starting at 11:00 a.m. Maasai men and women from the community of Ewaso Ngiro began appearing at the school site in anticipation of Alec and Karl's arrival. I could spot the colours coming from all directions. The boys were a little late due to some sightseeing and shopping, but no hard feelings (hmmm in the hot, blistering sun) as I had an opportunity to talk and photograph the community members. Many had not seen their image in a photo before or were quite puzzled by the instaneous portrait. I thoroughly enjoyed the time.

Our beloved Maasai, David, encouraged all newcomers to assist with collecting the building stones and placing them along the walls. We carried stones for an hour until we stopped to rest. Just an array of colour against the grey stone wall was magnificent. Did I mention the hot, blistering sun?????

When the boys (excuse me - young men) arrived at the school site, the Maasai women lined the road and began singing to greet them. The men also formed a group to welcome Alec and Karl to the community. I believe Alec and Karl were pretty moved and overwhelmed by their greeting. More to come on that later... Please enjoy the beautiful colours!

Just another stone in the wall....

2010-04-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought a volcano would become a challenge?

2010-04-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

While Alec and Karl prepared for their departure to Kenya on Friday, they received word that flights were cancelled due to the volcanic ash cloud covering large parts of Europe. It looks as if we can expect them to arrive on Tuesday - keep fingers crossed. Mckenzie and Judith are scheduled to fly from Toronto today, but news reports indicate their flights will most likely be cancelled as well. Sue, Len, the community, and I are excitedly waiting their arrival. For all of the organization and preparation, we are humbled by the fact that we certainly cannot predict a volcanic ash cloud. Safety trumps excitement and so we wait!

Just wish to take this time to thank Greg for his unwavering support of my work with H4H! At times, he must just want to shake his head, but thankfully, he provides assistance and encouragement instead!

Thank you all for the special messages received via email, facebook, or blog. Again, these words serve to inspire and make the community aware of a support network half a world away. As for our 100 "fifty dollar bill" campaign, we have already received TWENTY bills in just a couple of days. A great response in such a short period of time. One fifty dollar bill can purchase 3 school desks or school uniforms for 14 students or one day's wages for five skilled labourers or 3 solar lamps or 5 bags of concrete or the cost of one transport truck filled with gravel. Already, you have responded with one thousand dollars which will go a long way!

Examples of how much work goes into every dollar! In previous posts, I have been trying to convey the extent of the manual labour that goes into each step of the construction. I am not sure if i have been successful because at times, I am in disbelief. Again, so much output for the wages earned.
On Wednesday, Amos, Nicholas and I set out to look for more 9x9 stones to be placed in some of the columns for the school. There has been a construction boom in Narok Town therefore acquiring stone, sand, gravel and hardcore has been very difficult. Narok Town university is building an expansion and as a result, has monopolized the building materials throughout the area.

I never really figured I had a fear of heights but lately, I am finding myself quite nervous when looking down or off the edge of cliffs. Similarly, I am becoming less able to control my emotional responses. It does not take much to bring tears to my eyes. Is this an age thing??? Back to my story...

Amos, Nicholas, and I rented a taxi in Narok Town for 700 Kenya Shillings which is almost the equivalent of ten dollars. Usually, I can travel 20km on less than a dollar using public transportation. My recent two hundred km trip to Nairobi cost five dollars in total. When we paid ten dollars, I figured this was going to be some type of journey. It was!

Our little taxi proceeded to descend into a steep valley on a narrow, winding road riddled with boulders and large stones. As we descended, I could barely look down at the thick vegetation I was hoping would eventually break my fall should we go off the road. One of those moments when you reflect on what kind of person you have been in life. ha ha! The driver looked calm so I took that to be a good sign.

We arrived in our first quarry. I had my eyes opened yet again! As we walked to the huge rock face, we bypassed many piles of stones including gravel, 6x9, 9x9, and hardcore (large rocks meant for breaking). All of these rocks had been excavated manually by young men under very unsafe conditions. There were a few men on the rock face chiseling or cutting away large stones. Down below, a long way down, were groups of men examining the quality and the size of the pieces being removed. This group of men were then shaping the stones by squaring the corners into the larger 9x9 building stones. The other pieces were tossed up on the ledge to be worked on by another group of men and women. We saw huge piles of gravel with people sitting on top (a burlap bag for comfort - yikes) crushing rocks into the smaller pieces. I am hoping the photos give you some idea. I did not want to take too many and be intrusive!

Needless to say, we visited several quarries on this particular escarpment, but we were unable to find the quality or the quantity of stone that we needed. Not finding the stone would result in a significant construction delay so we continued on. The next group of quarries was located on the other side of Narok. We travelled upwards to the point that I was amazed by the most spectacular view and landscape. Unfortunately, I was not able to capture the view on camera despite several attempts. After taking in the view, my state of relaxation and feelings of awe were quickly replaced by dread as we began to descend into the various quarries.

Again, the car navigated narrow, windy roads full of large potholes and huge rocks. We bottomed out a few times but luckily were not stranded in this area. By the way, have I mentioned we were in our second hour of a five hour search for stones? Again, really hoping the car would continue on despite the harsh beating because we were a long way from navigable roads. Interestingly, the transport trucks or lorries as they are called here, navigate these roads. I think Amos, Nicholas and the driver were tired of me saying "there is no way a lorry can travel this road with a full load"!

A little perspective here... One transport truck full of gravel or stones, manually cut, costs about fifty dollars Canadian per load. The cost of shipping the load is also fifty dollars. Now, fifty dollars to transport a heavy load on roads that I would not think are passable is unbelievable! When I think of what it cost to transport a load of top soil to my house, knowing the machinery used, is unthinkable. All of this manual labour and the wear and tear on these vehicles for one hundred dollars. Again, a reminder of the human output here for so little wage!

I know I have been dragging this story on for far too long, but it really was an incredible experience. After a couple of more hours and many stone rejects, we came across 300 feet of 9x9 which is exactly what we needed. However, the stone already belonged to Narok Town University who had given the quarry manager a whopping 500 000Kenya shillings to keep the stones coming. Nicholas negotiated, argued in a friendly manner, resorted to a small plea but the owner would not give in! I really respected this owner although I was also frustrated and worried about our construction delays. You hear so much about corruption, but yet this man stayed true to his contract with the University. He said, "How would you feel if you came to get your stone and I had sold to someone else?" Did I mention, he spoke only KiMaasai, but he made a point of making sure I was included by having his words translated? In the end, he said we needed to give him two weeks notice.

