[Update from Marie in Maseno] .........
After an early rise to a very quiet house, we were walking to church, after 3.5 hours of worship, we walked into Maseno, to visit the girls at the Christian camp.....another 2hours of preaching, volunteers falling asleep, tired with thirst and hunger - all wanting to be back home enjoying Sunday - but here Praying is the most important thing - giving hope to all. The girls were so thrilled to see us, and to the envy of all the othe kids there! Oh they are so gorgeous, so ready to laugh and give a hug - you should hear them as I tickle them........hehehehehe
I was fortunate to recieve a very generous donation of $500. I have donated this straight to Edward - head of the orphanage and a wonderful preacher and mentor to these desperate children. They have lost their families to HIV, and the remaining guardians are usually too old and poor to help provide for these young ladies. As girls are so expensive to bring up, these are the first to suffer. Since the emails before I came over the number of sponsored kids has grown by ten. No assistance from anyone - just relying on God and kind donations. They have started a new building extention for another lot of orphans - they are so well looked after and loved - they are always happy hard working and look after each other. Any girl is so blessed to be able to come here. So my $500 went to try to help finish the extention - we have now some cement and the bricks are ready - so we volunteers, 8 of us will get in and help tomorrow - our goal is to try to have it finished before we leave - so pray for us! They are so very grateful for the smallest things, like the elastics to keep their school socks up. They nearly squealed with delight when they recieved back packs and raincoats, pens, exercise books and some sport equipment........so little yet they were SO OVERWHELMED. we take for granted all we have in the west!
Yesterday we went to Kisumu, to buy some books for revision for the girls and sanitary pads, as they have none, and use the thinnest rags....
Some of us went down to Lake Victoria, where it was so busy with people washing buses, cars, motorbikes, and themselves??? eeeeehhhhhhhh so much pollution. We ate fresh fish (from the other side of the lake) and ugali with spinach - very delicious! Most volunteers needed pizza! A lot of homeless kids, sniffing glue to keep them from getting too hungry, oh talk about heart breaking. We had a lot of hassle on our matatu, as someone didnt pay and the bus stopped on the side of the road, and they all disappeared - the guy, the driver, and the ticket man....for about 40min......so hot and cramped, always room for an extra body....so our 1 hour journey ended up about 2.5 or more - passed a horrible accident. we were so relieved to get off and have our walk home in the dusk, gentle breeze and an amazing sunset.
Unfortunately 6 of our orphan chickens died last night, the kerosene lamp's switch went to high...3 were saved. Very sad.
We miss the girls - but they will be back on Tuesday ready for school on Wednesday. The last 2 nights havent rained and the star formations are so incredible......as everything here in one way or another.........
Need to go and do some washing - basin! Getting better at aiming in the long drops - its probably the worst thing here!
Until my next visit to an internet cafe !!!!!!!
....Marie
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
Update
We've had a few movements since arrival. Volunteers have moved from Menengai to Maseno and Bondo, in order to be more proactive. Funds and supplies have been delayed to the Menengai project so it is a good decision that the volunteers make their stay worthwhile. There is a large group in Maseno now, which is fabulous. I prefer larger groups as they are both stronger & more rewarding. I hope for some updates soon from the volunteers.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Victory in Nakuru
After months of pain and heartache, the german sponsors of the Virginia M Buena Centre (VMB) in the Rhondda slums of Nakuru are pulling out. They can no longer ensure control of finances they have already contributed to Phillip Ndeta's "fund" so have ended the entire project.All individual and corporate contributing sponsors are meeting on August 5th to prepare plans and schedules to get as many of the children housed or educated at VMB sent to boarding schools in another area of Nakuru, where they hope ANOTHER children’s village will be built.
Existing funds, luckily not lost to Phillip Ndeta yet, are sufficient to buy a plot, an international NGO is being established in Kenya “Live and Learn in Kenya International”.
A volunteer house is also planned so the children and community can benefit from your help 365 days a year.
I wish to congratulate the most courageous, bold, strongest and kindest lady I've never had the chance to meet personally yet, Debra "Brique" Zeiner, Director of LLK.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Google's satellite imagery
Just in case you weren't familiar with this yet, go to this link for images of the Kisumu road to Maseno. You can put in any search terms and the imagery will zoom in / zoom out, go to map or satellite and give you a taste of where you're going [or for some of you] already are.
Child genius
Of course I'm biased, but its last day of school today, last day at primary for my daughter, they all brought their books home ..From my son's literacy book, he wrote a poem based on the [global warming] weather in UK for past few months :
Wet Play
It's a wet play day today
The children are playing ping pong
A cow bell going ding dong
The rain is pouring and the children are drawing
On the window the hail is tapping
and inside the children are chatting
No rugby, no cricket, no football or tag
Stuck in here with a smelly swimming bag
[!!!!! LOL]
Teachers note : Brilliant
Monday, July 23, 2007
Just a few things more ..
... Soap for body and washing, towels, toilet paper. Edward will take you to a supermarket where you can get it all if you want when you arrive. Also, the girls could use petroleum jelly or body lotions- big jars- toothpaste, they have at the supermarket- I was going to get things in Kisumo the day this happened and never got to.
They took Ksh3000 [USD45] - Edwards money so things are tight right now. Now, if ... someone had an old tape/cassette stereo system, that would be wonderful as they love to play their wonderful tapes- great music- theirs was one of those small boombox type ones with 2 separate speakers- he had one big speaker(which they didn't take) that he attached it to in the eating room. He has a big car battery to run it... the outlets are like England. I think he just has tapes- didn't see any CDs. They also had a small b/w tv that they rarely watched but it was taken too. Charging phones or cameras is a pain - [Matt has already purchased a Solio solar charger, make sure you bring charge leads] .. if you go to the internet in Mesano (hour walk) they are great and will charge it while you're there- Also Sister Flora and a couple of the teachers have electricity and could take it home for the night. IMPORTANT: I am going to try and get the 6 solar pots that I didn't take with the cookers, ready for you guys to bring on the plane, as they really need them. Also 3 red towels I'm getting to give to Deborah, Susan or Sara, as they are being made into sanitary pads for the girls or women or anyone as they use rags when cant afford pads- which is most of time - Thats it! geezz, I go on. N
They took Ksh3000 [USD45] - Edwards money so things are tight right now. Now, if ... someone had an old tape/cassette stereo system, that would be wonderful as they love to play their wonderful tapes- great music- theirs was one of those small boombox type ones with 2 separate speakers- he had one big speaker(which they didn't take) that he attached it to in the eating room. He has a big car battery to run it... the outlets are like England. I think he just has tapes- didn't see any CDs. They also had a small b/w tv that they rarely watched but it was taken too. Charging phones or cameras is a pain - [Matt has already purchased a Solio solar charger, make sure you bring charge leads] .. if you go to the internet in Mesano (hour walk) they are great and will charge it while you're there- Also Sister Flora and a couple of the teachers have electricity and could take it home for the night. IMPORTANT: I am going to try and get the 6 solar pots that I didn't take with the cookers, ready for you guys to bring on the plane, as they really need them. Also 3 red towels I'm getting to give to Deborah, Susan or Sara, as they are being made into sanitary pads for the girls or women or anyone as they use rags when cant afford pads- which is most of time - Thats it! geezz, I go on. N
Last blog from dear Nancy
Greetings to all, this is Nancy who was staying at Mercy Home.
I just wanted you to know that I think you will be safe if you are going to Mercy Home.
The community is up in arms.
