“There is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping child”.-Murray Dryden, SCAW Co-founder.
Once again, Rotary Club of Nairobi in conjunction with Rotaract Clubs and Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) have lived their “service above self” motto. The Canadian charity, SCAW, together with the Rotary Club of Nairobi and Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central helped distribute bed-kits to children from underprivileged communities around the country including Nairobi slums (Kibera, Kayole and Mathare), Kajiado and Kakamega. This was achieved through support from various donors, which saw 5000 children benefit from bed-kits. Each bed-kit consisted of a mattress, blanket, mosquito net, clothes outfit, and stationary.
The packaged bed-kitsBed-kit contents
The distribution was made a success not just by the donors and volunteers but also by the kids who braved the long queues and the heat; you couldn’t wipe off their excited smiles.
A group of a hundred beneficiaries in KakamegaA group of beneficiaries in Kajiado.
Since its formation by Murray and Margaret Dryden in 1970, SCAW has raised over 23 million dollars to provide bed-kits for children in 33 countries; the millionth child was reached in 2009. More information about SCAW can be found on their website.
Some of the distribution volunteers
Some light moments from the distribution exercise.
Volunteers’ excursion before distribution in Kakamega.Together we happily take on the world!New lessons learnt, Evan learning to sharpen a knife on a bike 😉This is where I come fromThese beautiful smiles brightened our dayAnd more smiles shared!One of the “baby” in our volunteer group 🙂Some volunteers were made in Canada 😉No, it wasn’t a ‘clean’ jobThe funniest moment when some kids told Brenda (mom) and Evan (son) that they looked like husband and wife 😀These desks are nostalgic!High fives for a job well done.These beautiful clouds in Kakamega have a sad story. Check back soon for the story.
It’s amazing how the 2013 has gone by so fast… I know I haven’t written any posts this year :(, so this is going to be the only post of the year 2013. I will highlight the things that have happened and hopefully promise to be consistent with my posts in coming years… does that sound like a resolution already? Well, we’ll see.
January 2013
A day visit to the Giraffe Centre, in Nairobi with my friend, RJ. The Giraffe Centre, also known as the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, is a rehabilitation centre for the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe. Other than getting close to the giraffes, the centre is also renowned for conservation education (offering students a chance to showcase their talents in environmental competition through essay writing, art and photography); environmental and ecology trips; and micro-project funding, monitoring and evaluation.
Visitors at the Giraffe Centre, Nairobi
February 2013
An excursion to the Fourteen Falls, which is situated 27km from Thika town, Machakos County. It’s close to the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park and is protected by the town council. When the waters are high, the local guides will offer their boat services (at a small fee) and help visitors cross from one side to the other.
A group crossing the falls after heavy rainfall.
March 2013
My first time on the Kenyatta International Conference Centre viewing tower, from the helipad you can see Nairobi and it’s environs in 360°.
View of the Railway Station, Nyayo stadium and Nairobi environs from the KICC helipad
Visited friends in Kisumu and witnessed the construction of an eco toilet. An eco toilet is a dry or waterless toilet, one that doesn’t use water to take the waste somewhere else; it also allows natural processes to produce useful compost and they don’t smell. A handful of sawdust is dropped into the toilet after each use. The sawdust allows oxygen into the pile, and absorbs liquid. This allows the pile to decompose aerobically to produce nitrates, phosphates and sulphates. Well, that wasn’t why I visited my friends but was a good experience. We ended up going to birdwatch at the lake, which, we later concluded, was a not so good idea because it rained cats and dogs shorty after we arrived at the lake; though it was beautiful watching the rain and the wind shifting the water hyacinth at the lake.
An eco-toilet double-vault: The basic principle of an eco-toilet is to separate urine and faeces.
April 2013
Together with the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central and other organizations and schools, we got to plant trees at the Karura Forest Reserve, which is located in the northern part of Nairobi city and is managed by the Kenya Forest Service. The reserve also offers important attractions that visitors enjoy including Mau Mau caves, scenic waterfalls and rivers, picnic sites, walking trails and small wetlands.
Restoring mother nature, one tree at a time
The National Museums of Kenya got to host Thailand cultural festival, a night full of Thai music, food and performances, including a tribute performance to Kenya.
May 2013
My two friends from Canada visited Kenya, and it was an amazing time visiting some of the various Canadian supported projects, families, and students in Western Kenya. We made visits to orphanages and special schools, including school for the deaf in Kakamega. We also made a visit to my rural home and family in Machakos County. Sadly, this is the same day that our dad passed on due to heart failure, may his soul rest in peace.
My friends, Angela and ShelaghPupils at the Mwikhomo school for the hearing impaired, KakamegaThe last photo I took of my dad 🙂
June 2013
I travelled to Morocco to attend and present a poster during the seventh World Environmental Education Congress. The flight had an overnight layover at Cairo, so I spent the day photographing nature at Al-Azhar Park where I ended up dancing with kids at the park and getting invited to family picnics-I photographed them instead.
