All good things must come to an end

How tempus fugits! After 10 months here in Kenya and here at St. Anna, my last full day has come and gone, and tomorrow I go home. A year ago when I came to visit for the first time, I never imagined that I would be here a year later. I may not have ended up where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be.

As I am still recovering from saying goodbye to all the children on Tuesday, I’m not even going to try to summarise my thoughts and feelings in words. You’ll have to make do with some numbers:
. 10 months
. 80 blog posts
. 31 books (read)
. 15 children (sponsored - thanks to those who agreed to do this)
. 29 rabbits
. 5 houses
. 7 computers
. 1 mountain (never again)
. 6970 Pounds (raised)
. 1 library
. 6 tables
. 36 chairs
. 8 book shelves
. 2 sign posts
. 10 hanging baskets
. 5 kilos (lost)
. 2 pairs of glasses (broken)
… and a partridge in a pear tree!

All that remains is to thank those who helped or contributed in any way. On behalf of all the children and the teachers here at the school, thank you. You may never quite know the difference you have made in the lives of 250+ people.

And from me: To all of you who remained in touch during my self imposed exile; to those who wrote to me or called me and stopped the solitude turning to loneliness … thank you! To those who sent me stuff: books, shoes, socks, clothes, bags, Hob Nobs … thank you! To those who bought me a return ticket home … thank you! To those who agreed to accompany me up a mountain…thank you (and sorry). And to those who made it all the way down here in person… thank you! Without you I couldn't possibly have hoped to succeed, with you I couldn’t fail.

Finally, before I sign off for the last time, a thought. Of all the lessons I have learned during my time here the most compelling must surely be that it is only through education that we can hope to help lift children, their communities and their countries out of poverty.

We so often go on about our rights, but what about our duties? Someone should establish a bill of duties. We all have a responsibility to help bring education to the children of under-developed countries not only because it is the right thing to do, but also as it is the only vector of guaranteeing lasting peace and security for ourselves. Whether it be in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula or Asia, only when we can offer children a brighter future will they have a reason choose life over death. It only costs about £20 a month to put a child through primary school here in Kenya. Now
I don’t know where you all live, but in Paris that’s about the price of 2 beers…it’s half a family’s monthly income here.

In 1957 Dr. King said that “life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” His words are arguably be even more applicable today. He went on to say that: “Every person must decide, at some point, whether they will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”

In our constantly connected online 24/7 information world , none of us can claim ignorance to the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves. If you aren’t helping in some way it is because you have chosen not to. Half the world still lives on less than $2/day, and many of them on less than $1. The majority don't want hand outs; they are proud and want to live with dignity. Their basic needs and desires are no different than our basic needs and desires: decent shelter, clean drinking water, to live in peace and a provide a better chance for their children than the hand life dealt them. Most of the things we take for granted. You could so easily make a difference...all it takes is you, a decision and now.

Ok, end of lecture. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Ex animo,

Matthew
xx

Weekend in Nakuru

This past weekend I went to Nakuru, a town in the Rift Valley, with James to visit his home and his family. Having visited the Thompson Falls on the way (http://www.africapoint.net/local-sites/waterfalls/139-thomsons-falls-nyahururu-kenya.html), we arrived in Nakuru just in time to join another family gathering in celebration of the pending wedding between James’ Uncle and his wife to be(the one’s from the dowry celebrations back in July). The big day is the 4th December and I am sorry to say I will miss it as it looks like it will be a corking bash!

Nakuru is well know for its Safari Park which we also visited. Lake Nakuru National Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nakuru) “specialises” in Black Rhino (which we saw) but as the park surrounds Lake Nakuru, its real claim to fame is as the location for one of the greatest bird spectacle on earth - myriads of fuschia pink flamingoes whose numbers are often more than a million maybe two. They feed on the abundant algae, which thrives in the warm waters. For some reason which eludes me, there are no elephants in the park…maybe they just don’t like it.

After visiting the park we strolled to the nearby Menengai crater, the remains of one of the many long since extinct volcanoes that sit in the middle of the rift valley. It is massive. It is also renowned for strange things that happen there such as people disappearing without trace, others losing directions for hours (or even days) only to be found by their relatives wandering around in a trance. I tripped over a rock … though I’m not sure that qualifies.

As we walked back home we decided to stop into a small school along our way where we were welcomed by the head teacher. She happily showed us around and introduced us to the (incredibly well mannered) orphans. They are struggling even more than our kids here at St. Anna, and when the head teacher asked me how can I help, it was all I could do to stop myself blurting out “I’ll be back to help you next year”. Writing this now, I am ashamed to say I didn't blurt it out though but I will endeavour to find a way to get some assistance to them. I think I could happily spend the rest of my life building a school or two a year in remote parts of the world. By my calculations it would only take 10k or so for each one: a couple of rooms and your done really. Hmm?

We got back yesterday evening to see that the library is progressing nicely. The architect is due tomorrow morning to sign off the latest work and from there things will continue skyward. And now I am into my final 7 days :-(. Next week, on the 24th (the day before I leave), I will be unveiling a foundation stone on the library. The great and the good of the area will be coming so I am preparing a Churchillian speech … blood, sweat and tears, that kind of thing.

The Magnificent Seven

The workers reappeared on Thursday following the day in court. Over the cakes meant for the day before I had a chat with the head mason to try and get to the bottom of it all. I didn’t, but what I understood was this:

Following an incident a month ago when the men of the area decided to take the law in to their own hands and “deal” (think very extreme) with 3 local thieves, the District Commissioner (the governor of the area) called a meeting to openly discuss the events. The residents expressed a lack of confidence in the local law enforcement, claiming that the area was inadequately policed and felt therefore that the only was to address this was to take the law into their own hands. The DC acknowledged the failings and promised to correct them; he even dressed down the police chief in front of everyone. He went on however to state categorically that any further vigilantism would not be tolerated.

Then 2 Sundays ago the 2 thieves who survived the previous incident were sighted at a local house. Word spread like wild fire and a group of guys quickly got together and spread their own wild fire. They burnt down the house where the 2 we spotted…and 7 of them ended up in court last Wednesday.

I’m not clear whether any of our workers are part of the Magnificent Seven but everyone was back at work on Thursday. Bail was set at £1k … a fortune for anyone here … and most had to hand over the title deeds to their land to secure their release. Trial is pending.

I only hope the library is completed before it comes to trial otherwise nothing may happen for a while.

O tempora! O mores!

Library Update: Wednesday 3. November

No work today. Entire workforce in court.

Progress report with 1 month to go (to the day)

Just over 2 weeks into library construction and things are MOVING! You wouldn’t believe how much 10 guys can do in a day.

Yesterday the architect came again to survey the work so far (essentially the foundations). We needed the green light from him before we can start actually laying bricks. He duly gave us the go ahead and from tomorrow the building should begin to rise out of the ground. I have taken enough photos each day to bore the pants off even the most patient observer.

In parallel work has begun on the tables, chairs and shelves. We awarded the contract to “Bush Crafts – For Quality Furniture”, and on Tuesday we dropped by to assess the first pieces. We have also identified a local plaque maker and in the next couple of days I will pass him the wording and the names of everyone who contributed.

I have to admit, I am a little sceptical as to whether it will be completely finished by the day I leave (25th November…one month to the day), but it will be pretty close.
xx

Shovels in the ground

Greetings,

It has been 2 week now since I returned to St. Anna and during that time we have had numerous discussions on the subject of the library. The first week was spent in meetings with the Board of Governors discussing its location. The second week was spent trying to locate our elusive architect. But that is all behind us now and this week work started.

On Monday we cleared the ground and yesterday we marked out the boundaries with string and branches hacked from the surrounding trees.
This morning I reached the school to find shovels in the ground; the foundation trenches are being dug (what do you call a man with a spade on his head? Doug! Ha) and the first deliveries of materials (sand, cement and stones) should arrive this afternoon.

As for what the library will look like, the plan is to have 3 rooms in total:

. Room 1 – Is a small combined office and reception area where people must present themselves before entering the library.
. Room 2 – Is the book room measuring approximately 25ft x 22ft (we will of course be filling it with books…any suggestions of titles are most welcome)
. Room 3 – Is the reading room (which will double as a room for meetings etc and sessions of audio books for the illiterate). This will also measure 25ft x 22ft

Upon the request of the Bishop and the board of governors, I also agreed that we would lay extra strong foundations should the school decided in the future to add a second floor.

Finally, for those of you who donated towards this project, your name will appear on a plaque. Fame at last!

Kili update

As it has been two weeks now since our attempt on Kilimanjaro and with the feeling finally coming back to all of our fingers, it is time to update you on how we got on.

The whole climb took eight days. The first three days went fine all round, then on the fourth day the air got thinner, it became difficult to sleep and the headaches started … and they didn't stop until we came down again.

The final ascent of the summit was agony. We were shattered from not having been able to sleep properly for three nights and it was also absolutely freezing. Despite wearing all the clothes we had and gloves designed for -15°C, we still suffered and got frost bite. Unfortunately, although the three of us started the final day’s climb, only two of us made it to the top. After seven hours of physical and mental exhaustion (every step felt like a mile) we arrived at the summit in time to see the sun rising over Tanzania; the sense of achievement was fantastic (I have also added some photos here).

Thank you for all of your support and your donations towards the new St Anna library. We have hit our target and I am very pleased to report that the construction of the library will begin as soon as I get back to Kenya next week. I will also circulate regular updates with the progress of the build and some photos when it nears completion.

For the next few days I am enjoying some time at home with family and friends, but will be back at St. Anna next Wednesday.

Kilimanjaro here we come

Eek it’s been ages since I updated this thing. Time has just flown by since the last post, and seems to be just flying generally now.

The referendum elections passed without incident. The yes campaign won with about 3:1. So my taking refuge in the ancient rain forests of Kakamega was unnecessary but that said I don’t regret it for a second. The Kakamega forest is Kenya’s last remaining part of the mighty Guineo-Congolese rain forest that used to stretch right across Africa. It was part of the same forest where the mountain gorillas of Uganda live and legend has it that the mountain gorillas used to be found there too. OF course that was all before the British arrived and turned it all into tea plantations.

The forest is spell-binding. It is like being on the land that time forget. The temperature in there is at least 10 degrees cooler than outside, and it is so old that you wouldn't be surprised to see a diplodocus stroll by. Blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and red tailed monkeys swing and chatter above your head as you walk and butterflies dance around you (there are about 400 species according to John my guide). One of the walks concluded with the final mile or so through acres of guava trees. The ground was covered in a carpet of guavas so that you couldn't not step on them; the air was filled with the aroma it was heaven .

The Rondo Retreat where I stayed was half empty, but those who were there had like me taken refuge from the any potential post election violence. The place is wonderful. I had my own idyllic colonial bungalow like something from Out Of Africa which looked on to immaculately kept gardens. In the evening you dress for dinner and in the afternoon are brought tea and cake on you porch which you take under covetous gaze of the monkeys in the trees. Perfect.
Only an hour or so from Kakamega is the town of Kisumu. Kisumu is not much to wrote home about, but the lake it sits on is. Kisumu lies on Lake Victoria .. it is immense. I remember standing on the banks feeling vulnerable , frightened, alone (or was that due to the hawkers?). There is a great silence, a huge silence that disturbed me. It is size of Wales and as the source of the White Nile it is one of East Africa’s most important geographical features however according to the captain of the boat I went out on, very few visitors come to see it.

