We have our return dates

It looks as if we shall be returning to Kenya at the end of September. We'll leave Vancouver on September 21 and spend about three days in the UK. We should roll up to our door in Kakamega on Sunday 27.

News from Kenya is not good with respect to the economy. The unrest last year and subsequent drought has led to severe food shortages and increases in prices. Donor money for many NGOs has slowed to a trickle. We have applied for a grant from Rotary International to expand the "Adopt a Village" project we started last year in Emmaloba. We are hopeful that the funds will allow us to do adult literacy, business traininga nd start some income generating projects.

This may be our last message

This may be the last message
I plan to leave my modem with the Virtues Society on Friday afternoon, so this may be the last blog I post. We’ll be off line for the following week unless I can find a connection in Nairobi.
I think we are leaving things in good shape after all the stress and difficulties. I have had to consult a lawyer and leave a sworn affidavit as well as sending a registered lawyer’s letter to the person who has caused such havoc. Hopefully those good friends we leave here will deal with any fallout.
The use of cow dung fuel is spreading as people find less ready money to buy charcoal and fewer trees to cut. We have found an added advantage to those of saving trees and time–it appears to keep mosquitos away! Because there is no smoke and fumes as from wood and charcoal it is also better for eyes and lungs. A few groups are planning to band together to sell the dried blocks as they do in India. Rod has been very busy this past week making four wooden molds so that cakes can be produced in a uniform size for resale. He could make at least ten more if he had the time to meet the requests coming in.
We have also taught how to make liquid soap. This is a little more complex and needs marketing to hotels, clinics etc. However, if the groups can organize themselves, the return on a small investment is very high.
W are also leaving with requests for wells and protected springs. Julius the jeweler took advantage of the spring we protected in his village and dug a fish pond alongside. He immediately recruited six others and they are now waiting for approval to receive the fry from Susan Thompson’s group. Susan is a Canadian fisheries expert who has set up many ponds in the area. Apart from providing extra protein, some cash from sales, the prospects are good that local producers will be able to sell to the big new supermarket to open in Kakamega later this year. The supermarket will provide many jobs for processing and work behind the scenes, as well as front staff. We were discussing this the other evening over a drink with the District Commissioner. He is very interested in mobilizing people such as Julius to produce ‘value added’ items and to increase employment.
On a sad note, we heard yesterday of the death of a child. Another Julius was the watchman when we lived at ACCES. He was a typical example of a clever young man who never finished secondary school because of lack of fees. He was always cheerful and willing to help in many ways. We heard last year that for some reason he had lost his job. Before Christmas he asked to speak to us. We knew the reason would be money but we talked to him anyway.
After he lost his job, his pregnant wife was killed in a matatu (public vehicle) accident leaving him with two young children. This was bad enough, but his boy of about six had a severe problem with his eye. Could we help for treatment? We gave him about thirty dollars and the child went to the hospital. The diagnosis wasn’t very clear, but Julius said he had hopes for recovery, although the boy could not return to school.
His next request was for help to set up a small business so he could stay home with his kids. We decided to trust him and set him up with a business plan and about $80.
Yesterday we learned the little boy died a few days ago from cancer which spread from his eye. We have credited Julius with about $15 from his loan to help with funeral expenses. He says he is still determined to make his business work, but the stress on this young man must be enormous.
Stress and anxiety are everywhere. Schools are sending children home because of lack of fees. The government has not sent the funding for education, which was supposed to cover tuition in secondary. This would have made a regular secondary day school virtually free. Some stories say the money has been ‘eaten’; some claim it was diverted to famine relief; some say it is still available but disbursement has been slow. The bottom line is that free education is in serious trouble.
It also sounds as if the coalition that Kofi Annan helped set up in 2008 may be falling apart. Everyone is very afraid of more strife and violence. We pray the people will remain strong and determiend to improve the country. They all know what should be done, but are desperately seeking new leaders with integrity. Corruption has such a strong hold on all levels of government that it seems impossible for an "Obama" to emerge.
Next week we will be two days in Nairobi doing Virtues training. The we will spend 2 days in the UK visiting friends and family. We are scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on 27 and should be in our own bed at last on 28. We look forward to seeing everyone.
We want to thank you all for your support and prayers over the last six months. That is what keeps us strong. We have a number of talks already scheduled and are willing to do more. Please stay in touch.

