Today was no April Fool's Day for me. I'm here in Nairobi, staying in a huge house with lots of security....12 bedrooms in all. It's the home of my travel agent, so I'm doing a "home stay" while I'm here.
I'm volunteering at the Caroline Wambui Mungai Foundation home. It's a home and school for chldren who have lost both parents to AIDS. They've been cleared through "the system" and permanently live at the home. There are 43 children with ages ranging from 3 - 9 years old. There are also some (around 30) community children who attend the school only , so their single mothers can work in the fields...earning approximately $2. day. Please go to the website: www.cwmf.org
(Megan, perhaps you could put a link on the blogspot when you have time.)
The home was started in 2004 after Ann and George Mungai lost their daughter unexpectedly. Ann and George work in New York, and Caroline had lupus. It seems she went in for a biopsy...an easy procedure....and didn't come out alive. As a parent who has lost a child, I understand the need to do something positive with the loss.
So, except for Sunday, I'm going out to the home and help in whatever way I can. There are 2.5 orphans in Kenya alone from AIDS. Even though this organization is a drop in the bucket, it somehow feels right to volunteer here. BTW--When I drove in with Ann, none of the children said "Look at the white person"...as they had in Malawi. Ann encourages people to spend time volunteering here....from all over the world.
What did I do today? Helped pass out lunch...they eat a lot because they used to have to search for food on the street....I sat and let them touch my arms, hands, follow the bulging veins in my old hands with their fingers, pat my hair, sit on my lap....the basics of caring. I sorted beans (they are absolutely gorgeous with manyh varieties) and picked the small stones and bugs out. It costs $30. month to keep a child here, and it is making such a difference in their lives.
The people in LATTICE in East Lansing know about the home, as Ann presented to them. She is an alumnus of MSU (having earned her PhD there) and was in one of the years of LATTICE.
This is a bitter sweet experience, seeing Caroline's picture around the home....what a beautiful young woman she was. The children are well-cared for, and I know where I'll be making some contributions....
My grandgirls, Lindsay Jane and Sydney Kay, were able to enjoy my adventure in 2013 with Semester at Sea (SAS), but now I have an adventure of a different kind with Jackson Trippers in sunny California in the middle of winter in 2015!
Sounds like an amazing opportunity Mom! I am proud of you!
ReplyDeleteWe are doing some TLC w/ our oldest here at home. Lindsay has what I believe as influenza b. She is fine. Don't worry. But has been home from school 3 days w/ fevers, chills, etc. We are headed into the doctor today. We need Spring to arrive! Spring Break is next week, so that is nice.
Missing you! Love, Megan
OH - is it 2.5 million or billion orphans? You just said 2.5 orphans... I know there are more than that! :) Love, Megan
ReplyDeleteHey Jan. I've also had the flu ... hang in there Lindsay! Enjoying your trip very much. Thanks for being so observant. Be good. Love, Dan
ReplyDeleteI like the part about the veins in your hands the best. Your hands have always been so expressive and I can well understand how those children were fascinated by them;there's another language in those fingers;I've watched them work.....'last seen in...'
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