For the past 10 days we have had visitors over from the UK plus some from Uganda and a few from Nairobi. As it was the school holidays, we organised a kind of summer camp for some of the local youths who wanted to come. The programme was divided in two parts: the morning was path building at the school, and the afternoon was classes and workshops on specific topics: careers etc. So now we have shiny new paths linking the lower part of school and the boys dorm with the upper part. This also vastly reduces the mud we drag everywhere with us. I did however feel a little guilty laying the paths as recently I read the following:

- “Why do you think Europeans are so distant from Africans?”
- “Fear. They are afraid of Africa. It is too vast, too mysterious, too earthy. Many Africans walk barefooted to be in direct touch with the earth. Europeans wear shoes and cover the ground with concrete. One day Africa will be covered in concrete and the spirits which fail to escape will be entombed forever.”

Since the visitors left in the middle of this week, I have been busying myself with final preparations for Kilimanjaro. I am now all packed and in about 2 hours I leave for Nairobi, then tomorrow at the crack of dawn I go onward to Moshi where I will rdv will Ali and Ivor to begin our climb on Wednesday. Am I ready? I guess I’ll find out on Wednesday. I think it is more a case of conquering myself than the mountain.

Wish me luck and see you in a couple of weeks.

Love to all
xx

Kilimanjaro here we come

Eek it’s been ages since I updated this thing. Time has just flown by since the last post, and seems to be just flying generally now.

The referendum elections passed without incident. The yes campaign won with about 3:1. So my taking refuge in the ancient rain forests of Kakamega was unnecessary but that said I don’t regret it for a second. The Kakamega forest is Kenya’s last remaining part of the mighty Guineo-Congolese rain forest that used to stretch right across Africa. It was part of the same forest where the mountain gorillas of Uganda live and legend has it that the mountain gorillas used to be found there too. OF course that was all before the British arrived and turned it all into tea plantations.
The forest is spell-binding. It is like being on the land that time forget. The temperature in there is at least 10 degrees cooler than outside, and it is so old that you wouldn't be surprised to see a diplodocus stroll by. Blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and red tailed monkeys swing and chatter above your head as you walk and butterflies dance around you (there are about 400 species according to John my guide). One of the walks concluded with the final mile or so through acres of guava trees. The ground was covered in a carpet of guavas so that you couldn't not step on them; the air was filled with the aroma it was heaven .

The Rondo Retreat where I stayed was half empty, but those who were there had like me taken refuge from the any potential post election violence. The place is wonderful. I had my own idyllic colonial bungalow like something from Out Of Africa which looked on to immaculately kept gardens. In the evening you dress for dinner and in the afternoon are brought tea and cake on you porch which you take under covetous gaze of the monkeys in the trees. Perfect.
Only an hour or so from Kakamega is the town of Kisumu. Kisumu is not much to wrote home about, but the lake it sits on is. Kisumu lies on Lake Victoria .. it is immense. I remember standing on the banks feeling vulnerable , frightened, alone (or was that due to the hawkers?). There is a great silence, a huge silence that disturbed me. It is size of Wales and as the source of the White Nile it is one of East Africa’s most important geographical features however according to the captain of the boat I went out on, very few visitors come to see it.

For the past 10 days we have had visitors over from the UK plus some from Uganda and a few from Nairobi. As it was the school holidays, we organised a kind of summer camp for some of the local youths who wanted to come. The programme was divided in two parts: the morning was path building at the school, and the afternoon was classes and workshops on specific topics: careers etc. So now we have shiny new paths linking the lower part of school and the boys dorm with the upper part. This also vastly reduces the mud we drag everywhere with us. I did however feel a little guilty laying the paths as recently I read the following:

- “Why do you think Europeans are so distant from Africans?”
- “Fear. They are afraid of Africa. It is too vast, too mysterious, too earthy. Many Africans walk barefooted to be in direct touch with the earth. Europeans wear shoes and cover the ground with concrete. One day Africa will be covered in concrete and the spirits which fail to escape will be entombed forever.”

Since the visitors left in the middle of this week, I have been busying myself with final preparations for Kilimanjaro. I am now all packed and in about 2 hours I leave for Nairobi, then tomorrow at the crack of dawn I go onward to Moshi where I will rdv will Ali and Ivor to begin our climb on Wednesday. Am I ready? I guess I’ll find out on Wednesday. I think it is more a case of conquering myself than the mountain.

Wish me luck and see you in a couple of weeks.

Love to all
xx

Mug glorious mud!

Afternoon all,

Whereas July & August at home are traditionally the warmest driest months of the year, the reverse is true here in Kenya; unless of course you are on the coast where it seemingly remains a balmy 30+ all year round. Here in the centre the temperature is down to the low to mid teens and it rains. It rains a lot. We live in a district called Gathuki-ini: “Gathuki” comes from the latin word for mud, and “ini” meaning more mud. All this is playing havoc with my mountain training.

However I do have 3 full and free weeks ahead of me to get into peak condition (!) as last Thursday we broke up and all the children have drifted off home. I recall the days we broke up as a mix of excitement and loss. The sense of unbridled delight at the infinite expanse of freedom that stretched before you was tempered only by the sense of completion, of something coming to an end,… for me sadness at the thought of friends you wouldn't see for the summer or or indeed again. One of my best friends at school was Melissa Lloyd, I have not seen her since we left school in the 5th year. I wonder if the children here feel the same way. Is that “last day at school” feeling universal? Is it the same the world over?

Finally:
i. You may have heard we have a referendum this week…if it all kicks off, you certainly will hear of it. On the 4th August is the national vote on the proposed new constitution. We are hoping for the best but fearing the worse. Recent experience (post election violence in 2007) is still fresh in the minds and tensions are quite high. I’m off to hide in the forests of Kakamega until it all blows over.
ii. The 18th International Aids Conference in Vienna has asked countries to consider a ‘no-sex-month’. Kenya is considering it as a less inexpensive method to slow down the spread of HIV and maintain the current momentum which has seen a drop in new infections. Researchers argue that, since newly infected people have the highest transmission rates to their partners, an abstinence period would disrupt the infection chain.
iii. Kenyan firms are apparently making a killing from the piracy plaguing the Indian ocean and the seas around the horn of Africa. Kenyan law firms, security-, aviation- and shipping companies have found a lucrative business acting as the links between the pirates and the representatives of hijacked ship owners facilitating negotiations and payments.
iv. The price of tea at the Famous Cafe in Murang’a has gone up 50%! (10 to 15 shillings)
v. James’ prayer before dinner this evening was particularly memorable. It went like this: “Lord thank you for the food we are about to partake, may it feed our bodies and minds to do your bidding. Thank you for the day, thank you for taking Matt to Murang’a and back and thank you for our football match, although it ended in disarray when the opposition disputed our second goal…Amen”. I couldn’t prevent myself laughing out load.

Love to all,
M

Last Week of Term

Morning!

Time if flying and things seem so busy that I am finding (making?) less and less time to update this thing. Although the age old adage of never having enough time is bunkum, there is always time if we choose to make it, the spare time that I have is almost exclusively dedicated to the children.

I have been here for 6 months now and the realisation is slowly beginning to dawn on me that soon (in just over 3 months) my time will be at and end. This is a frightening thought as saying goodbye to everyone here, especially the children will be heart-wrenching. The recent days have been filled with projects (more of that in a mo) and as we are in the final week of term, typing exam papers and consolidating results for the teachers. The exams started yesterday and run through to Thursday lunchtime when the school breaks for the August holiday and the kids will disappear for 3 weeks. When they come back I will in the process of climbing a mountain and so of the 3 months left one is written off right there.

Concerning the projects :
. House building : Do you remember a while back I visited the home of a boy called James Macharia? This conditions in which he was living were abject and we decided back then to do something about it. Well, I am delighted to say something has been done. With the generous support of friends and my Mum, last week we completed a new building for him and his brother Wilson to live in.
. Rabbit colony: Our rabbit colony appears to be increasing almost exponentially. On Friday another gave birth taking our population to 28. As they are beginning to look a little cramped I have ordered an extension. If it continues at this rate, I may have to consider moving the boys out of the dormitory and swapping them with the rabbits!
. Inter-house quiz: Friday nights first inter-house quiz was won by Buffalo (36 points) who narrowly beat Elephant in to second place on 35 points. Debate raged after on the content of the quiz which was deemed by many to have been too heavily skewed towards science (they all receive the same lessons!!), and so next term we are planning an even larger, broader one.
. Vegetable growing: We have been in negotiations with the lady next door (who has a very large unused garden) to see if we could use her land to grow veggies for the school in exchange for some of the produce we grow. Agreement was reached at the end of last week and during the August holiday we will begin tilling and planting. We are also looking in to the possibility of erecting a greenhouse on part of the land.
. Sign posts: I have commissioned 2 sign posts for the school. The first at the entrance to direct people when they arrive (offices, kitchens, staff room etc), the second to go nearer the school field to point around the world (United Kingdom XXXXkm, USA XXXXkm etc).
. Landscaping: I spent much of last week with the fundi (handymen), designing the changes we would like to make to the school field. On one side we have a wonderful large tree which is slightly raised on a natural mound which overlooks the school field. Our idea is to use this natural mound, landscape it with the addition of some bench seating so we can have an area where people can sit and read, but also sit and watch the games on the field (much easier to explain in pictures).
. Ghost story evening: I am loving this. I have started a weekly evening of ghost / spooky stories. Not sure this is completely responsible of me (what would social services say?), but surely one of the pleasures of middle age is to corrupt the youth?! (I have copies one of them at the end of this for you reading pleasure).

As you can see we have been BUSY. All this coupled with my intensive Kilimanjaro preparation training : a strict regime of lunges and the consumption of copious cups of nettle-tea which a local has sworn to me will combat any ailment, natural or indeed supernatural (it’s like drinking a pond), and time is just zipping by.

Should you wish to sponsor us in this mad undertaking, just go to the following link: http://www.justgiving.com/Matthew-Smith-Kili-Climb, or click on the JustGiving gadget on this page. It is all going to the school I can ensure you.

Thanks for your ongoing support.

PS: I have signed up for motorbike lessons next term .. don’t tell my Mum.

- -

Hairy Toe!
Once there was an old woman who went out in the woods to dig up some roots to cook for dinner. She spotted something funny sticking out of the leaves and dug around until she uncovered a great big hairy toe. There was some good meat on that toe which would make a real tasty dinner, so the old woman put it in her basket and took it home.
When she got back to her cottage, the old woman boiled up a kettle-full of hairy toe soup, which she ate for dinner that night. It was the best meal she'd had in weeks! The old woman went to bed that night with a full stomach and a big smile.
Along about midnight, a cold wind started blowing in the tops of the trees around the old woman's house. A large black cloud crept over the moon and from the woods a hollow voice rumbled: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!" Inside the house, the old woman stirred uneasily in her bed and nervously pulled the covers up over her ears.
From the woods there came a stomp-stomp-stomping noise as the wind whistled and jerked at the treetops. In the clearing at the edge of the forest, a hollow voice said: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!" Inside the house, the old woman shuddered and turned over in her sleep.
A stomp, stomp, stomping sound came from the garden path outside the cottage. The night creatures shivered in their burrows as a hollow voice howled: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!" Inside the house, the old woman snapped awake. Her whole body shook with fright as she listened to the angry howling in her garden. Jumping out of bed, she ran to the door and barred it. Once the cottage was secure, she lay back down to sleep.
Suddenly, the front door of the cottage burst open with a bang, snapping the bar in two and sending it flying into the corners of the room. There came the stomp, stomp, stomping noise of giant feet walking up the stairs. Peeping out from under the covers, the old woman saw a massive figure filling her doorway. It said: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!"
The old woman sat bolt upright in terror and shouted: "I ATE your hairy toe!"
"Yes, you did," the giant figure said very gently as it advanced into the room.
No one living in the region ever saw the old woman again. The only clue to her disappearance was a giant footprint a neighbour found pressed deep into the loose soil of the meadow beside the house. The footprint was missing the left big toe.