This what it's all about...

Emmaloba primary organized the distribution of uniforms last Thursday to 60 needy children. The school was at pains to demonstrate that the selection had been done openly and fairly, so we had to read out names and give the new clothing publicly. The age groups and ability levels were well represented. The children sang songs of thanks while the tailors from the village were still ironing the shirts and dresses.
The grant to Emmaloba is now complete. The micro finance group is paying back at a prodigious rate, and four have already tapped their second loan, spurred on by the idea of gaining more capital. Some of them are braiding sisal ropes for sale in the market, some are making mandazis (donuts). On Thursday we talked again of the cow dung fuel and they were shown how to make liquid soap.
A Rotarian in Kakamega donated a number of pens and pencils and sold me the rest at cost, so we had 10,000/- shillings remaining (about $150) even after giving a donation to ensure that all the senior class was able to pay registration fees for their final exams. The head teacher called me from the senior classroom to say that he wanted to build good desks for them since the ones they are using are small and broken. I could hear the children clap in the background. This will also give some work to the community.
The water is still somewhat of a problem in that the dry season has been prolonged well into March in that area. The well serves the school and a couple of local families, but it has already been deepened three times and we have now hit solid rock, so it will have to stay as it is. When the rains come (they have been threatening for some time) the water will flow again.

After the uniform ceremony I left our two young women to meet the micro finance group while I paid a quick visit to Ebumbayi. It is only about 5 kilometres away but buried in the hills down a narrow, rocky lane. The new head teacher, whose email I posted a few days ago, says he is already seeing progress with children and parents. I met the chairman of the school management committee who is pleased with the changes. Two of the young teachers attended part of the Virtues workshop three weeks ago and are using Virtues strategies to good effect.
I also met a widow with two children at the school. Both children are losing vision with the elder almost totally blind. The mother had taken the girls to the local eye hospital where they had tests, but the doctor who could diagnose was not there. They will have to return in ten days. The school had raised the fare for the first visit. I was able at least to give the bus fare for their return (about $15) The head master has email and has promised to let me know what the hospital says.
The terrain is steep and rocky and there is a serious problem of water. I will add a picture of where the children go to fetch water. It is likely to be impossible to dig, and so we might look for a harvesting and storage solution. One of the problems is that people have planted right up tot he stream although regulations say there should be 20 metres left. Thus the water is severely contaminated with run off and chemicals from the fields and it would be no use to put a well close to the water source.
It was good to meet so many people who are so grateful for the little help we can offer. I always tell them we are just the messengers and their friends are away in Canada.

Marich Pass and Emmaloba

This past weekend we took some time off to visit one of our favourite places–Marich Pass in the semi arid West Pokot. We try to go once every year to a Field Research Station hacked out of the bush by a British geography professor, David Roden, and his Eritrean wife. Last year, of course we were not able to make our usual pilgrimage. When we started to make arrangements to fit in around the university students who come in groups, we learned to our dismay that David was killed in a road accident with a matatu (public minibus) last March. His wife, Hidat dissolved in tears in my arms when we arrived but is bravely carrying on David’s amazing work. Students are coming this week from Norway and her son is going to help her run things. She has built a beautiful memorial to him in a lovely peaceful garden with a 360 view of the surrounding mountains which he loved so much. There is a web site if you want to know more and google Marich Pass.
Two young German medical students were staying for a few days and another young German couple arrived shorlty after us. On Saturday morning we all crammed into our vehicle and went to the Pokot market which was as colourful and interesting as ever. The women in their big beaded collars selling gourds of fomented milk would not allow any pictures, but I have one shot from a former visit.





Emmaloba’s books arrived last week. This is one part of the Rotary grant from Victoria Rotary Club. I shall go out again on Wednesday when the uniforms will have arrived for the 60 children chosen. The school did well and portioned out the work to ten tailors, thus spreading some employment in the community. They will receive a lump sum for the feeding and planting programme and have decided to try to spread it to all children, asking a small contribution from those who can pay. I am happy they will take this initiative.

