Forgive me for being so lax, but it is very hard to write from Kenya , especially when not in the city. So slow or no electricity or no credit or busy or lazy or bummed………………..

Had a rough trip, was pickpocketed and lost everything, passport, credit cards, phone, drivers liscense money etc. What a hassle getting it straightened out. Try getting money with no ID.  The Kenyan police were a pain and American Embassy as bad on the day I got robbed. They were “closed” I had to demand service and then got very little!!

So I learned some things ( I probably should have known)

• Never carry passport, carry a copy and licsense.
• Have a third form of  ID (passport, drivers liscense and something else with your picture)
• Separate money in different places, do the same with credit cards.
• Carry one credit card only.
• Write down the credit card numbers.
• Do not, repeat Do NOT wear a backpack on your back, use it in the front or wear a fanny pack in the front.
• Cargo pants with pockets on the legs and velcro are great.
• Good old bra is still a great place to keep thing. Wrap in something soft. Lots of African women do this.
• Don’t think conductors, drivers and police are honest, hate to say this but desperate times in Kenya make people do desperate things.  I cant follow the advice of many Kenyans to trust no one, it is just not in me. Sometime I regret it.

Things are not going well in Kenya. They are voting on a new constitution and the YES  NO camps are really heating up.Violence has already started and the vote is scheduled for August.  Its a pretty known fact that the corrupt politicians want NO new constitution in order to keep their land, power, money.  They are inciting the uneducated into tribal conflict with scare tactics about what the new constitution will bring. This is the same tactic they used after the 2007 elections.  I complain about our politics but believe me it looks pretty darn good compared to Kenya. I am very glad to be home.

The good part of the trip was my visit to Chazon Children Centre.  The kids are so great, many have been through hell but still have hope and love.  I am terrified to think how CCC will be innundated if there is more violence.  They are struggling to feed 180 kids now.  They are so thankful for the little food they get. See the picture above. Please consider sending a few dollars to Chazon.

Here is something I wrote on my first day home, it reflects my mood at the time.

Dear Kenya,

• I love you but you make me so sad and angry.
• Your physical beauty is overwhelming as often as it is overwhelmed with trash.
• Your beautiful polite people often lie and steal.
• The young men seem to be lost. The women look for good fathers for the future generation in vain.
• Your no corruption zones are so very corrupt.
• Your police are sometimes more scary then your criminals.
• Your children are so smart and clever that they quickly learn all your worst behaviors and habits.
• Your hopelessness grows in your solid belief that nothing will ever change therefore you do nothing.
• Your dress is so stylish but often at the cost of your nutrition.
• Your poverty is vast but your extreme wealth is limited to a privileged few.
• Your love and frequent talk of God often seems to have little connection to your daily life.
• Your inability to see a future make today the only day that matters.
• Your need and desire for a few more shillings today costs hearts, souls and lives.
• Your future is your children many who are orphans,  poor, hungry, barefoot and without schooling. There are only a few brave souls who are trying to save them.
• Your uneducated are ignored yet they are the ones most easily manipulated to violence by corrupt leaders with personal agendas.
• Fighting among tribes will be your demise.
• Violence is too easily accepted as part of life.
• Hopelessness and passivity will destroy the best of you.
• Decent people need to yell louder so they can be heard over the din of the corrupt.

I love you still

What you say, no one recycles in Kenya, there is garbage in many streets and especially rural villages.

Well yes that is true there is no unified effort to recycle by government, and plastic bags and bottles are everywhere. Well this made me very discouraged until I saw with different eyes.

Nothing is wasted in Kenya, if it can be used again it is. Today I saw empty detergent bottles used as flotation devices by some kids, wow. Empty containers are also used as water carriers, scoops, baskets, and any number of useful items.

How about old tires, you will not believe what they can make from them

• shoes
• gaskets
• ropes
• swings and toys of all types
• car parts
• carriersRepairs are made on everything, shoes made new, even cheap  flip flops are repaired, They are driving OLD cars that have been fixed so many times it is unbelieveab

Plastic bags and pieces of twine make great soccer (football here) balls.