Dowry Ceremony

Last weekend we were in Nairobi for a dowry ceremony. The long and the short of it is that if bloke wishes to marry bird and bird agrees marry bloke, blokes family have to come to an agreement with birds family to compensate them for the money they have invested in her thus far. If agreement is reached, party ensues, if agreement is not reached, then it’s good night Vienna.

I was a guest of James and James is the cousin of the bloke, so I was part of the bloke’s entourage. . As the whole family is involved and the whole family is expected to stump up to get the dowry together, we had all been instructed to meet up at a petrol station in Kiambu on the outskirts of Narirobi just before lunchtime. I told myself this must be to agree on our negotiation strategy over numerous cups of tea. As always my imagination ran away me and I beguiled the mutatu ride to Kiambu with visions of an enormous Mario Puzo mafiosi style family meet. I was eagerly expecting to meet people called Teflon, Two Times and So n’ So “the boss” So n’ So with information on who shot Kennedy, and crooked senators from Idaho and Arizona who would grease the wheels of my Foreign Office job application in exchange for the return of the compromising photos I had of
them. I didn’t.

It seemed that the tactics were on a need to know basis also, and I didn’t need to know , but family member after family member slipped off to the back of the cafe to hand over cash to a formidable woman who I assumed must be “book-keeper”. Once all the cash had been stashed in the book-keepers handbag (god have mercy on the mugger who tried to snatch her bag!) we moved to the cars.

The bride’s family had very thoughtfully provided a list of things that we had to bring with us as the “entrance fee”. This included crates 8 of fizzy pop. I was told as we loaded the crates that it is not uncommon for the bride’s family to go so far as to refuse the groom’s family entry and scratch the whole fixture should the shopping list not be brought in its entirety.

With the crates loaded we moved off in convoy and drove the 15 minutes or so to the meet. I suggested that we take a slightly convoluted route and make a couple of U-Turns to ensure we weren’t being tailed or hadn’t been compromised. No one else thought this necessary and some thought it just a waste of petrol, so I shut up and I decided to drop the gangster euphemisms.

We arrived to an empty garden laid out with chairs and 2 tables laden with food. Seeing as I was the only one who thought it strange that no-one else was around, I kept my mouth shut and followed everyone else.

But still none of the bride’s family appeared. Wondering what was going on I turned to my neighbour and inquired. One of James' cousins told me that until a deal had been brokered, no intercourse was allowed between the 2 families .. so until then the entire bride’s family must remained inside while we sat outside chit-chatting and wolfing down the food that had been provided.

Once we had eaten our fill, 5 from our side (including the book-keeper) got up and made there way to the house to begin negotiations with an equal number from the bride’s side. This is invariably the way apparently; it can be of any number as long as they are equal. We, well I, sat in tense anticipation. The others , seasoned veterans, were doing their best t hide it.

I almost wish I could say that discussions went on through the night and after several desperate acts of brinksmanship on both sides, the talks broke down, all the guests were ejected, and the bride and groom eloped to Gretna. But I can't and to the relief of all concerned, agreement was reached in record time. (emissaries must have been dispatched in advance to prepare the ground).

No sooner had the negotiators announced the good news, the bride’s family appeared from their hiding places and joined the throng. General merry making ensued: introductions to each and everyone (I was introduced as Matthew from the British branch of the family), singing, dancing and consumption of the 8 crates of fizzy pop. Then as night fell we all went on our way.

James and I spent the night at his Aunt’s place. A formidable women and printing magnate she spent much of the evening grilling me on where she could pick up the best second hand printing machines. I told here Heidelberg and she seemed more than satisfied with my answer.

On Sunday we went to buy gear for climbing Kilimanjaro. With 2 friends from London who are evidently as mentally unbalanced as I am (yes that’s you Ali & Ivor), we are embarking upon this mass suicide on the 25th August. Apparently it takes 6 days up (the last 1-2 days with the likelihood of excruciating altitude sickness) and 2 days down (there must be a helter-skelter). So armed with new boots, gloves and one of those water sack things with a pipe that I cannot figure out for the life of me, all of this week I have been walking miles. Indeed today, together with Mr. Jackson who I have engaged as my guide for the coming weeks in exchange for lunch and as much tea as he can drink (a lot as it turns out), we have walked by my estimate 15km. I am sitting writing this with my feet in a bucket of cool water.

But what of the school?? Well:
. Leopard won in the inter-house football competition this week.
. Tomorrow we have a dance troop called DICE coming from Nairobi to work with our music club. They kids are VERY excited (they get excited very easily).
. We have started landscaping part of the school field to have an area for reading and sitting to watch the games (I spent much of the last 2 days sketching designs)
. Plans to erect a green house are well underway also so we can grow tomatoes and peppers

And next week end of term exams begin.

A busy 10+ days

Sorry it has been well over a week since you last heard a peep out of me. But in that time things have been SO busy and so much as been happening. To summarise, over the past 10+ days we have had 10 visitors with us and all kinds of things have been going on.

If you recall, Cedric came down from Paris and together with him we held the first inter-house sports day. We had sack races, 3 legged races, welly wanging, egg and spoon races plus a team event involving 6 people laying numbers from 1 to 6 on the ground in order, then a 7th person walking across them…this continued all across the school field with the winner being the first house to make it to the other side (it’s much harder to explain in words). Anyway, at the end of the afternoon we totted up the scores to find Buffalo had won and so they received a lovely trophy with ribbons and all the trimmings.

On another evening, Cedric organised a science experiment evening making rockets out of plastic camera film cases. The children built and decorated their rockets in teams and then with a mixture of vinegar and bicarb inside, they put the lids back on quickly and watched them shoot up to the roof of the assembly hall (again it’s much harder to explain in words). They loved it as it was messy and noisy.
The highlight for me though was the goat roast last Thursday evening. Apologies in advance to any vegetarians amongst you for the graphic content of what follows, but a few days earlier Cedric and I acquired a goat with the express intent of barbecuing it and eating it outside with the children, teachers and visitors. And so at 4pm on Thursday afternoon, the bell tolled and the blindfolded goat was led to the back of the school by 3 of the teachers. With no final requests forthcoming, it had its legs tied together, was laid on a bed of banana leaves and had its throat slit. Mr Macharia, who was holding the goat’s mouth and head had the bottom of the trousers covered with blood as it sprayed out of the goats now open throat. Within a minute however it was dead and decapitated. It was an amazing scene .. as the sterner stomached visitors and I looked on in fascinated horror and the unmistakeable smell of goat enveloped the area, the teachers and children preceded to drain it, skin it and gut it with industrial efficiency. The meat and bones were dispatched to the BBQ whilst the stomach and intestines were emptied and cleaned of their less palatable content. Once cleaned they we refilled with a mixture of fat and blood to make sausages. For the next couple of hours whilst the children cleaned and did their washing, we sat round the BBQ with the teachers preparing dinner : the ribs, meat, liver, kidneys and sausages roasting while the goats head boiled in a pan to make soup.

At 20h00 everyone came out for dinner and together we feasted with regular intermissions for songs. Of all the things that we have done here and that I have experienced, it is definitely one that will stand out for me.
At the beginning of this post I said that we had 10 visitors including Cedric. So what of the other visitors? Well, the other 9 visitors (Al, Robin, Dan, Jemima, Ben, Ashley, Dan, Clemmie and Sam) were all from the same church (St. Ebbes) in Oxford, and their mission here was two-fold. Firstly do you remember Jane whose house was collapsing? …well in the mornings, together with Cedric and local masons they were building her a new home. So everyday they all walked from the school, down one side of the valley and up the other side to Jane’s home and by the end of the week the old place had been demolished and a new one erected in its place. It was phenomenal the pace at which they all worked; so much so that by Saturday it was ready to be blessed by the local vicar with only the more cosmetic aspects remaining to be completed. Words cannot describe how happy Jane is.

In the afternoons, after washing off the morning’s sweat and grime, Al, Robin, Dan, Jemima, Ben, Ashley, Dan, Clemmie and Sam ran bible study classes with the children. Each session began with a short enacted scene from the bible; the message of which was the subject of the breakout sessions with the children after. The children loved it (as did the boys of Kiambugi High School who we went to see on Sunday). They also came armed with a catalogue of songs (most with accompanying movements) which is a prerequisite for anyone coming down here. They were great and we were all sad to see them leave on Monday.

Et voila ... so as you can see it’s been pretty full on. We are now taking a breather before the next set of (17!) visitors come on the 12th July.

Music Competition & “Dilemma” Update

Unfortunately the regional level is as far as we go … this time. The children are understandably disappointed, especially the group of 10 who finished 2nd (only those placed 1st go on to the provincial level). I considered bribing the officials for a moment seeing as that is how most things get done around here but I’d forgotten my wallet … joke, my darn principles got in the way again. However, we are supremely proud all the same seeing as the music club is little more than 2 months old and most of the other schools had clearly been preparing for months. I spoke to the children after the results were announced, and drying their tears I told them that it is normal that we are upset but what defines us is how we react to the disappointment … we all agreed that next time we will blow them all out of the water. And we will.

To close for today, do you remember the “Dilemma” posts? Of course you do. Well, there is no dilemma for the time being … our nurse has resigned to join a public school (more money). So for now any HIV testing is on hold until we can find another. One step forward…

Finally, Cedric is coming in tomorrow from Paris and being a nuclear physicist he has planned to carry out lots of experiments and blow up everything that moves. The kids can’t wait.

Interschool's Music Competition - Update #1

I thought I’d give you a quick update following yesterday’s interschool’s music competition.
All of the kids involved (60) performed to the best of their ability and we are really proud of them. However 2 individual performers who recited poetry (Levi Njake & Martin Maina) plus one of the groups (10) won their categories and now go forward to compete in the region level tomorrow! Not bad when you consider it was the first time for all of us.
It’s a bit short notice for tomorrow, but for next time we are going to have to put together some costumes … some of the other schools looked amazing (I’ll upload photos to the blog when I can but don’t hold your breath!).
_ _ _

On another more sombre subject, 5 people were killed and another 75 injured in what appears to be a grenade attack in Nairobi. You may or may not know but the country is currently trying to ratify a new constitution and the explosion occurred during a rally of the ‘no’ campaign in Uhuru Park. It would appear that the constitution is creating as many issues as it is supposed to address.

Je suis de retour!

Evening all,

Well I am back at St. Anna following a couple of weeks passing through Paris, London & Porto. It all sounds a bit of a jolly (deserved I’d like to think), but I did manage to find half a dozen new sponsors plus discuss and kick off what I hope will be a major push on the fund raising for the library and solar power. 2 B Contd…

Alors je suis de retour and I am glad to be back to get on with the job at hand. The noticeable changes are that
. the boys dorm/ new classroom block is practically finished apart from putting up black boards, the
. there are wooden stools all over the place waiting to be delivered to Kiambugi high school

The unnoticeable change, but the one that is on everyone’s lips is the organisation of the school in to houses. If you recall that one of the changes I wished to make, was one close to my heart from my own childhood. Students were to be subdivided into “houses” be named after something the big 5 wild animals:
i. Lion (red)
ii. Leopard (yellow)
iii. Rhino (white)
iv. Buffalo (green)
v. Elephant (blue)

Well, the day before I left for home I had a meeting with the teaching staff to suggest this, and guess what? ... they loved it. In fact they loved it so much so that Mr. Mwago was immediately assigned responsibility for dividing students and teachers alike in to houses.

