Africa has changed me forever.
I just returned from two wonderful weeks visiting the warm and inviting people of Nairobi, Africa. I now understand why so many visitors fall in love with the country and have a strong pull to return there. While still very primitive and different from our culture, there was something very compelling about the energy there. The highlights of my visit were to the Kibera Slums, Mama Mercy's orphanage in the Mathare Slums, an IDP Refugee Camp, and Pastor Regina's Secondary School for teens from the slums. There was such a display of strength, determination, hope, selflessness, and community that I had not expected to see. I learned a lot from this population that still struggles daily to just survive and meet their daily needs.
The 1st place I visited was the Mathare Slum Orphanage. There Mama Mercy for 19 years has almost singled handled cared for unwanted and thrown away children. There are currently 307 children from babies to teens living there in a space so small that it is unbelievable and without plumbing or water. Here children sleep stacked 7 to a small cot. They are challenged to have food, water and medicine each day. Yet, there is an amazing sense of order, cohesion, discipline, support for each other, and laughter among them. They were initially quiet and timid when we arrived, but after we made connection with them with hugs, attention and activities, they readily opened up and engaged with us. What they mainly wanted was just attention and loving touch from another human. The toddlers literally climbed up my body to be held, and once in my arms smiled and wanted to lock into my eyes with a deep connecting gaze. Just to be touched, held, and seen was so important to them. We had taken soccor balls for the children, but what was the most popular and fun among them, was just taking group pictures of them and sharing them back to them. I believe that they had never seen pictures of themselves before. They all squealed with delight, and kept trying to come up with poses or new groups to keep the camera flashing. The one touching thing I noticed, was that the teen girls would find a baby to pick up and ask to have their pictures taken. I believe that they did not feel that we would be interested in pictures of them alone. With that noticing, I made certain that we spent time with them and let them know that they, too, were important to us. When we were leaving, most of the children tried to follow us to our car and touch us one last time for that human connection--still with big smiling faces.
Our next visit was to a Secondary School for teens. In Nairobi, the Government only provides public schools up through the 8th grade, but only children that can afford the fees and required uniforms can attend. However, the big gap in the system is that there is no further education provided beyond the 8th grade, unless it is private. That leaves out a large majority of teens that cannot afford this. There are efforts being made by some of the citizens of Nairobi to create some Secondary Schools for those who otherwise would be left out with limited hopes for their lives and futures. This has been one of the number one reasons for the rampant crime. But there are not near enough of these efforts in place to meet the population's need. And the teachers that work at these schools do so on a volunteer basis. It is a true labor of love and commitment to the "left out" children of their country. These children are also required to pass a State exam. These teachers are dedicated to ensure that these children are tutored to pass the exam and get this needed additional education, as well as encourage them to find ways to attend college. These children, that we met with, clearly understand how lucky they are to have been some of the chosen few for these schools. They are proud, study hard, and easily tell you their hopes and dreams for a better future. Many of them are gifted with incredibly beautiful voices, and they love to sing for you. Spending time with them and hearing their stories was shear delight.
The 3rd place we visited was the Kibera Slums. This is one of the largest slums in the world, 2d only to Mumbai India. We met with a group of women and their children that live there. All of the women are HIV positive, had lost their husbands to Aids, have several children, are young and have no or little education, and until recently had no skills, livelihood or hope for a future for themselves or their children. Typically in that country, women were not educated, got married very young and had children. The husbands were the exclusive providers. With the Aids epidemic, that has turned that paradigm upside down. Many husbands have died and the women found themselves without means of being able to provide for themselves and their children. And with their HIV status, no hope of remarrying. I visited 6 of these women in their homes that live in an average of a 10X10 shack with no plumbing, water, and most with no electricity. The whole family shares one cot. They have to physically and financially be able to go an buy containers of water, and be able to carry them back. This, as well as food, obviously takes money that they do not always have. They have to do everything with this precious water--drink, bath off, clean, wash clothes, cook. Yet, these women have rallied around each other to offer support for them as well as their children. Also take care of each other and the children when one becomes sick--as they often do from diseases and unsanitary conditions in the slums. A few have reached out and, with the help of a couple of compassionate women that heard their plight, have recently learned how to sew lovely bags and aprons to sell. There is a marketing effort underway to help them support this effort. The project is called the Global Bag Project. And the most amazing thing that I witnessed, was the selflessness of these women with each other. Instead of coming from a place of lack and hoarding their skills and any new resources they may have received, they freely share and try to empower others so they can share in sustaining their families. The sense of support and true community that I witnessed here was something that we all could learn from. With their new skills they expressed hope that they can buy food for their children and not have to beg for it, and also can afford to pay school fees so their children can attend school helping to establish hope for their futures. They each would openly share, not only their stories of pain and hope, but would generously share their last crumb with you. Their desire from us was that we continue to let people know their plight, and keep assisting with the marketing efforts for them to be able to sell their products. We also spent the afternoon with their children, engaged in activities and just spending time with them. Again the camera and sharing back their smiling faces was a big hit. And dancing hand-in-hand singing with them through the slums with their bright, smiling faces filled with lots of laughter from our visit and attention certainly filled my heart with joy.
And the last visit was to an IDP (Internal Displaced Person) Refugee Camp. These were groups of people that, years ago, had been forced off their property by the government, and the government then claimed their land. These people were exiled to leave everything behind and try to find a place to start anew. And this without money or resources. They have set up camps much like the slums with sheet metal shacks or tents. This has been their entire existence. There are many of these camps throughout the country. And the government still turns their back on them. In the camp that we visited, a group from the US had recently heard about them and had built them 3 sheet metal class rooms (still with dirt floors) to try to provide a school for the children. Each room had only a blackboard and some benches. They still struggle for materials and books, and as in the other school, the teachers are all volunteers. Pure labors of love. This community also struggled to get daily food and water. We took them books and supplies for each of the children, additional building supplies, and food for all the children and teachers. Then we spent time in each of the classrooms, sitting amongst the children and participating with them in their class. Of course, most of their attention was more on us---touching, looking exploring, being curious. In one of the classes I attended, the 4 years olds were learning the English alphabet and days of the week. We enjoyed in participating with them in that class. And to hand out food to these knowingly hungry children, and witness how gracious, orderly and sharing they were with other would melt any heart. They were all so affectionate, happy, and engaging. It was truly amazing to witness. We introduced this camp to a local group that is going to start working with them to further help them.
So what a life changing experience this was. It showed me the resilience of the human spirit like I have never seen before. It showed me the power of community, resourcefulness, commitment, determination, bravery, hope, sharing & caring, human contact, communication, really seeing each other, and just pure love. Those beautiful faces will forever be etched in my mind.
