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.
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.
4 comments:
J, awesome pic's and a good post. I think it is amazing what you seem to be doing and learning. Keep up the blog and keep working haed, I think it is paying off.
I tried to leave this post for your roomate but hers doesn't have name, or anonymous?
I enjoy reading both yours and justines blogs. In tells a story from two different angles seeing somewhat the same picture. I think what you young ladies are doing is awesome!
where are you it's been too long say something....aunti c
justine all of your teaching experiences sound AMAZING!!!! just think of all the knowledge you're spreading. miss you and love you lots! write again soon!
Even if I hated your going - now I watch and see all your up to-- Priceless! Gram & Gramps are happy for you - and know your looking forward to your next travels. Your DAD can't let you get to manymore countries without him. He says YOUR lonesome, but I think he is. Love Gram L
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