All kind of junk are used to make jewelry, I especially like the wire scrap use.

I will keep an eye out for more ideas and keep you updated.

Have been  in Kenya for 2 weeks, having fun and working with children. The ocean is beautiful but it is hot, hard to sleep, no electricity and no fan where I am now.  Sometimes there is a nice breeze, the  mosquitos are annoying but it is too hot to use a net. Hope my malaria pills work. I am sending 2 boys from an orphanage to High School andcoulc use some help with funding. Without  a HS  education they have no future. If you can spare $5.00 would appreciate it. Send it to mypaypal account.     vduffy@rochester.rr.com

Thanks and Blessings

By the way to clarify what I say in the video 30,000 Kenya Shillings  is about $ 390.00

The Children of Chazon Children Center in Molo Kenya and Virginia

More about Kenya Outreach Projects

Mission of  Virginia J. Duffy and Asbury First United Methodist Church Rochester, NY

I recently returned from a month in Kenya. I visited Watoto Wa Baraka (WWB)  the orphanage where our Sunday school children’s penpals live. This is where we used your donations from Easter to build a water tank tower to store precious water.  It was so good to see the kids, they are terrific. (see pictures)

In addition to visiting WWB I spent time at a school Chazon Childrens Centre (CCC) , built by 2 local pastors (Lucy and Samwel) with their own funds. How wonderful are these children and the pastors. I stayed with them and their relatives in Molo and was quickly adopted into the family. I was able to help them prepare for their first volunteers, develop policies, teach health class and much more. At CCC I also started a fund for street children called James’ Children Fund. In addition I implemented an education fund which I believe is one of the best ways to help the Kenyan people.  Here is information about those projects.

James’ Children

A Chazon Children’s Centre Education Program for Street and Destitute Children

This program is named in loving memory of James Njenga taken home to the Lord by Malaria in 2006 at age 13.

Due to the tribal clashes and extreme poverty in Molo Kenya many children have been left orphaned, abandoned or destitute. Some of these children are in homes of relatives or friends while others survive on the street. All of them suffer from deprivation and hunger and are unable to attend school due to lack of required uniforms.

Funding

Initial support will be provided by Virginia J. Duffy. Virginia will donate $100.00 a month. Other funding will be sought to continue and expand the program.

Purpose:

The purpose of this fund it to enable destitute children in Molo Kenya, who have the desire, to attend school. The fund will also be used to provide food to these children as able.

Procedure:

A volunteer will visit the streets, inquire of school masters and pastors and use other means to identify needy children. The volunteer will establish a routine of regular visits to a determined place in Molo where word of mouth will enable him to be contacted by children on the street. Small amounts of food will be provided while attempts are made to build a relationship with these children in order to evaluate their desire and motivation to attend school.

Children and families (if able) will be evaluated. When appropriate these children will be referred to directors of CCC who will determine if the child is appropriate and ready  for enrollment  in CCC school

Once enrollment is complete uniforms will be purchased and the children will participate in all aspects of the CCC programs that are deemed appropriate.

Funds may also be used as determined by directors to purchase necessary clothing for known destitute children already enrolled in school.

RARE

Receive and Reciprocate Education

Developed by Virginia Duffy RARE is a mission is to assist as many Kenyan citizens  as possible between the ages of 22 and 35 obtain a higher education for the betterment of both the individual and society as a whole.

Funding by Virginia J Duffy and well wishers.

RARE will provide tuition for a maximum of 4 years.

As funds are available RARE will assist to pay for books and provide a small stipend.

Applicants will be interviewed and reviewed individually. They will be accepted according to their goals and past accomplishments and initiatives. No discrimination will be allowed based on gender, race, tribe, disabilities that do not prevent learning, or  sexual preference.

Applicants will be asked to sign a contract promising to:

1. Do their best to study hard and obtain good marks
2. Remain in Kenya at least 5 years after studies are complete
3. Work as a productive citizen in Kenya and do their best to be an asset to society and help move it forward.
4. Over the course of their career help at least 2 other worthy students attend college or university by paying tuition.  I will ask them to reciprocate in a similar way.

At this date we have 3 students starting at the university.