We continued to travel down the steep and curvy embankment until we reached the final possibility for stone. While there was stone available, we would have needed several mountain goats to carry the stone to a point where a transport truck could load. At this point, fatigue, hunger, and Kyla cranky were setting in. We were hot, sweaty, and covered with dust due to the lack of rains in the last week or so. We decided to return to our honest businessman with a plan.
While he would not sell us existing stone, we convinced him to see if he could cut 300 feet in a day or two. After consulting with the several men working deep in the rock pits, they agreed that the rock would be delivered on Friday at 1:00 pm. He conceded but with a stern warning that I needed to deal with him in the future and would have to give him at least two weeks notice. After singing his praises, we left to return to Narok Town.

Our taxi had travelled almost 30km just in quarry visits and was quite banged up. Nicholas, Amos, and I proceeded to catch public transportation back to Ewaso Ngiro to visit the school site and then home! The quarry search started at one and I walked in my door at seven o'clock looking quite disheveled, dusty, and fatigued. While I was happy to have the experience, I told Nicholas that the next time I was going to make sure that I had something else to keep me busy.

Thank you Amos and Nicholas for our experiences, discussions, new foods, and your devotion to this project. Let's get Alec, Judith, Mckenzie and Karl to the site so we can forge ahead. And so ends my novella of volcanic rock and quarry rock!

Kyla McMullen-Dent (for you Dad, ha ha)

Photos from Friday and Saturday

2010-04-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

2010-04-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

2010-04-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

The realization!

2010-04-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

Three years of work truly begins! I was sitting at Amos' home when Nicholas arrived to visit. As he sat in the chair, he said to me, "Do you realize we were sitting in such a way in 2007 on a Maasai Market day when the school was only a proposal on paper!" This comment really struck me. First, because I realized just how much it means to him and secondly, because it is really happening.

As I spend time in this community, it is apparent just how much the school is needed. In our original school proposal, the community highlighted the need for rural children, especially girls, to attend Oleleshwa Primary School. Education would help to delay early marriage and childbirth at a young age as well as offer information and resources regarding: health and safe sanitation practices, environmental preservation, nutrition, healthy sexual development and relationships and the dangers of FGM. These remain an important focus for the school project. However, there are other issues which Oleleshwa Primary School will also address.

The community of Ewaso Ngiro is growing rapidly. I really could not believe the change from my last visit in July of 2008. Many women are coming to the area to find work in the shambas (farms) planting and picking French Beans among other vegetables. Many of these women are the sole financial and emotional support for their children - many single parent households. In speaking with Nicholas and based on my observations, numerous children of various ages are left alone or supervised by a child throughout the day while their mothers are working on the farms or trying to find at least one meal for their families to eat. Many of the children are not in school due to the cost or distance. Nicholas explained that they spend their days "idle" waiting for the return of their mothers. Many of the kids are lacking in proper nutrition, clothing, and medical attention. Sadly, these are also the children lining the highway to Masai Mara asking tourists to "give me sweet". I will put out a plea on this point at a later date!

Nicholas eloquently stated that Oleleshwa Primary School is crucial to the social, intellectual, and healthy development of these children. He said it is also crucial for the community's growth. While he was joking to an extent, he meant it when he said, "We must be quick to build the other phases as the needs and numbers in the community are so great. We must get these kids in a classroom!" This statement really affected me!

I really wish that you could see how this project is so much more than "building a school". This is about ensuring that a generation of children dream, grow, realize their true potential and contribute positively to their community and country. This also becomes an issue of security. Youth who are not engaged or lack purpose can easily fall under negative influences or can become easily incited. More to come on this topic in the future!

Yesterday, I was unable to get a car to travel to Narok Town. It is not uncommon to wait up to an hour to get a matatu. Amos flagged a safari van but the couple was on their honeymoon and really did not wish for me to join their intimate, love gazing journey. Instead, Amos flagged the warden from the Kenya Wildlife Service and off I went to Narok. We had a great conversation; I learned a lot about the human/wildlife conflict in the area. Besides drought, it seems the biggest threats to the new business of agriculture in Maasai Land are the elephants, monkeys, baboons, and zebras. As land becomes fenced and more shambas are planted, there is conflict with these animals who usually travel across vast areas of land. A complex problem that requires the involvement of many different interest groups to find a solution.

Tomorrow, I must tell you about my quarry adventure but for now, some background on our construction work!

When we hired the "fundi" to supervise the job, we emphasized our desire to include local community members so that they could be trained by the skilled/qualified tradespeople. This has indeed been happening. I must reinforce that EVERYTHING IS DONE BY HAND. There are no machines on site. The group of men are working long hours breaking rocks into stones, digging the hard earth, setting the rebar with binding wire, making their own mason hammers from tree limbs, and shovelling sand into piles to prepare for the making of the concrete. Once the sand is arranged into piles, the gravel will be spread over the sand followed by the cement. It is mixed right on the ground in a cleared out area. Since we are running out of water, it is the job of one man to climb the barbed wire fence, walk the 550 metres to the river, fill the five 20L jugs, and carry them all the way back to fill the 3000L water tank. Unbelievable!

The point I wanted to highlight is how devoted the men and women are to this project. We have had between 10 and 15 volunteers per day putting in a real hard day's work. Yesterday, the setting of the rebar did not require large numbers of people. When I met some of the young men in the community, they assured me that they would be there the next day- almost apologetic. They are eager to contribute. Many of these men have young children who will benefit from education right in their community.

We have 1800 feet of 6x9 stones in a variety of shades. I was blown away when I was told we must hire some men to "dress the stone". Yesterday, they arrived and shared their craft with me. They are sitting at the foot of these huge piles of large stones. They are squaring the corners and smoothing the stone face with a hammer and a chisel - we have chosen "smooth finish". They chisel away at the stone until it is a beautiful flat brick. I am hoping yesterday's pictures showed the amount of work being done. Len and I have had many conversations with community members about construction in Canada versus Kenya. We described the machines that do much of the work that we are witnessing being done manually. It is safe to say that this school has truly been "hand crafted".

To thank the volunteers, Mama Asha prepared 35 chapati and 45 cups of chai. By the way, the total cost for this meal was twelve dollars Cdn. We have seen crates of soda being supplied, meals being provided by community families for the volunteer workers, and a donation from a local restaurant to assist with the project. The acts of kindness continue to multiply. At times, it is almost too overwhelming for a sap like myself. Now, rumour has it that there will be one huge celebration before our departure. Nyama choma (roasted meat) more specifically, roasted mbuzi (goat), will be shared throughout the community in addition to other local dishes. Cannot wait. I'm hoping we can get some dancing in as well.

I realize my entries are far too lengthy but I am hoping you will each take away something good, interesting, or inspiring from these stories. Again, thank you for your support and your interest in a project that goes far beyond "building a classroom"!

Kyla

Construction Updates

2010-04-14T01:32:00.000-07:00

Rebar otherwise known as "chuma" to build the "pillars" or "columns". I am a little behind in my photos. You should hopefully see the changes soon. Today, some of the columns will be built up with 9x9 stones and the others will have forms built for the pouring of the concrete. A strong structure indeed!

