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October 29, 2003
October 29, 2003
Reuben has left for a trip to the Ngurunit area and several other stops here and there. One is to look at the vehicle he wants to buy for his office. Another is to go to the community of Seren to finalize plans for another water project. This week, we got a message from a woman who had gotten our names from a donor that is supporting a few of our projects in Ngurunit. The message was about a project called the Community Water Initiative within the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). They had funds for three water projects in Kenya. Two had already been selected but a third was wanted in the Northern parts of the country. To this end, our names were put forward as having good links with communities in the pastoralist areas. So, now we are working on getting a proposal for a Community Water Project in Seren. Reuben has gone to get some final details so we can get the proposal in by next week. This is an area that is very remote and mostly marginalized in terms of getting any development projects from the government or private organizations. If this proposal gets through, we will be able to help the community develop a roof rain water collection system off of the primary school, build two covered hand pump wells in the dry river bed, and enlarge and protect a rock formation that will harvest and store rain water. This will help reduce water borne diseases and alleviate hardship for the women who sometimes have to walk 15 to 20 kilometers to find water during the dry season. Since we were approached about an appropriate project in the North, we are very hopeful to get the funding. One step at a time, water will be provided for one community after the other.
October 26, 2003
October 26, 2003
Beautiful Sunday evening after a beautiful, though busy, weekend. Saturday, Rueben’s office had a ‘harambee’, the Kenyan fundraiser. I have always thought this was an interesting way to raise money. If an individual or organization has a need that they can’t afford, they organize a harambee. They make donation cards and go around getting pledges for the cause. Then, a lot of important people are invited and a meeting is held where speeches are given about the subject for which money is wanted and then everyone there walks up to a box and puts in their money. Harambees have become part of the Kenyan culture. Reuben’s office has needed a vehicle for some time so that was the purpose of this harambee. The main special guest was the MP (member of parliament) for the area. He came up from Nairobi to attend so being a bit late, the rest of us had a good time talking together about development and politics while we waited. That is a favorite Kenyan pass time. We were able to raise about half of what was needed that night but donation are still coming in and the office also is getting some money of its own soon. So that will be good for them to have their own transport.
It had been my birthday on Saturday, but we were busy organizing for the evening harambee, today the kids and I decided to do some fun ‘birthday’ activities. It was a lovely windy day so we all went out flying kites. That always attracts quite the crowd. Then we came in and carved pumpkins. I had by chance run across pumpkins in town for the first time ever and bought some with memories of my childhood Halloween days. The kids had a blast. We have lighted candles in them and they have sat watching them and adding candle studs for hours. This is the first year I have ever told them anything of this rather strange, or should I say interesting, American holiday. I have always stuck with the big ones, Christmas and Easter, and skipped the rather minor ones like Thanksgiving and Halloween. Don’t see much point in teaching them some of the purely American type stuff when they have always lived here in Kenya. I figure they will learn about it if they encounter it in the future. Though we do read about it all in their books or see it on films. Also, when I saw the pumpkins, the creative, fun-having potential leaped out at me. And seeing the enthusiasm of the kids, I see that I was right.
Also today, before all the fun activities, I was able to get another truck packed with water project materials and sent off to Lebendera. Things seem to be going smoothly now. Probably because I am getting more practice at how to manage all this stuff. One more truck to go for Lebendera and then we start on Namare.
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