Hello to all,
Just a few days have passed but a lot has happened!
Our visit to Kawangware was great! We met with Dr.George, went to my old home-stay, visited an orphanage where I did some work and met up with friends at night. While we were at Wema, Dr.George told us that he had a baby that was left with him. He said that the baby was delivered and the mom ran off, leaving the baby to the clinic. This is not the first time that this had happened and it it will not be last, but it is always hard. When we went to meet the baby, I asked the nurse what his name was. She said it must be Wema, because that is where he was born. I held him for while, and he quietly rested. Wema is very small, only about 5 pounds, but Dr.George says he is healthy and will do well. Dr.George is looking for a home for Wema, although the placement of a child can be very difficult.
My first impression was that Dr.George wanted to find a family that could cover the medical costs that he had spent on delivering the child. In Kenya, the typical rate in a slum clinic like this one is roughly 4 to 6 thousand shillings for child-birth. I explained that I could not take Wema, and that I did not think anyone I knew in Kenya could either. Dr.George, who does not take no for an answer, continued to say that one of my friends should take him. While speaking to Christine, a past volunteer who I worked with and who is now employed by an NGO doing maternal health education in slums, said that she will work with Dr.George to be sure that Wema is placed in an orphanage. She spoke of one with a high rate of adoption, which she thought may take him.
In Winnipeg, my sister Sarah just had a baby named Sophie. Sophie is nine pounds of perfection surrounded by a family that loves her. It is hard to understand the contrasting lives that Sophie and Wema were born into.
Mike, Lexi and I spent the night in Nairobi at a friends apartment. The next morning was the beginning of the weekend and we started it off going to a free show called Wapi. Wapi is funded by the British Council to support local artists. It showcases rappers, slam-poets, graffiti artists and painters from the Nairobi slums. It was great to see some local talent and I’m hoping to go back to the next show, It is held once a month.
After Wapi, we loaded 9 people into an SUV and headed for Mathare, a slum north of the city. We picked up 3 more people (do the math, thats now 12 in the SUV) and went to a local restaurant. We ordered a traditional Kenyan meal; nyama choma (BBQ goat), ugali (boiled water and maiz flower), sukuma wiki (kale) and kachumbari (diced onion, tomato, chili and cilantro). The food took an hour or more to prepare and so we sat, relaxed and chatted until the food came. Once we ate we headed back home for the night.
Unfortunately, as is expected while traveling to Kenya, I got quite sick that night, and the next day. I will save you from any details, just know that I am feeling much better now and will be trying to eat my first real meal since then in a few minutes.
Today, Mike and Lexi are putting in their first day at a local school in Mlolongo called Heritage. Until I find the location of the centre and set it up, my work is primarily a one person job. Mike and Lexi will help out at teaching, tutoring and mentoring the children. This is also a great chance for them to learn more of the language and culture of Kenya.
While Mike and Lexi are in Mlolongo, I am in the city, working on a paper for school and organizing a testing day at an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp for Thursday. This means getting tests, lap slips, gloves, capillary tubes and needles from Dr.George and communicating with the people at the IDP camp to be sure to have written permission from parents saying we can administer the tests and to prepare emotionally for the possibility that they may have to tell one of the kids they have become close with that they are living with HIV.
I should get going, more work is waiting.
Kwa heri rafikis!
Josh
It is Friday the 24th at 8:08 in the morning. I am writing this blog, drinking my chai, thankful to be back in Kenya.
I landed on the 21st, at seven twenty in the evening. Flying in, I had similar feelings as I had the first time. I was anxious, excited, sad about leaving home and dreading standing in the line for my visa. On the brighter side of it all, I knew that once I got my visa, found my luggage, and went through customs, there would be two familiar faces picking me up. Anena and Sara, both people I met the last time I was in Kenya. Both were at the airport to welcome me back, as excited to see me as I was to see them. Once we found one another and the excitement mellowed, we found a few taxis and went to the house.