Pouring the concrete after it has been mixed on the ground. No cement mixers here!

Bennett, Fred, Patrick, and the other volunteers have cleared a section of the ground - hard soil. To make the concrete, they line the ground with sand piles. Once they have enough, they smooth out the sand so that they may add a layer of "ballast" or gravel on top. The boys then pour bags of cement, 50kg, on top of the sand and gravel. They proceed to add water from the tank and mix right on the ground. The guys change roles constantly without a word even mentioned. Shovelling, to mixing, to pouring... A constant flow of movement without a word expressed.

Mixing the Cement... Making Concrete. I keep interchanging the words concrete and cement. While I now realize the difference, it is a habit that I cannot break and one which seems to create great confusion! A fundi, I am not! Having said that, I certainly am learning more about construction than I ever have.

Pot Pourri - photos and text

2010-04-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

Dressing the Stone

As we work on the school, it is common to observe the Maasai bringing their livestock to the river and to the salt lick. Some livestock prepare for their journey to Narok or to Nairobi to find grazing areas. (Nairobi is a two hour drive - walk, can't imagine). Every Saturday, Ewaso Ngiro is a sea of colour as Maasai come from all over for the large market - vegetables, fruits, and goods in one area and a huge livestock auction in another. Stuffing animals into cars or on the top of a "lorry" are not uncommon on this day. We have yet to take a picture which reflects the colour and number of people who descend upon Ewaso Ngiro starting very, very early in the morning.

Habari,

Why pot pourri? I am currently trying to upload photos but they are taking approximately 20 to 25 minutes per photo. I will intersperse with some writing because I can only gaze at a monitor for so long without results.

Religion - I dare not enter into this discussion especially in a blog, but there is a strong, very strong religious influence in Maasai Land including many other parts of Kenya. On Sunday, we were invited to attend the church service in the compound where we are staying. The music was incredible (However, there are evenings when the organist practises for hours at a time- aargh). I was strongly considering attending the service due to the fact that there was little on the agenda for the day - how nice! I changed my mind (selfishly so - please don't take offence) when I found out the service lasts FOUR HOURS LONG!!! At this point, I wasn't sure that I had the spiritual stamina for such a service. That being said, Mama Asha invited Sue and I into the church for a portion of the service.

I was hardly in church attire - looking more like the typical tourist who blows his/her entire budget at Mountain Equipment Co... before the big trip. However, we entered anyway as the pull of the church choir and the music was astounding. There is something to be said for loud music, dancing, swaying, and kids running around. This church was alive! Now, I was not of the religious fervor that I witnessed around me but I was mesmerized by the Maasai dancing and the singing. Language matters little as you could just feel the energy. Now some people were in a complete state of euphoria kneeling, crying into a kerchief, and praising out loud. While this goes beyond my comfort level, I truly admired their freedom and their lack of concern for those watching around them. You know, I may just entertain the four hour church service at some point. I will certainly be sure to share with you when it happens!

As I work in Ewaso Ngiro, I am conscious of the fact that time is beginning to pass me by and I have yet to monitor the other projects. I have had the opportunity to meet with Charles at length, but we must now meet with the community to discuss the tree planting and sewing projects. I am hoping to also meet with Leila who is trying to overcome many challenges with their sewing project especially regarding the washable sanitary pads. This will be an interesting meeting and must soon happen. I will be making a few trips to Nairobi and to Charles' rural area in the near future.

In Ewaso Ngiro, there are many areas which I would like to address with various community groups. My mind is constantly racing but again, time is escaping me. I take a breath and remember "pole, pole" or slowly by slowly. Everything starts somewhere. The first is to sit with the group of women who formed a co-operative on my last visit to initiate sewing projects and make washable sanitary pads. The group encountered significant challenges - one being survival. Taking care of the family and the livestock in times of drought took precedence.

Another challenge was the lack of training using sewing machines and the serger. The one skilled member of the group could not train the others. A valuable lesson here! You have only to look at many well-intentioned projects only to see their demise and the rusting of equipment due to lack of training. Training is my first mission. I have so far found someone to clean and repair the machines. Now, I am looking to locate a "fundi" in the sewing trade who would be willing to train four women. These four women will then help to train others. In addition to sewing, training must also be available to cut patterns, measure clients correctly, and keep the books. Next week, we will hold a meeting with interested women to identify needs, challenges, goals, and available skills as well as training opportunities for the women.

The other areas of interest that I would like to explore include the harmful impact and short term business of charcoal burning in this area. I have been discussing the possibility of seminars to introduce the economic and environmental benefits of tree planting as soon as trees are cut for burning. Looking at tree nurseries as a possibility. We are also exploring increased use of solar energy, a variety of rainwater harvesting techniques, the possibility of using cow or goat dung as a fuel source, sanitation/health practices, and lastly, the management of solid waste in the town of Ewaso Ngiro.

I have begun researching some of these areas and will be visiting neighbouring towns or villages where solutions have been devised by communities. A young man by the name of Daniel has put together a proposal for the safe removal of solid waste in the town. We asked Daniel to put together this proposal as a means of contributing to the community, but also to engage youth who are idle. There is the possibility that a scholarship fund set up in Gravenhurst, ON would like to support Daniel's university education. His environmental work in Ewaso Ngiro would help to secure his eligibility for tuition fees.

Daniel is a wonderful speaker and a wise young man. He has unbelievable potential. He made a distinct impression on my husband Greg over four years ago. He has also done so with Sue on this trip. Daniel is the eldest of eight children and therefore has tremendous responsibility as a role model and as a means of support for his family. Daniel's father has three wives and families to support. The burden has fallen largely upon his mother Ruth who has sacrificed so much to see both her boys and GIRLS educated. Ruth is inspiring. Besides raising her family and educating her children, she has now undertaken a project that addresses Female Genital Mutilation within her community. This is not without its challenges I assure you!

This Sunday, Alec and Karl will be arriving from Canada to assist with the school construction. This will be a great opportunity for them to assess the landscape, the building materials, and construction methods. This on-site knowledge will help with the building of the future phases and the final site plan. Up to this point, Karl and Alec have been working from half a world away in consultation with Geoffrey and others who have worked in African countries. Mckenzie and Judith are arriving on Sunday night to continue producing their documentary on the work of H4H and the contributions of many to realize our goals. I will be meeting them at Mama Monica's and returning to Ewaso Ngiro where the community is anxiously awaiting their arrival on April 19th. I most excited to observe their welcoming by the community. The residents are so grateful for the unique school design that has become the pride of their community for so many reasons.

Well, two photos in two hours. No luck again today. Hopefully, my words will give you some idea of what to expect when the internet decides to be more Kyla friendly.

Have a good day everyone! Thank you for your encouraging words.

