Meet Jane

---------------------------------Jane at the Mara River------------------------------

Jane is a leader in a community that FTC works in called Emori Joi. She is a role model in her community not only for being a strong independent woman but for creating a home, 6 years in the making as an example of hard work/dedication. She is a mother, and supports her kids’ education, through the women’s groups’ she is a part of and her entrepreneurial endeavors. Not only does she participant in a woman’s group of her own but she is the chair lady of the amalgamation of all the women’s groups’ in the area. She is the leader of around 546 women. These are women who have just bought the rights to their own piece of land so that they can have a big enough space to continue to empower their children and their community around them. Jane inspires women around the globe, she has touched the hearts of many guests that have visited her home, and she is the epitome of strength and perseverance. I often look around and see the powerful women around me, but I rarely take the time to tell them how inspiring they are to me. Women like Jane are the catalysts and like the women before them they are changing the future for their daughters. Today I give a shout out to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, female sports figures like the Williams sisters, or Misty Bass, and heroin’s like Wangari Maathai. Thanks for being the catalyst!

Bogani

Luxury tents, paved paths, cottages, wine, trees, monkeys, magi moto, hash browns, hyrax, goats, guests, friends around every corner, Kevo, Mary, Issiah, Sammy, Jackson, Wilson. This is fall. Bogani has turned into an enjoyable experience. Conversations flow around the dinner table. Friends laugh, and cry about the day. A day where a chimney was built, water was collected, kids were visited, bricks were laid, Kisaruni helped us learn, and hands were held. The Mara has become more green but the heat pours in.

---------------------------------Kids from Oloonkerin Primary school----------------------------------

Bogani is a place where we host adult groups. A place that is more comfortable that allows families to reflect on the day by a fire. It is an experience that encompasses all the makings of a magical vacation but will put you to work during the day. It has been a real pleasure to host the groups I have this fall, and I’m sure the pleasure will continue.

Between this, painting has helped me pass my time. Finally being able to breakdown the inspiration I have gathered throughout the past 9 months is refreshing. Finally being able to paint at all has been a breakthrough.

I can only imagine the next few months will pass by quickly with too many memorable moments. I look forward to getting back to the snow but I can only imagine it will be short lived. Nonetheless Canada here I come, can’t wait to see you old friends and new!

Knowledge is Power

What can I say, life has changed! So much has happened, from hosting two or more trips to committing to stay on into the fall. Kenya is good. The Mara is good.

But drought is apparent.

As I’m sure many of you know Northern Kenya and Somalia are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. 300, 000 people are in the refugee camp, Dadaab, northern Kenya, probably even more now, in a camp that is meant for 70,000. Last time I checked World Food Program wasn’t able to provide food for all the people that the camp was holding. At least 3000 people are dying daily from malnutrition.

I recently had the pleasure to meet actress, and human rights activist Mia Farrow. She speaks freely about the real problems plaguing Dadaab and other African regions. She is a great resource to follow www.miafarrow.org , she paints a picture of despair but gives YOU an opportunity to help. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I urge all of you to get informed, watch the news read the papers.

Free the Children has been doing its part. Although we are development organization, it is obvious that we can’t turn a blind eye to the struggles in the Horn of Africa. One of our mobilizers, Justice, spent 2 weeks in Dadaab recently. He was able to place 15 metric tonnes of food and non-food items to new refugees arriving at the camp. The only reason FTC was able to do this was because of the help from overseas donors and fundraisers.

Please check out http://www.metowe.com/shop/products/rafiki-friend-of-east-africa and support our efforts in Dadaab.

Drastic times call for drastic measures. I once again urge you to spread the word. Hope lies in the efforts of us all. I just recently received an e-mail from members of a school that I hosted in May. The students and teachers that were on the trip are currently in the midst of educating others as well as conducting enormous fundraising efforts. I shout out to these students and teachers from the bottom of my heart. Let us all be the hearts of compassion like they are. Knowledge is power.

This is a sign that is present at one of Free the Children's primary school's called Pimbinet

Seychelles

On a whim I called my good friend Paddye since I had some time off to see if she would accommodate me at her home in Seychelles. I was in luck. Instead of spending another week in Nairobi, I booked a ticket, and headed down to the islands.

Paddye greeted me at the airport, first time we had seen each other in a year. Paddye and I not only were roommates throughout university, but played ball together since we were 13. It was extremely nice to see a familiar face after such a long time in Kenya. She was a piece of home.

We spent the first day on the beach, eating banana chips and drinking local beer, followed by a Creole meal cooked by her new man Hendrik.