Elizabeth Njoki and Frank Olum will attend University of Nairobi.  Phillip will attend Moi University in Kisumu. These are people I know well and feel confident will succeed and honor their agreement.

I am hoping AFUMC members will help me with these missions.

Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions, comments or ideas!  Thanks for all your support.

Any one wishing to Donate may send a check to Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Ave. Rochester, NY   Please clearly indicate the donation is for African Mission. Any one donating $100.00 or more email me with your address and I will send you a free copy of my book Behavioral First Aid: Managing Emotions During Emergencies ($25.00 Value)  Thanks in advance

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Nursery Kids working with clay for the first time at CCC

Kids Eating Lunch (probably Ugali and Kale)

Breakfast with Kids before school at Watato Wa Baraka

Hi All,

I am glad to be home but missing the kids so much. I spent 3 weeks at a school in Molo Kenya (about 3 hrs north of Nairobi) and a week at Watoto Wa Baraka  an orphange about one hour north of Nairobi in a town called Mukuyu.

The kids for the most part seem happy and seem oblivous to their dire situations. I guess that is the norm in many parts of Kenya. Healthy denial is necessary to get by. When asked about the problems they often say they are used to it. I guess they have no choice, shortages of food and water are every day events. Things are becoming more scary however as rains are scarce and the crops are doing poorly. Reports of beginning starvation along with terrorists crossing the Somali border are becoming more of the norm. 

These people help me to remember to live in the moment, and the moments can be so joyful with the kids. Their faith is astounding to me as they pray and thank God for what they have continually. I have to admit my own occasional crisis of faith when I see all the suffering.

The really important things I did were to teach jump rope games,  to show the kids how to play with clay, to sing a solo  in church and  to be adopted by my new African family. Now it will really be hard to stay home.

Really I did some other things also. I started two programs that I really need help with, so if you can find it in your heart to send me a buck or two on paypal I would add it to the fund of your choice.

Here are my two programs along with the orphanage (WWB) and school (CCC)  I am trying to raise funds for:

1. Watoto Wa Baraka  (children of Blessing) Orphanage  Makuyu, Kenya

 www.Watotowabaraka.org

 This orphanage is growing quickly through help from volunteer and donations. Members of my church, Asbury First United Methodist in Rochester NY, have helped with much needed water by sponsoring purchase and building of a water tank collection station . Water is precious in Kenya, and the recent dry spell has made it critical. The orphanage only gets water twice a week from the government (although this is not guarenteed)  and must supplement with well water.

 Currently WWB has 24 live-in orphans and helps about 50 more. They are also committed to helping the community and just finished building a resource center where they can teach computers and sewing to the local population in order to enable them to support themselves and their children.

 WWB plans to build a school for the orphans and children of the village ASAP. Although there is a public school in the village,  the quality of learning is very poor and children are not prepared to continue their education or support themselves.  The first stage of the school (one large classroom with furnishings) will cost about $5000.00 USD.

2. Chazon Childrens’ Center  Molo, Kenya

Website in development as we speak, stay tuned.

 This is a school in Molo Kenya about 3 hours north of Nairobi. Assisted in getting started by Geoffrey Ndunga director of WWB they have done an amazing amount of work in a short time.

The directors Samwell and Lucy are both pastors. They have sold their business and property and purchased 5 acres of land to build a school (very basic at this point). They and are now providing quality education and feeding about 74 orphans and vulnerable children from Molo area. The 3 basic meals the children get at school is the only food many of them receive.  (porridge twice a day and a staple ( Ugali (corn meal) or Rice)  and a vegetable for lunch. With luck and funds they also get a banana once a week)

 James’ Children’s Fund

 In  rememberance of Lucy and Samwell’s 12 year old son James who died unexpectedly 4 years ago I have started an outreach project. With personal funds of $100/ month and a Kenyan volunteer, we are attempting to connect with street children and try to enroll them in school and find a home placement for them. The fund also provides uniforms as children cannot attend school without them in Kenya. This is a small start for a big need.  In order to keep it running and expand James’ Children’s Fund I will need to do fundraising.