Imagine my delight therefore to arrive back today to be assaulted by shouts of “I’m in Elephant” and “I’m a Lion” and even “I’m a Buffalo soldier”. And not only are they in their houses but also that they have already been competing casually in sports and singing! Yay!!!

The plan is now to organise a real novelty sports day towards the end of the month with sack and three legged races, but egg and spoon and other fun things.

Oh oh, one final piece of good news (as if that weren’t already enough), our music club is set to participate in their first competition in Murang’a next Friday. Gonna have to find them something a little more jazzy then their uniforms pretty quickly.

Today was a good day ... beats watching the news on TV no? Good night and good luck.

Who ye gonna call?

This past weekend I was invited by Mr. Macharia, the deputy head teacher of St. Anna, to visit his home and to take part in his wife’s graduation ceremony. Honoured by the invite and keen to see another part of Kenya, I accepted right willingly.

Mr Macharia’s family live in a town called Molo in the Rift Valley province of Kenya. Quick geography lesson: Kenya is divided into 8 provinces (Central, Western, Nairobi, Rift, Nyanza, Eastern, North Eastern and Coast); St. Anna is located in the Central province, which is aptly located in the centre of the country, the Rift Valley is located to the west of Central province, between the Central & Western provinces.

Our route would take us from Murang’a to Nairobi (all routes go through Nairobi it would seem) and then on to Eldoret in the Rift Valley where the graduation was to take place. As the graduation was to take place on the Friday, and the journey from Nairobi to Elodoret would take 7 hours, Mr. Macharia and I set off on the Thursday evening.

For an idea of the journey to Nairobi § post “Nairobi” dated 24/03/2010

When we arrived, we had to cross the chaos that is Nairobi from the mutatu terminus to the “real” bus station. Spoilt for choice of bus companies, we choose the opulently sounding Eldoret Express (sounds a little like the Orient Express no?). We purchased two tickets and with visions of crimson velvet and baccarat lampshades, we made our way to appropriate bay. Leaving my illusions of opulence at the door, we climbed aboard, found two seats away from the axels (up there for thinking!), put our bags down and returned into the station café for tea and chapattis just as the heavens opened. We were due to leave at 20h00; it was now 18h30.

An hour or so later, our appetite satiated we waited for the departure call. Now as chance would have it there were 2 buses going to Eldoret at the same time and as both were half full the conductors decided, quite reasonably, that they would merge the 2 buses. Quite unreasonably they decided it was us who had to move, and so we all traipsed (I’ve never written that word before, is that spelt correctly?) a mile to another bus station where we joined up with the other bus…of course all of the other passengers already aboard had avoided seats on the axels (up there for thinking!), so we sat where we could.

At last it seemed we were ready to depart, or so I thought, when a whole troop of salesmen climbed aboard with one common goal … to separate their captive audience from their well earned shillings: drinks, biscuits, fruit, veggies, torches, sunglasses (essential on a nightime bus ride) … a veritable ambrosia of commerce. The next character to join the pantomime was the preacher intent on offering us a chance of redemption before for our journey … I was just praying that we would leave today. And so it went on…and on.

Finally, after about 45 minutes, with the preacher’s words still ringing in our ears, we headed off. Our scheduled departure time was 20h00; it was now 21h30 … bang on time. Surprisingly I slept more or less the whole way there, stirring only for a pee break in Nakuru.

We arrived in Eldoret at 04h30 on Friday morning and fell into the Strawberry Café…Food that makes you go mmm!! As this was our meeting point with Mr. Macharia’s mother in-law, brother, aunt & cousins who were coming from other places and they were not due to arrive for a couple of hours, we made ourselves comfy, ordered a bucket of tea and a dozen cakes and sat back to watch Al-jazera. The Strawberry Café was packed with people keen to go mmm … all half asleep and waiting for relatives or the first morning Matatus to begin service at 06h00. There is something delightfully peculiar about a station waiting room café…they’re wonderful places to watch life and the Kenyan variety is so unlike the ones back home where everyone is as quiet as possible, ignores each other and doesn’t bring their goats. But if I was surprised to see goats, my fellow waiting roomers were more surprised to see a white man. Like a scene from a western when the out-of -towner walks into the saloon, everyone turned to stare a me, but with a big smile and nod of the mutual recognition, the status quo was re-established and everyone returned to Al-jazera.

6 cups of tea (yeah I regretted that all day) and an obscene number of cakes later, it was 08h00 and everyone had arrived. We pressed on to Mosocho Teachers College. Alighting at Mosocho, we were descended upon by a swarm of tinsel salesmen. Wondering what on earth was going on (I spend a great deal of my time wondering what on earth is going on), I was informed that it is customary for graduates to deck themselves in tinsel for graduation…guests too. Not one to break from tradition, I picked up a silver & green garland and allowed myself to be carried along by the throng. The graduation was taking place on the school field; the students seated in the middle surrounded on 3 sides by guests and faculty. We chose a pew with a clear view of proceedings, and feeling not unlike a German tourist we laid our bags on it and hurried off to the boys dorm to freshen up (6 cups of tea remember).

The boys’ dorm was a simple white-washed concrete building with open rooms off a central corridor. Boys sleep a max of 4 to a room and as there are no doors, each had a curtain covering the entrance. Without waiting to be invited, we set up camp in Mr. Macharia’s old room… once your room always your room it would seem. Just as I was wondering what the current occupants would think of us squatting their quarters, one of them turned up. As is almost always the case here in Kenya, age is enough to ensure deference and we were invited to make ourselves at home
Doesn’t it seem to be the case that the more we have the less we share?

Suitably freshened and presentable we embarked upon a tour of the school. According to Mr. Macharia, we could happily skip the first hour or so of the ceremony as it was only speeches. We visited the dorms, the grounds, the canteen, and finally made out way to some of the classes where many of the current students were displaying & explaining their projects. We were listening intently as the science club presented their projects on sustainable farming and energy conservation, when a dapper dressed bloke in a floppy velvet hat, who I later learned was the dean of the school, came over and told the students to “summarise more quickly as these are intellectuals”. I looked around to see who he was talking about; convinced he couldn’t be referring to me, and was reassured to see a group of important looking people had entered the room. We took this as our cue to leave and headed back to the ceremony where the speeches were coming to and end…surely the important looking people should have been there too?

Once the speeches were over there were some traditional dancers and not much else really. The students stood up as their names were read out, and that was it; no three cheers, no class photo, no hats thrown in the air…no hats come to mention it. Everyone just slipped away to join their respective families and have family time; we did the same. We said prayers together, made speeches and took about 250 photos before we gathered our things for the short journey back to Eldoret and our connection to Molo. First things first however, long over due a cup of tea (it had been a good two hours!) we stopped off again at the Strawberry Café.

I cannot tell you much about the first part of the journey to Molo as I slept all the way. But after a while we changed to a smaller vehicle that bore a striking resemblance to the Ghostbusters van. So with Ray Parker Jr. in my head we continued at top speed through the fields. The further we went, the wetter and muddier the roads became and before too long sure enough the terrain became too much and we got stuck. As we sat there with the wheels spinning I couldn’t help chuckling to myself as I thought “who ye gonna call?”. The answer was no-one as we all got out to push, and once free we continued the final half mile or so on foot.

Reaching Mr. Macharia’s home, I was introduced to the remainder of his family plus many of the neighbours who had come over for dinner and to join in the post graduation celebrations. There was quite a turn out and together we all sat in the Macharia family living room and beguiled the rest of evening with food, speeches and songs of thanks for the graduation.

When time came for bed, I was led to my quarters by Mr. Macharia. Compared to Murang’a where it is normally warm enough to wear shorts more or less all the time, Molo is freezing. So much so that a small “jiko” (bucket style stove) of charcoals had been placed in the room to warm it. Mr. Macharai pointed at the bed and informed me that that is where we were sleeping. We?! Yes I had heard correctly and so it was for the next 2 nights that Mr. Macharia and I were to be bed fellows. So fully clothed to fend of the cold, and feeling a little like Morecome & Wise (sorry for the cultural reference for the non British - basically a British comedy double act who in their skits live and share a bed together) I lay down to sleep … confident that my beard would stop Mr. Macharia confusing me with his wife.

The next day after a good lie in and a long breakfast, we were to embark on a visit of the area. Mr. Macharia had organised a vehicle and driver to take us around. Together with his brother we visited Molo, the neighbouring town Elburgon, the town of and lake Nakuru plus the town of and lake Naivasha, both famed for their pink flamingos; we even had lunch in the Naivasha country club.

Saturday evening was much more sedate than the night before. For starters several of Mr. Macharia’s cousins plus his mother in law had left earlier that day and we had a very early start the next morning to begin our long trip back to Murang’a. I read for a while as I waited for everyone else to finish washing and cleaning their teeth before doing the same. After about an hour or so, I cleaned my teeth in the garden, put my toothbrush down and headed to the toilet. Now you have to understand that it is pitch black in the fields around Molo…there is no light pollution as most places don’t even have electricity; so it was in these conditions that I made my way to the outhouse toilet. I had gotten about half way across the courtyard when I tripped over something and fell flat on my face in the mud. A little dazed and very confused, I picked myself up and turned to see what I had stumbled over. I had tripped over the Macharia’s family bull that was lying in the middle of the compound. Fortunately for me, he didn’t seem bothered in the slightest and with nothing more than my pride hurt I backed away slowly.

At 08h00 the next morning it was time to leave. Out in the courtyard we took multiple photos and promises were made to see each other in Murang’a and to come back and visit again some time soon. It was then that Mrs. Macharia stepped forward to present me with a box containing a rooster as a present to take back with me to Murang’a. I was and am thrilled to be the owner of a chicken again (we had eaten Trevor back in February if you recall). And so with my rucksack in one hand and my cock in the other we began the journey home. The first step was on motorbike from Mr. Macharia’s home to the Molo Matatu stop. The only place for Chorlton (I had by now christened the cock Chorlton) was up top, so with his box on my head we rode into town where we changed to another Ghostbusters van.

We didn’t have to wait long before the Ghostbusters van moved off in the direction of Nakuru where we would need to change again to Nairobi. Of all the matatu journeys I have had, this was the wildest…from the back of the van I could only assume the driver had died and all his weight fallen on the accelerator pedal. Glancing to my right, I noticed that Mrs. Macharia was looking a little bit green around the gills, and then, the van having gotten air for the second time, she handed me little Allen who was sat in her lap and threw up in her handbag…a smell of parmesan quickly enveloped the van. For all our differences - political, religious & cultural, our sick all smells the same…maybe our leaders should remember that. Anticipating a full on barfarama, I pressed my nose into the crack of the window and sure enough in a matter of minutes little Allen got in on the act.

Arriving in Nakura just in time to overt a catastrophe we changed to a larger more stable vehicle. I’m almost sorry to say the rest of the journey to Nairobi and then on to Murang’a was dull in comparison. But maybe that was enough for one day.

Finally, I cannot conclude without mentioning Chorlton. Chorlton is now ranging free with the other chickens around our compound … blissfully unaware that his days are numbered.
_ _ _

Just to let you know also before I sign off, today I flew back to Paris on the return journey of my original outbound flight from February. Can you believe I have already been here almost 4 months?