Rain at last

The long rains are coming at last, announcing their approach gradually. On Tuesday evening I was driving back from town when the rain started. The entry to our side road is difficult at the best of times and hard to negotiate when slippery and wet when following our usual route. I decided to come in the longer way with an easier turn and climb. Mistake! Just before I reached the turning a matatu came barreling down the crown of the road towards me (the grader leaves steep sides). I had to move over a little and my off side wheels slid into the ditch. We managed to put the vehicle into four wheel drive even though one wheel was hard up against the bank and pulled out. But it was only the next morning we realized the wing mirror had been knocked off. Of course, there was no trace of it. On Saturday there were a dozen large drops. Yesterday afternoon the clouds rolled in and thunder rumbled all evening, but with no rain. Amazingly, the power stayed on! The rains cool things down, but make the dirt roads into a nightmare.

I completed the Virtues training for teachers on Saturday in the Maseno area. The new facilitators did an excellent job for us. It was very powerful to have them speak of their experience of using the Virtues in their schools. Much more meaningful that just hearing from me.
When we arrived the boys and girls from the orphan feeding programme held every Saturday were sweeping leaves from the compound. Bibiana, the town councillor I mentioned before, was with me and sprang into action. Fifteen minutes later she was up to her elbows in a container of cow dung, mixing in dry leaves. She showed everyone how to make the cow dung fuel and made them promise not to cut down more trees for firewood.

The Virtues training requested in Nairobi has been confirmed for the two days before we leave. So we will leave Kakamega on March 20, stay two days in Nairobi and leave for the UK on 25.
Later today we will go to Kisumu to change our tickets from Kisumu to Nairobi. Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the opportunity to say goodbye to the clergy as they come into town for their monthly meeting. On Wednesday I will present my report to the Board of Education. On Friday we leave for an anticipated visit to Marich Pass in the West Pokot. We love any time we spend there and are happy to be able to fit it in. We plan to take the two girls who work in the computer school. They have never traveled more than a few kilometres from Kakamega and are wildly excited. The road north from Kakamega to Webuye is beyond description, so we may decide to take a longer route with better surface through Mumias, Bungoma.

The following week I will try to visit Emmaloba (receiving the Rotary grant) and Ebumbayi (whose head teacher wrote to me last week). We have one full bag packed with gifts and items for resale. The others will be packed soon. Our cleaning lady Virginia will come for an extra visit to attend to the nooks and crannies. It really seems we are going home!

A few years ago one of our colleagues introduced the idea of cow dung fuel. Some people tried it and liked it but the use did not spread widely. It’s very simple: you take fresh cow dung, mix it with dry leaves or other combustible material, shape it into a thick pancake and leave it to dry in the sun. You then break it up into small pieces and use it like charcoal. It burns relatively smoke free, lasts long and saves the few precious trees. Not only do women no longer have to hunt for wood or buy expensive charcoal, they avoid the dangerous practice of wandering in the woods early in the morning or late in the day when many are attacked. This fuel is commonly used in India where the cakes are sold in the market.
A couple of days ago we were chatting with an energetic woman named Bibiana who is a town councillor. She was asking us to look at some water sources that need protection. As she spoke of the women’s groups she has organized, we mentioned the cow dung fuel. She immediately enthused about the idea and said she would arrange to spread the information.
We underestimated her.
I was doing Virtues Facilitator training on Saturday, so Rod agreed to go with Bibiana to look at water sources. To his amazement she had organized five seminars on cow dung fuel. Hastily he went to fetch Magdalene who has been teaching the women in our micro finance groups. Bibiana had a container of dung and another of dry leaves. The women wrapped a kanga (cloth) around Magdalene to protect her clothes and away they went.
Today we heard from Richard, Bibiana’s husband, that he had met a woman who was present yesterday. She had dried her patties and used them to cook. They don’t smoke! They last long! It’s free! Rod is mightily relieved. Although we know people who have used it successfully, there’s always the little nagging doubt that it will go wrong and be a disappointment.
Here are some pictures of the water sources Rod saw. One is very needy in that houses on a hill above send all their effluent down into the small river where people draw their water. As I said, it takes about $500 to protect a spring for a community