Kyla

Cyber Delays - More Photos

2010-04-12T03:53:00.000-07:00

The Water - Crucial for living and necessary for construction. The fast running Ewaso river is approximately 550 metres from the back corner of the school property. To carry water from the river would not be feasible. It was suggested to construct a temporary water tank from concrete to hold enough water for making cement. The cost was so high that I awoke in the night trying to think of a plan. I called Nicholas early in the morning to ask about purchasing a plastic tank to hold the water. After construction, this tank could be used to catch much needed rainwater. We were able to save half the cost by purchasing a 3000L tank even with a wooden platform supported by stones to protect from termites.

Next challenge, how do we fill the tank? We are working through two solutions at the moment. One, we can order 5000L water trucks (2000L left? what to do as trucks won't wait on site) or secondly, use community pumps and whatever hose they have to pump water from the river. H4H would have to purchase the rest of the hose at 150Ksh per foot (approx. $2.00Cdn). The hose would be used for agricultural purposes and further construction in the future. Another option is that the women would make daily treks from the river to top off the tank. Too much output here!

Water has indeed presented one of the biggest challenges. Had we arrived earlier, we could have dug a well approximately 35 to 40 feet deep to reach water. However, we have been told the well could now take three weeks to fill. Note to self for the next phase!

A reminder of what we take for granted!

Dressing the Stone! Currently, there are three men sitting amongst an 1800 foot pile of 6x9 stones. Their craft is to smooth the surface of the stone and to square the corners using a hammer and chisel. 8 to 10 hours in the hot sun until all rocks have a "smooth finish". You can't possibly imagine the work for a mere 9 Kenya shillings per foot. 75 Ksh equal one Canadian dollar.

Construction Update - Explanations to Follow

2010-04-12T02:36:00.000-07:00

Sunrise in Ewaso Ngiro. There is something about sunrises and sundowners in Kenya. Serene, beautiful, cooler temperatures, and nature's wonderful clock to which I have finally adapted. I would like to think that I share this moment alone, but I need only to look across the fields to see the red of the Maasai shukas moving with their livestock to know that many have already begun their day!

A Reminder of our Mission and We're Off

2010-04-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Culture of Respect!

Maasai women and children will greet an elder by bowing their heads slightly. The elder will place his hand upon the head while greeting with the word "Supa". Young boys no longer shake hands after a certain age. As a sign of respect, they will touch the shoulder of their father or elder male. Quite impressionable!

I am not sure if I have mentioned that I must take public transportation to reach the nearest Cyber in the town of Narok, approximately 20-25 minutes away. Cars will depart when they are full - not passenger capacity BUT FULL! So much for my desire to have personal space. It is not uncommon to be joined by a chicken or a goat or a sheep. Livestock is integral to the Maasai community!

Perhaps, I have also failed to mention the quick floods that have occurred since our arrival. Interestingly, I have visited this community four times and I have never seen the land so green. Usually, it has been dry, dusty, and low water levels. We are currently in the rainy season. The river rose to 4.5 metres in one night only to fall within two days. The rains in the central province also contribute to these dangerous water levels. Remember, the women and children are taking water from this river every day for washing, drinking, and livestock. H4H must look more seriously into water harvesting projects as so much of this water simply runs off. The next day, you would never know it rained from the look of the soil. I plan to visit with the Water Ministry in Narok before I depart in May.

On Sunday, Sue and I were invited to join a program early in its development. A local safari owner and his partner are looking to work in the community as a way of giving back. The name of the company escapes me at the moment, but I will be sure to mention in my next blog. David, Mary, and Amos have started a program to bring widows together to offer support to one another and to develop a possible microfinance or co-operative to address their economic needs. Many of the women have been widowed due to contact with the elephants in the area (human/wildlife conflict is complex), illness, or traffic accidents. Many of the widows are left with many children to house, feed and educate. Some of the families have more than one wife which creates new complexities.

Sue and I were asked to meet with the women and offer our assistance if we could! I began by photographing the entire family and then separating into the various family groupings depending on the number of wives. I proceeded to photograph the women and children individually so that we could attach the photos to the records being collected. Some of the women and children were incredibly shy to have their photo taken. It took a little time to gain their trust through gestures, touch, and smiles. While I was taking photos, Sue and Mary were interviewing the women with translators to gather information about the families: ages, access to school, school fees, cause of husband's death, number of children, children's academic or professional goals, challenges they face etc... Unbelievable stories of sheer survival under very difficult conditions. The Widows project is in its infancy but it is apparent how necessary it could become. Gathering the data was interesting to me. I wondered how much information exists for families living so remotely under such harsh conditions.

There were poignant stories of survival, but also of strength, determination, and strong desire to educate their children. Now, having said that. There is also the issue of early marriage for girls in this community. One of the reasons for recording data is to identify girls who are to be married soon or perhaps FGM. I am not sure where the project will go, but I hope to follow it closely. It re-ignited the urge to return to University and resume qualitative study. I enjoyed the opportunity, but felt overwhelmed at such an undertaking. I hope the project grows from the women and their desire for change!

In the afternoon, I headed off to attend two more meetings. The afternoon meeting with the school committee was to set the construction agenda, purchasing of materials, and estimating costs for the school building project. They are a team! Many community members donated their own tools or they purchased tools for the construction of Oleleshwa Primary School. Some members are lending their irrigation hoses and generators so that we can fetch water from the river for mixing concrete. Did I happen to mention that water is one of our biggest challenges? We have no water source nearby. I will be sure to fill you in as I write in my next blog.

It is getting late in the day and I must squish into a public vehicle avoiding huge potholes to return home in the setting sun. All grammatical errors or obvious mis-spelled words must be forgiven and do not reflect my lack of respect for the English Language. I am either typing furiously to retrieve my impressions or I am rushing to escape the Narok traffic jam. My little disclaimer for today.

Talk soon,

Kyla

A few photos

2010-04-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

Supa,
Please excuse this attempt at posting photos. I hope it works. Just a few pictures to communicate visually what I am trying to describe in words. Simply not possible.

1) A young Maasai girl on her last day of school before the one month break. She will be one of the first students to attend Oleleshwa Primary School when it is completed!

2) My apologies for the impersonal lack of names. Sue and I have recorded the names of community members on paper to ensure proper pronunciation and spelling. The Maasai names are just becoming familiar to us. This Maasai women joined us on the first day to clear brush from the site. She has organized the women to fetch water when the concrete process begins. The river is far from the site. Carrying 5 gallons of water from a raging/flooded river will be extremely challenging and hard work. Not to mention that the women will have to do this for their own homes earlier in the morning.

3) Manual Labour - Gives new meaning to that term! In one day, this group of young men from the community (working under the direction of the hired foreman) dug almost a metre down in the hard soil to begin the foundation. Barefoot in the hot sun, they worked for over 7 hours to help build this school. Here I am with workpants, gloves, and safety boots and I have yet to get my hands dirty beyond clearing brush. Our safety standards on the job site at home differ greatly! This group of men have remained committed showing up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so far. Such a culture of respect and giving back. I have so enjoyed getting to know these men. I am hoping they will soon lose their shyness and continue singing when we are present at the site.