One of the families that invited me to picnic with them, we settled down for a photo shoot
Later I flew to Casablanca, only to realize that the airline had lost my backpack along the way, but eventually found it and took a train to Marrakech. I met more people, made new friends and explored various attractions around Marrakech, including Jebel Toubkal in the High Atlas Mountains, which my new-found friend, Grace, invited me to climb. And while hiking, one local guy told our small hiking group that it was easier finding a man in Morocco than finding water, well, long story, but we could attest to that.
With Moroccan students at the conferenceAny mention of Marrakesh is incomplete without the beautiful and busy square, Place Djemaa El FnaGrace and I at the peak of Jebel Toubkal
July 2013
I was contracted to travel and photograph an ongoing pollinator project (read critters ☺) at Mogotio in the Mid-Rift Valley. The pollinators including insects, birds and bats were in abundance; the flowers too. These Cattle egrets interacted very well with hoverflies; they gulped them in mid-air!
Cattle Egrets feasting on hoverflies
August 2013
Most of the time I love to think that, I”m a passionate tour guide by profession :). I got to go on several safaris, all of which have the same itinerary. We would pick tourists from the airport or hotel in Nairobi, drive to Samburu National Reserve, spent at least two nights; then head to Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha or Lake Elementaita and spent two more nights before dropping the clients at Maasai Mara National Reserve. I had one group that spent a night in Amboseli National park before they proceeded with their safari in Tanzania. These, I must say, were my best guiding (and photography) moments…got to witness lions killing a hippo, ostriches having a bath in the red earth, a herd of Giraffes drinking water, and a young cheetah hunting Sacred ibises. The highlight of the month was when I hitch-hiked to Kora National Park to attend the 24th George Adamson’s (Father of the lions) memorial. What more can a tour guide ask for? 🙂
George Adamson’s burial place inside the Kora National Park; He’s buried beside his brother Terrence and Supercub, (Terrence’s favourite lion) and his own favourite, Boy.
September 2013
This is my birth month, as well as my late mom’s birth month; may she rest in peace. So I got to celebrate two birthdays in a span of two days. These, I celebrated by desnaring, which is an exercise that involves removing traps set by poachers to catch wildlife. The exercise was organized by Born Free Foundation team in Nairobi. We rescued several zebras; other antelopes weren’t as lucky.
The team with a zebra after the KWS vets cleaned its wounds
October 2013
Another difficult month for our family where a week after we visited our 90-year-old grandpa, he passed on due to throat cancer, may his soul rest in peace. Here is the last photo we took together ❤
Grandpa and I, may he rest in peace.
November 2013
This month was a special one, worldwide. It was the month that the world would witness the solar eclipse, and it was noted that the only good place to see the eclipse was in Turkana. So people from all over the world…(except me!) travelled and got to witness the eclipse. Others from around the globe did witness this spectacle, but not as much as the people in Turkana did. From where I was in Nairobi (on my rooftop) I got to witness a cloudy afternoon and a rainy evening, so much for a world spectacle :).
And in celebration of my photography, I was, among others, nominated as a finalist for the first Kenya Photography awards. This, I must say, was a great highlight for my not-yet-launched-photography-career. It was a better highlight for my friend Karim who has worked very hard in launching and maintaining his photography career; he won the nature photography category award, very much deserved.
Karim and I at the award event
December 2013
Guided by the Rotary International’s motto, “Service above self”, we, the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central and the Rotaract Club of Nairobi University visited the Children’s Cancer Ward at Kenyatta National Hospital. We had a wonderful time interacting with these beautiful children, what with singing, dancing and playing but to say that the day did not take its toll emotionally would be a lie. However, knowing that we put a smile on their faces and hearts was peacefully calming.
Beautiful smiles, even in the face of adversity
We, Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central, also made a visit to the Thogoto Home for the aged, which is run by the PCEA church to cater for the old people. Thogoto is home for almost 100 men and women who are too old to take care of themselves, some do not have families or relatives to house them. The home takes care of their needs especially their health, diet and spiritual matters and like all old people come, they are ever delighted to share their wisdom with the younger generation.
Some elders at the home
Well, 2013 was a beautiful year, topped up with my younger sister graduating from the university and my younger brother completing his primary education and my elder brother launching his IT Company. Looking forward to an awesome year in 2014! Happy new year!
“We have been invited for coffee ceremony tomorrow,” Sami quips as we discuss the day’s program in Arusha, Tanzania. When asked by our multinational group if we would have lunch before going to the coffee ceremony, he says, “Coffee doesn’t not mean we will have coffee only.” Well, that’s an exciting thought. It turns out that we were going to have a full day of Ethiopian hospitality, warmth, love and celebration.
