We are all equal (Day 9 of 44)

Unknown to my team members, I brought my swiss army knife and first aid kit when I walked into Kisumu's Child Rehab Centre. After all, you don't know what to expect in these situations.

I went in with a very cautious mind. I came out amazed, inspired with a hint of sadness.

We spent an enjoyable afternoon with these wonderful kids - games, songs, competitions. Sure, they may have done terrible things in the past, but gazing into their innocent eyes, you can still see a glimmer of hope accompanied with immense joy.

They truly are the most gorgeous kids on the planet. We held hands, we sang songs...they are very disciplined, never complained, not even once.

We are all equal. They deserve as much as we do in every way - opportunities, resources, care, guidance. Yet the world is unfair. We view them as the inferior group, as kids that will destroy our society in the future.

I have huge respect for Johnson and the teachers in the centre. They are not materially blessed, yet they are one of the rare few in the world that understands the true meaning of life...

One just wonders who is more blessed - us or them.

Dreams and Opportunities (Day 5 of 44)

Woke up at 6am in the morning to take a 7 hour bus trip from Nairobi to Kisumu...

The poverty part of Africa has finally started to hit me as I leave its capital city. The rural area of Kenya is surprisingly full of people (+ zebras, goats and donkeys), walking around or loitering, trying to sell goods next to the busy road to survive...

Yet they seem to be content with their life, as in their mind that's what life is all about...family and survival.


I had the chance to spend an hour with Laurence, a local guide, yesterday at Nairobi. He is one of the most fortunate in Kenya - living in a big city, graduated with a chemical engineering degree, and is employed as a IT trainer.

I soon realized that he is smart, mature, knowledgeable and ambitious. He has his own dreams in his career - just like us, and is very willing to pursue it. Yet the country is too corrupt to provide him with meaningful opportunities.

He asked me how employment was like in Australia (which I told him is ~95%). He was impressed, and asked me how it can be so high. I didn't answer his question directly.


The infrastructure at Kisumu, 3rd largest city in Kenya, is primitive at best. Its the city where hundreds were killed (some decapitated, I was told) in the presidential race riot held last year.

In my perspective, Kenya is a country of chaos.
In the locals' perspective, its life as normal.

I will be here for the next 4 days.

Kindness with Conditions (Day 3 of 44 )

First things first. I am safe and healthy for now. Thanks for all your prayers.


Its a world of difference here...

I was walking past customs in Nairobi yesterday night, asking an officer for assistance in visa application. He kindly took me to another route to avoid the queue, got me a luggage trolley which I am thankful for...

...and then asked me for money...

I thanked him genuinely, shook his hand and left.

He is the first among others who greeted me with kindness, but with conditions, last night.

Day 0

Sydney --> Singapore --> Johannesburg --> Nairobi (Kenya)
Nairobi is 8 hours behind Sydney.

See you all in 40 days time...

Enoch

Dreams...

This evil anti-malarial has been giving me frequent dreams lately... =.=

5 Days to Go...

The feeling of excitement and sadness is starting to overwhelm me...
Starting to realize what I have done to myself...

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From: adsypadsy@hotmail.com
Subject: Possibilities
Date: 22 November 2008 7:14:05 PM
To: enochctso@gmail.com

Hey Enoch,

There will definitely be possibilities of experiencing the things you mentioned. In the village there will be an opportunity to do some home visits. There is a baby orphanage close by, a local health clinic, and we are also looking at doing some work at the local children's juvenile centre. At the end of the day, there will be no shortage of poverty and injustice for you to be disturbed and inspired by.

Look forward to seeing you next week!

Adam :)

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5 days to go...

Enoch

Huh? Kenya?

Yep...I will be heading off the Kenya in roughly 2 weeks time...

It still amazes me how smooth things have progressed since I made the decision to volunteer in the poverty-stricken country two months ago: approval from parents, acceptance of application & interview, the just-in-time injection of vaccines...I do have to praise God for His provision.

Kenya is located in eastern Africa and shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. Half of the population live below the poverty line, with the annual GDP per capita at a mere USD$1,700. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is widespread in this country, and life expectancy for the nation is at ~56 yrs. Violence and crime levels are extraordinary high in its capital city, with the government warning travellers to reconsider their needs to travel

One just ponders how they can survive, and enjoy a fulfilled life in such conditions...
Perhaps not all, but some of the 37 million Kenyans do...

In the coming 5 weeks that spans the Christmas and New Year break, I will be travelling with other selected team members representing World Youth International to a rural village in Kenya named Mutumbu (1.5 drive from Kisumu) to construct a community resource centre, brick by brick, for the neigbourhood.

Mutumbu, being a agriculturally focused village, faces the same plight of most rural villages in Kenya: poverty, poor education, lack of adequate healthcare, gender inequality and HIV/AIDS. There are hundreds of children in this area, many orphaned as their parents have passed away from AIDS.

Once built, the community centre will provide education in basic literacy and numeracy for children who have not had the opportunity to go to school. Other programs are also planned for the adults, including education on health and safe sex practices, information & communication, agro forestry as well as peace and human development.

To support to this initiative financially I have committed myself to fund-raise ~$2,000 for the project. The raised funds will be used to purchase construction materials, hire local labours and support the ongoing project cost in Kenya.

All other cost, including local admin, travel, vaccinations & drugs and all personal expenses are covered by myself.

Anything from $2+ up is welcommed and tax-deductible (contact me if you are interested). I will pay you a visit if you are my work colleague or a CYFer. =)



For me the emotional support from you all is more important than the monetary value, so please do not feel pressured to donate any money. I will not be accepting anything more than $10 from my friends who are not in the work force.

Thanks to you all and please keep me in your prayers as I prepare myself to face the immense challenges ahead...


Enoch
P.S. I will post more details about the trip in the coming week.