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I want to add the email I just received from the head teacher of one of my schools.
"I have been the headteacher of Ekwanda Primary School for the last 8 years and I have recently moved to Ebumbayi Primary School which is about three kilometers from Ekwanda. Ebumbayi Primary School is one of the schools in the Maseno North Diocese of Anglican Church.I am interested to share with you the situation at Ebumbayi Primary School and invite you for a visit any time that you may have the chance to do so.The school is right on the boundary of Western Province and Nyanza Province. We have an enrolment of 237 pupils from STD 1-8. Unfortunately this is a school that is facing very many crises that it is in deed crying for support. The drop out rate is very high in this school. Maybe because most people who were students in this school through the time have not been going to secondary school. Most children do not see the need to complete even their primary school education alone.Girls becoming pregnant seems to be a norm. the STD 8 class of last year had 24 pupils in total. By the time of KCPE exam in November 4 girls had already given birth and two others were very pregnant. I am told that the joke was that they were bringing forth several "Obamas." The STD 8 of this year has two girls who carried out abortions last year. One small girl in STD 7 dropped out last week because she was pregnant.In last year's KCPE examination virtually all the pupils failed the exam. In ranking of the schools in Emuhaya District we are among the last six schools in the same exam. Out of the 24 pupils only three have gone to secondary school. The community seem to be contented with the fate of the rest.As for the boys the trend is that once they are registered for the KCPE exam they mostly drop out or start coming to school when they want and keep off when they do not want to be in school.The facilities in the school are so dillapidated and my findings indicate that the poverty index in this community is extremely high. Mostly because not investing their future in education. We have only 9 classrooms. Fortunately the CDF gave us a grant of KSH 200,000 which we are using to renovate 4 classrooms. The rest have cracking walls or are falling apart. We have 3 pit latrines for all the girls and another 3 for all the boys. The latrines are equally in deplorable state.We are all new teachers in this school and our main target at the moment is to restore hope in everyone. The response seems to be very good as there is a very strong goodwill from the community.It is at this point that I wish to invite you to help us in the process of restoring the hope and the future of the community. My feeling would be that even by you meeting the pupils or the parents or by mounting workshops in this school can open it up and make the people here know that they belong to the larger community where people are responsible of each other.Thank you so much for your patience in reading this mail and we hope to read from you soon.

I have responded to say I will visit the school to encourage them and present the Virtues programme that will help them. If they wish I’ll arrange to offer a ful training session with our newly accredited facilitators. This will help with relationships and school performance. I can also help them implement the HIV/AIDS awareness programme we made that has a section on assertiveness for girls and staying in school. Pretty well all my funding is finished as we move into the last month here, but I will try to set some priorities with them for when I come back. Anyone feel like coming to dig latrines and repair classrooms?

Naming names, protected springs, uniforms and books

John Githongo, now ‘exiled’ in the UK, is bringing out a book later this month entitled “Our time to eat.” At one time he was head of Transparency International in Kenya and then appointed to lead Kenya’s Anti Corruption department under Kibaki’s new government. Parts of the book have been serialised in the Daily Nation. Attempts were made to involve him in the schemes and in 2005 he fled to Europe while attending a conference because he eventually feared for his life at home. He had all the details of the massive corruption scandals (Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing) where the ‘Mount Kenya Mafia’ were siphoning off billions of shillings. I believe he has returned once to Nairobi under heavy guard, but I doubt if he will be able to come home again very soon. He has named names just in the newspaper excerpts and explained how many of the current ministers were complicit, one of them being Ringera the present anti-corruption head. Todays’ edition promises to tell us about the tape recordings he made of ministers talking of their involvement and their plans to defraud the state.

We are still receiving requests for wells, and these are good installations for schools and health units. But since we protected the spring in Julius’s village (see my last post) many are asking for assistance to protect the natural sources from run off and contamination. It costs about 1/5 of the price to protect a spring as it does to put in a well ($500 compared to $2,500) so where it is feasible it is a very cost effective solution. In one area close by we are told there are 35 springs of which only one was protected at independence (1963) Since then nothing has been done.

I am posting a picture of some of the children at Emmaloba Primary who will be receiving uniforms from the grant from the Rotary Club of Victoria. The school has selected 60 ‘vulnerable children’ for uniforms and supplementary feeding. The head teacher is putting the supply out to tender since most primary school uniforms are made locally. This will also give some employment to tailors in the area, most of whom use old treadle machines under an overhang.

This week I left a deposit at a bookstore in Kisumu for the school to purchase text books from the same grant. I hope they will arrive soon so I can get some pictures of the distribution.