PAUL and JENNIFER have been friends of ROP for a while now. On 3 occasions, they have visited our rural community, and mingled with people of Western Province and particularly in Butere division. They have also made their mark by donating a cow to a needy family through the mother, Everlyn Salim. The cow has transformed the home and the community as a whole. Paul, who grew up on a dairy farm, get quite absorbed whenever he comes close to these cows. Enjoy the rest of their story by Jennifer. We appreciate Jennifer and Paul for their contributions.
This year, 2008 their visit was in August.

Ruth, Founder, ROP

 

JENNIFER MCSHANE's STORY

From: Jennifer Mcshane [JMcshane@rocketmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 9:11 PM
To: Hon. Prof. Ruth Oniang'o
Subject: Jambo

Hello Ruth,
I hope this finds you well. I have been thinking a lot about Kenya recently, and about Africa in general. I am reading Desmond Tutu's biography and am constantly moved by his fervour and integrity. We are all well, and I am enjoying the freedom to travel. I spent a few days with Kerry in Montreal at the end of October, and Paul and I then were in New Yrk for 3 days, partly university related, the rest, walking, walking, walking to museums, Empire State Building, celebrating Obama's victory...actually my total shopping was $5 on 2 Obama buttons! Here is my Kenya note, finally completed, although there is so much more I could have added. I've had some great feedback from friends, and I'm holding them to their promises of support. Love to all.
Jennifer