The day after, the house had groups of community people coming in all day with condolences and prayers, as I walked the roads, everyone would stop and shake hands and give me hugs and say polay, polay, oh so sorry. Edward went with a retired police chief, who is a friend of Mercy and a neighbor,(of some small town-ha) to Luanda and Mesano - the two towns you can walk to - each less than an hour away - and they and the police are very concerned also.
Edward will have security there while you are there. I told him that if he didn't you weren't going to stay- which, of course he agreed.
I decided to leave the day after and return to Nairobi due to my families concerns and I think the fact that I was the lone foreigner there. ....They are the most wonderful girls in the world. It is an incredible place and the community is so friendly and kind and funny. You will love them.
The girls were very worried that now the volunteers won't come and they are so looking forward to your coming!
Ok, my last day I asked the teachers at the school I worked at, the closest to the home, if they had a wish list and so they have written out a list.
1. first aid kit
2. library books/story books (grades 1 to 8th, which 8th must read at 6th grade level)
3. any stationary materials ( I still don't know what that is- papers, pens, ? )
4. any games, equipment, balls(I have seen only balls made from plastic bags or foam that they tie with sisal rope) 5. any science equipment, games and sports uniforms (?)
6. any teaching aids: cards, pictures, maps, charts (It was hard teaching about weather for example as they had no idea what a thermometer was, barometer, wind sock, etc. - the text books say to show them pictures of everything but they have no pictures and really no access to the magazines, books we have.
7. any cassettes, tapes videos for learning-(they have no electricity so not sure how they would use- didn't see any cassettes and even if they have one they never have money for batteries- meaning I guess, bring a machine and lots of batteries -ha) Half or more of the teachers in all of these schools in the community have no electircity either- they are my heroes!
8. any learning materials : paints, brushes, art supplies- I bought powdered paint in Kisumo and brushes (they have my 15 brushes-couldn't afford more) but the paper seemed really expensive. Its all these big sheets that when you cut one up you get 8 normal size pieces. Newsprint costs 8 sheets for 10 cents/ this thick white manila paper, 8 sheets for 30 cents- wish I had had tons of US regular construction paper that we use for painting.
Then, I collected bottle caps and any lids I could get my hands on via kids, soda bottles, etc.
9. Any other materials at your disposal.
Ok, when you come, I would suggest that you get Susan (write this down)-Susan, works with Mercy Home and is the best, have her show you some schools before you sign up to work anywhere, and before you give away what ever you bring. There are many schools in the area and all are extremly poor and don't have electricity. My favorite is past Susans house, down the path , across the river on the log and up the hill- they seem to have a lot of science, very hands on teachers (not that the others aren't great too).
They will all be on vacation for the week following the 3rd of August(the last day), then they come back to study and prepare for the next term which starts the first of sept. Yes, you can be busy that first week anyway.
Do bring torches and I used a candle in my room as they only have 4 lanterns I didn't want to take one - after the first week I stopped buying bottled water (until the bottle got dirty looking) and realized I could just fill it with the stored boiled water at the house. Main reason, what do you do with all that plastic when there is no garbage, recycling- they either burn it or throw out with the bananas- My guilt was always bad, each time I had to throw used batteries in the outhouse!
Oh, you'll have a grand time! Just don't expect to eat any good food- my favorite meals were the night we had beans and chapatis and the nights of rice- if I knew I would buy some avocados and mix it in- wonderful- this is not what I would normally say as favorite foods by the way. But I am really glad I was able to eat their food and not have special things- it made it more reality based.
My wish for the girls would be some milk products and fruit daily and some good breakfast food. But there isn't the money for that. I also think it will be nice if you do meet each other everyweek someplace. It will be a nice break. Well, if you come, be ready to see another world and to have your heart really touched! By the way, they took my digital camera with the best pictures- I am crushed. So I am hoping when you return one of you can send me some via email or post- I took tons with Susan and she said when you visit her house she will pose for you so you can get me some- her house is great- very basic and she is so open you can get her cooking on her 3 rock stove, the dung on the walls, the corn drying in her main room- great stuff! smiles. Plus some wonderful shots of the valley as you walk to Luanda! You see- Plus the girls cooking and cleaning and washing - oh. I'll stop. Enjoy! Nancy
I just wanted you to know that I think you will be safe if you are going to Mercy Home.
The community is up in arms.
The day after, the house had groups of community people coming in all day with condolences and prayers, as I walked the roads, everyone would stop and shake hands and give me hugs and say polay, polay, oh so sorry. Edward went with a retired police chief, who is a friend of Mercy and a neighbor,(of some small town-ha) to Luanda and Mesano - the two towns you can walk to - each less than an hour away - and they and the police are very concerned also.
Edward will have security there while you are there. I told him that if he didn't you weren't going to stay- which, of course he agreed.
I decided to leave the day after and return to Nairobi due to my families concerns and I think the fact that I was the lone foreigner there. ....They are the most wonderful girls in the world. It is an incredible place and the community is so friendly and kind and funny. You will love them.
The girls were very worried that now the volunteers won't come and they are so looking forward to your coming!
Ok, my last day I asked the teachers at the school I worked at, the closest to the home, if they had a wish list and so they have written out a list.
1. first aid kit
2. library books/story books (grades 1 to 8th, which 8th must read at 6th grade level)
3. any stationary materials ( I still don't know what that is- papers, pens, ? )
4. any games, equipment, balls(I have seen only balls made from plastic bags or foam that they tie with sisal rope) 5. any science equipment, games and sports uniforms (?)
6. any teaching aids: cards, pictures, maps, charts (It was hard teaching about weather for example as they had no idea what a thermometer was, barometer, wind sock, etc. - the text books say to show them pictures of everything but they have no pictures and really no access to the magazines, books we have.
7. any cassettes, tapes videos for learning-(they have no electricity so not sure how they would use- didn't see any cassettes and even if they have one they never have money for batteries- meaning I guess, bring a machine and lots of batteries -ha) Half or more of the teachers in all of these schools in the community have no electircity either- they are my heroes!
8. any learning materials : paints, brushes, art supplies- I bought powdered paint in Kisumo and brushes (they have my 15 brushes-couldn't afford more) but the paper seemed really expensive. Its all these big sheets that when you cut one up you get 8 normal size pieces. Newsprint costs 8 sheets for 10 cents/ this thick white manila paper, 8 sheets for 30 cents- wish I had had tons of US regular construction paper that we use for painting.
Then, I collected bottle caps and any lids I could get my hands on via kids, soda bottles, etc.
9. Any other materials at your disposal.
Ok, when you come, I would suggest that you get Susan (write this down)-Susan, works with Mercy Home and is the best, have her show you some schools before you sign up to work anywhere, and before you give away what ever you bring. There are many schools in the area and all are extremly poor and don't have electricity. My favorite is past Susans house, down the path , across the river on the log and up the hill- they seem to have a lot of science, very hands on teachers (not that the others aren't great too).
They will all be on vacation for the week following the 3rd of August(the last day), then they come back to study and prepare for the next term which starts the first of sept. Yes, you can be busy that first week anyway.
Do bring torches and I used a candle in my room as they only have 4 lanterns I didn't want to take one - after the first week I stopped buying bottled water (until the bottle got dirty looking) and realized I could just fill it with the stored boiled water at the house. Main reason, what do you do with all that plastic when there is no garbage, recycling- they either burn it or throw out with the bananas- My guilt was always bad, each time I had to throw used batteries in the outhouse!
Oh, you'll have a grand time! Just don't expect to eat any good food- my favorite meals were the night we had beans and chapatis and the nights of rice- if I knew I would buy some avocados and mix it in- wonderful- this is not what I would normally say as favorite foods by the way. But I am really glad I was able to eat their food and not have special things- it made it more reality based.