I’ll be in Paris for a little over a week before heading on to London for about the same time with 3 days in Porto for a very good friend’s wedding sandwiched in between. The plan is to use much of the time to drum up support for building a school library. I gotta find £4k from somewhere. Please have a look down the back of your sofas.

xx

Dilemma - Contd

It seems that everybody is in agreement that it is the correct decision to test the children for HIV/AIDs.
Not that I’m advocating not testing them for a second, but this does then shift the dilemma downstream. How do you keep the results confidential, and even more difficult it seems to me, how do you treat the child or children without anyone else discovering it?
i) How do you keep the results confidential? – We have decided that only the school nurse & lab technician will know of the results. But it seems to me that once you have informed each child of the results, there will probably a marked change in his or her demeanour. Putting myself in the child’s shoes, if I was informed that I had tested positive I’m sure the other children would see it written all over my face.
ii) How do you treat the child or children without anyone else discovering it? – I do not know how often the ARV drugs need to be taken, but if we assume that the school nurse keeps the drugs, any change to a child’s routine will also be picked up by the other children.

The deputy head and I turned this one inside out over the weekend without coming to a satisfactory solution. So today I will speak to the school nurse and together we will contact some of the other local schools to see how they did it (if indeed they even have.)

Answers on a postcard…

"Dilemma" Update

Following on from yesterday's post, I have just come from the Bishop's home where once again we discussed this issue.

This morning we placed an advert for a lab technician to work with the school nurse in the school dispensary, and this evening we agreed that together with the nurse one of his/her first responsibilities will be to test all of the children for HIV/AIDS. This will of course be done with the utmost discretion.

At least then we will have the information to act accordingly.

"Dilemma"

Back in February, during the period when one of the girls, Joyce, was sick and blacking out, an issue was raised which, thinking about it now I’m sure I must have thought about before, but it did not preoccupy my like it has been doing these past days.

Joyce was taken to hospital by the school nurse accompanied by the 2 Swedish ladies Günilla & Gün-Britt who were here at the time (both nurses incidentally). From what they told me afterwards, more or less the first question the nurse asked of Joyce was whether she had been tested for HIV/AIDS if so what the result was. The school nurse replied yes, and that the result was negative.

Now I know this not to be true. Not the result I hasten to add, but rather that Joyce has not been tested. Indeed, none of the children at the school have been tested. And therein lies the beginning of the dilemma. As none of the children have been tested, we do not know whether any are infected, nor do we know in which phase of the infection they are (question, can you name them? All the children here can).

Although there have been great strides in recent years to combat the virus through educational programmes and increased access to generic antiretroviral drugs - In Kenya, for example, HIV infection rates have fallen from 15% in 2001 to 6% at the end of 2006, one in seven children across the African continent still die before the age of five (World Bank Development Indicators).

St. Anna is a school for children & orphans. Most of the orphans are HIV/AIDS orphans i.e. one or both of their parents have died of HIV/AIDS. The hypothesis that some of the 200+ children at the school are infected must therefore be fairly solid. Even simply taking the national infection rates, statistically somewhere between 6% - 15% percent of the children could be infected. Indeed, the average age of our children today is 8, which would place them right at the peak of 2001.

The real dilemma the school leaders are facing however is this. The policy has been not to test the children to avoid stigmatizing those who tested positive. We all know how cruel children can be and there is a real risk of that the children shunned/ostracised by their classmates. The consequences for the running of the school could be severe. However on the flip side, if we tested the children we would have the information to act and to prescribe treatment. The antiretroviral drugs today can allow a person to live a ‘normal’ life for potentially many years (plus socio-economic factors), and the ever continuing progress against the disease can only give further hope for the future.

But the longer we leave it to understand the children’s’ true situation, and the further along the timeline from seroconversion to onset of HIV/AIDS-related illness the child is, the harder it will be to intervene effectively. As with so many illnesses, early diagnosis is everything.

What should we do? I have my position and have made it clear… but it is not shared by all at the school.

I'm back!

I’m back…and have been pleasantly surprised to see things have continued to progress in my absence.

1) The boys dorm has a roof, the class rooms have doors and the walkways and balconies have rails
2) The rabbits have grown and in spite of losing 2, we have 10 and 2 more females are pregnant (ok, so we can’t claim any credit for that ... at least I hope not!)
3) The gardens and allotment patches are blossoming
4) The workshop is churning out stools for the neighbouring school (we won an order just before my departure for 105 from Kiambugi High)
5) The Music club has met 3 times and has 3 songs with accompanying moves!

Hmmm ... maybe I should leave more often?

Letter of thanks

What follows is a letter I recently received from Jennifer, the mother of Annette & Allen Ngigi ... remember them? The family who were looking for assistance back in February.

I have removed the names of the recipients as that is not the point. What is of relevance is the difference you can make in someones life, the positive change you can bring to a family.

If you have helped in any way or have agreed to sponsor a child, this letter is for you.
_ _ _

To: Matt & Friends across the world
From: Martha Jennifer Kinuthia

I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a great honour God for giving me friends such as you Matt & all other friends across the world. I am so indebted to you for what you have done to my children, my dear parents and more so to me.

Life had almost lost a meaning to me especially when I realised I could not help my children’s education, feeding and sheltering them amongst other basic needs. I am a single mother of three lovely children, two beautiful daughters and a handsome son, aged 17 yrs, 12 yrs and 7 yrs respectively. My children and I suffered from a broken marriage and eviction due to post election violence in my country Kenya, a case well known across the world. I lost everything I had but thank God I was left safe and fine with my children. Life has not been easy for us since then.

Before the time of the post election, I had adopted a girl and a boy who were under my custody. My responsibilities to them was to feed them, shelter and education but I had to send them back to their parents when I lost everything because supporting my old children was a problem too. Several times I sent a school fees proposal for support of these five children’s education which was all turned down because these two adopted children and my very own had at least one parent and donors wanted to support the orphaned only.

There are so many women and their children in my country who are suffering and nobody is ready to help them stand on their feet or support their children. Most of these women and their daughters would turn to prostitution the only alternative left hence we never fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. This is where I almost was heading to see that my children’s ends meet. Young girls like my daughters would have ended in the same route in order to cater for our daily basic needs.

Several times I went looking for a vacant job in the field of accounting and with a rude shock, all chances I got they wanted my body before they give me a letter of appointment to prove I’ve passed the interview. Single mothers and vulnerable girls are mistreated by society here in the sense that you must give your body in exchange for any support of help of any kind you need.

Most friends and organisations here are supporting only when a problem arises and we are not looking forward to solving and eradicating the problem that causes new infections to reduce HIV/AIDS death rates.

I am a Christian by faith and living in the fear of God but where was I heading to? Prostitution as I said earlier which seems to the order of that day and would rather have died than wait to suffer of AIDS.

My dear friends across the world, you are hearing from the horse’s mouth. We women in most parts of our country are assets and no people worth any respect at all.
As we look after those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS and also the less fortunate people, I beg you please hep me to help these dear ones to fight both poverty and new infections by supporting the families especially in training them to be self-dependent. Women have low esteem and lack self-confidence so we can give them counselling so they may have trust and confidence in themselves to becoming productive people for the growth of our society and the nation at large. Training them, feeding them and education for these orphans and vulnerable children.
X & Y, you are two people in a million. Words fail me to tell you what you really mean and have done to my family and I have never seen or met a people with a heart of God such as you. I did not deserve your favour to my children but you choose to stand by me.

As you know I have been on doctors supervision due to acute ulcers caused by depression, high blood pressure and believe me the doctors recent report says I have healed too fast. You have made my healing. Touching the lives of my children you touched mine too.

To all those friends who are doing the same to so many families across the world, God bless you so much. You have given me a reason to continue living knowing so well that you’ve given my children a hopeful future. My children, mother & I owe you sincere love. We thank you a million times and it is my prayer that even these children will do you proud. We love you and thanks once again.

To all our friends all over the world, thank you very much. I have some basic training and a certificate in accounting though I lacked funds to go further. I have trained in dress making of African attire and modern dresses though I lost all my business. Also I have knowledge of weaving and hand knitting amongst others. I wish to give this knowledge freely to all those women and young girls that they may be self dependent on completion of the training even as we back them with a sewing machine and some materials to start with; counselling them on how we can bring up and HIV free generation but this is only possible with your support.

Thank you very much even as you back me up in empowering our women and young girls in this project of the orphans and vulnerable girls and the less fortunate families. God bless you so much.
To X & Y, God bless you God bless you. To our other friends all over the world God bless you too. Thank you once again

Yours sincerely,

Martha Jennifer

_ _ _

I'm heading home to the UK ce soir for 10 days so I may be a little quiet in the coming days. Sure you understand.

Can't wait to see many of you

M
xx

Still stuck in Nairobi

So I was supposed to fly back to the UK last Friday night, but of course all that was scuppered by the volcanic ash. However, taking it as an opportunity to visit Nairobi I have seen every wild animal the city has to offer and much more. I have been to a crocodile centre (did you know they don’t have a tongue?), visited orphan elephants (most either fell down wells or their parents were victims of poachers), and a giraffe sanctuary.
I also got to look around the Karen Blixen house ... the lady from Out of Africa.

As the disruption continued, I decided on Monday that the best thing to do was to head back to the school and get on with things. But just as I was about to leave, I got a call from the guy I am staying with asking me if I wouldn’t come into his office and spend the week speaking to his team and reviewing the business; seeing as he is putting me up I didn’t feel I could refuse. And so here I am doing what looks a lot like what I used to do…it’s not so bad especially as it only confirms my desire not to work in an office.

Anyway it is now Wednesday and I have just been told that, everything permitting, I will be on the Friday night flight out of Nairobi.

Painful choice

Some people have the enviable ability to choose the right thing. Whether it be from a menu or whatever, I envy them. When you’re having dinner with them, you know you should just order the same things… but you don’t and when the food comes you sit there staring covetously at their plates saying to yourself, “I wish I had ordered that” and “I hope they offer me some”. Yip, some people have the enviable ability to choose the right thing. I’m not one of them.

The same holds true for massages. I had a massage in China back in October on the evening of a flight home. The girl pummelled the crap out of me as she swung from a rope attached to the ceiling. On the Sunday my back flared up and I couldn’t walk or go to work for 2 weeks…I have never felt pain like it. Now some will tell you that it was the limbo competition during our party on the Saturday night (which I won incidentally), but I maintain that it was the massage.

The Saranova Mara Game Camp has a wellness centre, the “Tuliol Wellness Centre” and feeling in the need for some wellness, I decided to book myself a massage. Studying the list of therapy services, I narrowed it down to 2 choices:
i. Coconut Cinnamon Scrub Skin Polish (45 mins): Made from finely grated coconut, this scrub excels toxins and dead skin from the body leaving it soft and renewed.
ii. Kahawa Scrub (45 mins): Made from finely ground Kenyan coffee, this richly aromatic scrub will sooth your skin and elevate your mood.

Hmm? Decisions decisions! I should have phoned a friend, but seeing as we are in Kenya and Kenya is famous for coffee, I plumped for option 1 and reserved for 18h30 that night (night 2).

At 18h25 I strolled up and announced myself. I was instructed to shower and return wrapped in towel. I clambered on to the bed and lay down ready to turn off my mind, relax and float down stream. What I got instead was 45 mins of rendition. The first few strokes were agreeable…it soothed certain itches…but it rapidly descended into agony; it was like being rolled in broken glass.