Throughout my trip, I have quite a few people from Winnipeg coming to help out with the project and volunteer. Flying out with me, I had two volunteers; Mike and Lexi. It has been interesting for me to show them around the town we live, the hospital, the market, the matatu stages. The expressions that a first time visitor to Kenya has are priceless. Throughout the trip I will be asking them to write small blogs that can be added to mine. I think the different perspectives will be interesting for the readers and for me.
So far, we have been taking it fairly easy. On Wednesday we visited a neighboring town called Kitengela, where I did a lot of work on my previous trip. Seeing the town and introducing it to Lexi and Mike was amazing. Touring the clinic, visiting my friend Violet, a women living with HIV, who I visited weekly for six months. After speaking with Violet about how her health and life had changed since we last saw each other, we said our goodbyes with a promise to come back the next week. We then travelled to Nairobi, which for anyones first trip, is full of surprises.
The jammed cars on the road, the jammed people on the sidewalk, the tiny stores jammed into buildings. Everything fits, but just barely! Lexi and Mike navigated the streets with help from myself and our house mom Anena. We walked them to the main bus stop, shouting about landmarks to look for if you’re lost while ushering the two new volunteers through the breaks in pedestrian traffic.
We got onto our bus, right outside of the Nairobi Hilton, and made our way west to a friends comfortable apartment. The area is surrounded by large malls; Yaya, Prestige, Junction. These areas are filled with mzungus (white people) like ourselves. It is almost like stepping into a new world, with coffee shops, large departments stores and of course, a Nike. We stayed at the apartment for an hour or so, talking about voluntary HIV testing centre’s, NGO’s, Kenya, global health programs and similar issues. When we tired of the chat, we found an internet cafe, e-mailed our parents a quick- “Hello, I landed, I’m safe, love you, miss you, call you soon!”, and went out to meet a few friends, relax, catch up, chat about work and enjoy a fine Kenyan brew; Tusker.
On Thursday, another day of visiting old friends, reconnecting with old volunteers friends exploring Kitengela was in order. Lexi was feeling tired and stayed home while Mike and I hopped a matatu and headed for the town. Ten minutes later, we were greeting by my friend Joseph. Joseph is a Kenyan who helped me huge amounts on my last trip. He would join me on out-patient visits and translate, often times clarifying miscommunications and explaining different traditions. He is a big person. Not in size (although he is tall) but in personality. He can’t hide any emotion and thankfully, he is almost always happy. Once we spoke to one another and I introduced him to Mike, he has happy to meet another Canadian, another person to ask about life elsewhere in the world.
The three of us walked through town to an internet cafe where we met another friend, Jane, who was working there. Joseph and Jane have been friends for years and have allowed me to share their friendship. A friendship that benefitted me in many ways. Not only were they local guides in a strange town, but their companionship in local restaurants and distant communities made me less of a stranger and much easier for a local to speak to. Our relationship that once was based solely on volunteering, turned into friendship very quickly.
Once we visited Jane, Mike, Joseph and I walked to the edge of town. With no buildings, no roads and no people, this has always been one of my favourite places in Kitengela. It offers a place to sit, think and digest the culture that is new, exciting and challenging to understand. My relationship with Joseph is one of trust, because of this, in private, he and I can discuss topics that many others may find offensive or disrespectful. Once we had walked fifteen minutes or so we reached a set of train tracks where we sat for a rest and we began to chat. It is interesting to hear the opinions that Joseph has.
Joseph comes for a traditionally Luo family. A family that practices polygamy, wife inheritance and physical rites of passage. He is the man of the family because his father is not around often, which he quietly resents. He himself only wants one wife, with three or four children. He wants a wife that is independent, one that is with him for love and not out of need. He is very progressive in his thoughts and this begins to show when we speak of female genital mutilation and even abortions. He speaks about “FGM”, stating that it is a woman’s body and woman’s choice. He then speaks of abortion and his lines become a bit more blurry. It is clear that he believes it is again, the choice of the woman, although to make it legal is a but of stretch. He changes the subject and I politely follow his lead. We walked over to a local hotel talking about the need for education on HIV prevention. Mike, Joseph and I finish the conversation over a drink at the hotel, a beer for Mike and I, a Fanta for Joseph.