My wish for the girls would be some milk products and fruit daily and some good breakfast food. But there isn't the money for that. I also think it will be nice if you do meet each other everyweek someplace. It will be a nice break. Well, if you come, be ready to see another world and to have your heart really touched! By the way, they took my digital camera with the best pictures- I am crushed. So I am hoping when you return one of you can send me some via email or post- I took tons with Susan and she said when you visit her house she will pose for you so you can get me some- her house is great- very basic and she is so open you can get her cooking on her 3 rock stove, the dung on the walls, the corn drying in her main room- great stuff! smiles. Plus some wonderful shots of the valley as you walk to Luanda! You see- Plus the girls cooking and cleaning and washing - oh. I'll stop. Enjoy! Nancy
Friday, July 20, 2007
Message from Menengai
I just received this via Raul, and Nicholas in Menengai :
"We have discussed this issue of security with Boniface [advisor, assistant and local artisan in Menengai] and the committee. Their [the volunteers] security is assured. Menengai also does not have a history of thuggery. Two, the place the volunteers will be staying is walled all around with security lights at strategic points. I will talk to the village security team who patrol at night to be extra vigilant.
Assure them of their well-being.
Greetings from Boniface and my wife.
Kindest regards,
Nicholas"
"We have discussed this issue of security with Boniface [advisor, assistant and local artisan in Menengai] and the committee. Their [the volunteers] security is assured. Menengai also does not have a history of thuggery. Two, the place the volunteers will be staying is walled all around with security lights at strategic points. I will talk to the village security team who patrol at night to be extra vigilant.
Assure them of their well-being.
Greetings from Boniface and my wife.
Kindest regards,
Nicholas"
JNMCC
It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that JNMCC, in Maseno, Kenya was robbed last night. Ksh500 (USD7.5 !!!!!!!) and Nancy's mobile phone were taken.
Security guards are being brought in but the damage is already done.
Everyone at JNMCC has been scared and disheartened.
I am informing you all because THIS HAPPENS.
With the huge divide in wealth in Kenya, it happens less in the rural areas but news travels fast when "muzungus" arrive. People hear you are all arriving and have lots of money and mobile phones and some people are so poor they see no other option but to steal.
We all know it ruins opportunities for everyone else, especially the Kenyans.
It ruins lives, the lives of the children especially, because this crime affects us, scares us and we stay away.
If any of you decide not to join us in Kenya we will fully understand but I hope that none of you allow these men to ruin your experience or the progress we are already making to the lives of some of the good, kind Kenyan people.
As per our website, I wish to stress the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation. We must separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. AVIF cannot prevent this type of occurrence. We cannot stop the burglar entering our own homes, either, but we can lessen the risk and empower you to take more personal responsibility for risk since you are best placed to manage it.
There will be additional security guards on the grounds for the duration of the programme.
JNMCC was the only host not to have security, or to think they did not need it. They are just as saddened by this as we are.
Security guards are being brought in but the damage is already done.
Everyone at JNMCC has been scared and disheartened.
I am informing you all because THIS HAPPENS.
With the huge divide in wealth in Kenya, it happens less in the rural areas but news travels fast when "muzungus" arrive. People hear you are all arriving and have lots of money and mobile phones and some people are so poor they see no other option but to steal.
We all know it ruins opportunities for everyone else, especially the Kenyans.
It ruins lives, the lives of the children especially, because this crime affects us, scares us and we stay away.
If any of you decide not to join us in Kenya we will fully understand but I hope that none of you allow these men to ruin your experience or the progress we are already making to the lives of some of the good, kind Kenyan people.
As per our website, I wish to stress the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation. We must separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. AVIF cannot prevent this type of occurrence. We cannot stop the burglar entering our own homes, either, but we can lessen the risk and empower you to take more personal responsibility for risk since you are best placed to manage it.
There will be additional security guards on the grounds for the duration of the programme.
JNMCC was the only host not to have security, or to think they did not need it. They are just as saddened by this as we are.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Earthquake update
An up to the minute and zoom-able map of earthquakes in Africa can be found here on the USGS website, updated every 30 minutes.
Details of each event are available by clicking on the squares, or through the "Earthquake list" option at the bottom of the page.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Feedback from Maseno
... great to hear from you! [Matt writing from UK about to join Nancy in Kenya]... Our girls at Mercy home are so wonderful and actually live a fairly middle class life in comparison to others in the community. Now, I am referring to Kenyan rural middle class. I am getting them all mosquito nets before I leave - and if I knew no-one was bringing backpacks, I would get them all one too. They are so wonderful and carry these bags that break, some have little bags. But that would be my gift if you can get some, 2nd hand or they cost about 300 shillings here [USD4.5]- which is why I would get them. Also ponchos and/ or umbrellas. The younger girls don't get shoes for school- they use flippers- and I am getting a couple of pairs. It rains here a couple of times a week and pours and they get soaked. Lots of coughs here.
It is warm, I think I have put a light jacket on twice.
Schools: As a teacher I could cry thinking of these teachers as my heros. They need the most for their schools. I brought 4 blow-up plastic globes, and 2 world maps and wish I had 50. Our girls have maps and a globe from volunteers. I bought paints and brushes and paper for the art classes I have- only 16 brushes (then I borrowed 13 from the girls at Mercy- last years volunteers brought them) so have 29 and each class has 45 or so students. We use feathers and the stick brushes from trees.
They have no science things - secondary do. They [teachers] and the students work so hard, I have such respect for them. I am planning on sending my science-for-teachers reference book to Gerald, one of the teachers, and simple science experiment books that they could use with really simple items that don't have to be purchased. A thermometer, wind vane/sock, etc. would be great but bring more than one as you will visit schools that are so poor and will just want to give them supplies.
My favorite school- mark this down- is past the local school I work at- Susan, who you will meet knows which one- its across the river and up the hill - all walking- they plant trees and plants for the children to take home, have rabbits, make their own charcoal from a felled tree, etc. None have elctricity ! I gave them a solar cooker and a blow-up globe and they are really enjoying it as they're very scientific.
Pens are at a premium- stupid rules, must use pens, which cost more than pencils (they use both). They get 3 per year which is not enough. Also, exercise books which they write in- oh, you'll see.
...I miss fruit the most- I can't just buy for me so have to buy for 15 and that means we each get 2 bites of whatever ... ask Susan to show you the different schools in the area as you might prefer to teach at another one. Now, they have vacation starting the friday the 3rd (?) of august and then after a week they go back to class to study for when school starts the first of Sept. You might want to work in one of the high schools or my favorite the environmental school ... I haven't seen one real ball since I've been here- the kids make them out of plastic bags and tie with rope...if parents can send food monthly they [the children] get lunch, which is beans and corn everyday- they each bring a little container to put their food in. They all know how to cook- ugali and greens daily and the little ones can cook too.
[Many thanks for this, Nancy]
It is warm, I think I have put a light jacket on twice.
Schools: As a teacher I could cry thinking of these teachers as my heros. They need the most for their schools. I brought 4 blow-up plastic globes, and 2 world maps and wish I had 50. Our girls have maps and a globe from volunteers. I bought paints and brushes and paper for the art classes I have- only 16 brushes (then I borrowed 13 from the girls at Mercy- last years volunteers brought them) so have 29 and each class has 45 or so students. We use feathers and the stick brushes from trees.