3. RARE    Receiving and Reciprocating Education

Founded 6/09 by Virginia J. Duffy PhD, Psychiatric NP

 An organization whose mission is to assist as many Kenyan citizens  as possible between the ages of 22 and 35 obtain a higher education for the betterment of both the individual and society as a whole.

 Funding by Virginia J Duffy and well wishers RARE will provide tuition for a maximum of 4 years.

As funds are available RARE will assist to pay for books and provide a small stipend.

 Applicants will be interviewed and reviewed individually. They will be accepted according to their goals and past accomplishments and initiatives. No discrimination will be allowed based on gender, race, tribe, disabilities that do not prevent learning, or  sexual preference.

Applicants will be asked to sign a contract promising to: 

1.    Do their best to study hard and obtain good marks

2.    Remain in Kenya at least 5 years after studies are complete

3.    Work as a productive citizen in Kenya and do their best to be an asset to society and help move it forward.

4.    Over the course of their career help at least 2 other worthy students attend college or university by paying tuition.  I will ask them to reciprocate in a similar way.

 (Currently I have signed up 2 full tuition students and one ½ tuition for a cost of about 5k a year. I have committed to pay these fees but would like help if I can get it.)

 For more pictures of WWB orphanage see: http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=564ef3e8b0c31d565b2f2841c4d4a52e

Sorry I have been so long in posting. I have been in Africa for almost 2 weeks and the internet connections are painfully slow.

Let me tell you a little about my experiences so far.  I did some organizational consulting at Watoto Wa Baraka Orphanage in Makuyu about 1.5 hours north of Nairobi. This orphanage www.WatotoWaBaraka.org has about 37 children and is working hard to improve its physical facilities and volunteer program. They have many volunteers from all over the world! I made a number of suggestions about orientation, policies, health care, facilities etc. The thing I liked most as usual was playing with the children. The director of WWB Geoffrey Ngunda (check him out on face book) is a generous man, so he asked me to come about 3hrs north to a town Called Molo. Here some friends of his are struggling to help the many local orphans.

Molo was a town where many fled to after the post election violence that occurred in the farms surrounding it.  (by the way the post election violence is said to have been started by politicians to take the pressure from the world off  the unfair elections. I agree with this) The acts of brutality were horrible. Molo became a village overrun with homeless and orphans. There was a large refugee camp in town.

Chazon’s Children’s Centre (CCC) was begun in response to the numerous orphans in Molo. Samwel and Lucy Njihia, local pastors  sold some of their own land and built a school to try to provide a place of safety, food and learning for as many children as possible. They will be getting their first volunteers soon and am helping them plan for this. I am doing a variety of things (including picking sukumawiki (kale) to help feed the children. These are amazing people who are spending all their personal resources to help as many children as possible. Their dream is to open an orphanage. One of their first volunteers will help them start a website and a fundraising campaign. Again the children are so beautiful and hopeful despite being so traumatized.

I will be in USA on 7/11 again and will write more and post pictures.

 Blessings to all, Please send thoughts, prays, good vibes whatever suits you

Virginia

Ambivalence is said to be a common experience of the human condition. I have always believed this but have never felt it as clearly as I do about Kenya.  Talk about a love –hate relationship!

  So much to love: people who always smile and are extremely welcoming and friendly, children that are so engaging and loving, take care of each other, and are resourceful, strong and independent, gorgeous scenery, animals and natural resources.  These are the thing I remember most that will draw me back to Kenya.

On the other hand the things that have caused me so much pain, are: the hunger of so many, especially children, the juxtaposition of the very rich and very poor, pervasive corruption, garbage casually thrown on the road, lack of education, lack of jobs and the hopelessness for so many young adults.

Many Kenyans have difficulty being direct and honest; getting a straight answer can be a frustrating experience. Fibbing or out and out lying to get a few extra shillings can make foreigners very angry.  When this happened to me, I tried to remember that for so many of these people a few shillings can mean the difference between eating or not, and feeding their children. I have been told (and believe) that it is easier to make one dollar in the USA then one shilling in Kenya. One shilling is about a penny. So when I got so tired of people trying to sell me something or quoting prices with a “white tax” added, I remember how desperate they are for that little bit of money. Of course this is not true for all the people selling “”stuff, some are just dishonest, but the majority is desperate for those few shillings extra.

