After a few days sleeping in airports and countless bus journeys down sandy, rock filled roads (the term road is used loosely here)we finally arrived at our village, only to be met by the most amazingsinging and dancing from the village elders as they welcomed us from all corners of the globe. We were shown the mud houses where we would stay, the place from which we should draw water and the showers which consisted of a bowl of water (if the well was not dry), some banana leaves and an empty sack!
When night fell, the sky was breath taking. It was as though I could see every individual star as it twinkled in the pitch black sky. When night falls in a place with no electricity, the stars look like diamonds, and you should really not forget your torch. Unfortunately I had, and would spend the next two weeks stumbling around in blackness gaining lots of bruises.
After boiled yams and sugary tea for breakfast we began our first day at work. We were working with the locals to build a dam. The rains in Kenya have failed for the last two years and people are desperate. Everyone is crying for water, with no water there are no crops, no crops means no food, without food there is no life.When the rains eventually came (which they didn’t this year either) we were building a dam to collect the rain water for the villagers. We dug all morning, tools were scarce, the local kids dug with their bare hands, making leaf baskets to use as buckets, the strength of five year olds putting me to shame!
Afternoons were put aside for house visits. Every afternoon after lunch we visited the local people to hear about their lives and their problems. The people were so open with us, often sharing things with us that broke our hearts. The lack of water seemed to be effecting every area of peoples’ lives. A common question was how far did I have to go to get water in my country. It was incredibly humbling to explain that I had things called taps inside my house, that not only delivered water, but hot water too. I was ashamed to say that I was not 100% sure where it came from. In a life of plenty most things are taken fore granted.
What did I learn from this experience? it is difficult to say. I learnt how to carry 70 litres of water in a day. I learnt how to hide a swollen hungry belly.I learnt about corruption, beatings, greed and apathy. I learnt the helplessness of aid agencies who try to help. I learnt to choose between using water to wash or drink – there is no choice. I learnt that I have more than I will ever need, that the abundance in my life is a result of being born in the affluent West. I learnt how to be joyful with what I have. On no other project have I been so integrated into the community and laughed, cried, and fully lived among the locals. Mostly my experience reinforced that what is needed education. What is needed is for people to get alongside the people in communities like this and work through their problems with them. Aid agencies can throw all the money they want at Africa, most of it won’t reach the people who need it. We need to empower individuals, support and education them to make the changes they know their country needs. And what am I going to do about it? Next summer I am taking 20 sixth form students out to Africa to get alongside the youth there, to encourage, to support, to inspire the next generation to do whatever it is they decide their countries needs.
(In the picture: the volunteers and the members of the local community dancing together)
Ebusiralo, September 2009
Jambo.Welcome to my little review of the Ebusiralo workcamp, which I was fortunate enough to attend last year.The continent was Africa, the country was Kenya and this volunteer was more than a little nervous.However, remembering the maxim ‘be flexible’ I set off on what has been one of the most memorable experiences I have had to date.
Orientation in Nairobi from the Kenya Volunteer Development Association Director advised the gathered volunteers from many European countries and Japan that we would encounter cultural differences but essentially to go with the flow and if an doubt ask.We were also taken to Kibera to meet with the Kibera Youth Reform group.This is a self-started group, formed when the locally feared and armed young gangsters had lost many of their number due to violence.Their decision was to become a force for community support not severance.It is a remarkable story and the experience of Kibera showed those of us who have never experienced dire living conditions the worst we could expect.
Happily for us our project took place against the backdrop of beautiful hills and lush vegetation (despite much of Kenya being in the grip of an extended drought, you may remember the news footage?).However, the reason Western Kenya is relatively lush is that the seasons consist of short rains (about a 30-minute downpour most days) and long rains (which is what it says on the tin!).Don’t be put off by this, generally the rain is a temporary inconvenience, which does not get too much in the way of what you are doing and you learn to live with it.Our accommodation was a concrete house with a tin roof, set in a compound of about 5 other houses and we had access to a large communal rainwater tank.
Our project was about a 50/50 split of international volunteers and Kenyan volunteers.Despite the task essentially being advertised as construction it quickly turned out to be so much more (and far better for it).Remember the maxim? So I found my self one day digging trenches for a new teaching block, the next wheeling hardcore in a wheelbarrow for a mile time after time, the next helping to mix concrete, learning to lay bricks and so on.However, I also spent some time teaching English (being the only native English speaker in the camp) at the local primary school, other volunteers taught maths and science.Language in Kenya is very interesting.With English I did not really have a problem. However, as well as Swahili there are numerous regional dialects, which have commonalties but are not the same.Apparently using Swahili is equivalent to speaking very proper English in the UK, think of the 1940’s films!
(In the picture: volunteers at work)
The project subdivided the group into a series of committees for kitchen, health (cleaning and water), work and entertainment duties.This meant that the members of each committee would have to organise the entire work camp to ensure that the necessary tasks were performed.Undoubtedly the work committee enabled us to achieve the overall goal of the project (don’t expect a plan if you are starting from the beginning of a construction project!).However, the other committees were just as important in ensuring that we could survive (food and water) and had other activities to look forward to.