They have no science things - secondary do. They [teachers] and the students work so hard, I have such respect for them. I am planning on sending my science-for-teachers reference book to Gerald, one of the teachers, and simple science experiment books that they could use with really simple items that don't have to be purchased. A thermometer, wind vane/sock, etc. would be great but bring more than one as you will visit schools that are so poor and will just want to give them supplies.
My favorite school- mark this down- is past the local school I work at- Susan, who you will meet knows which one- its across the river and up the hill - all walking- they plant trees and plants for the children to take home, have rabbits, make their own charcoal from a felled tree, etc. None have elctricity ! I gave them a solar cooker and a blow-up globe and they are really enjoying it as they're very scientific.
Pens are at a premium- stupid rules, must use pens, which cost more than pencils (they use both). They get 3 per year which is not enough. Also, exercise books which they write in- oh, you'll see.
...I miss fruit the most- I can't just buy for me so have to buy for 15 and that means we each get 2 bites of whatever ... ask Susan to show you the different schools in the area as you might prefer to teach at another one. Now, they have vacation starting the friday the 3rd (?) of august and then after a week they go back to class to study for when school starts the first of Sept. You might want to work in one of the high schools or my favorite the environmental school ... I haven't seen one real ball since I've been here- the kids make them out of plastic bags and tie with rope...if parents can send food monthly they [the children] get lunch, which is beans and corn everyday- they each bring a little container to put their food in. They all know how to cook- ugali and greens daily and the little ones can cook too.
[Many thanks for this, Nancy]
AVIF Update 15
Re. communication, to avoid confusion please remember that ALL mobile phones use satellite signalling, the difference is whether your phone is dual band / tri band / is set up for international roaming and masses of other jargon & labels etc !!!
Go here for full information; a prepaid Kenya SIM card with a GSM international cell phone is the most convenient and economical solution while you travel in Kenya. All incoming calls while in Kenya, regardless of where they originate, are FREE! Pay the local rate for local calls and use a cellular phone in Kenya like you do at home. And unlike home, your Kenya SIM card and cell phone service is prepaid so there is no need for a contract.
You can send an SMS people can call you back, SMS you back.
If you want to make international calls you will need an international SIM, again, you can get these in Nairobi.
Forget landlines, there may be one available, maybe not.
Go here for full information; a prepaid Kenya SIM card with a GSM international cell phone is the most convenient and economical solution while you travel in Kenya. All incoming calls while in Kenya, regardless of where they originate, are FREE! Pay the local rate for local calls and use a cellular phone in Kenya like you do at home. And unlike home, your Kenya SIM card and cell phone service is prepaid so there is no need for a contract.
You can send an SMS people can call you back, SMS you back.
If you want to make international calls you will need an international SIM, again, you can get these in Nairobi.
Forget landlines, there may be one available, maybe not.
Recent events
I want to keep you informed of recent geological events, namely the tremors felt in Nairobi.
The world can be a very scary place when these things happen, things we have no control over, but its best to simply remain calm and stay informed.
For further information I include these articles :
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143971378
http://allafrica.com/stories/200707180087.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6903261.stm
Text : A strong earthquake has hit northern Tanzania, with aftershocks felt as far away as the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake hit with a magnitude of 6.0, about 100km (60 miles) from the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. Some high-rise buildings in Nairobi, about 155km away, are reported to have shaken gently for several minutes.
The quake is the latest in a series to hit the East African region in the past several days.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or building damage in either Tanzania or Kenya.
East Africa's Great Rift Valley runs along a geological fault line, but has largely escaped major quakes in recent years. The Kenyan government is expected to make a statement on Wednesday on the findings of an investigation by geological experts into the recent tremors.
The world can be a very scary place when these things happen, things we have no control over, but its best to simply remain calm and stay informed.
For further information I include these articles :
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143971378
http://allafrica.com/stories/200707180087.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6903261.stm
Text : A strong earthquake has hit northern Tanzania, with aftershocks felt as far away as the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake hit with a magnitude of 6.0, about 100km (60 miles) from the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. Some high-rise buildings in Nairobi, about 155km away, are reported to have shaken gently for several minutes.
The quake is the latest in a series to hit the East African region in the past several days.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or building damage in either Tanzania or Kenya.
East Africa's Great Rift Valley runs along a geological fault line, but has largely escaped major quakes in recent years. The Kenyan government is expected to make a statement on Wednesday on the findings of an investigation by geological experts into the recent tremors.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Development Education Newsletter
The DEA's Vision is of EDUCATION that encourages and enables all people to think critically and to aspire and work towards a more just and sustainable world.
For all of you interested please visit DEA itself, or simply sign up to their excellent Newsletter by emailing 'SUBSCRIBE' to: e-noticeboard@dea.org.uk. Also available online.
Online volunteering (via Facebook)
You will have to either LOG IN or REGISTER with Facebook first but this is a video shot by Raul Caceres & friends, Project Facilitator for the NABUUR project in Menengai, Kenya.
Facebook is fast becoming another excellent medium for social networking across the globe .. enjoy!
Technorati Tags: facebook, online volunteering, africa
Facebook is fast becoming another excellent medium for social networking across the globe .. enjoy!
Technorati Tags: facebook, online volunteering, africa
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Monday, July 09, 2007
Class assignment
I just can't wait for all to arrive and experience this for yourselves ...
Message from Nancy :
Friday we had a writing exercise in my 7th grade English class:
I quarrelled with my brother/sister about___________.
We brainstormed on the board examples - they kind of show where I am: guarding the shamba (farm/garden), gathering firewood, feeding the cow (meaning going out to gather the food), grazing the cow, fetching the water, cooking the food, washing the dishes, guarding the house (people don't like to leave their compounds -land/home- as people come in and steal), mopping the floor (by hand with rag), digging in the shamba.
Enjoy, Nancy
Message from Nancy :
Friday we had a writing exercise in my 7th grade English class:
I quarrelled with my brother/sister about___________.
We brainstormed on the board examples - they kind of show where I am: guarding the shamba (farm/garden), gathering firewood, feeding the cow (meaning going out to gather the food), grazing the cow, fetching the water, cooking the food, washing the dishes, guarding the house (people don't like to leave their compounds -land/home- as people come in and steal), mopping the floor (by hand with rag), digging in the shamba.
Enjoy, Nancy
Sunday, July 08, 2007
AMREF's Virtual Tours
This really is thought provoking.
AMREF has included panoramic Java-enabled tours of the Kibera slum area of Nairobi. One of our volunteers will be spending some additional time assisting in one of the area's clinics prior to joining JNMCC in Maseno. There are just so many needy people in Kenya but it is essential to focus on one project or you can find yourself simply overwhelmed.
Technorati Tags: kibera slum AMREF poverty
AMREF has included panoramic Java-enabled tours of the Kibera slum area of Nairobi. One of our volunteers will be spending some additional time assisting in one of the area's clinics prior to joining JNMCC in Maseno. There are just so many needy people in Kenya but it is essential to focus on one project or you can find yourself simply overwhelmed.
Technorati Tags: kibera slum AMREF poverty
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Thursday, July 05, 2007
A new eBay for Charity listing for AVIF - LIVE EARTH tickets
Many thanks to "Henrydoe" and MissionFish :
A new listing has just been posted on eBay to benefit AVIF.
This listing is onsale now on eBay.
eBay for Charity Listing: X2 TICKETS TO LIVE EARTH
Donation Percentage: 20.0%
This is possible through http://www.missionfish.org.uk
The main Live Earth website is here, 7 July 2007
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Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Thank You Matt & Campsmount College, Norton, Doncaster, UK
I want to say Thank you to Matt McDonald, joining JNMCC as part of the Summer Programme.
