District 7780 Trip to Kenya
Team Kenya visiting with Mama Dorothy on her farm
On March 28, six delegates from District 7780 boarded Turkish Airlines in Boston to fly to Istanbul and then Nairobi. The focus of the trip was the Kakamega Orphans Care Center where we would live for a week to listen and learn.
We were greeted by singing children who then escorted us to our rooms while carrying our bags and chatting happily. Some were shy and others were bold. Some giggled at us and some just smiled.
Over the next week, we drove to farms, walked through mud and other squishy material, witnessed the growth of lands and people, and were treated to homemade meals of rice, beans, ugali and kale. We experienced warm mornings, late afternoon thunder showers, and comfortable evenings. Although none of the six of us were friends before the trip (with the exception of Tom and Catherine Wilbur) our common experiences made us fast friends with respect for each others talents and life experiences.
The first sound of the day was the call to prayer from a mosque that was close enough to hear, but became a sound to sleep through as the days continued. After the morning rooster welcomed the day, there was the chatter of the girls and the running and jumping down the cement stairs outside our bedroom doors. On weekdays, the girls ate breakfast and ran off to school. If we were still in bed, we were treated to Anna, a singing angel who mopped all the common floors - top to bottom. Her voice was clear and lovely and her dresses were always made of a lively color. Anna had a smile for all of us and would do anything to help us. All of the children had chores which included washing their own dishes and clothes and cleaning the building.
We often had breakfast and dinner with the fifty 8-14 year old residents of KOCC. While they were at school, we had an opportunity to see the other Friends of KOCC Projects. There are 120 home-based children who are supported in many ways, including the payment of school fees and books. We met with a group of 26 ‘Strong Young Women’ who are helped through agricultural training, a micro-loan, classes in entrepreneurship, and instruction in health and family planning. These proud young women made the most of their training and it was wonderful to see their proud and smiling faces as they spoke about their progress. This program has been supported by the Rotary Club of Freeport and has been very successful.
John Chisolm, son of Founder of Friends of KOCC Sukie Rice, was our guide every day. We learned to listen closely to his advice on our words and behavior. He has a deep understanding of the culture and is fluent in Swahili. We often debriefed in a third floor room around a table before turning in for the night.
It is difficult to sum up a trip that was filled to the brim every day with unique experiences. We were becoming friends with the children, the kitchen staff, the caretakers and each other. We were astounded at the vision and commitment of pastor and administrator Ida Nelson and founder and director Dorothy Selebwa. The children sang for any reason at all and treated us to dance lessons on their last evening with us. We taught them the hokey-pokey and they joined in with great joy. None of us were prepared for the silence after they all traveled home with their parent or guardian on Saturday morning. Our week with the children was over.
In writing about this trip, I have left out so many wonderful experiences: visiting with Kenyan Rotarians, shopping at the markets, visiting Lake Victoria, a flat tire along a dirt highway, feeding giraffes, patting baby elephants, visiting the memorial for the US Embassy in Nairobi, the breakfasts at the Jambo Chester Hotel, Dominos Pizza, house mother Lydia, kind Owen, “Uncle” Godfrey, lunch with Dr. Yu-wan, birthday with Joan, and that is just a list from one of us! So ask us, any of us, and we will give you a different story every time you ask and it will always pass the four way test.
Claudia Frost for: Steve Wight, Joan Correll, Carol Madsen, Tom and Catherine Wilbur
Team leader Steve Wight says goodbye to a student and her guardian