Ashley is Volunteering in Kenya

Library is DONE!

So, yesterday morning we were able to complete the library.  It has been a huge success.  We will be having an opening type ceremony tomorrow where we will read stories, Jodi will play guitar and our team will sing (attempt!) and we will serve a small snack of cookies and pineapple juice to the precious day care children.

We did our last home visit this morning with a strong spirit.  A. was a great success story- despite her slum home backing directly onto the garbage dump (the amount of flies in her home was unreal).  She has been a part of Living Positive for almost five years, joining with the encouragement of a friend who knew she would die (she was very sick and the friend assumed she had HIV) if she did not receive help.  After getting tested through L.P she and her 8 year old daughter were diagnosed with HIV.  As the pattern seems to go here, her husband kicked her and the children out of the home.  Shortly after, her daughter passed.  A. found the strength and spirit to take her medication and get better for her two other children (not HIV+).  She has gained many skills through the L.P program, bought a home in the slums, built to two other homes and rents them out.  She is currently saving her money to purchase a home outside of the slums.

This afternoon we went to small community called Buobo and joined a small program that supports women who are also HIV+ but been shunned by the community.  This group currently only has 6 women who are trying to support others in their community.  We were joined by a pastor and his wife from California who do missionary work in Kenya as well as a woman from the HEART program which has been supporting all types of women and children in Kenya for about 10 years.  We listened to their stories and how they have changed their lives since having support through HEART and the church.  They provided up with a delicious LARGE lunch that was so satisfying!!  (Day two without Gravol :) It has been a fantastic week. 

We will be having our last day in Ngong tomorrow- and leaving by Matatu at 5pm to go to Massai Mara - about a 5 hour drive.  We will be staying at a missionary camp and going on a Safari all day Saturday.  We are praying that we will see the BIG 5!!!!  We will leave first thing Monday morning back to Nairobi where we will explore and stay at Mary’s house.  We will board our plane back to Toronto at 8am Tuesday morning…….

So, this is my last entry until I return home.  Thank-you to all who have been following this crazy adventure.  There will be more to come when I get back - including photos!!!!

Library is almost done!!

After many building complications… (for sure not North American type of building) the shelves are painted and up!  The library sign on the door has been painted :)  Tomorrow we will complete the final touches and add the books to our ray of sunshine of a room. 

We did a home visit this afternoon to a lovely lady from Living Positives home in the slums.  She contracted HIV from her husband of ten years and did not know - they share three beautiful children together.  After being quite ill, she got tested and disclosed her status to her husband.  He denied that he could have it, refused testing and proceeded to kick her and the children out, leaving them to survive alone resulting in their residence in the slums. This women has such spirit encompassed by this beautiful light of hope.  She is continuing to take her ARV’s, learn to sew at the sewing program at Living Positive and take the best care of her children as possible.  It is unfortunate that her 11 year old recently has begun associating with boys who sniff glue (a common problem) and sleeping in the garbage dump.  He recently got Typhoid from being in the garbage so much.  She believes he is rebelling from his mother due to the trauma of leaving their past life behind. 

In the slums - Their home is the size of an average on-suite (master suite) washroom (with a much lower ceiling).  These slum homes are built with a frame of wood surrounded by sheet metal  There are no washrooms, electricity or running water in these homes.  There are community washrooms (holes) located at the end of every strip.  They must purchase water - walk with it to their homes in huge containers to be able to cook (on fire) bath and clean their home.

I question so often why I continue to hear about men kicking women and their children out and not wanting to take care of their birth children.  I finally received a half (in my eyes totally unacceptable) answer - First: It’s a women’s responsibility to care for the children and Second: often men are worried that the woman will pass and they will be responsible for taking care of the kids.

It is a very different life then I am used to. 

forgot to mention…

washing my body in a bucket it becoming routine… and washed my clothes by hand for the first time ever.  Success? Unsure as the clothes I put on today felt very filmy and still had dirt stains… at least they smell clean???  lol 

nGONG show!

Words can not begin to express how things have been happening over here.  

After the last post, it was inevitable that three remaining three standing were going to be sick.  It started with John, then me and Sophie.  We have contracted an amoeba parasite somehow - the doctors say it is from the water, however we have been very careful with purchasing water and not using our one hour supply!! Either way we are well on our way to recovering - besides each time I eat I feel nauseous.  It is official, I am awarding Jess to win the strongest stomach award!  The only one of 9 who has not vomited!!!  Can’t wait to tell you all about the hospital here in Ngong - they attached an iv with a piece of gauze and hung it from a rusty nail.  Third World Standards????   