At that point it was time to go home. On the matatu, after taking in the conversation between Joseph and I, Mike asks if it is ok to speak of subjects like female genital mutilation, abortion, religion and other sensitive issues with locals. I told him no, and thought for a moment of how lucky I was to have someone like Joseph, someone willing to speak to me honestly about such sensitive issues.
Today is another day with more excitement. We are heading to a slum in Nairobi called Kawangware. A place a used to call home. I’m looking forward to the visit and will update you all soon with any news. Next week the Kenyan reunions end and the centre will be my main focus.
Kwa heri rafikis!
Josh
Hello to all,
Just a few days have passed but a lot has happened!
Our visit to Kawangware was great! We met with Dr.George, went to my old home-stay, visited an orphanage where I did some work and met up with friends at night. While we were at Wema, Dr.George told us that he had a baby that was left with him. He said that the baby was delivered and the mom ran off, leaving the baby to the clinic. This is not the first time that this had happened and it it will not be last, but it is always hard. When we went to meet the baby, I asked the nurse what his name was. She said it must be Wema, because that is where he was born. I held him for while, and he quietly rested. Wema is very small, only about 5 pounds, but Dr.George says he is healthy and will do well. Dr.George is looking for a home for Wema, although the placement of a child can be very difficult.
My first impression was that Dr.George wanted to find a family that could cover the medical costs that he had spent on delivering the child. In Kenya, the typical rate in a slum clinic like this one is roughly 4 to 6 thousand shillings for child-birth. I explained that I could not take Wema, and that I did not think anyone I knew in Kenya could either. Dr.George, who does not take no for an answer, continued to say that one of my friends should take him. While speaking to Christine, a past volunteer who I worked with and who is now employed by an NGO doing maternal health education in slums, said that she will work with Dr.George to be sure that Wema is placed in an orphanage. She spoke of one with a high rate of adoption, which she thought may take him.
In Winnipeg, my sister Sarah just had a baby named Sophie. Sophie is nine pounds of perfection surrounded by a family that loves her. It is hard to understand the contrasting lives that Sophie and Wema were born into.
Mike, Lexi and I spent the night in Nairobi at a friends apartment. The next morning was the beginning of the weekend and we started it off going to a free show called Wapi. Wapi is funded by the British Council to support local artists. It showcases rappers, slam-poets, graffiti artists and painters from the Nairobi slums. It was great to see some local talent and I’m hoping to go back to the next show, It is held once a month.
After Wapi, we loaded 9 people into an SUV and headed for Mathare, a slum north of the city. We picked up 3 more people (do the math, thats now 12 in the SUV) and went to a local restaurant. We ordered a traditional Kenyan meal; nyama choma (BBQ goat), ugali (boiled water and maiz flower), sukuma wiki (kale) and kachumbari (diced onion, tomato, chili and cilantro). The food took an hour or more to prepare and so we sat, relaxed and chatted until the food came. Once we ate we headed back home for the night.
Unfortunately, as is expected while traveling to Kenya, I got quite sick that night, and the next day. I will save you from any details, just know that I am feeling much better now and will be trying to eat my first real meal since then in a few minutes.
Today, Mike and Lexi are putting in their first day at a local school in Mlolongo called Heritage. Until I find the location of the centre and set it up, my work is primarily a one person job. Mike and Lexi will help out at teaching, tutoring and mentoring the children. This is also a great chance for them to learn more of the language and culture of Kenya.
While Mike and Lexi are in Mlolongo, I am in the city, working on a paper for school and organizing a testing day at an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp for Thursday. This means getting tests, lap slips, gloves, capillary tubes and needles from Dr.George and communicating with the people at the IDP camp to be sure to have written permission from parents saying we can administer the tests and to prepare emotionally for the possibility that they may have to tell one of the kids they have become close with that they are living with HIV.
I should get going, more work is waiting.
Kwa heri rafikis!
Josh
It’s 8 in the morning on Friday, October 1st. Yesterday, I held my first HIV testing of this trip. My friend Sara Kluge and I were asked to travel to the town of Nakuru, invited by other volunteers working here so we could test people at their work placements.