This has been a long time in the writing as I have thought of how to capture some of the most moving moments and experiences of our trip to Kenya in August 2008. Let me start by saying that we went with the knowledge of earlier violence and disruption but also an awareness that things were improving, slowly but surely. This is quite true. The Kenyan people are resilient and hopeful and we had no intention of turning our backs on them.
Our first week was spent in and around Nairobi where we were driven to shopping areas, outdoor markets - an experience in bargaining - the Railroad Museum, where we stood on the train from Out of Africa, the National Museum and a couple of other tourist things. We had great times with our driver Freddy, Ruth's nephew, Tara, her niece and Freddy's cousin, and Joseph, "Mr. Security". Paul lectured at two campuses and had positive experiences. Nairobi is a bustling city, with many vehicles, including minivans called matatus, many of which have slogans like 'Trust in Jesus', 'Bound for Glory', 'My home is in Heaven': these slogans are most likely expected to be comforting given the way the vehicles are driven. Now add to the chaos bicycles, motor bikes, carts loaded with goods and being pulled uphill, pedestrians... You've got the picture. We had the pleasure of staying at the home of Ruth's sister Diana and were treated well. Paul even got to use the kitchen, and with Diana's daughter Tara as sous chef, made a wonderful Indian meal. He was like a kid in a candy store when he went grocery shopping.
The next phase of the trip was the much anticipated visit to western Kenya. We flew from Nairobi to Kisumu, on the shores of Lake Victoria, a 40 minute flight. Our first few nights were spent at Golf hotel in Kakamega where I was able to indulge in some great bird watching. Maribou storks are sooooo ugly! The "postcard shots" here are so different from Nairobi. Imagine long, winding, pot-holed, often narrow, red-dust roads, bustling with throngs of people, often barefoot, walking with babies strapped to backs and/or balancing on heads a vertical basket of goods or a horizontal bundle of sugar cane. To the mix, add a variety of wandering or tethered animals, the previously mentioned matatus, bicycle taxis known as boda bodas, with, i'd expect, praying passengers: many broken bones and fatalities have occured. There are busy junctions with many shops offering everything from household goods to photocopying. Many of these shops are less substantial than a booth at a local fair in Canada, yet they do a booming business, with polite greetings and smiles all around. We have many technicolour memories. We visited a school where there are 81 children in grade 1 with ONE teacher. The boy's toilet is a disaster, we were told, one grade 8 girl has left to be married, several buildings are incomplete due to lack of funds. Despite these hardships, there is hope: one girl aims to be a doctor, (physician), a boy wants to be a pharmacist and a tiny grade 2 boy, an engineer. May the dreams continue. We watched two local "under 17" boys teams play soccer. Some of the most stellar kicks were made by bare feet. We were able to present the team captains with one new and one used soccer ball before leaving. The used ones came from our neighbour, Dalton Grassinger, whose name is literally being kicked around in Kenya! We met many courageous people. I was particularly moved by the 22 HIV positive women who had the courage to speak up, and now they encourage each other, support those who are terminally ill, and also educate others where possible. These women are all widows, some in their early 20s, and have decided to not remarry so as not to infect. Our visits to homes to see ongoing projects were wonderful. Most visits began with us being greeted with song and dance, and many hugs for "Mama Ruthie" whom they had not seen since the elections back last December. At some point in the visit, there were formal greetings and presentations. When Ruth explained her absence, the threats to her life, the destruction of ROP buildings and assets, there were many sympathetic words many "pole pole"s, (polay) our equivalent of "sorry". These various groups are well organized with chairpeople, treasurers and secretaries all giving reports. Accountability and committment are essential for ongoing ROP involvement. Among the projects were visited were those focused on dairy cows, sheep and goats, growing indigenous vegetables, making energy efficient cooking stoves, raising bees. At almost every project we were given "tea". After a meal of ugali, (a polenta/porridge type bread which is a staple of the western diet, and shaped like plum pudding), various indigenous vegetables, cooked chicken, chapatis and a few other things, served with soda, I commented that it was the most interesting tea I had ever had. NO tea had been served. Soda is offered as a preferred drink to guests, and since I never drink pop at home, except for the essential ginger ale when the innards ail, it took some slow sipping to at least be polite and also to avoid a second bottle being immediately opened. The hospitality is without measure.
"Our group", as we call them, is thriving. The Wakulima (swahili for farmer) group greeted us warmly. The cow, Paula, has had two calves, Jennifer and Prof. Jennifer is now pregnant. The money from milk sales has funded another building for the family compound, the women in the group have pocket money, and the milk itself is given great credit for helping the children improve school performance. It was a special treat for us to see the heads of these women held high, their success giving them improved self esteem and encouraging ongoing pursuit of group education. When we left them, we were given a beautiful clay bowl, a basket and fresh eggs. The eggs remained with Ruth. Ruth has an amazing team, and I am sure to accidentally omit some names. Let me mention Doris, her field assistant, who was Ruth's representative after the election debacle. Doris, a bubbly, effective, hard-working mover and shaker (she'll like that!) found new office space, got it organized, kept in touch with Ruth's contacts and knew how the projects were going. She is truly a great team member and I look forward to dancing with her again as we celebrate the successes of these dedicated Kenyans.
My most poignant memory is a bit haunting.
His name is Wycliffe and he is 9-10 years old. We met outside a gocery store in a mall in Kisumu. Paul and I were talking when this young boy approached us and began a conversation, in excellent English. I don't recal the entire conversation, but I can capture some relevant details. he did not know his father, and his mother had died several years ago. He had been a street child, after leaving the home of his grandmother who was too poor to care for him. Now he lived with a group of boys, "cared for" by an older man. He was 58th out of 180 students in his year. I told him that he must be smart. We told him that we worked with and through Ruth, and that she was in the store. He asked if she was Muzungu (white) like us. We pointed her out, and he waited to meet her. It was made evident that he was not begging, and he said he was well fed. Ruth was impressed, gave him the equivalent of a Canadian dollar, and when we saw him later, he had gone to the store and bought a notebook "to write things down". A reporter who was meeting with Paul in the course of this encounter has been charged by Ruth to find Wycliff at his school and to report on his well being. We are prepared to support this boy, to buy school supplies and to help if we can, but we need a contact. I have shed many tears, and we are still waiting to get news. A child like this puts a name, face and a heart to the struggles of African children.
We are now planning a longer stay, 14 weeks or so, in January 2010. That will be a univesity term and Paul hopes to teach at Masinde Muliso University in Kakamega. My contribution will eventually be decided upon...teaching, helping at a hospital..who knows what will be most needed. Meanwhile, I will soon begin my schoolbag project and hope to have some neighbours involved. We were able to take two large duffel bags filled with 80+ school bags, soccer balls, school supplies, frisbees and clothes, and are now starting over again. I have fabric ready to be transformed into school bags, and the collection of t-shirts, shorts and lightweight clothing has begun. I will be happy to receive any donations you may wish to send our way. We have yet to put together our pamphlet on goat and sheep purchase, but we'll cetainly let you have one when that is done, as well as keeping you informed of fund raising events.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your support. Please send it on to interested friends and colleagues, who just may be able to offer some support in whatever meaningful way. For further information, check the website www.ropkenya.org
Jennifer

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