Having now carried buckets of water for drinking, cooking, washing and construction over what are laughably short distances by Kenyan standards I have a real respect for the value of water.And yes it is possible to have a perfectly good wash in half a litre of water.Our kitchen had no roof, which was ideal for letting out the smoke from the open fires over which we prepared all the meals but not so great at keeping out the rain!Preparing food for almost 30 people with three pans, three knives, some of the biggest wooden spoons I have ever seen (I kid you not, these were 3 foot beasts) and wood which gives off an aroma which had us shedding tears for every meal, is a significant challenge!And yet we did it with so much success that when I got home I felt like a child for the first day, marvelling at running water, gas and an oven.Did I really need those things?
(In the picture: Simon and the wooden spoon)
I quickly realised that the construction was a highly visible but ultimately not necessarily the greatest contribution we could make.It is the people that matter.Our interaction with the primary school, our chats to members of the polytechnic (‘A’ level years in England) and encounters with members of the community, enabled us to share our experiences and learn from one another.Money is not the only currency in the world.The community elders managed to procure an astonishing amount of materials from their community.Personally, I was deeply touched at the enormous kindness shown to me when I was sick in the first week of arrival (not food or water related I should add).Also our relationships with the Kenyan volunteers was (and still is) very important.We did everything together for three weeks and it was fascinating to swap tales of life experiences with them.
As for our leisure time, the entertainment committee did us proud!We visited numerous homes in the community and shared beautiful traditional Kenyan food with them, accompanied by storeys and sometimes music.We visited Lake Victoria, hiked to the equator (as you do) and visited a rain forest.Not bad for a construction project!
I needn’t have been nervous about going to Kenya as a volunteer (if heading out there keep mentioning you are a volunteer, there’s plenty of volunteer rates to be found!).The sheer kindness of people was amazing.Whilst there were challenges and some things could have gone differently I do not remember a day going by when were not laughing about something, it was a genuinely a happy experience.Many people have asked me if I would I do it again?My answer, when can I go?
In 2002, Concordia introduced a North/South bursary scheme. This was set up to provide funding and support for volunteers from the South to participate in our projects in the UK. This year we hosted two volunteers...Peter Kanyi from Kenya and Akofa Abotsi from Togo. Below are extracts from the reports they wrote about their experiences.
I reported at Brunts Barn on Monday 2nd and met the other volunteers I was to work with in my project. Immediately after unpacking, Peter and Abi the project co-ordinators invited us out for ice-breakers and name-games. The outcome of the games was so much promising since we bound together from that very first day. Due to long journeys everybody was tired and we slept early.
In the morning after breakfast we were introduced to Dave the ranger who offered to take us round the PeakPark and show us where we would be working. We saw the broken road created by one of the biggest earthquakes to ever happen in the UK. We also walked through sheep farms and through very beautiful public parks. On Wednesday we settled down to our work. It was mainly to do with dry stone wall repairs and construction of an overflow path of an old reservoir. On the last days we were involved in tree felling in some parts of the forests to create sunshine penetration to enhance heather growth. The work brought the group much more together since we all relied on one another in one way or the other.
We would work for two consecutive days and the third day was a free day. We used our free day in creative leisure activities. We had visits to local villages, had drinks from the local pub and had a trip to Mam Tor, the highest hill in the Peak District.
The project co-ordinators were very helpful and available to us. They gave us opportunities to decide for ourselves what we would like to do for our leisure activities and this was nice since we democratically came up to a happy suggestion.
I personally enjoyed the project in general, work, group, co-ordinators and activities we were involved in. Its something that has contributed highly to my personal growth and voluntary spirit.I pray that Concordia can be able to offer many more similar opportunities to more volunteers as it enhances interhuman and international understanding.
Writing a blog about my experience in Kenya has been no easy task. Having spent a month in Machakos, the Eastern region of Kenya, I have had so many amazing experiences that to pick a few key points is an extremely difficult thing to do. However, the fundamental point to convey is that, at the risk of sounding cheesy, choosing to volunteer in Kenya is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
The work camp I was involved in set about repairing roads that had been damaged by water during the rainy season. Although this was the principle reason for being in the village of Ngumbulu it became increasingly apparent to me that the cultural exchange between myself, the international volunteer’s and the local community was worth just as much, if not more, than the physical work of repairing the road. Spending the afternoons on home visit or sitting round the camp fire after a hard days work, so many ideas, values and perspectives are exchanged which inevitably broaden your perspective. During my short time at Ngumbulu I, for example, learnt how to construct a fairly decent fire, sang local songs and pick up a little Kamba, the local dialect. In exchange I assisted in organising and orchestrating an English culture night, taught many a song to the local school children and swallowing my pride whenever I was laughed at playing volleyball (which was often).
Furthermore, being involved in a highly diverse group of international volunteers I was pleasantly surprised by how well we worked together as a team and how rewarding being a member of a team can be. All volunteers were involved in every aspect of domestic life whether it be cooking, collecting water or having the sometimes unappealing task of cleaning the toilets. Such responsibilities were conducted in accordance with local practices which allowed me to gain ever increasing respect for the local culture as well as an appreciation for what I have in my own life.
After spending a month in Kenya it is my belief that international volunteering can be a great way to immerse yourself in a culture, give something to community and learn a great deal about yourself and the world around you. It is an experience that I will not forget in a hurry and one, which even on my return, demands that I question and broaden my ideas and perspectives.