(thank you very much)
Published on blog
Matt teaches Year 7 students (age 11/12 yrs) at Campsmount College in Doncaster, UK.
Campsmount are helping to print and laminate the posters and the Yr 7 pupils have been so keen to be involved they have started several initiatives around the school such as collecting stationary items and umbrellas, calendars, etc. They have also started 'pen-pal' letters with photos for the students in the area.
The local press are highlighting the students efforts and we'd also like to thank the Head Mr A Sprakes, helping to create permanent links with the schools (& already donated around £200 worth of equipment to take over later this month.)
(thank you very much)
Published on blog
AVIF Update 12
I hope everyone is well and plans are all being finalised.
Please contact me with any further questions.
Regarding the posters, http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/ I am hoping that Sharon can have some of these printed out so you can take them with you. There is an instructions poster here http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/cover.html
Can you all please make sure you are subscribed to the Blog as updates are published there and act as an archive for information. If you subscribe (most of you should already be) you will get sent the updates every time I write something.
We have fantastic news about 3 of the girls from JNMCC. Sharon had a networking trip to the States last year and met an NGO called Zawadi. They are interviewing the girls to go to the United States on a full scholarship .. keep your fingers crossed for them.
540 Airlines are having problems with their online booking system but have reserved flights for you. They should be coming to the Orientation to meet you so you can arrange payment there, or they will take you to the office themselves.
We were wondering if any of you wanted to plan a classroom painting day with your hosts. Paint is very cheap and as you will see walls can be very bare. Please consider this activity. Sharon pointed out that it would of course involve the children in a fantastic lasting project. You can make arrangements on arrival with your hosts.
Kindest regards
Alison
Please contact me with any further questions.
Regarding the posters, http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/ I am hoping that Sharon can have some of these printed out so you can take them with you. There is an instructions poster here http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/cover.html
Can you all please make sure you are subscribed to the Blog as updates are published there and act as an archive for information. If you subscribe (most of you should already be) you will get sent the updates every time I write something.
We have fantastic news about 3 of the girls from JNMCC. Sharon had a networking trip to the States last year and met an NGO called Zawadi. They are interviewing the girls to go to the United States on a full scholarship .. keep your fingers crossed for them.
540 Airlines are having problems with their online booking system but have reserved flights for you. They should be coming to the Orientation to meet you so you can arrange payment there, or they will take you to the office themselves.
We were wondering if any of you wanted to plan a classroom painting day with your hosts. Paint is very cheap and as you will see walls can be very bare. Please consider this activity. Sharon pointed out that it would of course involve the children in a fantastic lasting project. You can make arrangements on arrival with your hosts.
Kindest regards
Alison
Monday, July 02, 2007
Fantastic Educational Posters
I've just been sent the actual posters, designed brilliantly, creatively and simply by Sam Rick, based in Uganda. All the posters are available for download here please pass them on to anyone you can.
They easily and simply illustrate many sustainable processes for health, farming, hygiene, cooking which we'll definitely be passing out at Orientation this Summer when our volunteers visit Kenya.
Technorati Tags: sustainable development, africa, kenya, Fourth Way, Sam Rich
They easily and simply illustrate many sustainable processes for health, farming, hygiene, cooking which we'll definitely be passing out at Orientation this Summer when our volunteers visit Kenya.
Technorati Tags: sustainable development, africa, kenya, Fourth Way, Sam Rich
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So much more to Africa
Thank you for a fantastic blog by Hellen Kakooza-Slade, a Ugandan lady now living in the UK. We met through the wonderful social-networking site i Genius.
Hellen points out the absolute truth in todays sustainable development process and reminds us all of the sheer brilliance of simplicity and resolve. Ilnesses treated herbally, locally, for free, demands a global debate of its own, especially in Africa. Harambee (everyone pulling together) is an important lesson for all.
Technorati Tags: sustainable development, family, africa
Hellen points out the absolute truth in todays sustainable development process and reminds us all of the sheer brilliance of simplicity and resolve. Ilnesses treated herbally, locally, for free, demands a global debate of its own, especially in Africa. Harambee (everyone pulling together) is an important lesson for all.
Technorati Tags: sustainable development, family, africa
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Saturday, June 30, 2007
JNMCC "Mercy" Home
Nancy is volunteering in Maseno, Western Kenya, right now with our hosts JNMCC, an orphanage set up by Edward Buyengo. I get a huge amount of perspective reading volunteers experiences and would like to share it.
AVIF has put JNMCC in touch with Nancy and she is there with them now getting other people involved .. this is what I wanted AVIF to be able to do. We are a success already. With the help of Liz Ward, I am working on AVIF's growth so we can receive funding and so help financially but its inspiring to know we can help even when we have nothing.
Some of the information here is both sensitive, personal and confidential so has been removed, but the remainder will hopefully provide some perspective.
Kindest regards
Alison
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Mercy Home
Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:47:27 -0700
From: nancy heffernan
.... There are many people here that have to live away from home. ....[JNMCC] have 13 girls in the house and 24 girls who still live with what family remains. They [JNMCC] pay for the 24 girls uniforms, clothes as needed, and school supplies and lunch money and sometimes medical. They pay the same for the 13 girls in their own home. ...Sometime ago, volunteers started coming a little and they have helped, along with community people. The last volunteers were last summer. ....There is no wasting of money here. There is a list of 40-50 children wanting to be helped and they come and sit and wait .. to see if they can stay. Most parents have died of AIDS, some of TB or malaria. ...... [names removed] have a mom who is dying of aids and I am going to ... visit her- they have 2 sisters and a brother at home with the mom. They [JNMCC] help those children too. The reason they have those girls is they were the top of their classes and are now changed girls who could take on the world with their drive, determination and intelligence, therefore making Kenya, and the community a better place. And that is the goal of the Mercy house.
Girls are told it is their responsibility to do well in school and care for each other and all. They thrive and laugh and help each other and take turns cleaning, cooking, washing and helping each other and around the house. They are up at 5:15 (high schoolers at 4 to start the fire and get tea and leftovers ready.) They sing these incredible songs - so African I love it and then have a short prayer and start their day- They leave by 6am to 6:45, depending how far their school is- they go to many schools- and return at 4:30- the youngest of 10 and 11 years old - or 6:30.
They take turns filling the kerosine lamps - often if late, using my headlight ... so cute! Then they start the fire, cut the vegetables in their hands, no cutting boards, as they sit on the "patio" outside of the kitchen.They go to church on Sunday and go to the different ones of the girls home churches. The girls visit home and their family, if one can come and visit. It is amazing to see these girls and how they are and how their family is so poor and so different.....
AVIF has put JNMCC in touch with Nancy and she is there with them now getting other people involved .. this is what I wanted AVIF to be able to do. We are a success already. With the help of Liz Ward, I am working on AVIF's growth so we can receive funding and so help financially but its inspiring to know we can help even when we have nothing.
Some of the information here is both sensitive, personal and confidential so has been removed, but the remainder will hopefully provide some perspective.
Kindest regards
Alison
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Mercy Home
Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:47:27 -0700
From: nancy heffernan
.... There are many people here that have to live away from home. ....[JNMCC] have 13 girls in the house and 24 girls who still live with what family remains. They [JNMCC] pay for the 24 girls uniforms, clothes as needed, and school supplies and lunch money and sometimes medical. They pay the same for the 13 girls in their own home. ...Sometime ago, volunteers started coming a little and they have helped, along with community people. The last volunteers were last summer. ....There is no wasting of money here. There is a list of 40-50 children wanting to be helped and they come and sit and wait .. to see if they can stay. Most parents have died of AIDS, some of TB or malaria. ...... [names removed] have a mom who is dying of aids and I am going to ... visit her- they have 2 sisters and a brother at home with the mom. They [JNMCC] help those children too. The reason they have those girls is they were the top of their classes and are now changed girls who could take on the world with their drive, determination and intelligence, therefore making Kenya, and the community a better place. And that is the goal of the Mercy house.