Meetings, Meetings, and more Meetings,

2010-04-06T03:51:00.000-07:00

Habari,

Did I happen to mention that Kenyan time is slightly different than Canadian time? For those of you whom I have kept late in the past, my sincere apologies. Justice has been served.

To begin the bureaucratic portion of the project, Geoffrey (architectural graduate) and I hurried to Narok Town for nine o'clock to begin meeting with Public Works. We were being accompanied by community members Nicholas and Elijah. Well, by eleven o'clock, Geoffrey and I found ourselves a permanent fixture outside the Public Works office in the hot sun waiting for the rest of our team. Finally, we decided to enter the office because Kenyan civil servants were ending mid-day in preparation for the Easter wknd. Just as we entered, Nicholas and Elijah rushed up to greet us. However, the much needed building plan remained in other government offices waiting for approval (health, environment, engineering). Geoffrey and I decided to proceed with our meeting while Nicholas quickly searched out a blue print for the school. The problem was that Geoffrey and I were meeting with Public Works - Roads Department. Nicholas and Elijah were sitting in Public Works - housing and construction. Ahhh communication! In the end, the architect walked up to where we were located to have the meeting regarding Oleleshwa Primary School. Six stern men and myself!

A short aside... I developed a cold and was still not adjusting to the time difference therefore sleep deprivation. As I sat in the stern and serious meetings, I was breaking into fits of coughing and hacking. Not the dainty cough but the ugly cough when your eyes bulge, tears develop, and you almost gag from the effort of coughing. This happened all through the day and all through our interviews. I could only laugh at the image of myself, but I was certainly embarassed.

The point of this meeting was to determine whether we were hiring a contractor to lead the building project or a skilled labourer working with and for the community. After advice from the roads engineer and the architect, we decided to hire a foreman to oversee four of his staff and a group of people from the community. It was important to our group that members of the Ewaso Ngiro community develop specialized skills therefore the foreman would have to work closely in training the volunteer labourers. Upon coming to this decision, we broke for lunch so that we could create a list of interview questions. Phone calls went out to solicit possible tradespeople for the job.

At three o'clock, we reconvened in the architect's office. He stayed late to assist us with the hiring process as he is responsible for the overall safety of the building. He wanted to ensure that the plans were followed closely. He was most impressed with Alec, Karl, and Geoffrey's design plans.

We had no idea who would show up for the interviews, but we were anxious to get this project underway. Seven interviews later and by almost six thirty, we had chosen the foreman for the job. The process of elimination was based on years of experience, work portfolio to date, references, ability to work within a strong community, ability to lead people, wage, and the ability to read architectural drawings correctly. Nicholas, Geoffrey, Elijah, myself and the architect resorted to a secret ballot before making the final choice. Two candidates clearly met our criteria. We could not reach concensus therefore the secret ballot. In the end, we chose Mr. James Gichu. More on him later.

While I normally walk home along the river, the day had become dark. Elephants are a significant danger in this area, and walking 2km along a flooding river at night was not deemed to be safe or wise. Luckily, we located transportation directly to our home. I was so tired from coughing, concentrating, thinking, and communicating that I was unable to eat the chicken presented to me the previous day. I took a shower and fell sound asleep!

A little chicken aside.... As I walked the several kilometres the day before with my live chicken hanging upside down, I was unsure of what to do with this gift to my father in Canada. Finally, Len, Sue and I decided to tie the kuku (chicken) outside on a light string. The funny thing is, I was becoming attached to this creature. Several people offered to prepare the chicken the following day, but we were left wondering what to do with her during the night. Problem solved! Our Maasai watchmen alerted us that our chicken would become bait for the jackals therefore we brought the chicken into our kitchen for the night. The next morning, I cleaned up the mess, and found myself hesitant to consume our family pet. Len and Sue proceeded to feed her and give her water while she awaited her fate. Because I was tied up in more meetings, I was not there for her demise nor awake enough to consume her at the end of the day. Dad, your gift led to much conversation and many laughs - respectfully, of course.

The next day, Geoffrey and I requested a meeting at nine o'clock (again) with the hired foreman and the architect from Public Works. Mr. Gichu was prompt but we waited until almost eleven thirty for the architect. Our first goal was to walk the land, check out the topography, and mark the classroom site. After much discussion and measuring, we marked the area. The architect then requested that we map out the entire set of classes, administrative block, and library so he could see for himself. At that point, I left Geoffrey and the architect to attend a school committee meeting including community members.

This meeting lasted almost three and a half hours. A time was never set for the meeting, but people just began showing up mid-afternoon. Sue and Len had been waiting patiently at the sight for a couple of hours already. As they left for lunch, the meeting was called (too funny). The chief of the district and the District Councillor attended our meeting. This was important for the community as each representative demonstrated their full support of the school and offered whatever services they could. This was a morale boost for all especially when the Councillor announced that 700 000 Kenya shillings (approx. ten thousand Cdn) would be granted to the community in the coming year to build the next phase. He also offered shovels and the use of his truck to secure building materials. The long wait and long meeting were indeed worth it!

Many expressions of gratitude were directed to Canadian donours, volunteers and students as well as Len, Sue, Alec, Karl, Geoffrey, and the Canadian group who arrived early March. They also commented on the community's collaboration so far to achieve this goal. At this point, I was asked to speak. It was not my best effort, but I tried to address many people and address many issues. Unfortunately, fatigue prevented my heart and mind to speak and so I felt, my talk was almost political in nature. Perhaps fatigue is not the correct word! I think it was that I had little time to digest the vast amounts of information that I was taking in during the previous few days.

Another night of barely making it through dinner! A brain can only retain so much! What motivates??? The eager and grateful community as well as the children who line the roads as we walk to the school on a daily basis. The children represent incredible potential, creativity, talents and skills. It is our belief that Oleleshwa School will help to uncover or further develop such strengths.

With these government meetings come a few complex issues. So far H4H has navigated smoothly through this territory. I can assure you there is a lot to learn! It is interesting to figure out when to follow bureaucratic procedure and when to listen to the community members who regularly work at the grassroots level. At times, it has proven to be a fine balancing act, but clear and honest communication have allowed us to move forward.

I am happy to report that Saturday was a mind break for me! Rejuvenated and recharged. Just in time for more meetings on Sunday! More to come.....

We are progressing and I feel really good about the process. I feel confident in speaking for the community and that they too, are happy with recent developments.

Please join the blog and post your comments. Open my mind, offer feedback, or inspire me with your encouraging words!