Yesterday, by the time we were able to connect with the other volunteers, it was already 3 in the afternoon. Sara and I were a bit discouraged by how late it was but wanted to get some testing in and went with them to the garbage slum where one volunteer was working. We arrived and saw a medical tent and a long line of people waiting to see a the Doctor that was also their for the day. We were told that the most high need patient could not leave her house in the garbage because of arthritis and that we were going to walk and test her. The woman they were speaking of was 49 years old, had 5 kids and was raped at least once every two years. Of her five children, the three girls, who are aged 4, 5 and 9, had also been raped within the last year. After meeting the family, listening to their story and explaining what we could do to help, we began the testing.
Amazingly, all four family members were negative! When the mom heard the news, she began thanking us and saying that her family must be blessed. Seeing her positive attitude after living so many tragedies was amazing to see. Her house was built on piles of garbage, she could not walk because of arthritis, she was raped multiple times and watched her children be watched multiple times and despite all this, she was optimistic.
It was a great day to be me, sharing good news with a family that needed it.
Today, after breakfast Sara and I are going to an IDP camp and holding a testing at a community group there. We can only hope that today will be as much of a success as yesterday.
Kwa heri rafikis!
Josh
It seems like every day in Kenya forces you to reevaluate what you believe is important in life. When you are facing 35 people, living in an internally displaced persons camp, hoping to be tested for HIV, any personal grievances just seem to melt away.
After spending the day doing testing, Sara and I hopped on a motorcycle taxi and headed for the highway in hopes of catching a bus for the two hour ride back to Nairobi. As Sara the driver and myself were on the bike, rain began to fall. Luckily, I had my enormous rain jacket that I bought to cover, not only myself, but all of my bags as well. I threw it over myself, my lap-top, i-pod, camera and other pieces of technology that should not be with me while doing HIV testing in an IDP camp.
At this point, I said to Sara “Hey, just in case you forgot, we are on a motorcycle, in Kenya, surrounded by the savanna, and we just spent the day doing testing to a group that really needed it.” Sara said back to me “Almost everyday in Kenya I wish that I could screenshot my life and share it with people.” I could not agree more, I wish you could have all seen the green hills, blurry from falling drops of rain. I wish you could have smelt the water falling to the dry ground. I wish you could have felt the satisfaction of letting people know their HIV status. I wish you could have seen the village of temporary (its been two years) tents the UN provided. I wish you could have seen the kids playing. I wish you could have seen the town slowly become smaller and smaller while sitting on the back of a motorbike. I wish you could have been there.
Once on the highway, as we begin to slowly climb a hill, the bike began to go slower and slower...we were out of gas. Sara and I begin to laugh and I start to push the bike up the hill.
Me, carrying my backpack, camera bag and testing supplies with an ENORMOUS rain jacket over top and pushing the bike, was something that was hilarious. Not only to Sara and I, but also to our driver and every car that passed the scene. I looked like a hunchback mzungu with a tarp over his body pushing a locals bike up a hill while laughing.
Soon enough, we made it to the top, boarded a bus and made it back to the City. I am now in Mlolongo, back at home and about to go to bed. I just thought I would let you all know how lucky I feel I am to be able to have so many amazing experiences each day. Thanks to everyone who made this possible! Nakupenda!
Kwa heri rafikis ni lala salama!
Josh
A Day of Thanks
Having lived in Canada my entire life, it is not difficult to find things to be thankful for; it is especially easy after spending time in Kenya. The difficult thing is that a lot of what you are thankful for is not with you, it is far away at home.
Family and friends you want to speak to are on a different schedule. I’m awake, they are asleep, I am asleep, they are awake. Instead of dwelling on the fact, I gathered the friends that have become family here and had a fake thanksgiving.
Lexi, Mike and I planned on watching a movie together and we planned a feast. Not the traditional thanksgiving spread, but beggars can’t be choosers. Guacamole was made, chips and popcorn were bought, chili for dinner and fruit salad for dinner. We even bought a few beers and some of the worst hard liquor you could ever try; Kenya King. It’s $6 for a 26. Not a good thing.