Girls are told it is their responsibility to do well in school and care for each other and all. They thrive and laugh and help each other and take turns cleaning, cooking, washing and helping each other and around the house. They are up at 5:15 (high schoolers at 4 to start the fire and get tea and leftovers ready.) They sing these incredible songs - so African I love it and then have a short prayer and start their day- They leave by 6am to 6:45, depending how far their school is- they go to many schools- and return at 4:30- the youngest of 10 and 11 years old - or 6:30.
They take turns filling the kerosine lamps - often if late, using my headlight ... so cute! Then they start the fire, cut the vegetables in their hands, no cutting boards, as they sit on the "patio" outside of the kitchen.They go to church on Sunday and go to the different ones of the girls home churches. The girls visit home and their family, if one can come and visit. It is amazing to see these girls and how they are and how their family is so poor and so different.....
Friday, June 29, 2007
A new eBay for Charity listing for AVIF - LIVE EARTH tickets
Many thanks to "Henrydoe" and MissionFish :
A new listing has just been posted on eBay to benefit AVIF.
This listing is onsale now on eBay.
eBay for Charity Listing: X2 TICKETS TO LIVE EARTH
Donation Percentage: 20.0%
Seller: henrydoe
This is possible through http://www.missionfish.org.uk
The main Live Earth website is here, 7 July 2007Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wishlist for Summer 2007
On the advice of Nancy, currently in Maseno, Western Kenya, at the Jehovah Nissi Mercy Childrens Centre, here are a few items you might consider bringing to each of our hosts.
Items can be purchased cheaply in Nairobi or brought from home and all are relatively small :
- Solar Mobile/cell charger (the whole group could share the cost then donate to your host)
- Simple diaries for the older children
- Big bottle of Advil / Nurofen for common cramps/ headaches (esp for the older girls during periods)
- Spiral notebooks, pens
- Umbrellas - the kind that fold up small - "it rained/poured the other day and the children all just got soaked with only thier sweaters"
- Rubber bands for holding up school socks - "can't find any in market)"
- Simple cloth book bags
- Toothpaste
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Security issues
In answer to concerns of a volunteer in relation to recent killings in Nairobi (sect killings) ....
.. these occurrences happen in Kenya a lot and will possibly get worse as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer .. hence the need for our work in providing sustainable development.
Kenya is a high risk area, though developed far more than its relative neighbour Darfur.... AVIF will catagorically state that we cannot guarantee your safety 100%, neither can the United Nations, as they advise here on their website http://www.unon.org/unoncomplex/security_advice.php
All AVIF can do is our utmost for your safety, and give you plenty of information and advise you to use common sense and abide by our advice. Volunteers travel all over the world every day. Taking a risk is part of living, or you will never get to experience life other than in your home town or country.
No insurance policy in the world can protect you from the ravages of poverty. If you truly believe the risks are too high then please do not take part in AVIF's onsite volunteering. It would be a shame to travel all that way only to be worried every day for your safety. I know many people who have lived and brought their children up in Kenya. Nairobi is like any city in a developing country with sharp contrasts between wealth and status. Some Kenyans will obviously be angered when a tourist walks past wearing jewellery worth more than their life's earning potential .. we simply have to fully understand what we are doing in Kenya and be extremely sensitive to the situation.
Most people are good, hardworking, honest people, some aren't. We use our common sense, stay in groups and heed the advice and hospitality of our hosts. Please remember that rural life is far different to urban. People do not have the harsh realities of todays world thrust in their faces all day long and are open to sustainable development.
Please add any comments, this is an important issue and one we take seriously, but not enough to stop progress. The world needs risk-takers like AVIF volunteers.
Kindest regards
Alison Lowndes
.. these occurrences happen in Kenya a lot and will possibly get worse as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer .. hence the need for our work in providing sustainable development.
Kenya is a high risk area, though developed far more than its relative neighbour Darfur.... AVIF will catagorically state that we cannot guarantee your safety 100%, neither can the United Nations, as they advise here on their website http://www.unon.org/unoncomplex/security_advice.php
All AVIF can do is our utmost for your safety, and give you plenty of information and advise you to use common sense and abide by our advice. Volunteers travel all over the world every day. Taking a risk is part of living, or you will never get to experience life other than in your home town or country.
No insurance policy in the world can protect you from the ravages of poverty. If you truly believe the risks are too high then please do not take part in AVIF's onsite volunteering. It would be a shame to travel all that way only to be worried every day for your safety. I know many people who have lived and brought their children up in Kenya. Nairobi is like any city in a developing country with sharp contrasts between wealth and status. Some Kenyans will obviously be angered when a tourist walks past wearing jewellery worth more than their life's earning potential .. we simply have to fully understand what we are doing in Kenya and be extremely sensitive to the situation.
Most people are good, hardworking, honest people, some aren't. We use our common sense, stay in groups and heed the advice and hospitality of our hosts. Please remember that rural life is far different to urban. People do not have the harsh realities of todays world thrust in their faces all day long and are open to sustainable development.
Please add any comments, this is an important issue and one we take seriously, but not enough to stop progress. The world needs risk-takers like AVIF volunteers.
Kindest regards
Alison Lowndes
Monday, June 25, 2007
Weather
The UK (Yorkshire especially) is having an unprecedented lapse in Summer conditions !
However, if this persists you will at least be acclimatised as the Kenyan winter has begun, temperatures today are around a similar 11 celcius. Don't forget to pack fleeces !
Friday, June 22, 2007
Another fantastic idea brought to you by AfriGadget
AfriGadget |
| Posted: 21 Jun 2007 11:57 PM CDT Peter Kahugu of Banana Hill just outside Nairobi makes a living using his bicycle. And no, he is not a professional cyclist. AfriGadget reporter Afromusing and I had an opportunity to interview Peter who has modified his bicycle with a belt, a set of tensioning pulleys and a grinding stone to make it a knife-sharpening machine. By kicking the bike up onto its stand and engaging a gearing system, he is able to use "leg-horsepower" to drive a grinding wheel and sharpen knives while "on the move". Peter has been at this for 2 years now and he makes about Kshs 500 ( app. 10 US$) a day by riding his mobile workshop from client to client sharpening all their knives as he goes. The grinding stone he uses has lasted an astounding 2 years and he has had to replace his drive belt a couple of times but that is as simple as cutting up a long strip of rubber from an old car or bicycle tire inner tube. Be sure to click though on the image for video on YouTube of the Peter and his bike in action.
|
Note from Nancy in Toi Primary, Kibera slums, Nairobi
...Wish list: calendars and maps of world, africa for classrooms.Nothing on walls or for reference. As we made the dolls and the boys made animals out of the material I brought- along with needles thread, embroidery thread and yarn for manes or hair- the students took the opportunity to sew the many holes in their sweaters.
I left needles and thread, etc with those that wanted it. - hope I have enough left for todays class.
I brought the beach ball world globes - one per class and they were wonderful for them.
They have nothing as you know.
All were very excited to learn to make better dolls/animals in hopes of selling them one day.
So, material and supplies for a classroom would be good. I might see if I can get more material for the teacher who is now turned on with the idea.