In Kenya I found myself developing a new prospective. So many events that I would normally think of as a crisis are accepted as part of life. Things like  not having enough to eat, having your few belongings stolen or your life threatened, or having no prospects for a job,school, or future. Although these things are all cause for sadness to the people who experience them and the people of Kenya worry about these events, they are also accepted as part of life and not seen as a crisis. Initally, my reaction to all of this was rage at the injustice, and of course an attempt to remedy the situation. This of course reflects my usual aggressive reaction to a crisis, that is: “fix it”.

I was actually able to help a few people to get food and return to school and try to build a future. My efforts however seemed less then a drop in a very big bucket. This was very discouraging at times and I found myself lowering my expectations for success and becoming more insensitive to these things. I can certainly  see how constant exposure to these “crises” can lead to giving up altogether. If I felt this desire to give up  after only a few months, I can only imagine how one would feel after a lifetime of these experience.  Crises becomes a daily occurances that is not even recognized as a crisis or causes much in the way of emotional upheaval. This dulled reaction is of course normal and necessary because it would be impossible to live in a constant state of emotion turmoil and stress.

From the outside this is lack of reaction is often seen as a shortcoming of the people,  sometimes called laziness or lack of caring. It took me some time to realize what was really going on and not to be angry and judgmental about the people who appear to just “accept their fate”. It is a matter of survival, I did the same on a smaller scale as I learned to accept things I didn’t think I could. I am not sure if this is good or bad, only necessary.

Also, the people from this area were less exposed to those from different cultures and there was a lot of tension between tribes. This was a major issue in this part of Africa (Kericho in the Rift Valley) and a cause of much of the much post-election violence. 

The violence and news about it has caused much pain for Kenyans from all over the country who depend on tourism for a living. Food is expensive and many people have no work and are struggling to survive.  Tourism is down despite limited violence that was short lived.  Kenyans are so proud of Barak Obama and are hoping and praying that his presidency will improve the image of Kenya and once again increase tourism.

Make sensible plans and come to Kenya, it is beautiful and well worth it! More later!

Dispite this I met many nice people but the problems from the top of the organization I was working with seemed insurmountable. I felt sad but decided to leave early and will be heading back to America soon.

Me and Alice from Rising Sun Orphanage

I apologize again for the scarcity of blogs. Not only is it a hassle getting to an internet café, but the connection is very slow and sometimes the computer goes down in the middle of a session. The electricity is often off here, so with all these issues I am usually able to blog once for every few times I try. Of course there is no air conditioning in the cafes and they are stifling.

Anyway, I am adapting to Kenya and its people. I am learning to slow down (a good lesson for me). They laughingly call their time Kenya time (20 to 30 minutes late) and being on time “English time”. There are many people from Italy, England and Germany here but few Americans. It may be different in other parts of the country. Almost every one speaks Italian and English (of sorts). The lack of understanding of nuances and words makes for some pretty hysterical situations and interpretations.

Everyone is jubilant over the Obama win and when they find out I am American they immediately smile and start to talk of the new president. One man insisted that Obama is a profit. I hope the unrealistic expectations for our new president (all over the world) do not make people angry and disappointed when reality hits. Many seem to believe he can save the world.

Kenyans talk of love for all people and peace. It is very touching. They are a very spiritual people and God is a big part of their lives. Despite this they are not always truthful and will do anything to get money. When they beg and swindle I try to remind myself how little they have and what any human would do if they or their children are hungry. Many of the children who come to the school here do not get enough food and are often hungry.

The children are taking national exams now for 8^th and 12 grades. These are very serious (and very hard, I couldn’t answer most of questions in any subject except English). Do you believe they have armed guards at the door of the classroom? This is stark contrast to frequent lack of supervision and teaching when school is in regular session. The kids however are remarkably resilient and patience and put up with much. The ministry of education is trying to change many things and hitting, caning, and whipping is now against the law (although it is common)