To get better idea of what it was like, try this at home. Go to your kitchen and dig out your grater. Now take that fine side that you never know quite what to use on, apply it to your skin and rub it all over you for ¾ of an hour. What do you mean you don’t want to?

For the duration I gritted my teeth. The masseuse kept asking me if I was relaxed and true to my Britishness I nodded and mmm’d, all the while thinking of the Guantanamo terror suspects and whether their interrogators ask them the same thing as they waterboard them for the n’th time.

My punishment over, I gingerly climbed down and ever so gently put my clothes back on. Tipping the lady and telling her that is was delightful (I’m so British), I walked home to apply Savalon liberally.

15 mins later, having suffered the further ignominy of getting lost on the way back to my tent (all them paths looked the same by night), I surveyed the damage in the mirror. I was one big graze.

Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.

Masai Mara

It’s 4am and I can’t sleep so I decided to write. Don’t you hate creamer? I’m writing this with one hand as the other hand pours tea down my throat then switches to hold my nose.

Shortly before 07h00 this morning, a monster Toyota Land Cruiser pulled into the compound of Kiiru’s home in Nairobi. David (my driver) and I had an early start to make it to our destination by lunchtime. It’s a 4-5 hour drive to the Masai Mara game reserve. I was awake at 05h00 like a child on Christmas morning. This has been on my to-do list ever since I could understand and appreciate what David Attenborough was telling me…undoubtedly the greatest living Briton.

Heading westwards out of Nairobi, we passed through the aptly named Westlands to pick one of the Trans African Highways in the direction of the Rift Valley. Trans-African Highway 8 (TAH 8) runs from Lagos-Mombasa and is worn down by the weight & numbers of trucks that plough along it every day ferrying goods from the Indian ocean ports to and from the land-locked countries of central African: The DRC (which David still refers to as Zaire), Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda etc.

David & I had met before when I first arrived here back in February. He had driven me up to Murang’a that time. The journey to Murang’a however is only and hour and half and for much of it I had slept, so keen to get better acquainted we struck up conversation. We chit-chatted about the usual subjects: Kenya & the UK, families & work, and then the question that always arises when blokes run out of other things talk about … “do you like football?”. Well that was it. As the wheels on the van went round and round, we talked about the World cup, the Champions League, we discussed the greatest ever players, we debated whether Messi can rightly already be considered one of the all time greats (it wasn’t much of debate seeing we both agreed).
I talked Liverpool, he talked Arsenal; and although a fan he was a strong critic of Wenger’s transfer policy, the shortcomings of their midfield (the lack of physical presence if you want to know), the over-reliance on youth etc.

So engrossed was I in the conversation, I almost didn’t notice where we were. Rounding a sweeping right bend in the road, I looked ahead and there before us stretching as far as the eye can see I had my first view of the Rift Valley. It’s phenomenal. Almost immediately a reverential silence settled over us; even the engine seemed quieter as if to it were aware of the importance of the moment. Just as I was thinking, if only we had a cup of tea, David swung the 4x4 into one of the lay-bys with a look out point and a café. Oh he’s good! He has all skills required of a game driver: knowledge, patience, a sunny disposition and the uncanny ability to read the passengers mind. David ordered us 2 cups and a slice of bread and butter as I took photos of the rift valley and the Logenot Crater, an inactive crater/volcano which dominates the valley floor this point.

Tea over and resisting the temptation to buy some traditional tom toms, we got the show back on the road. We began our descent of the eastern edge of the rift continuing along the TAH8, but after only a few kilometres more we turned left at the town of Hot Springs (Mai Mahiu, the literal translation is Hot Water). I smiled to myself as I thought for a second or two we were in Hot Water as we headed south east along the valley floor towards Narok, the largest town in the Masai.

As we sped across the base of the Rift Valley, David told me all about it. The Rift Valley, or le Rift Valley in French, stretches a massive 6,000km. It begins (or ends depending which way you’re going) in Syria, crosses the Red Sea in to Ethiopia, sweeps through Kenya and Tanzania; and on to Mozambique. In Africa, the valley divides into two, the Western Rift Valley and the Eastern Rift Valley. We were in the Eastern Rift Valley and at its deepest point. It was (and still is being) formed as the divergent plate boundaries which meet more or less in the red sea (where Somalia sneers at Yemen) move apart, splitting the African Plate into two new separate plates. Eventually, as the rift deepens and widens, Somalia will break away from Africa to form the new Somali Plate … can’t happen quick enough for some here!

As you cross the valley from east to west the vegetation gradually changes from large lush leafed trees to rolling fertile farmland to thorny trees & scrub and finally the classic grassland you’ve seen on the TV. The valley used to be the home of wild animals but less so now as they have been displaced and hunted out of there by man … don’t you just hate us?!

(The dawn chorus has just begun … and I’m now on my second cup of tea and creamer … it’s not getting any better)

We pulled into to Narok shortly before 10h40. Narok is the largest town in the Masai and last stop before the Masai Mara reserve. Already here there was a liberal dusting of traditionally dressed locals. Having learnt that the lodge I was booked into has a pool, I needed something to swim in. We ducked into the Tumaini Fashion Centre (which was having a back to school special) on the look out for some beautiful Hawaiian swimming shorts; not being able to find any I settled on some tartan boxers on which I proposed to sew up the fly. David graciously kept his thoughts to himself…another key driver quality. We pushed on.

About 30km after Narok the ministry of roads had run out of tarmac so the remainder of the journey was dirt track. I knew we must be getting close when my bottle of water was thrown from the dashboard and sure enough at 11h21 we pulled up to one of the Masai Mara gates. We passed through without a hitch and in a matter of minutes we arrived at the Sarova Mara Game Kamp.

Agreeing to meet David at 15h30 for our afternoon/evening safari drive, I swapped my bags with a Masai warrior for a hot mint scented face towel. As he escorted me to the reception, I wiped my neck and reflected on sad predictability of it all; how this proud Masai man, the latest in a long line of proud Masai men is now handing out towelettes to tourists. Indeed, they still refer to them as warriors here, although the only war I can see them fighting is the one to maintain their culture and resist our encroachment.

My room was still being prepared so I grabbed my book and keen to sample some of the “Refreshing African Hospitality” the camp promised, I settled down on the veranda of the bar overlooking the pool. Satisfied that no one else had the same swimming shorts as me, I ordered a beer from Peter who, incidentally comes from the town just north of Murang’a. In what seemed like a matter of seconds, it was there; a beer, but not just any beer, my first beer since January, my first beer in Kenya … ice cold with an ice cold glass. I took a photo of it and, disregarding the fact that I had no-one to share it all with, decided I wouldn’t call the king my uncle. I toasted absent friends.

At 15h30 as agreed, I met David and together we headed out into the reserve. Almost immediately we spotted Buffalo by the hundred maybe the thousand. There are so many, you can almost be excused for becoming blasé about them, but then on the horizon a familiar shape of which surely no one can ever tire.

There is something wonderfully moving about seeing an elephant. There is something in the way they move, something in their slow lumbering majesty that touches your soul. They are truly awesome. Before it was bastardised by a generation to describe anything and everything it was used to describe elephants; the word was invented to describe elephants.

A much better writer than me could no doubt put it into words. The big cats are unquestionably amazing in their speed, power and ferocity, but there is something more in an elephant. It’s their in the rhino and the whale too, and I am sure the mountain gorilla. The whole world looks back at you; everything you know to be good about the world and everything that is bad is reflected back in their eyes, it’s almost painful. Woe betide us should we drive them to extinction. Getting my soap box for a moment, if you don’t have a cause you should get yourself one, and you could do a lot worse than this.

As we moved on I turned to David - “I’m sure you never tire of this job”. “You’re right” he replied, “I could never work in an office”. “I hear you” and I promised myself never to again (we’ll see if that’s one I can keep!).

By 18h30 we had seen 4 of the big 5 (5 if you consider a Cheetah to be a Leopard in Cheetah’s clothing). We watched Rhino devouring bushes, Giraffe striding gracefully across the plain, Hyena menacingly circling Impala, Ostrich with their head in the sand, Gazelle bounding along faster than we were allowed to drive, and above everything Vultures circling. We watched a pride of lions sleeping on their backs with their feet in the air…they could almost mislead you into thinking they are placid.

I loved the Kruger Park but there is something more here, and it’s not just the quantity of animals. The landscape alone is simply breathtaking. It’s like driving through an endless wheat field; an ocean of gold punctuated only every now and then by a flat topped acacia tree. And the smell! Standing up in the back of the van with my head out of the roof I thought to myself that someone really needs to invent a camera that captures the smell at the same time. It’s everything you imagined and much much more. If you haven’t been come, if you have been, come back.

Smells Fishy

Last Thursday, Benson the carpenter and I had an outing to visit the fish farms of Sagana. Now it is a fact that the Kenyan do not eat that much fish, but having heard a lot about the set-up at Sagana we wanted to check it out for ourselves and see whether it is something that some of the youth groups here could get involved in.

We had agreed to meet in Murang’a town just after 09h00. But my first stop was the post office to pick up another parcel from Liverpool FC…no wonder we have zero funds in the transfer kitty! This time it contained some t-shirts that we can give out to the best performing children after the next set of exams. The fact that I have to pay £7 in customs duty for every parcel I receive is by the by.

With parcel in hand, I strolled down the “Famous Café” (you must know it then?!), took a seat where I could see all the room, ordered a dufia (white tea no sugar) and sipped it happily as I waited for Benson. All good days begin with tea…in my experience a day cannot truly be considered to have started and started well if it does not start with tea. Benson duly arrived, got himself a “chai” (white tea with sugar) and together we excitedly talked about the day ahead of us. We were sure we’d have a whale of a time. The plan was to get the mutatu the 15 or so miles to Sagana then walk to the fisheries in the hope that we could not only persuade them to let us in, but show us around also.

We washed down our drinks, deposited the Liverpool T-Shirts at the pharmacy run by a friend of Benson’s who tried to convince me I was sick and need to buy all kinds of remedies, and hopped into the a waiting mutatu bound for Sagana. Benson settled down at the back, and I was seated upfront with the driver. This happens a lot me getting sat up front… drivers have even gone so far as to move the person already sat upfront in order to seat me there. I used to be honoured (if a little embarrassed if it meant shifting a lame octogenarian), but now I am sure there is more to it than that. I have started to notice that when I sit up front, not only am much more visible to the policemen who stop us at the road blocks but furthermore, our propensity for getting stopped at the afore mentioned road blocks is less. They are USING me… as some strawberry blond beacon to our law abidingness! Oh I feel so cheap!


Although the journey from Murang’a to Sagana is only short, the landscape changes markedly in that short time. In the 20 or so minutes it takes, you pass from the lush green rolling Murang’a hills to the flatter grassy plains of Sagana.
We alighted just before the town of Sagana itself…just across the river which marks the frontier between the 2 districts of the same name. After taking a couple of snaps of the river and looking out for crocs, Benson directed us down a dirt track that ran perpendicular to the road, parallel to the river. After a hundred or so metres, we met up with some train tracks. So accompanied by the river on our left and the train tracks on our right, we snaked along the dirt track in the direction of the Sagana Fisheries.

Loving all things train related (apart form leaves on the line and the wrong kind of snow) I was interested to see where the tracks led. Fortunately they continued in our direction and before long we began to pass cereal mills, timbers yards & coffee depots; the tracks branching off like a palm tree to serve them. But no activity was to be detected at any of them, they are all of them deserted; the tracks now just a reminder of long gone golden days when Sagana was bustling hub. Sagana is sadly now just graveyard.