My class yesterday had 83 students - level 7 and always that many- it was a normal size class and incredible!
The children were beyond wonderful. Must run - ha no time.
Nancy
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Toi Primary
Nancy just sent these photos, shes been to a school in Kibera today, a slum of Nairobi. The students are in level 7 which is 7th grade, between 11 and 16 years old and all very very kind and loving. Thank you Nancy.
ACT on CO2 Carbon Calculator
Oneclimate.net just advised me about the Carbon Footprint Calculator, designed to make it easier for individuals to consider their own impact on the environment, through the use of home electrical applicances, transport, etc. Its simple to use .. for more info go here and spread the word to all. Thanks to David Milliband, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (UK)
Technorati Tags: climate change, carbon footprint
Technorati Tags: climate change, carbon footprint
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Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Fly with Emirates
We'd like to thank Emirates Airline for offering free excess baggage to our volunteers taking over donated classroom supplies and other items for the orphanages & schools, during this Summers volunteer programme.
Emirates have confirmed they will waive the charges on an extra 20kgs of baggage for a volunteer on their outbound flight, putting the authority into the booking so it will be seen by the check-in agents on arrival at the airport.
Thanks especially to Lesley Walsh at Emirates, Wilmslow UK
Technorati Tags: excess baggage, kenya
Emirates have confirmed they will waive the charges on an extra 20kgs of baggage for a volunteer on their outbound flight, putting the authority into the booking so it will be seen by the check-in agents on arrival at the airport.
Thanks especially to Lesley Walsh at Emirates, Wilmslow UK
Technorati Tags: excess baggage, kenya
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Monday, June 18, 2007
Big thanks & favours
I really want to mention & recommend OneWorld.Net for the wonderful contribution they make. We recently partnered with them and they've given us such massive assistance. Thanks especially to Gabrielle Hamm, Partnerships Coordinator in London for listing our vacancies, our events, our website, no one could be more generous.
It doesn't surprise me that Kofi Annan recommends OneWorld.net as one of his favourite websites, reflecting his belief that “information and communications technologies are enormously powerful tools for development.
Take a look at their main site and also the new OneClimate.net an alternative to Rupert Murdoch's MySpace, focused on climate change. Our main project at the moment is promoting solar cooking, featuring soon on the site. How simple but effective the concept is, helping people, the environment, health, ecosystem all in one.
Technorati Tags: one world, climate change, solar cooking
It doesn't surprise me that Kofi Annan recommends OneWorld.net as one of his favourite websites, reflecting his belief that “information and communications technologies are enormously powerful tools for development.
Take a look at their main site and also the new OneClimate.net an alternative to Rupert Murdoch's MySpace, focused on climate change. Our main project at the moment is promoting solar cooking, featuring soon on the site. How simple but effective the concept is, helping people, the environment, health, ecosystem all in one.
Technorati Tags: one world, climate change, solar cooking
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Projects
We're fast approaching the start of
the Summer Volunteer Programme and we're still in negotiation for the
following projects, to run alongside Solar Cooking introduction and
promotion :
1. Kenyan Ministry of Health Dental Clinics to run at each host site.
2. Glyconutrient distribution to children
3. Malaria prevention education .. distributing literature and nets via KeNAAM
4. Sanitary pad distribution and education to young girls
5. Assistance with the incredible work carried out by V-Day
We hope to confirm our wishlist for the programmer shortly.
If we can help with any other projects during our 5 weeks programme let us know.
Technorati Tags: glyconutrients, RBM, malaria
the Summer Volunteer Programme and we're still in negotiation for the
following projects, to run alongside Solar Cooking introduction and
promotion :
1. Kenyan Ministry of Health Dental Clinics to run at each host site.
2. Glyconutrient distribution to children
3. Malaria prevention education .. distributing literature and nets via KeNAAM
4. Sanitary pad distribution and education to young girls
5. Assistance with the incredible work carried out by V-Day
We hope to confirm our wishlist for the programmer shortly.
If we can help with any other projects during our 5 weeks programme let us know.
Technorati Tags: glyconutrients, RBM, malaria
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Saturday, June 16, 2007
Commoncraft
I wanted to thank Beth Kanter, again, for explaining .. in 2 lines and a hyperlink what an aggregator does .. she took me to Commoncraft's funny / quick & informative video here which again leads to further education. Subscribing is important, of course.
Technorati Tags: rss, beth kanter, avif
Technorati Tags: rss, beth kanter, avif
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SQUIDOO
I've just been sent a fantastic gift by Megan Casey
Editor-in-Chief, Squidoo.com :
It’s about setting up an eBay store, then a Squidoo lens, then a
Flickr account for your photos, then a YouTube video .. and linking them all together to introduce yourself and increase traffic, for free. Personalized signposts
Pointing everything back at each other… is a little unclear .. your Flickr to
your eBay, your eBay to your Squidoo, your Squidoo to
your Flickr AND your eBay, and all of them from your
blog. I needed a little more instruction on how to do this, but its fairly easy to "
Mix in a little del.icio.us tagging and StumbleUpon
favouriting" to achieve results.
Megan writes "Squidoo is called a co-op for a reason. Success is shared.
The better your friends do, the more traffic you get. And
in a nice twist, the better your competitors do, the better
chance your lenses have of getting found as well."
This can only be a good thing.
Its encourages to go back to the idea of selling our communities wares on eBay, even with the large postal costs which we can't seem to avoid.
I'll get on it immediately, come back soon for the new store opening, in the meantime you can donate a percentage of your own sales to AVIF !
Technorati Tags: squidoo, free traffic, blogs, kenya, children, AVIF, volunteer
Editor-in-Chief, Squidoo.com :
It’s about setting up an eBay store, then a Squidoo lens, then a
Flickr account for your photos, then a YouTube video .. and linking them all together to introduce yourself and increase traffic, for free. Personalized signposts
Pointing everything back at each other… is a little unclear .. your Flickr to
your eBay, your eBay to your Squidoo, your Squidoo to
your Flickr AND your eBay, and all of them from your
blog. I needed a little more instruction on how to do this, but its fairly easy to "
Mix in a little del.icio.us tagging and StumbleUpon
favouriting" to achieve results.
Megan writes "Squidoo is called a co-op for a reason. Success is shared.
The better your friends do, the more traffic you get. And
in a nice twist, the better your competitors do, the better
chance your lenses have of getting found as well."
This can only be a good thing.
Its encourages to go back to the idea of selling our communities wares on eBay, even with the large postal costs which we can't seem to avoid.
I'll get on it immediately, come back soon for the new store opening, in the meantime you can donate a percentage of your own sales to AVIF !
Technorati Tags: squidoo, free traffic, blogs, kenya, children, AVIF, volunteer
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Friday, June 15, 2007
Other really helpful technologies
I'm posting this, Brami, on the blog :
Brami Jegan is writing an article for us and was asking about the technologies we use, being an online charity.
Here are a few more :
Aggregators .. e.g Afrigator .. spreads the word about what we do automatically using RSS feeds (really simple syndication)... I think thats how it works anyway.
RSS - People are so so busy these days, its just the fast pace of life because we can do so much more, so much more quickly with the internet now .. Feeds / RSS is just a way of checking local stories / news / blogs / updates by having the headlines sent to you, not the whole blog (kind of !!)
I, personally, am always busy, I spend 10 hours a day most days on this laptop answering email enquiries and learning new technologies to promote what we do, gain more interest - as well as a lone parent to 2 primary age munchkins - so I don't have time to keep up to date with certain blogs .. some people do.
