Yesterday in Kibera I worked on designing a brochure for ISSA, I collected as much institutional information ISSA had about the organization to start preparing to write my first grant proposal, and discussed ideas about building an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Resource Center on ISSA's site. The directors and I did a lot of sharing about past experiences and future dreams for our own personal lives and for the lives of all people around the world.
Yesterday's highlight though was meeting with the St. Johns Children's crew. These people are the staff of the non-profit Watoto Wa Dunia which was founded by Arika Makena and Jeffrey Bunyoli. Arika and Jeffrey live in Portland but they raised money to buy a school for vulnerable children in Kibera. For the past two weeks I have trying to get in touch with Kennedy, Arika and Jeffrey's point man in Kibera and our scedules have conflicted. Finally yesterday we planned to meet at an entrance to Kibera called the DO's Office. I walked with my boss Tony all the way out of Mashimoni (which is like a 20 min hike through sewage trenches, trash, and dust) to the DO's to meet with Kennedy only to find out through the little Swahili I understood while Tony and Kennedy introduced themselves to each other that Watoto Wa Dunia is St. John's Childrens School right around the corner from ISSA! Kennedy and I hiked back into Mashimoni and spent two hours meeting the staff, children and discussing how we are planning to work together until Jeffrey arrives at the end of the year.
After St. John's I went to the contestant training which is my favorite way to end a day in Kibera. Yesterday was practice for the Formal Wear!
I am off for a day at USIU and African Aerobics class tonight!