Intrigued to know why, I inquired of Benson what happened; after all they have all the infrastructure there to be a distribution centre and they still grow and produce large quantities of tea and coffee further to the north. Benson laid the entire blame at the foot of the second president (quite an achievement). Although Kenya gained in dependence from GB in 1963, it has only had 3 presidents in that time (we are on the 3rd currently). The first, Jomo Kenyatta (1964 –1978) is still revered and his face still smiles back at you from all the notes and coins. He was a freedom fighter during the end of colonial times and it seems can do no wrong. The second, Daniel arap Moi (1978 – 2002) was, according to Benson a right piece of work. It would seem he single handedly ran Kenya (into the ground). In addition to his role of president he apparently acted as minister of interior, minister of transport, minister of agriculture…and all portfolios executed with same incompetence. I don’t know much about it, but what I have dug up is not positive:
i. He appointed his supporters to key roles and changed the constitution to establish a de jure single-party state.
ii. In 1999 the findings of Amnesty International and a special investigation by the United Nations [were published which indicated that human rights abuses were prevalent in Kenya under the Moi regime.

We pressed on. The unmistakeable smell of leather filled the air as we passed a tannery before we started to see pond after pond…not the kind of ponds you may have in your garden, but large rectangular ponds measuring 50 m x 75 m (165ft x 250ft). Passing through the gates, we walked up the well kept path under well kept palm trees and presented ourselves at the well kept reception. The receptionist smiled and scurried off, to return accompanied by a smartly dressed man of about 45 years of age who introduced himself as Isaac, the general manager of the Sagana Fish Culture Farm. Everything about the place was well kept.

Isaac led us into his office and sat us down to make our introductions. I told him I work for Birdseye and that my grandfather, the world famous captain Birdseye had sent me on a strategic sourcing mission to Kenya to identify and qualify potential new suppliers. I assured him that he too had had reddish hair in his youth and that my beard would turn white in the years to come. Benson I introduced as Rick Stein’s sous-chef, who was accompanying me to ensure the highest possible quality for our new Birdseye range of Rick Stein branded fish fingers…after all there’s “nothing but the best for the captain’s table”!

Just codding! We told him we were from St. Anna and keen to learn about the set-up there and whether this is a potential revenue project for the youth groups in the area.

Isaac was only too happy to tell us the history of the centre and willingly agreed to show us around. The fisheries were founded in 1948 by an ecologist & missionary whose name escapes me (John something) and now comprises 150 ponds covering 170 acres. The farm was started with the following aims:
. To demonstrated warm fresh water fish farming
. To research and trial of warm water aquaculture
. To train fish farming extension workers
. To produce fingerlings for fish farmers

Now it is a fact that most of Kenya’s fish come from the great lakes of Victoria in the east and Turkana in the north. But due to over fishing and the unsustainable farming methods (sound familiar?), the Kenyan waters of Lake Victoria are more or less exhausted. Owning only 4% of the surface area of Lake Victoria, the Kenyan fishermen are now invading the remaining 96% recognised as Ugandan water … all the ingredients for another war there then :-(

So with demand beginning to grow and supply falling, the government is stepping in to increase supply whilst simultaneously promoting small businesses. The government has allocated KES1.1b to the ministries of fishery development to construct 200 ponds in each of 140 constituencies (plus to provide feed for 3 months until the first generation of fish can be sold and the money generated to pay for own food). Excel calculates that to be 280,000 ponds, each designed to contain an average of 900 fish, that’s a lot of fish…25,200,000

The centre also conducts on site training and supports those interested in setting up their own ponds. Furthermore the centre rears fish (do you rear fish?) from eggs to larvae to fry; this takes somewhere form 2 to 3 months before they reach fingerling. Like a big slow moving watery conveyor belt, the fish are transferred from one pond to another as they grow. When ready they sell the “fingerlings” to the farmers and cooperatives to stock their ponds to the tuna KES3/fingerling (to the tuna … get it?).
By now Isaac was getting into his stride. Having told us about the centre and its operations, he continued with the construction of a pond. “The following factors need to be taken into consideration when considering building a pond” he announced. Things should always be considered when considering I find:
. Water (it’s the environment for fish Isaac informed us);
. Gradient of the land: not ridiculously steep as it will all run away (could be a showstopper for us seeing as the school is on a hill!);
. Soil: ≥ 25% clay otherwise the water will drain out.

Shape is also important. The fisheries department recommends a rectangular pond of about 20m x 15m as the fish are easier to catch come that time … doesn’t sound very sporting to me. Kidney shaped pools are frowned on, as are those infinity ones with massage jets and an island bar the middle.

There should be an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other so water can flow in and out as needed. The floor of the pond should also slope downwards from the shallower inlet end to the outlet end, thus ensuring the fish can learn to pick up a brick from the deep end.

No running is allowed, as is no diving, no dunking, no bombing & no petting ... we don’t pee in your toilet, please don’t pee in our pool.

Explanations over, Isaac took us around the facility. From the hatchery to the fry ponds, and on to the fingerling ponds with the chicken coops erected on stilts over the water so the chickens poop into them providing much needed nitrogen and prosperous for plant growth, it was all very interesting but don’t take my word for it: http://www.fisheries.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=2

The tour over and eager to spend some money but unable to find a fridge magnet, we picked up the information booklet for KES200 / £2 to learn more. I have it next to me and jolly informative reading it is too. Having thanked Isaac warmly and we bid him farewell and made our way back towards Sagana for refreshment (more tea) and the bus home.

As I write this I am sat in Nairobi and tomorrow morning at 11h00 I have a meeting with a company called Dynamic Business Start up Project (http://dbsp.co.za)

DBSP's vision is to train and assist unemployed people to earn their own money, by self employment, thereby getting themselves out of the trap of poverty and providing jobs for others. Their mission is to provide outcomes based business skills training, information and after-care support to entrepreneurially motivated individuals, particularly those from an economically disadvantaged background, so that they are able to establish (or improve) their own viable, sustainable business, targeting especially under developed & rural areas.

I will be discussing with them the different projects we are considering launching with the youth groups and the community around St. Anna (including the fish) to see how they could help us.

I’ll let you know.

Night night.

Oh, on Wednesday of this week I head to the Masai Mara for 3 days … I have treated myself to a Safari before flying home to the UK on Friday evening.

Success story (the best so far!)

One of our neighbours has 2 cows. When I inquired to what their names were, I was told they are both called “Meni”.

As you cannot have 2 cows with the same name, I persuaded them to rename one of them “Daisy”.

Result :-)

I Wish...

Just before the exams, during the Monday morning assembly I asked every child to complete the sentence “I wish…”.

What follows are the responses I received. If you read only have time to read a couple of blog posts, this should be one of them. From Martin who wishes to be an Army and Anitah who wants two presidents, to Jane who wishes to come to England to see the wildlife and another Martin who seems to want everything, they make quality reading.


Class 8

John Wesley: I wish I would be a soldier so that I can be protecting our country
John Muriuki: I wish we be having subject contests on Saturday after lunch. I wish we be having weekend challenge every term. I wish we be having computer classes
Nicolas Mwangi: I wish to be having a weekend challenge every term. I wish we could be going for drama festivals once a year in our school. I wish we could have a library in our school
Godfrey Kagonu: I wish we could have computer lessons. I wish we would have games. I wish to be a doctor or a computer engineer. I wish the 4K clubs would start and for drama
Caroline Wanjiku: I wish that our school should have drama - music festivals. I wish that we should be attending computer classes. I wish that our small school will be the first in the Murang'a district
Antony Gatumuta: I wish me I could be a good person in future…and also to be like Cristiano Ronaldo
Joseph Githinii: I wish to be an engineer of industries. When I grow up I would wish to overcome a university. I wish to help people in society and take care for environment
Obed Nduati: I wish to be an aeroplane engineer. I am very pleased about this job because it earns people a lot of money
Kennedy Kihara: I wish our football team could have a uniform and a nuts shoes (football boots) even the goal keeper
Ann: I wish I be a surgeon so that I can be doing operation to the sick
Kelvin Mwago: I wish to be a surgeon and be operating on people with special needs with care and loving
David Lee: I wish we be having computer classes. I wish we be having some church instruments e.g. piano, drums
Eliud Waweru : I wish there be a club of 4K club which will be able to keep the school clean. I would also say that on Sunday we be going to discuss maths in dining hall
Gerishom Ndahi: I wish we be taking some tea on Saturday and Sunday in the evenings at 4:00pm. I wish we be given some lesson on computer. I wish we be going Gathukeini for service like last year
Patrick Mwangi: I wish when I grow up I could be a good person in our country Kenya. I wish to be a pilot when I grow up. I wish to be as tall as you Mat
Eric Mwangi: I wish twe be having weekend challenges every term. I wish to be an electrical engineer
Beth: I wish to be a nurse. I would treat sponsored people free of charge. I know God will fulfil my career. With God everything is possible
Pauline Wangari: I wish I would be an air hostess I would carry Matt to his place free of charge. I know God will help me reach to my career
Mary Njambi: I wish I could ba doctor in future so that I can help the poor and other people
Delphine Njoki: I wish I could ba doctor in future so that I can treat people kindly. I work hard to reach my goal.
Adrine Njoki: I wish to be a surgeon I would be opearting those who are being hurt by vehicles and others
Lizzie Njeri: I wish to be a doctor in future. I will work hard to fulfil my dream
Stella: I wish to come to your country to see your people
Peter Mbugua: I wish to carry on with my education and be a responsible person in the future. I also wish that in our school we be learning foreign languages like french , spanish if possible. I also with to fulfil my dreams
Esther: I wish our school would have a drama festival like in the last year but one. Many people were singing traditional songs and dancing
Joyce: I wish I could be an air hostess and that I will take Matt to his country the time he will be going back
Rose: I wish to acheive my goal and my dreams to come true. I must work hard in my calss & education
Wilson Mwangi: I wish we could be going for games at Iria stadium on Tuesday and Thursday
Washington Gatuma: I wish we be going to debate after church on Sunday. I wish we be planting food crops around the school compounds. I wish we be taking some activities such as singing, cycling, planting and others
Dora Malemba: I wish I would go to university and achieve my career dream
Elizabeth Nyambaru: I wish you could be telling us a story
Duncan Muchugu: I wish that you would visit us again and live longer than that. I wish here at school there will be a school bus
Brian Njae: I wish my parents to live long life on this earth. The same thing applies to my dear sister, cousins, relatives and friends. I hope that I and my parents will live happily. I also hope that we will all succeed in all we do and also we as people of God will attain and become responsible and respected people in the future
Joseph Maina: I wish to be a doctor