Because of our sicknesses, not much work has been done on the library… This morning we pulled together and got a lot done!!  It’s a blast of yellow sunshine!!! The ceiling and shelving brackets have been painted, the shelves have been primered and ready to paint after my delicious lunch (banana and fanta!).   Sophie and I also picked up some really cool educational posters to hang up :) 

Yesterday the team was feeling much better and up for an outing so we headed to Nairobi National Park and did a safari walk.  We saw lots of animals - but to be honest it was nothing special.  Toronto Zoo is just as special.  I’m sure if we did the safari drive through (similar to African Lion Safari) we would have seen more - but they were charging us $50.00 American, where residents pay approx $5.00 American!  Plans are still up in the air, but it appears that this upcoming weekend we will be taking at 5 hour drive to Massai Mar and doing a real Safari… will keep you posted.

7 more days on Kenyan land!

Updates to come :) 

and it continues….

UPdate:

We had a few more members of our team sick between last night and today.  There are four of left who have not thrown up, but only three well enough to work today.(Sophie, JOhn and I) The others are recovering and receiving medical attention.  We have been thank-full that we caught Kelly’s malaria very quickly - and the doctors don’t believe it will NOT be in her system for life.  We did an emergency mosquito net shop and all slept in them last night.

We have primed the whole library this morning.  We are on lunch and going back to paint for the remainder of the day.

This experience continues to open my eyes and realize the fortune we have in the western world.  I still can not get over the unsupervised children playing in the plies of burning garbage that cover the streets. However, the connections we are making with the ladies and children are unbelievable.  

Back to lunch….

xo to you all.

hearts and love

Kenya Update

Today is day 9 of our trip, and this experience get’s crazier as the days continue! 

We have started our library project at the day care:  The walls and ceiling have been put up!  The missions to obtain our building supplies has defiantly been a trip!  Going to local lumber stores where the men try and rip us off because we are muzungo “white” and were told that women don’t build things, and if they do it is because they come from bad families.  Then, flagging down a local cart driver who puts the wood on their cart, ties it up with cord, jumps in front and rolls it all the way to the slums.  John and I were sprinting after him through the streets until the cart got stuck in slum mud.  HHuuummm…  lol   We have hired a local carpenter Peter to assist us in the building which has been a definite help.  

We joined the local women yesterday in the march and celebration of International Woman’s day.  We marched along young orphaned HIV girls, Masai mountain and slum women who were celebrating the power of being a woman and escaping the abuse and rape that is so rampant in Kenya.

I was feeling quite ill yesterday - it is challenging having stomach issues and having to use washrooms that are literally holes in the ground which makes missing the comforts of home that much more appealing.  Thankfully I was able to take a lot of meds and feel better.  Unfortunately three of our team members are sick and were in hospital this morning.  Kelly has a strain of Malaria, Sho has a parasite and Jodi is ‘sick’ with a fever. 

A few highlights this week: when walking in the streets Monday, a slum women Maria who I met through Living Positive grabbed my arm and gave me the biggest hug ever.  The locals were looking at us almost in disbelief.   Also, yesterday when walking back to our place some children playing rope asked us to join… skipping in a field with a rope with little random smiling faces can only make your heart smile.  Today we shopped in the market for traditional African  fabrics as some of the girls on our team are having dresses made by the Living Positive Women.  While we were waiting at a little shop, I was followed by a little Masai mountain girl, who was clearly interested in our skin colour.  After saying Jumbo, she continued to stare, so I began playing a hand like patty cake game.  Her eyes lit up and played along with a glowing smile. 
Also: I GOT MY HAIR BRAIDED WITH EXTENSIONS!!!  Apparently I look ‘smart’ - according to the Kenyan women. 

There is so much more to write…. but time is running out.  We have to jump on the matatu within 10 minutes so we can get home before the sun sets.  It is WAY to dangerous to be out in the streets past dark. 

Will post soon:)
xo and mental hugs to all of my friends and family.

My story!