I am also thankful to be in Kenya, to experience everything I have and everything that is to come. Every day is a challenge, every day is a gift. The friends I have made here, the things I have learned about myself and the world around me, the things I have been able to do. I am thankful for it all.
Tomorrow I am meeting with a group that is working in Mlolongo. They have been on the search for some real estate for the centre. They also have ideas of what the community needs and would like to help- these types of opportunities I can’t afford to pass up.
Last week, I worked on setting up a permanent VCT in Kawangware, a slum in Nairobi. It would be on the back property of a clinic. The doctor that owns the land wants to be involved and is willing to donate the use of the land as well as being a part of the staff. I also had a meeting with the National AIDS Control Council. It was great to be able to hear that the work I was doing was supported by the organization and to hear that they were willing to support me if I had any needs in order to meet the district chief or other people that are influential in the area.
We also went back to the IDP camp in Nakuru although had much less turnout. The Heath Ministry had done a testing on the Tuesday and so by the time we got there on Thursday, anyone that wanted to be tested had already gotten the finger prick and waited the 5 minutes for results. We were able to test 5 people, roughly one per hour we were their minus travel time. Two people were positive.
At first the frustration of not having a line of people to test was getting to me. What makes the day completely worth it is the fact that we were able to add decades to 2 peoples lives and able to ease the minds of 3 others. We were able to educate 5 people about the spread of HIV and able to give hope to those that were positive that they could still live a great life.
For tonight though, we will relax, eat and enjoy the company of one another. Happy thanksgiving to everyone!
Kwa heri rafikis!
Josh
I've had a crazy few days. All day meetings, staring at numbers, talking about community outreach, sitting, walking, talking...for hours! It had been awesome and really productive.
Today, I visited properties in Mlolongo that are available for rent and found the home for the centre. It is a three bedroom house, set small compound right in the heart of Mlolongo. Two of the bedrooms will be turned into counseling and testing rooms, the other with be the office for our outreach programs. The kitchen will be used as both a kitchen and as a staff room. We are partitioning the living-room so that it can be used as my office as well as an educational resource room. We also have a big walled courtyard that will be used for the support groups, education groups, yoga....all the rest!
Tomorrow, Lexi, Mike and I are meeting with a contractor about putting up the wall and we are going to start cleaning the place up. It definitely needs a bit of love, but with a bit of paint and a few hours scrubbing it will be perfect!
I was thinking about how this is a massive step. I got corny and was going to say that its like a flower finally blossoming. I realised that it wasn't really my style and decided instead to say that getting this property is like my project hitting puberty. So much change, so fast!
I will be taking pictures tomorrow, so as long as my internet connection is ok, expect so see my new workplace very soon!
Kwa heri rafikis!
As much as I wanted to put the pictures of the centre online for everyone, it will have to happen following Kenya time.
If you don't know what that means, here is a true example.
This morning, Mike, Lexi and I went to a lumber yard and purchased the materials needed to build the walls. Everything was going great, they said it would be twenty minutes to plain the would and then they would send by hand pulled cart through town, to the property. We had a local who is working with us wait for the lumber.
Then, the power was cut, the plainer stopped working and 4 hours later, still not wood. No apologies, no rush, no worries.
The building should start tomorrow- I really really really hope!
The Kenya time delay on pictures is due to a broken card reader. Without it, I can't put pictures onto my computer which stops me from uploading. I will search around the shops to find a new one, but for something like this, It will need to be in a nice tech store in Nairobi; A trip I'm not likely to make until mid next week at the earliest.
Until then, rest assured that the pictures have been taken and they will reach you as soon as I can! In fact, I'm probably more excited to put them up then you are to see them, so now you can understand my disappointment.
Other then waiting for lumber, buying supplies and showing Mike and Lexi the place, Mike and I also went to a schools pre-exam prayer day.
It is held for the eldest group of students going into final exams as a way of praying for all to pass. As we left, I told Beautiful, the student we live with, that God does not make her pass, studying will. She agreed and promised to buckle down with reading.