Class 7A

Margaret Wangui: I wish to be a newscaster
Ruben N'gang'a: I wish I go in the football match in South Africa
Josephine Wamaitha: I would like to be a surgeon. I would like our school to have a swimming pool. I would like our country to have a ship
Moffat Ngari: I wish to be one of the best football players in the world and I hope it can happen because of God
Alex Mwangi: I wish you a good holiday when we close school
Naomi Njoki: I wish I would be a teacher so that I cold help the pupils in the future and to pass them knowledge
Immaculate Wanjiku: I wish I could be a surgeon to operate the peoples kidney
Nathan Kamau: I wish to be a lawyer when I grow up
Esther Wanjiru: I wish to become a doctor
Virginiah Klaihiga: I wish to be a doctor because the doctor treats people when they are sick and give people good hygiene
Christophe Maina: I wish our country to be peaceful
Julius Mwangi: I wish to be a pilot
Jane Njoki: I wish to be a teacher when I grow up
Wilfred Kamweru: I wish to be a preacher so that I will help so many people in the country and the world
Brian Karuki: I would like to be a banker
Martin Muciri: I wish to be a Kenyan army to defend my country and for our peoples
Wilson Thuo: I wish to be an engineer
Evan Nduna: I wish to become a newscaster when I grow old
Jane Waithiru: I wish my country will be having a better government to command well and be with better hygenic IDPs (Internally Displaced Peoples). I wish the school will provide a school bus
Naftaly Komoche: I wish in our school to have clubs and singin games and funs
Kelvin Maina: I wish my country will be peaceful
Bernard Thuku: I wish to be a pilot
Jane Njoki: I wish to be a teacher
Perminus Mboro: I wish to be an engineer whose job involves designing and building engines machines roads and bridges

Class 7B

Morris Ndungu: I wish we could have a school canteen. I wish the school could go on a tour of Momabassa. I wish to be a pilot
Francis Gichuki: I wish the school to go on a trip to Narvasha
Lilian Wangari: I wish our school to be number 1 in the zone and I also wish to join a good secondary school
Jotham Kamau: I wish our school to have a canteen. I wish to be a banker
Hellen Wanjiru: I wish to the be minister of games and sports and pass well in my exams
James Mauthi: I wish to be a surgeon when I finish my university
Caroline Muthoni: I wish to become a nurse
Gerald Kamau : I wish to perform well in exams
Leah Nyambura: I wish to be a manager of a bank and to have a swimming pool oin our school
Moureen Wanjiku! I wish to be an accountant in a bank and pass my exams. I wish to be an accountant to be given contact to count money and perform well in my education
William Gitau: I wish our school to go on a trip to Rift Valley. I wish to be a pilot when I grow up. I wish our school to have computer lessons
Mourine Wairimu: I wish to pass my KEPE and KEGE and get money to go to America
Samson Kibe: I wish to be an accountant
Phyliss Wanjiku: I wish to be a surgeon. I wish our school to have a canteen and a wimming pool. I wish to be taking porridge with sugar
Edith Wanjiru: I wish to pass my exam well and to be a banker and one day come in America
Tabitha Nyaguthii: I wish our school to have a canteen and a swimming pool and pass my exams and go to America
Christine MK: I wish my school to have a drama and musical festival and musical instruments such as pianos and guitar. I wish my school to have a tour to Mukurwe Wa Thagathonga on Saturday and Sunday to be enjoying there (the Kikuya spiritual home). I wish my school to have a canteen


Class 6A

Julius Materu: I wish I could be a liverpool footballer
Alex Gikongo: I wish I could be a pilot
Brian Kariuki: I wish could be a manager
Irene: I wish I could be a newscaster in the future.
??: I wish I would be a magician so tat I can do magic to peoples
Derick Mwangi: I wish to meet Obama
Jeremiah Ngure: I wish I would be the goal keeper for Liverpool
Kelvin Kanyingi: I wish I could be driver
Peter Kimari: I wish I could be a footballer so that I could go to Liverpool
Caleb Wambugu; I wish Matt a nice time in St. Anna
Mary Waithira: I wish when I grow up I would be a pilot
Joyrose : I wish I would be a surgeon when I grow up in my future
Beatrice Nyambura: I wish I would be a surgeon when I grow up in my future
Jecinta : I wish to be a teacher when I grow up
Charles Mwangi: I wish our school should have a bus and big field
Benson Mwaura: I wish our home could have electricity
Ignatius Motunyojo: I wish our school should be for boarding only
Agnes Njeri: I wish I was a surgeon in my future
John Alo: I wish I could have a ball. I wish I could have a pump. I wish St. Anna could have a pool
Esther Njoki: I wish I could be doctor
Harrison Karunyu: I wish I could be an artist in future to be drawing big pictures

Class 6B

Francis Maina : I wish to be a goal keeper
Michael Wangiobme: I wish you be staying all your life here in St. Anna. I wish the blessing can be poured on to you. I wish I could learn well and buy my own aeroplane because I could have carried you to your country we take your family members and wome with them at Mombasa. We enjoy the sea breeze in the beaches the cool air. I wish when you go back to England we will be missing you a lot. I wish I could have two hearts to keep all your love which I have got from you. I wish I could have money I could buy for you everything you want in Kenya. I wish in our school we could have a bus. Those are my wishes.
James Kariuki: I wish everybody in our school could have a bicycle. I wish in our school there was a bus. I wish we could be buying things in the school. I wish the teachers would continue to teach very hard and they instruct us (the last sentence was changed from: I wish the teachers would not beat us very hard but they instruct us)
Jackson Maina: I wish I could like a footballer
David Macharia: I wish in my life I could have good knowledge and wisdom which will help me and others
Purity Njoki: I wish one day God must give you more love than you have to us. Everything you have done for us is more than I expected. May the Lord pour forth you many blessings like the manner from heaven. All of us in St. Anna we are thankful. I wish also that your team Liverpool the next time they will go for games it will be the first in the world cup. And I wish the club that we are planning (music club) for I will take it very seriously every time. Tahnk you
Brian Mwangi : I wish in my life I could have good knowledge and wisdom which will help me and others
Moureen Wanjiru: I wish I could be a teacher I could teach your younger brother in London. I could be teaching him free of charge even. I could be teaching him tuition in my house. I could show him the way in which he could have respect and obedience. I hope I grow up faster. Thank you
Anniet Wangari: I wish I could be a doctor I treat you free of charge. I help even my fellow people who are around me and my country. You and your extended and nuclear family are perfect. God bless you, thanks
Alex Mwangi: (How are you Matt?) I wish at our school to have bicycles which we will be riding. I wish to have a lot of wisdom. I wish to have a god and a rabbit at our home.
Kenneth Maina: I wish I am a bird I could be flying in school
Lucy Muthoni: (Dear Matthew) I wish you be staying here with your family and your children be in this school. If I would be like you I have been build a house here. Lastly don't go to your country because we love you so much. I can wish you to be like my brother. Thank you. Your loving friend
Maurice Githinji: I wish St. Anna to have a bus and bicycles for riding here in the field at break time. Every class to be having twenty bicycles. I wish my life to have good success. An I excel
Joyce Wangair: (To Matthew) I wish I could be a pilot. I could take you back to you country and then bring you back here. I could go and take your family at Mobasa where they could enjoy the beautiful scenery and cool climate. I wish God pour for you showers of blessing live like flowers which come out every year. I wish the club which you are making with Purity will proceed and I will be there. I wish one day you will go for a tour and I am the one to take you. And I wish when you return England tell Jo we are missing her. Thank you very much
Anitah: I wish we could have a flag of our school. I wish the president and other member of parliament to remove the IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the camps and find a place to stay in this country so that people cannot run away from Kenya. I wish I could be president of Kenya I would say their ... no labour to children so they cannot run away from school. I wish we could have two presidents so that they can rule every part of Kenya. I wish when I grow up I will help St. Anna and I will have enough money I will sponsor one child in this centre of love. I wish would have a big house like this (drawing).

Class 5

Ian Gitau: I wish I could be a Jesh. I would be happy
Antony Mwangi: I wish I could be a pilot
Lee Waneru: I wish I could be a driver
Sharron Njeri: I wish Matt had stayed here for the whole year but he is staying for six months because when he will go back to his work.
Yvonne Wacera: I wish I could be a police
Collins Kiragu: I wish to have a car
LydiahMuthoni: I wish I could have a car of driver
Mary-Ann Nyambura: I wish here our country Kenya could have peace but no war. And we us Kenyans we would have peace.
Daniel Muraya: I wish St. Anna could have three vehicles and a representative flag for the players or teachers
Anthony Mwangi: I wish I could have this (picture of football)
Naomi Wanjiru: I wish I could be a musician someone who sings
Stephen Kuira: I wish I could be a manager (drawing of man dressed as soldier ordering another man pushing a wheel barrow)
Erastus Njiiri: I wish the country would have a new constitution
Kelvin Kirigu: I wish I had a helicopter I could go every where I want to go
Brian Chege: I wish our school had a swimming pool I would be very happy and I could be the best in the swimming competition
Ephantus: I wish to be a teacher
Alex Chege: I wish I could have a bicycle
Jackline Muthoni: I wish I could be a pilot. A pilot is a person who flies an aeroplane
Dennis Mwangi: I wish I could be a driver I would be carrying people
Antony Maina: I wish I could be the police. I wish I could be a player in the world (cup)
Kelvin Ndiritu: I wish for a good holiday
Wallace: I wish I could be a doctor I would treat people
Jackson Maina: I wish I could be a driver
Felista Nyamathira: I wish my school should have a flag and an aeroplane
David Kiarie: I wish in this school they could be a swimming pool. I could be a good swimmers
Jadiel Ndegwa: I wish I could be a pilot. I wish I could be a driver
Leah Wanja: I wish to be a pilot to be visiting you in your country. And Jo's car. A pilot is a person who flies an aeroplane. And Jo to come back and stay forever.
Vivian Wanjika: I wish when I grow up to be a doctor who can treat everybody and any disease
Kennedy Maina: I wish I could have a bicycle and I wish our country to have peace and love each other the way school of St. Anna primary school have loved other people. And I wish I could be a polove of our country and have a helicopter to visit my friends who are far away. And our school have a car and God heard my prayers I was a container and a car I am so happy
Joan Joyce Wanjiru: I wish in our school we have our own flag and a new bus
Annet Wanjiku: I wish our school would have an aeroplane and a swimming pool. Jo will come back after a few months/years/terms. Matt to stay here for the whole year.
Janet Wagaturi: I wish in our school has a bus

Class 4

Joseph Irungu: I wish you come to class 4
Moureen Wamburi: I wish to visit England to visit your home to see your mother and other many people in England with many things. I wish you to live in Kenya we love our friend Matthew. And you come with Jo.
Jackline Wangui: I wish to visit Britain I think it is a wonderful place
Esther Wangari: I wish you all the best
Mary Waithera: I wish to visit Britain I think it is a wonderful place
Cynthia Wangari: I wish to visit Britain I think it is a wonderful place
Jane Wangari: I wish to go to England to see the wildlife and tall buildings. And visit your capital city in England
Beth: I wish you to come with Jo Lomax to visit our school. Thank you because you came again. When you go back you greet Jo because she is my best friend and greet her mother and they come again. We love our friend Matthew

Class 3 : None received...just wait till they come back!

Class 2 : I only received one

Martin Maina: I wish I could be rich to buy things for myself. I wish I could be getting all marks in school. I wish to be a policeman to catch bad people. I wish I would be a scout to be raising the flag. I wish I could be a driver to drive vehicles. I wish one day to go to Mt. Kenya. I wish to be wise like the three wise men. I wish to be a pilot to be driving an aeroplane. I wish to be a doctor in Sweden. I wish to be a banker to be counting the money in the bank. I wish to be a mechanic to be repairing cars. I wish to be a farmer to be growing crops and to feed animals. I wish to be a carpenter to be making things form wood. I wish to be a pastor to be preaching in the church. I wish to be a teacher to be teaching pupils. I wish to be a doctor to be treating sick people. I wish to be a fisherman to be catching fishes. I wish to be a baker to be baking cakes and breads. I wish to be a grocer to be selling things in the shop. I wish to be a milkman to be bringing milk to people. I wish to be a headteacher so that I can head a school