I can’t believe this journey only began 5 days ago.  I feel like it has been a lifetime roller coaster of emotions - My heart has never experienced such happy, sad and questionable moments all in a matter of seconds each and every moment of every day that I am in Ngong (1 hour outside of Nairobi http://maps.google.co.ke/maps?hl=en&tab=wl).  
Our team of 9 flew for what seemed like an eternity - and arrived in Nairobi shortly after 9 pm Wednesday night.  Getting through customs was interesting as we have ‘travelers visa’s’ as in Kenya they do not allow any people to come into the country to do volunteer work - hhuuumm!!!  We were greeted by Mary who we refer to as “Mom”- the organizer of the Living Positive Program that we are here to support.  We all jumped into a matatu (their small bus/cabs) and made our way to the residence we are staying at for the duration of our trip.   Our gated accommodation (with a guard) is luxury compared to the majority of the homes in this community.  We have three bed rooms, a large living room and a couch, a bathroom that consists of one toilet with no flushing option, one sink and a shower stall - however there is only running water for ONE HOUR EACH DAY 9:00pm-10:00pm.  During that one hour we RUSH to fill huge basins with water and few people to attempt to take showers, if the hot water is working.  Throughout the rest of the day, we use the water in the basins to flush down ‘business’, wash our hands and bodies.  I would have never imagined how much water 9 people use each day just to use the washroom and clean our bodies.  
The Living Positive Program is located in the town of Ngong, about a ten minute Matatu ride away from home.  We have met most of the ladies who attend the daily programs at the center.  All of the women live in the slums, (5 minute walk from center) have HIV and spend their days learning and practicing work skills such as sewing, card and candle making to be able to support themselves.  Our team joined a few ladies on Friday morning for a yoga class on the grass outside of the center which is provided by other slum women who have been sponsored by a yoga organization in the USA.  We were invited to join the end of the weekly HIV support group late Friday afternoon.  The ladies began singing and dancing while holding all of our hands - their spirit was shocking but incredibly uplifting.  As I danced with Paris - (a mother of 4 infected by HIV from her husband, kicked out of her tribe for wanting to get treatment for herself and son, living in a slum shack the size of my bedroom built on garbage beside the garbage dump) she held my hands with a huge smile with sparkling eyes, I could not help but have goosebumps and embrace her energy and joy for life.   
Living Positive runs a day care for 84 slum children aged 3-6 with three teachers.  These children pay the equivalent of $100 Can yearly for their food program - which for most may be their only meal of the day.  In their red and blue dirty and ripped attempted appearance of a uniform, they shove into three small rooms and learn the basis of English with the minimal resources that have been donated to the program through groups like ours.   Each afternoon all 84 of them gather in one room and nap together.  I have never seen anything so sad but cute!  We spent Wednesday Thursday morning playing with the children on their break and again on Friday afternoon.  We painted all of their school desks light blue and green - they needed some life and colour!!!!  
There has been several changes to plan of our mission and the needs of the programs here.  A little disappointed we are still in positive spirits and ready to start building a ‘make shift’ library in an empty room at the day care - as well as build ‘shrubs’ (a water drain system) alongside the daycare.  Rainy season is soon and apparently the children’s area between rooms and where they play becomes 5 feet of mud.  With that in mind…THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT… and we still have the opportunity to provide a library - filled with all of the amazing books we brought!

On Friday Mary took us into the Ngong slums to visit 4 women and hear their stories of how they became HIV positive and ended up living in the slums.  The slum is a series of small, metal shacks, with fences made of garbage housing 3000 families with about 3-5 children each.  The slum is surrounded by the community garbage dump and sewage system.  It is embarked with garbage, goats”boozies”, chickens “cocks” bathroom boxes and has an un-describable smell.  The stories were horrific, bringing most of us to tears.  The amount of acceptable rape, abuse and lack of respect for women and children is heart breaking.  I can’t even write about their stories as each time I think about it I begin to cry.  But, to give you some understanding… Mary aka: Mom adopted a 2 year old girl found being raped in the garbage dump (Tabby, now 3 1/2 years old).  

Living Positive is closed on both Sat and Sunday - giving us some time to explore.  We hired a Masai man called John to tour us up the  Ngong Hills (well one out of 7!).   We walked through the hills seeing several ‘mountain homes and people’.  It was a fantastic walk and view.  We heard many stories about the HIV epidemic and Masai culture.  When I have time to write more I will explain how different things happen here.  

Today we attended a three hour mass with Mom and approximatively 1000 other Kenyans at the Nairobi Pentecostal Church -Ngong.  We did not stand out at all, especially when the Pastor had us stand up and welcomed us!  
Overall, this journey is CRAZY.  I will keep you all posted on the continuation of our adventures!

My story!