Kyla

Meeting the Community

2010-04-05T02:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Ewaso Ngiro,

I cannot believe that I have been in this community for only a week. So many experiences and so little time to describe them in detail. I will try and brief you on the moments that have touched me the most and that will highlight the work of the community and H4H.

Before I entered into the bureaucratic process, I accepted an invitation (along with Sue and Len) to visit the children of Oleleshwa Primary School. Since last year, over 70 students have been attending school on the property in a one-room building eagerly awaiting construction of their school. Community teachers, Joshua and Brenda, had asked us to come and visit the children to observe a typical day in the classroom. Sue and Len arrived in time to see the early morning start-up while I found myself visiting along the way and stopping for chai and bread. Being on time takes on a whole new meaning here!

I was sorry to miss the morning routines which included: cleaning the classroom with branches off the trees, arranging their "few" desks, setting up large stones and planks for sitting, and arranging the stones outside for their morning assembly. Each day the students are inspected for teeth, clean hands, and length of hair. Students do not yet have a uniform, but this will be decided upon during the course of the month. At the moment, students range in age from 3 to 6. They are divided into "baby class", "middle class", and "top class". All 76 students in one room! Lessons are differentiated for the various developmental levels. Did I happen to mention how wonderfully behaved they were - even the 3 year olds who were dangling from their wooden desks?

After morning assembly outside, the students returned to class to learn in 30 minute segments. We observed a math lesson on shapes, an English lesson (letter recognition), and a music lesson. Rote is a part of their learning but quite impressed with the movement associated with learning and the use of students as models. Songs were also used to teach character traits and morning routines for school including "you run to school". Sue had the opportunity to introduce a book to the top class. Coincidentally, the picture book included numbers and shapes. Sue also took the time to demonstrate proper handling of books. You could have heard a pin drop while the pairs of students turned the pages so carefully! I took the baby class outside to share an Animal ABC book which showed various animals and animal actions corresponding to the letter. We were a little slow going but the kids began imitating my movements and my limited Kiswahili was helpful. Great to be silly. The children thanked us for coming through song. It was a great morning with the teachers and the students. When the new class is built, we can expect many more children to attend!

Sue, Len, and I will be meeting with the teachers to share some learning materials that we brought with us. We would like to exchange ideas and demonstrate great ways to use manipulatives or objects to assist with teaching. Many of you donated basic supplies that will be of great benefit, seeing as the teachers had but one piece of chalk and very few notebooks. The teachers will also be part of the school uniform decision. I will keep you posted on this interesting development.

Joshua, the teacher, invited us to a family wedding. There was no turning that down and so, despite the hot sun, we embarked on a long walking safari to visit rural families and attend a wedding. On my last visit, I came to know a family whose mother had difficulty supporting her children and paying their school fees due to her inability to walk. While she does live among her extended family, they were unable to assist her with education for her children. Since then, we have been able to assist with the fees due to the generosity of special people- my parents. I was most excited to connect with this family again. We were greeted with chai and a collection of Maasai beads to take as gifts. While I cannot speak KiMaasai, smiles, gestures and touch were enough to communicate on this day. On behalf of my parents, I was given a beautiful Maasai necklace for my Mom and a live chicken for my Father. That's right... a live chicken. That is a story in itself!

As we walked the several kilometres, we came across a man burning wood for charcoal. This is a problem in many areas of Kenya; Ewaso Ngiro/Narok are no exception. Several holes were dug in the ground to excavate the small trees and their roots. They are then placed in a large pile covered with leaves and sod. This will burn for many days until the charcoal pieces can be dug up. My mind was racing! I would like to hold a seminar to see if we cannot encourage the planting of trees. When a hole is dug, a tree seedling is planted. The oleleshwa tree is fast growing! Perhaps not on this journey, but I would like to revisit this issue. As it is, we have brought solar lights and a solar oven to begin introducing/piloting in the community. This will serve to slow down tree cutting, but also the inhalation of fumes from cooking fires or paraffin lamps.

On our journey, with storm clouds following close behind, we came across several herds of cattle grazing or heading towards a water source. These cattle were often being watched by young boys, but we also came upon a group of young girls. When there are no boys in the family, the girls will take on the role. Livestock are integral to Maasai culture - economics, status, and source of milk. We are currently experiencing the rains but we have heard many stories about the drought that has plagued this area for the last few years. The hundreds and hundreds of cattle dying affected so many families. It is incredible what people can endure and survive!

Back to the journey...

We passed many traditional homes before arriving at the wedding. The mud/dung homes are constructed by the women in the families. Pretty impressive as they house the family for sleeping, cooking, and to keep their livestock warm. As we approached the groom's home, we were stopped at the gate. It is customary to be welcomed onto the property. A large group of men, women, and children met us at the gate and welcomed us warmly. A true combination of the traditional and modern lifestyles. Some were in traditional Maasai dress and beads while others wore dresses and suits. We were asked to lead the group while the rest followed. At one point, the women tried teaching us Maasai dance. Can your throat, shoulders and lower body really move in all those different directions at once? Oh yes, please throw in some low throat vocalizations. Nothing about Sue or I resembled Maasai at that point. We gave them a good laugh. The women then proceeded to sing a beautiful song! Music is amazing.

I had the opportunity to sit amongst the women who asked me various personal and impersonal questions. Funny, some would be so offensive to me in Canada, but here, not necessarily so. They were quite intrigued with the colour of my sunburned face and arms among other things. I was escorted into the house to meet the bride who was sitting with family members in a private room. The bride will stay there until the evening at which point she will be renamed. It was raining on her day so the family felt her new name would come from the rain. By the way, the bride does not show happiness for she is sad to be leaving her family. Our photos of her look pretty grim but this was later explained as one of the customs. This was not a traditional Maasai wedding per se but there were elements that were incorporated. The bride was adorned in beautiful bead work beyond description. As we were leaving, the family asked us to wait to see the bride come out. We had the opportunity to see the entire family together and to take photos. I presented the bride with a necklace that I was wearing. It took everything to get around the many layers of beads. Again, no smile!

Needless to say, the journey was tiring but exhilarating. We walked home as a large group of various families. All of a sudden, people would veer off the worn paths to head to their home in the rural areas. We had an opportunity to talk and get to know the community further. This is also part of our journey here. The school is our priority but establishing relationships is so important. We are continually learning from one another and also laughing at our many similarities. By the time we reached the road, we were only a few remaining. Sue, Len, and I still had a 2km walk home. It was a pretty quiet walk home whether it was due to fatigue or reflection.

Did I happen to mention this took place all in one day?

Tomorrow, I will describe the school journey - its joys, complexities, challenges, and navigation into sensitive but manageable areas.

As I am writing, the community is clearing the school grounds. I cannot wait to share how we reached this point!

Kyla

Ewaso Ngiro Arrival!