Mulu, Sami’s aunt and our host, welcomes us to her warm home; after arriving an hour late!! She had spent the entire morning preparing Ethiopian cuisine for our arrival. The table was afloat with food, ranging from Ethiopia’s famous injera–a yeast-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture to spicy vegetables, stew and rice; and lots of laughter and friendship. Sami, Bruk and Alazar, our Ethiopian friends, inform us that an invitation to a coffee ceremony is a sign of friendship and respect, even while they are away from home. Well, it was honor to be part of this special occasion with special friends.
Ethiopian cuisine
As Bruk reveals, Ethiopian respect to coffee is rich, and always ceremonial. She explained that the ceremony process starts with the ceremonial equipment being arranged on a green mat, this, we watch as Mulu sets the pieces neatly on the mat.
Getting ready to roast coffee beans
She then proceeded to roast the coffee beans in a flat pan over a small charcoal stove, the strong smell mingling with the scent of incense that is usually burnt during the ceremony.
Roasting the coffee beansA little incense
After it was ready, Mulu served the coffee in tiny china cups. As we learn later, you have only have had the buna experience if you have consumed at least three cups of black coffee, as the third round is considered to bestow a blessing.
Time for mouth watering Ethiopian coffeeBlack coffee…with some spicy herbs
Well, I drank three cups…of milky coffee! And all the while, indulging in conversations around careers, culture, soccer and music…and toasted to long lasting friendships.
Every year, local colleges and universities hold an event that has become a norm in our colleges. I must say that tertiary students are just but very creative when it comes to such events. And to think that most are studying courses that are very contrary to their creativity beats my mind. Well, the Moi University Nairobi Campus, just completed their beauty pageant this year. The event, graced by students and lecturers from the university, other universities and general public, including local artists.
The entertainers..
The invited artists, included a group of young dancers whose name i forget 😦 but held the crowds interest until the main event began. Some of their dance moves were hilarious.. The MC and comedian Eric Omondi and his colleague cracked us up with their funny jokes. The “King of Genge”, Nonini could only be the days artist for University students!!
The young dancers
The MC-Eric Omondi
Nonini, the king of Genge music
Nonini trying his lines on one of the contestants
And yes, she seemed happy about them 🙂
As a custom, all contestants, men and ladies, all dressed in black and white have to first walk in a file-for the crowd to see them. Well, the ladies were photogenic, the men not so photogenic but i tried capturing them. The event has four major categories and themes focusing on Causal wear, creative category or sports, Dinner wear and cultures. My favourite category in all the pageants I’ve attended is always the Creating category…
Casual wear category..
Under the casual wear, as one of the contestants explain, the trainers emphasize that one has to wear something that they are comfortable with in public. Well, the casual wear was admirable.
The Cultural theme..
The contestants showcased various cultural styles, including local Kenyan cultures, Western African and Asian attires.Those who didn’t have exact attires got a bit creative.
The creative category..
Well, my favorite category, had to pay full attention here to a an almost no-breathing-point!! I have to comment, only students can be this creative and get away with it..The contestants used any materials they could lay their hands on. Some materials that some of the observers found interesting, offending or controversial were showcased including bottle-tops, plastic papers, plastic straw, sisal, food-spinach, coconut shells, avocado peels and the most interesting outfit-the sanitary-pad outfit. Personally, I still want to get to know what the contestants were thinking when they came up with some of these ideas..!!!
The Dinner wear..
If i didn’t know better I would say that most of the guys here were proposing to the ladies, all went down on their knees; only difference is that they all used one red rose for all the ladies..some gave the ladies other accessories which am sure were returned to them much later. Well, it was amazing, they were only modelling.
The winners..and the Real winners!
The time had come for the judges to choose the winners. I would have thought that the crowd votes for the winners but not in this case. They first had to announce the Top Five including the men and ladies. During this time, all ten contestants were asked questions like, What motivated you to take part in the contest? (And she answered that she wanted to do this, for fun, for exposure, and then the real answer came out, my mom made me do this!!); Who is your role model? (Of course, “My mom” is always the answer!), Tell us some effects of climate change? (Really? Well, she gave very good answers), What would you do if you won the contest? (Never mind the answer, the question really tells me that am not the winner!), What is beauty to you? (And you can tell that the question was to be answered by a guy..and the answer, “As a model I would be tempted to describe the physical beauty, but personally beauty to me is the C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R.”) Well, I give the guy lots of credit for that simple definition..
And to the sanitary-pad clad contestant, “You had a very interesting outfit, do you think it was controversial and why? (Already the judges and some of the crowd thought it was controversial. The answer, “Yes it was controversial. See, I come from a very remote area and I didn’t use or know sanitary pads when growing up!” And yes, much as available as they seem, not every girl can afford the luxury, which is why the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central has been distributing sanitary pads to girl schools around the country!!
The judges had a tough time, they chose the winners but the crowd thought otherwise..
Current Mr. and Miss Moi University, Nairobi Campus 2012.
The pair apparently have many tasks and duties ahead of them during their reigning year. It wont be a smooth road like the judges and lecturers tell them. But i think a trip abroad is just the beginning of a smooth road!!
Ecoescapades 
