2nd February 2012
After our morning this morning we looked forward to doing our play at Stephen Kanja Primary School and more debates and poetry recitals. We didn’t have enough time to get back to the orphanage to get our props, so had to ring to the teacher in the hope he would be able to get what we needed from my room that I had prepared earlier. However, not the case – not all turned up, but it didn’t matter. Supposed to begin at 2:30 with about 20 kids from the school, but still at 4 we began….. This is Kenya time, and the whole school came to watch. The kids from the school had more confidence being on their home ground and their poetry recitals were just simply beautiful. “Wombat Stew” that I had taught the kids to do as a reader’s theatre was a big hit and the orphanage kids did a fantastic job on it.
I had to describe to the audience what the animals were and show them pictures as they had no idea what a koala, platypus or anything else is or even where Australia is or what it is. Anyway after we finished, a little boy put his hand up and asked if he could say a poem. This scruffy little man came forward with filthy clothes, ripped shirt, zipped pants broken, and torn, no shoes, sores all over his legs, and the most beautiful white teeth and smile, and did the most animated poem I have ever seen (Rhiana and Shanyn, you would have peed your pants) and I got goosebumps and my heart nearly jumped out of my mouth at his talent. I ran up to him and hugged him to bits. He was AMAZING at his animation, voice projection, tone, everything!. His poem was titled “The moon.” Then another little boy put his hand up and came out (again so filthy, dirty and clothes in shreds,) and he even outdid the first boy – he too got a huge hug from me, and then 3 girls, all tattered and torn, came out and did a poem together. So soft and sweet, like their gentle natures. I just felt the tears well up in my face. What utter potential these kids had!
After the morning we had assessing the orphans and then to see the potential of these children and what Footprints Orphanage kids had become, from basic human needs being filled was all too much for me.. I then went into some of their classrooms – ones I hadn’t been in before and saw more asbestos just lying about the room – kids sitting place while waiting for the teacher, crumbling everywhere.
Hadija had gone in while the teacher wasn’t there and began teaching the class long division. She is such a leader – and she just lights up any room she walks into as her positive energy just engulfs you. I didn’t stay in there long – about 1 minute as the wind was blowing towards me where I was standing and I didn’t want to be in the receiving end of asbestos dust. Knowing what these kids futures will be with sitting with this stuff all day again takes its toll on you emotionally, and after what I’d witnessed today I felt so sick in the stomach, yet so proud of these kids without food all day, 70+80 in a class – and what sheer talent!! I cried a lot before I went to sleep… You couldn’t be human and not.
Thursday 4th February 2012
Big day today. Went to Kwali to see Children’s Services Department officers. My driver picked me up about 11 and we made the journey. Stinking hot and the department offices are nothing like what you would expect – just a small room about 2 and a half metres x 2and a half metres. The sweat was dripping off me, running down my face, my legs, my arms. 2 men interviewed me, no sign of a computer, anything clean, or any unripped chair to sit on. The person I was to speak to was out so was told to come back at 3pm.
Went and had 2 cold tuskers – I was melting literally and the driver took me to the ‘best bar’ in Kwali. I will say no more…. They tried to charge him Mzungu (white man’s price) for his chicken for lunch, and he put on a hell of a vocal turn, saying he was Kenyan (obviously) and the mzungu – me wasn’t eating, so he wasn’t paying mzungu price. And rightly so!! There is 2 prices for everything – mzungu price and Kenyan price and a vast difference between the 2. Anyway we went back at 3pm and old mate the driver still hadn’t got his chicken for lunch – after about 1 and a half hours of waiting, so he dropped me back at children’s department and went back to wait for his lunch. In Kenyan time the man I had to see arrived and it was closer to 4:30pm than anywhere near 3pm. I guess I sweated 2 litres of fluid waiting – well it felt like that. Lots of questions fired at me, some of which I really don’t know how they had any relevance to what I am trying to achieve, but I just smiled politely, and went about the business of trying to get what I wanted – approval to begin Umoja Orphanage in the area that I want. They began to warm to me as the energy at first was that of suspicion of me and I could feel it become more warm and flowing. They agreed that yes it was definitely needed, so I asked lots and lots of questions regarding requirements etc., and could they please give me some paperwork so I could see.
They pulled out from in a draw this 4 or 5 page dirty document, and said this is what I needed. I thanked them, put it in my bag and a look of sheer horror came over their faces, as they told me it was their only copy and I would need to get it photocopied and could I send the driver to go and have it done. Had to wait for the driver to return from getting his lunch, another litre of water sweated from me, dripped down my leg and back while he went and photocopied it. Gave them back their ‘only’ copy and thanked them. They gave me their email addresses and once land is purchased I contact them again. There are very limited building requirements – showers toilets and have to build it to house 20 children minimum but can be up to any number!!!! Nothing like home. No checks on me whatsoever!! So step one completed and 2kilos lighter from the sweating it felt like. Then Hummer the driver and me about to leave, the staff (the 3) decided they would like a lift to Mombasa. Asked if we were going there and we were to collect my friend Lesley from the airport. Was good because I chatted away and got to know them a little more – nothing like building positive relationships….. We had a short wait at the ferry, then to the airport. Was going to sit on the side of the road and wait for Lesley to avoid paying the parking fees at airport but thought ‘stuff it’, I needed a beer to celebrate. The great thing about having trustworthy drivers is they won’t leave you – they make sure you are safe and not hassled, so Hummer just sat faithfully beside me while I had my couple of beers. I bought him some peanuts and a coke and he was so happy. I got so excited waiting for Lesley, don’t know what he thought. We were there 2 hours before the plane landed but best to be there rather than be stuck at the ferry and Lesley there waiting and no one to meet her. I was ecstatic when she arrived and she was so jetlagged and tired, and overcome by what she was seeing on the drive to Mombasa and Ukunda. I had booked us a lovely African style bush retreat not far from the beach called ‘Forest Dreams.’ It was indeed a dream and felt like heaven on earth… with a pool, colobus monkeys and African huts. I’ve moved upmarket – $A60 a night including breakfast. Felt really bad paying that much, but I needed to rejuvenate my soul with greenery, water and the earth after the few days of overwhelming emotions. We tackled a few tuskers before bed and let Lesley sleep in until 9. I went and had breaky by myself and waited till she woke.