I can’t believe this journey only began 5 days ago.  I feel like it has been a lifetime roller coaster of emotions - My heart has never experienced such happy, sad and questionable moments all in a matter of seconds each and every moment of every day that I am in Ngong (1 hour outside of Nairobi http://maps.google.co.ke/maps?hl=en&tab=wl).  
Our team of 9 flew for what seemed like an eternity - and arrived in Nairobi shortly after 9 pm Wednesday night.  Getting through customs was interesting as we have ‘travelers visa’s’ as in Kenya they do not allow any people to come into the country to do volunteer work - hhuuumm!!!  We were greeted by Mary who we refer to as “Mom”- the organizer of the Living Positive Program that we are here to support.  We all jumped into a matatu (their small bus/cabs) and made our way to the residence we are staying at for the duration of our trip.   Our gated accommodation (with a guard) is luxury compared to the majority of the homes in this community.  We have three bed rooms, a large living room and a couch, a bathroom that consists of one toilet with no flushing option, one sink and a shower stall - however there is only running water for ONE HOUR EACH DAY 9:00pm-10:00pm.  During that one hour we RUSH to fill huge basins with water and few people to attempt to take showers, if the hot water is working.  Throughout the rest of the day, we use the water in the basins to flush down ‘business’, wash our hands and bodies.  I would have never imagined how much water 9 people use each day just to use the washroom and clean our bodies.  
The Living Positive Program is located in the town of Ngong, about a ten minute Matatu ride away from home.  We have met most of the ladies who attend the daily programs at the center.  All of the women live in the slums, (5 minute walk from center) have HIV and spend their days learning and practicing work skills such as sewing, card and candle making to be able to support themselves.  Our team joined a few ladies on Friday morning for a yoga class on the grass outside of the center which is provided by other slum women who have been sponsored by a yoga organization in the USA.  We were invited to join the end of the weekly HIV support group late Friday afternoon.  The ladies began singing and dancing while holding all of our hands - their spirit was shocking but incredibly uplifting.  As I danced with Paris - (a mother of 4 infected by HIV from her husband, kicked out of her tribe for wanting to get treatment for herself and son, living in a slum shack the size of my bedroom built on garbage beside the garbage dump) she held my hands with a huge smile with sparkling eyes, I could not help but have goosebumps and embrace her energy and joy for life.   
Living Positive runs a day care for 84 slum children aged 3-6 with three teachers.  These children pay the equivalent of $100 Can yearly for their food program - which for most may be their only meal of the day.  In their red and blue dirty and ripped attempted appearance of a uniform, they shove into three small rooms and learn the basis of English with the minimal resources that have been donated to the program through groups like ours.   Each afternoon all 84 of them gather in one room and nap together.  I have never seen anything so sad but cute!  We spent Wednesday Thursday morning playing with the children on their break and again on Friday afternoon.  We painted all of their school desks light blue and green - they needed some life and colour!!!!  
There have been several changes to the plan of our mission and the needs of the programs here.  A little disappointed we are still in positive spirits and ready to start building a ‘make shift’ library in an empty room at the day care - as well as build ‘shrubs’ (a water drain system) alongside the daycare.  Rainy season is soon and apparently the children’s area between rooms and where they play becomes 5 feet of mud.  With that in mind…THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT… and we still have the opportunity to provide a library - filled with all of the amazing books we brought!

On Friday Mary took us into the Ngong slums to visit 4 women and hear their stories of how they became HIV positive and ended up living in the slums.  The slum is a series of small, metal shacks, with fences made of garbage housing 3000 families with about 3-5 children each.  The slum is surrounded by the community garbage dump and sewage system.  It is embarked with garbage, goats”boozies”, chickens “cocks” bathroom boxes and has an un-describable smell.  The stories were horrific, bringing most of us to tears.  The amount of acceptable rape, abuse and lack of respect for women and children is heart breaking.  I can’t even write about their stories as each time I think about it I begin to cry.  But, to give you some understanding… Mary aka: Mom adopted a 2 year old girl found being raped in the garbage dump (Tabby, now 3 1/2 years old).  

Living Positive is closed on both Sat and Sunday - giving us some time to explore.  We hired a Masai man called John to tour us up the  Ngong Hills (well one out of 7!).   We walked through the hills seeing several ‘mountain homes and people’.  It was a fantastic walk and view.  We heard many stories about the HIV epidemic and Masai culture.  When I have time to write more I will explain how different things happen here.  

Today we attended a three hour mass with Mary aka:Mom and approximatively 1000 other Kenyans at the Nairobi Pentecostal Church -Ngong.  We did not stand out at all, especially when the Pastor had us stand up and welcomed us!  
Overall, this journey is CRAZY.  I will keep you all posted on the continuation of our adventures!

Landed in amsterdam

9 people, 9 backpacks, 1. Bag with medical and school supplies, 7 hour flight = 3 movies plus 3 hour layover in amsterdam. 8 1/2 hour flight to go. Kenya here we come

Living Positive Program

http://livingpositiveprogram.org/

This is the website to the organization we are going to support. 

flight leaves in 6 hours!