2010-03-30T03:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Ewaso Ngiro,

I must start by thanking Ronnie and Steve for the wonderful drive to Ewaso Ngiro. Sue and Len were able to see giraffes and gazelles along the way. The silhouette of giraffes against the African backdrop is breathtaking. This reaffirms that it is not simply the destination but also the journey. That being said, none of us were prepared for the welcoming we received from the community upon our arrival. Somehow, times were not communicated clearly and the committee and community members, including the two teachers, had been gathered since eleven in the morning to greet us. We arrived shortly after one. To pass time, they planted trees on the school grounds which will eventually line the compound for issues related to sound, wind, and security. Please allow me to indulge with a quick "aside". The compound that surrounds the 7 acre parcel of land was damaged by elephants passing through a short while ago. It has been repaired, but the issue of human wildlife conflict is evident in this area. The elephants are a danger in this community especially during times of drought or at night.

Back to my original train of thought...
As we entered the school ground, men and women (in traditional and non-traditional dress) came from several areas to gather in a large group to welcome us. I was overwhelmed and proceeded to burst into tears. I believe this proved to be disconcerting for some of the Maasai. Perhaps fatigue but mostly the culmination of three years work from both continents involving many people. Interestingly, the Maasai women were quite taken with my (I believe) modest weight gain. To include this detail may seem frivolous, but it has been the topic of conversation for many in the community. How big am I???

After numerous hand shakes, smiles, and attempts to speak KiMaasai, we entered the classroom that has been used to this point. Elijah and Joshua (current teacher), chaired the informal gathering and served as interpreters for the occasion. The school committee members each had an opportunity to introduce themselves, their role, and share a story. I did not take out my camera nor take notes as I simply wanted to be in the moment and digest a pretty powerful moment. Their words were moving. The committee and community are very proud of their work so far in planning and organizing Oleleshwa Primary School. However, they clearly communicated their gratitude for the work of volunteers in Canada, the generosity of Canadian donours, and the committment shown by Harambee 4 Humanity. They appreciate the philosophy under which H4H operates and feel this collaboration allows everyone to have a voice.

Sue, Len, and I were also asked to speak without warning. Although my emotions were not far from the surface, I forged ahead as this was too incredible an opportunity. It was important for me to express that I was most inspired by their belief in the power of education. This belief is what led to the establishment of Harambee 4 Humanity. It was also important to note that this particular phase represents three years of work, but that H4H, in collaboration with the Ewaso Ngiro community, are committed for the duration. It has come slowly, but it has indeed come! Sue and Len each addressed the group highlighting their love of children, education, and desire to construct a building that has involved them on many levels for some time. Sue and Len also shared their connection to this project through the design efforts of their son, Alec and the production of a documentary on this project by their daughter, Mckenzie.

After touring the compound, we shared tea with project leader, Amos, and his family while the community and committee members waited for us at the end of the road. After almost two hours, we headed to our home at the mission house only to find the entire group still waiting for us on the road. We formed a large procession walking the two kilometres home. The image of a large group of people walking along a forested path with an incredible array of colour, the sound of dynamic conversation despite the difference in language and finally, the energy of being united by a common goal, will forever be in my memory. The group bid us farewell at the door. We were exhausted as much from the travel as the emotional experience of the day.

We were greeted promptly at eight the next morning by one of the committee members who escorted us to the school grounds for a quick debriefing and goal setting session. We quickly fell into Kenyan time as we slowed our travels to greet children and community members - pole, pole meaning slowly, slowly. Maasai children proceeded to greet us by lowering their head waiting for us, as elders, to place our hands on the top of their heads - "Sopa". We were the object of curiosity and subject to many warm welcomes along the way. So yes, we were late for the meeting! However, this is part of the experience as we are not just here to build a school but to develop a relationship between two communities.

The meeting centered around the steps we must follow to initiate the construction project. We sat in a circle while I raised issues for discussion based on my meeting with Professor and Architect, Mr. Edwin Oyaro. Nicholas Kimorgo, project leader, was able to join us for the meeting. He has played an instrumental role in exchanging information/photos/legal documents in Canada and working hard at the local level here in Kenya to get the project underway. Nicholas and Elijah translated our words into KiMaasai which allowed for an exchange of ideas and great discussion. Sue and Len were also able to make contributions to the meeting. After consensus, we set the agenda for the next few days and adjourned the meeting. Creativity, active listening, and varying points of view made for a productive discussion.

And so it goes like this....Wednesday, we spend the morning with the students. In the afternoon, we attend a Maasai wedding where shoes and food were distributed by H4H almost two years ago. This should be an unbelievable experience. Thursday, we meet with local councillor, sub-chief, and the local chief to discuss construction project. On Friday, we visit public works in Narok to discuss drawings and to source out materials, contractor and Fundi (skilled trades person in Canada). More discussion to occur in this area, but again, collaboratively. There are challenges we must overcome. I have no doubt that we will.

Unfortunately, words limit the true experience, and my fatigue, limits further writing. Please do not hesitate to email me at info@harambee4humanity.org to ask questions or post a comment on our blog. Unfortunately, I am unable to describe every detail as it should so be described.

We will soon begin posting photos so that you may see the progress that we are making. I cannot wait to share further experiences!

Kyla

Ahh Construction!

2010-03-28T02:43:00.000-07:00

It has almost been a week since I arrived in Kenya. Interestingly, I am not adjusting as well to the time change on this occasion. I find myself up until two or three in the morning with no signs of tiring. I am managing to read and research, but I will soon need to establish regular sleep patterns. I have been welcomed by the heat, rains in the evenings, the sound of music (although diminished as matatus are more regulated), intermittent hydro, several days of water rationing, and the joy of the community leaders awaiting our arrival to project areas. This is where I must begin...

The Building of Oleleshwa Primary School

We should receive news on the building permit March 29th or March 30th at the latest. On Friday, accompanied by Kenyan architect, Geoffrey, we met with Architect and University of Nairobi professor, Mr. Edwin Oyaro to discuss the building plans. I must admit that I was nervous for such a meeting, but Edwin was most welcoming and very interested in our work. The plans designed by Alec Ring, Karl Sarkis and Geoffrey Wasonga were very well received. It looks as if their roof design may be replicated in future Kenyan schools and elsewhere perhaps. Edwin really appreciated the design features that will allow for proper air circulation and cooling in addition to harvesting rainwater. I am truly grateful for the personal time and professional skills that Alec, Karl, and Geoffrey have invested in this project.

Committed volunteers and donours, Sue and Len, will be accompanying me to Ewaso Ngiro tomorrow. Our greatest challenge is transporting the six fifty pound suitcases that contain learning supplies and building materials/tools. This week will require many meetings with Public Works, the sub-chief, chief, the community and other local officials to introduce our project as well as long-term goals. I look forward to these meetings as I am most inspired and energized by communicating with people. I cannot guarantee that it will go smoothly but I have learned to take things slowly in Kenya. Things have always turned out - perhaps not within my timelines, but we have indeed been successful. Problem-solving and resourcefulness are the primary means of meeting challenges. Thank goodness for community leaders Nicholas, Amos, and a devoted community in Ewaso Ngiro.

