Posted by Jennie Duck. Despite all the horrors that many people will have read about, life goes on, and so too do our foundation programmes.
Kandara Children’s Home has, thankfully, been unaffected by any of the troubles. The kids are happy and healthy, and enjoying an abundance of organic vegetables – the first stage of our organic farming project, which is rapidly gaining momentum.
The second stage is also taking shape. We’re in talks with the Nairobi University chemistry department to begin piloting production of organic soaps and essential oils as a social enterprise. Over the next few months, we want to find a recipe that we can use to make products that can be sold locally and abroad.
The fundamentals of our programmes have not changed -- immediate care backed up by economic opportunity and long-term sustainability for people and the projects -- but because of the violence, we now face a number of logistical hurdles. Today, on my way to pick a Professor from the chemistry department so that I could take him to Kandara, I was forced to retreat as vehicles in front started turning around as news spread the situation was becoming volatile ahead of us.
Today has been tense and people have been staying indoors out of harms way, and because of this, meetings are delayed and are difficult to plan.
Our child support programme at Ayany primary school in the Kibera slum has been badly affected by the violence. For one, the school has not resumed as normal. Last week only 500 of the 2,000 children attended, although this figure has risen to 1,200 this week. Even when it has been open, the school’s proximity to Kibera, where many of the kids live, means teachers are nervous and ready to send kids home at the first sign of trouble.
Of our five business partners in the programme, two had their businesses destroyed in the early stages of the violence. They have been forced to relocate, meaning they lose business and are unable to supply the children.
Kenyans are, however, resilient. Most are still smiling and there is still a sense that things will not fail – you just need to figure out better ways of doing them.
Against this backdrop, we are reviewing the project and plan to register it is an independent programme, to which Ayany will become a partner. Since we can’t get into Ayany, we are looking for premises on the south side of Kibera – the school is on the north – which is less volatile and still accessible to the children.
From here we can continue to give out food and supplies, as well as having space to run workshops with the children. These will range from counselling sessions – much will be needed now -- to the making jewellery to talks from professionals and inspirational people who will provide encouragement. We will also work with the guardians, and look to expand to partner with other schools and organisations.
A good thing to come out of this programme is that we’ve been assisted by a group of community workers. These four ladies, who have been helping us with home visits and updates on the children and their circumstances, are each from different tribes. The fact that they are working together, and are the face of our programme, is immensely positive. For one, it means we can reach all the children, regardless of tribe. It is also a great example to the children that unity is possible.
As with a lot of issues created by adults, children can suffer the worst. What they are seeing and hearing will be confusing and frightening. The more we can do to stick by them, encourage them and offer them examples of alternative life choices, the better … surely?
Things are bad. But hope is not lost, not by Kenyans, and not by our foundation. We’re all learning and we can be stronger because of it.