just a good day

Friday and a holiday! What could be better? Today is Moi Day. Moi held the Office of the President for 24 years until he was defeated by Kibaki in 2002. When Moi was voted into power after Jomo Kenyatta the Father of the Nation, the people of Kenya had high hopes for prosperity, security and change. Indeed, the people of the Kenya are still waiting. In fact, Moi was an autocrat and corrupt and he created a culture of fear and distrust amongst his people. The political and economic fallout from his destructive reign continues to curse his people today and just in case they would try to forget they will forever be reminded by the holiday and monument he instated and built during his presidency.
On a lighter note today felt different here. It was calm, refreshing and beautiful. I woke up early to walk through my neighborhood to my country director’s office to have a meeting with the directors of ISSA about our dinner. Along my walk I had time to enjoy the brilliant purple of the Jacaranda trees and the clean fresh air of the suburb. My meeting was the best meeting we have had as team yet. I feel like it was the first time we connected culturally and professionally. Our energies collaborated beyond the surface; it was the first time I think that I have experienced synergy! Last night, Umande Trust, a well known hygiene and sanitation organization in Katukera (Katukera is a village of Kibera), hosted ISSA’s Mr. and Miss Kibera to dinner. Unfortunately I could not attend because I had Kiswahili but Omoto the CEO of Umande promised ISSA free internet usage 24/7, money to make t-shirts for marketing, support in our Kids for Future program and to set up a dinner with the German Ambassador. So in two weeks we are going to eat dinner with the German Ambassador. With this new opportunity we have revised our plan for the fundraising dinner for the Kids for Future program. We are going to invite the Ambassador to host the dinner at his residence! The connection to the German Ambassador is Omoto. The Ambassador invited Omoto to a program on the Saturday of the Pageant and Omoto accepted on the condition that the Ambassador agree to support Mr. and Miss Kibera since Omoto has never missed an ISSA Pageant. We will have to see!
So to prepare our new Mr. and Miss for their opportunities outside Kibera, Tony, Andrew and Oj have asked me to teach an organizational skills and public course to all of the contestants. I am going to teach a 2 hour class once a week on Thursdays!
Tomorrow I am heading to Kibera around two to meet with the merry-go round group of ladies name JECK. They are a branch of Watoto Wa Dunia and myself with the help of my classmate Cait are teaching them basic business and accounting skills. Jemima is the leader of the merry-go round and she is quite possibly the most impressive woman I have yet to meet.
It has been a slower than I imagined it would be, but finally I feel there is something special about the chaos of this place. We have had two speakers within the last week. Last Friday James spoke of corruption in the current election process and today at the beautiful Maasai Lodge on the edge of the Nairobi National Park, David spoke of the civil society involvement in promoting honest governance since the 1970s. And regardless of the setbacks, challenges and deadlocks they mentioned in Kenya’s history, they always concluded with a promise of resilience and optimism from the Kenyan people for the future.
It is needless to say I am really excited about the experiences I am having right now here in Nairobi.

Asante sana

Today was my last day of classes before midterm examinations next week at USIU, tomorrow I will be working on an action plan at ISSA for the fundraising dinner and on Friday our country director's lecture will be hosted at a Masaai's house atop a mountain overlooking the Nairobi National Game Reserve. We might even get to go swimming!

On Tuesday I learned how to Mambo and Salsa for two hours before we had a great meeting with the contestants from the Mr. and Miss who are participating in the year long program to sponsor an OVC youth from their community.

It has been such a treat to be able to share blow by blow my experience here in Nairobi with all of you. I wanted to post today to thank everyone who has viewed the blog and posted comments. I really enjoy everyone's insight and especially the kinds words. As exciting and positively demanding this program is, it is stressful and often uncomfortable. Obviously I have never lived somewhere previous to Nairobi where everyday I am pushed far beyond my limits, and the comments that are posted or the emails I receive in reaction to my blog have been so encouraging and energizing. All of you have sent the kindest wishes and I want you to know I sincerely appretiate every ounce of love everyone has sent my way in the past two months. Asante sana! Thank you!

(Elephants for Auntie Sherri)

Miss and Mr. Kibera 2008

Saturday Oct. 4, 2008 a new Miss and Mr. Kibera were crowned at the Lainisaba grounds in Kibera. Despite our lack of funding (no funding), a two hour delayed start and two rainstorms the pageant was a total success. For the communities of Kibera near the Lainisaba grounds it was a day of laughter, performance, music, community unity and fun! We had such a great time watching the contestants strut down the rickety catwalk in their casual, traditional, creative, professional and dinner wear. The contestants also delivered a two minute speech to persuade the judges to vote for them and they also had to answer one question from the audience. The speeches were taken very seriously and delivered in the most professional manner. All of the contestants were between the ages of 18 and 21 and they really impressed their audience not only with their beauty, but also with their grace, intelligence and dedication to ISSA's vision for the youth of their community. The pageant is only a kickoff for a year long program between the contestants and an OVC child in Kibera. Our next challenge will be to host a fundraising dinner for 150 businessmen from Nairobi to fund the year long program. We will be more successful in soliciting funds for this program I am sure of it!

It is a nice Sunday in Nairobi, not too hot, slightly cloudy skies and warm intermittent rains. My roommates and I enjoyed an American style breakfast this morning at Java House, went grocery shopping at Chandara Supermarket (a new grocery store for us) and came home to clean house, study and prepare for next week. Too often we forget our purpose for being here is to study not to play. I think its because playing in Africa is whole lotta of fun!