Once we have selected our contractor, we will meet with community members to build up our labour force to work in collaboration with the licensed contractor. The involvement of the community members will be key in providing opportunities for further skill development and to foster a sense of ownership and pride. There will be a great deal of learning for all parties involved. It is our goal that we can break ground Easter Weekend or shortly after. Everything in due time!

We are excited to arrive in Ewaso Ngiro to spend time with the families in the area. School will let out this week for a month long break. Meeting the volunteer teachers and exchanging teaching ideas, resources, and methods will be most exciting. The opportunity to visit with the students, who overcome significant challenges to attend school, will be quite rewarding for us all. Education is highly valued as can be seen by the community's active involvement.

I have yet to discuss our progress with the tree planting project in Maragua. Please look for an update in upcoming blogs. For now, I prepare for the two to three hour journey through incredible country. I hope to see children running along the roads excitedly, zebras and giraffes grazing, and many people walking in an array of beautiful colours. For these reasons, I will be unable to sleep or perhaps the road conditions will play a role - this too is part of the experience!

Please continue to read and share in a journey made possible by many!

Kyla

Visit to School Grounds & Contributions

2010-03-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Habari,

Excited to report that members of RTO, Retired Teachers of Ontario, and their spouses have arrived safely in Kenya. This group was responsible for securing a four thousand dollar RTO - Service to Others Grant to assist with the building of Oleleshwa Primary School. On Thursday, March 11th, the community of Ewaso Ngiro greeted the members and took them on a tour of the school grounds and the surrounding area. The occasion was marked with singing, dancing, and the presentation of Maasai beaded necklaces and bracelets for each visitor. The community was able to demonstrate their pride in what they had already accomplished to prepare for the upcoming construction and their gratitude for the generosity of those abroad. It was a memorable day for all!

Devoted contributors, Sue and Len, have also arrived in Kenya. They will soon be heading to Ewaso Ngiro for almost two months to begin construction of the primary classroom. On March 24th, I will be meeting with Nicholas, Geoffrey, and the community members to begin preparation for the pouring of the school's foundation. There will be much problem-solving, discussion, and manual labour to be done, but they are challenges many are looking forward to taking on. Architects, Alec and Karl, will be joining us in a few weeks to begin building the very designs that have consumed them for months. It will be wonderful to see their designs lifted from paper. Mckenzie and Judith will be arriving in April to document (in film) the collaboration of the Kenyan and Canadian communities to build Oleleshwa Primary School. The work of Harambee 4 Humanity is made possible due to the generosity of donors, the many contributions of people's talents and professional services, and the Kenyan community's initiative and participation in their own development.

Last Thursday, I met with Ashlen who presented me with 100 pencil cases
sewn from a variety of sturdy yet beautiful fabrics. Each pencil case contained colouring pencils, lead pencils, erasers, a pen and a hand-written note for the students in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. Thank you to the 1st Orono Guides, 1st Orono Pathfinders, Second Orono Sparks and Brownies and their respective unit leaders for filling these beautiful pencil cases with tools for learning and inspirational notes. Thank you to North American Decal who donated the pencils soon to be used by eager Kenyan students. I must also thank Rona/Haussmann for the donation of pens; Mrs. Borremans, Mrs. Morrison, and Mrs. Richens for sewing the wonderful pencil cases and lastly, Ashlen, for helping to organize this event. An incredible example of "Linking Hands Through Action".

Another example of generosity at work. Sue and Len filled their suitcases with numerous colouring pencils and sharpeners donated by Rajesh Shah of Sonsuh Educational Supplies in Toronto. Rajesh saw our display at the National Character Education Conference in Huntsville, ON and felt compelled to contribute products from his company that would benefit the lives of children. Much appreciation!

I continue to witness numerous examples of people's willingness to readily offer assistance to see that children worlwide are guaranteed their Right to Education.

Asante Sana,

Kyla

Thank You Guiding Units of Orono

2010-02-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon,

Just on my way out the door to renew my passport when I received a special email worth sharing. Yet another example of kindness and a willingness to take action.

Nothing is more gratifying than children and youth becoming involved in service learning projects. Here is an example of a motivated group of Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders, and their respective leaders, making connections with a community half a world away. The Guiding Units of Orono have taken on the heartfelt challenge of creating 100 pencil cases from denim and upholstery fabrics. These pencil cases will be filled with learning materials for the students who are anxiously awaiting the construction of Oleleshwa Primary School in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. In addition to the supplies, the guiding units will include special messages for the children to read. It is my hope that the connection will be long lasting and perhaps create a future collaboration between children and youth to address issues such as poverty, gender inequity, environmental degradation, access to education, and peace development.

Thank you to Ashlen for organizing and for the enthusiasm of the Guiding Units of Orono,

Kyla

Harambee 4 Humanity Film "Fun"draiser

2010-02-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

On February 28th, the Norwood Theatre in Bracebridge will be hosting a fundraiser for Harambee 4 Humanity beginning at 1:15p.m. A committed group of H4H supporters has worked tirelessly to organize the event and decide upon the delicious assortment of appetizers that will be served prior to the showing of the movie, Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai. "This film tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, defend human rights, promote democracy, and fight government injustice."

Interestingly, Honourable Maathai has worked directly with Charles, our Kenyan partner in Maragua, to provide leadership training and to begin tree planting movements. Charles has assured me that there is much to tell upon my return trip in March, 2010.

This past Sunday, someone who will remain anonymous, came forward to pay for the cost of food so that 100% of the ticket sales will go towards the building of Oleleshwa Primary School. The Norwood Theatre has graciously provided the use of their facility to host this wonderful event. We hear of "donour fatigue" but yet, I am continually moved by the generous acts of individuals, community groups, and businesses.

Tickets are twenty dollars each. Please contact info@harambee4humanity.org if you would like to attend or to support the building of Oleleshwa Primary School.

We hope to see you there!

Kyla

Oleleshwa Primary School Designs

2010-01-18T03:25:00.000-08:00

Good Morning,

We are in the process of finalizing the design plans for Oleleshwa Primary School in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. Please check the following link to see the current plans and the minor revisions to come. The link will be a great way to monitor our progress once we begin construction in March 2010. Updates will regularly be posted to the Open Architecture Network by Alec. http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/harambee4humanity

Architects, Alec, Karl, and Geoffrey, have devoted numerous hours to this project. While there is still some work to be done, we are looking forward to transforming a vision into a realized dream for the community of Ewaso Ngiro.

Please check the link regularly to see the impact of your hard work and generosity!

Thank you all,

Kyla