On our way to the prayer day, Mike and I were in the matatu on the highway to Athi River when we saw a crowd gathering by the side of the highway. A man had been killed while riding his bike on the road. Police were there, about 50 people gathered, but the mangled bike and killed man laid open for all to see in the ditch. We were quick to look away but not quick enough to be oblivious to the situation. On the way back from prayer day, I took a motorcycle taxi while Mike hopped onto a matatu. As I was walking to the bikes, he turned to me and said "Maybe I will ride one again next week...". A reasonable statement.
On a much lighter note, tonight we happily welcome back our house-girl. She is relieving me of cooking and relieving the residents of this house the job of eating my cooking. I'm so happy to have her back, her job is not an easy one.
Tonight we will eat rice pilau, with beef stew, fried greens and potatoes! A feast! On Tuesday, my uncle Dan gets here and we have planned the delicious Kenyan meal of Chapati and Lentils; A favourite of mine!
You will hear from me soon, but that's all I have in me for tonight.
Kwa Heri Rafikis
Josh
Ten days have past since my last post and a lot has happened! The plans for the centre are well under way, programs are being developed, budgets are being reworked, office spaces are being set up, and a weekend escape to Diani beach was planned and executed quite perfectly.
I picked up my uncle Dan last Tuesday at the airport and we have been running around ever since. Wednesday was a national holiday so we took the day easy, walked to the centre, went out for lunch, saw a soccer match, got a glimpse of the prime minister and headed home so that Dan could get some much deserved sleep.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were spent with Dan, Mike, Lexi and myself at the centre. We had a few meetings about program development and logistics. Looking at budgets, while talking about which programs would be run.
The centre will run for a minimum of two years. Within the centre, counseling, testing and education will be available for free on a walk-in basis five days a week. The centre will also organize outreach education programs in schools twice a week, community outreach education and mobilization once a week, mobile testings outreach once a week and house a support group for people with HIV once a week.
Here is a brief description of services provided-
Walk-in CT
Frequency: Monday through Friday, 9 AM until 5 PM
Discreet, free and confidential HIV testing, education and counseling available to all people.
Walk-in Education
Frequency: Monday through Friday, 9 AM until 5 PM
Free HIV education, access to education resources such as pamphlets and books.
School Outreach Education-
Frequency: 2 Sessions a week
Run by two local educators and volunteers
Education on HIV prevention, de-stigmatization, anti-retrovirals tailored to the age group of participants.
Community Outreach and Mobilization-
Frequency: 1 session a week
Run by ten local educators and volunteers
Songs, skits and education is done in a high traffic, public settings (street corner, park, etc.) with the focus on educating the community about living with HIV, prevention, de-stigmatization. This program also helps by getting the name, location and services provided by the centre to anyone that is interested.
Mobile Testing-
Frequency: 1 session a week
Testings are done by CT trained individuals with mobilization done by volunteers
Brings testing to the people instead of people to the testing. Very discreet form of testing. Popular among those who work long hours who cannot access HIV tests through a clinic/centre.
Support Group-
Frequency: 1 session a week
Facilitated by a local volunteer
Creates a safe space where hopes, fears and experiences can be shared. Offers those who are positive a group of people who they can lean on to find peer support.
We have decided to hire two local people to have full time positions at the Centre. One will be the Director counseling and testing (CT) and the other will be the Outreach Director. The Director of CT services will be in charge of in house counseling and testing as well as the mobile-CT program. While the Outreach Director will focus on the outreach education/mobilization programs.
Right now, we are physically setting up the space and beginning to work on our first outreaches. They will be held Wednesday and Friday. Tomorrow we are going to Nairobi to support the youths we work with in a comedy competition they are part of and after we are shopping for mobile CT supplies; Tents, small tables and chairs.
This last weekend, we escaped to Diani Beach. It is an eight hours night bus to a small piece of heaven. We were 8 people traveling and we all had a blast. We did nothing on the beach but swim, laugh and relax. It was a great weekend!
So much more to write about but with only 10 hours of sleep in the last few days, it’s time for me to apologize for my run on sentences and bad spelling and head to bed.
Kwa Heri Rafikis, Lala Salama
Josh