The rest of the days were mostly spent lounging on the beach catching up, getting to know Paddye’s life and friends. Overall Seychelles is a dream, beaches that go on for miles; water the color of aqua, and people that are way too relaxed. If you are a beach bum or a diver these are the islands for you.

So that’s what I became, a beach bum that dove and relaxed. After a few games of basketball and seadooing at Beau Vallon, it was time to head home to Nairobi to face the next trip coming in. However Seychelles hasn’t seen the end of me yet.

That's what she said

I’ve been back in Nairobi for too long now, but it’s nice to have the house full again!

St. Peters was an amazing group. They were engaged, excited and passionate about Kenya. They were overall 22 students and 7 teachers. All the teachers were supportive and great role models for the students and myself. Stationed at Old pimbinet just behind the Kisaruni girls high school was a prime location for all activities (WE DIDN”T GET STUCK !!). Every activity was a success, from mama walk to safari, nothing could have gone more smoothly.

----------------------------------------------"On safari day"-------------------------------------------

A highlight on the trip was Olympic day. We were at Motony primary school with 714 kids. They were split up into 11 groups and all given a different color headband. St. Peter’s students each took a group and they made a cheer. It was incredible to see all these kids from baby class to grade 8 participating in each activity fully. As I looked across the field all I could do was smile. The day was a complete success!
Saying goodbye to St. Peters was sad but also happy because I know these students will make change when they get home! So here’s a shout out to the amazing students and teachers of St. Peters, a truly inspiring group.

Its official I love my job!

P.S Everything is Bigger in kenya

"Baboon Spider we found in our tent (quite abit larger then the palm of my hand)"

Vacay..

Mt. Longonot
Mt Longonot was a great adventure, and the first mountain that I ever climbed. However it was a success, Brandon and I climbed the 2, 776m elevation. It is a dormant volcano located southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. It was a challenging climb, but satisfying and well worth the view.



SA.. return..
Back in South Africa was something I had never dreamed would ever happen. But it did, and I found myself in Durban city centre. My first stop was on the beach, diving was a priority as well as strolling down the boardwalk beside the ocean. A visit to Victoria street market, a local Indian market was educational but somehow it seems that every market is almost the same. I enjoyed some beers and finally a drum circle at a local joint called Cool Runnings on my last night at Tekweni, a city centre backpackers. From here I hitched a ride to Umkomass a town near the famous dive sites of the Aliwal Shoal. Top 10 dive spot in the world. Due to bad weather and a fishing boat flipping the launch pad was closed. I continued to coffee bay, where the real magic happened.

Coffee bay is a small area situated south of Durban about 7-8 hrs from the city. Here lies a coast line that is easily hiked, and a surf that is to die for. The Zulu culture is prevalent here and the people are all relaxed. No worries, beach life, and smiles all around. I fell in love with the people. Unfortunately my journey had to come to an end, and I took the long ride back to the city of Durban. I couldn’t help but be sad when thinking of how long it would be before I would return to Coffee Bay. Good people and good times.

Now I’m back in Nairobi, soon to be on a trip in the Mara again.

Oloosiyoi

An adventure.. My first youth trip is over.. after many good days and many challenges. The trip obviously started out smooth sailing as we all travelled to Oloosiyoi, a Maasai community where FTC has been working since 2008. As soon as we got there we had a warm welcome from the amazing staff! The first week and a half we stayed around Oloosiyoi, building, interacting with the kids, and seeing the community. The community was amazing everyone we met was kind and gentle. The people were unbelievable.

"My co-facilitator and Felix"

After spending almost a week there I realized how different these people were from those back home. The main difference is a smile. I wonder how many people I pass on the streets in Canada and don’t smile or say hi to? At Oloosiyoi and the majority of FTC’s community’s this is not the case. Smiling is contagious here.Soon it was Safari day, and the rains had come. The roads were muddy and the vehicles were struggling. We finally made it into the conservancy, saw a Cheetah lounging and here we remained for 10 hrs. Our Lorry was stuck in the mud, really stuck. The back-ups tried to come and they got stuck. Our final rescue was out of the movie which involved lights coming in from all angles of the four landcruisers, and our lorry simultaneously being pulled out by the long awaited tractor. It was a day that I will never forget, a true safari adventure. The rest of the trip involved mud, rain and positive attitudes. We made it through the grit and finished on a high note. With the help of the amazing staff, this includes Stanley and our Maasai guide Felix. Big shout outs! You are good men.