In fact, some people manage to make a steady income from writing blogs every day .. its like Sex and the City, Carrie's Column .. they make money writing down their own thoughts and experiences. Unfortunately I don't get time to read them .. it amazes me that people do.
I'm also becoming so accustomed to the internet now that I actually get annoyed when I have 4 or 5 errands in my local town and I'm having to drive there, wait in traffic or wait in line .. because they're things I can't buy online or get on eBay or something, instantly !! If only life was as efficient as the internet. I think this is where my loathing of bureaucracy comes from .. so much red tape just doubles or triples your workload .. another example is commuting to an office to earn money, which loses you so much time and money ??
I'm digressing, a common problem with the internet .. another technology is www.flickr.com, photo sharing .. digital photos can be stored online now but each photo can be tagged with keywords so if someone puts in 'kenya' or 'poverty' into Google they may well be shown a link to our photos on Flickr .. also available via the Blog .. its just another way of increasing visibility, getting more people aware of what we're trying to do.
Look on the blog again (reason I hardly ever speak to anyone anymore is that you can't direct someone to the internet quickly .. there are no hyperlinks in speech !!) The blog now features a Frappr Map .. another way to create a network of people, I've asked all the volunteers to add themselves but people are busy and no one has yet !!
Technorati automatically promotes a blog to the vast population too .. but I'll have to stop there because I really don't know how it does that. There are a massive amount of technologies that I'm using but have no idea how they do what they do eg www.feedburner.com
For donations online we could do a lot more if we could afford Justgiving's fees but we
get help from eBay's Charitable arm, Missionfish allowing people to donate %'s during an online auctionand much much more
....just so long as we get more people aware of what we're doing and more volunteers commit to coming over or just volunteering online via Nabuur.com, which enables anyone, anywhere to simply log in and assist a project from the comfort of their home or office. Devised by the ex-CEO of World Wildlife Fund, NABUUR (means Neighbour in old Dutch) is a wonderful technology and I'd like to promote it more. I currently help in a project with a group of dairy farming women.
Thank you, Brami, for all you're doing.
Kindest regards
Alison
Brami Jegan is writing an article for us and was asking about the technologies we use, being an online charity.
Here are a few more :
Aggregators .. e.g Afrigator .. spreads the word about what we do automatically using RSS feeds (really simple syndication)... I think thats how it works anyway.
RSS - People are so so busy these days, its just the fast pace of life because we can do so much more, so much more quickly with the internet now .. Feeds / RSS is just a way of checking local stories / news / blogs / updates by having the headlines sent to you, not the whole blog (kind of !!)
I, personally, am always busy, I spend 10 hours a day most days on this laptop answering email enquiries and learning new technologies to promote what we do, gain more interest - as well as a lone parent to 2 primary age munchkins - so I don't have time to keep up to date with certain blogs .. some people do.
In fact, some people manage to make a steady income from writing blogs every day .. its like Sex and the City, Carrie's Column .. they make money writing down their own thoughts and experiences. Unfortunately I don't get time to read them .. it amazes me that people do.
I'm also becoming so accustomed to the internet now that I actually get annoyed when I have 4 or 5 errands in my local town and I'm having to drive there, wait in traffic or wait in line .. because they're things I can't buy online or get on eBay or something, instantly !! If only life was as efficient as the internet. I think this is where my loathing of bureaucracy comes from .. so much red tape just doubles or triples your workload .. another example is commuting to an office to earn money, which loses you so much time and money ??
I'm digressing, a common problem with the internet .. another technology is www.flickr.com, photo sharing .. digital photos can be stored online now but each photo can be tagged with keywords so if someone puts in 'kenya' or 'poverty' into Google they may well be shown a link to our photos on Flickr .. also available via the Blog .. its just another way of increasing visibility, getting more people aware of what we're trying to do.
Look on the blog again (reason I hardly ever speak to anyone anymore is that you can't direct someone to the internet quickly .. there are no hyperlinks in speech !!) The blog now features a Frappr Map .. another way to create a network of people, I've asked all the volunteers to add themselves but people are busy and no one has yet !!
Technorati automatically promotes a blog to the vast population too .. but I'll have to stop there because I really don't know how it does that. There are a massive amount of technologies that I'm using but have no idea how they do what they do eg www.feedburner.com
For donations online we could do a lot more if we could afford Justgiving's fees but we
get help from eBay's Charitable arm, Missionfish allowing people to donate %'s during an online auctionand much much more
....just so long as we get more people aware of what we're doing and more volunteers commit to coming over or just volunteering online via Nabuur.com, which enables anyone, anywhere to simply log in and assist a project from the comfort of their home or office. Devised by the ex-CEO of World Wildlife Fund, NABUUR (means Neighbour in old Dutch) is a wonderful technology and I'd like to promote it more. I currently help in a project with a group of dairy farming women.
Thank you, Brami, for all you're doing.
Kindest regards
Alison
Thursday, June 14, 2007
More links more promotion
Many many thanks to Brami Jegan for her help with promoting our work and also to Jo Matthews of iGenius. We've also linked with Frappr, please add yourself to the map above. MyBlogLog is helping push our name about too but the list is endless, as is the internet !
Our latest update includes the info that www.fly540.com now fly to the Mara so please
book flights to coincide with your Maasai Mara Safari 27-30 Aug it is far safer and more convenient to fly in Kenya.
I realise many of our 2007 volunteers are currently in
exams so I wish you all the best and remind you it will soon be over
and you'll be in Kenya !!
Technorati Tags: frappr, flickr,
Our latest update includes the info that www.fly540.com now fly to the Mara so please
book flights to coincide with your Maasai Mara Safari 27-30 Aug it is far safer and more convenient to fly in Kenya.
I realise many of our 2007 volunteers are currently in
exams so I wish you all the best and remind you it will soon be over
and you'll be in Kenya !!
Technorati Tags: frappr, flickr,
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Absence makes the heart grow faster
Apologies for our silence and delay in response as I've been in the Isle of Mann for the Centenary TT Road Races. Having now returned to a mass of emails and spam I'm slowly wading through them and will respond as soon as I get to you.
Kindest regards
Alison
Kindest regards
Alison
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Trustees
We need trustees !
We currently only have 3 trustees, 2 of which are related. We are currently recruiting to rectify this situation.
We need them to juggle the current Catch 22 situation - to enable us to grow and with this growth, introduce all bureaucratic (some I believe unnecessary) measures, i.e.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
A governing document (we do have a constitution)
Full accounting with the annual reports (we have virutally no money !)
Minutes of the board meetings (onsite or VoIP)
Strategic, Business or Operational Plan
Policy and procedure documents of the organisation
We actually have some of these items but until we are able to obtain more Trustees we prefer to concentrate on getting the job done rather than whether or not people believe we're corrupt or trustworthy. That is an increasingly hard task in todays world but one I will not spend ridiculous amount of time / money or effort on.
We do not charge fees from our volunteers (who cover their own essential costs). I will not allow AVIF to become a "gap year con". We do not get financially involved with any of our hosts. Both myself and Sharon, as Managing Trustee, a Kenyan citizen, are unpaid and cover our own expenses. The corruption existing in Africa is severe and we actually prefer to be non-financially involved.
We "emphasise the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation; we separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. Unwilling or able to spend vast amounts on insurance policies we would like to empower individuals to take more personal responsibility for risk since they are best placed to manage it."
No-one is paid, as it should be. We have only received £650 in total for funding, which has been used to cover costs. Our current Barclays charity account holds the remaining £230 which will be used to cover costs of the orientation running in July, purchase solar cookers etc. Most will be covered by ourselves.
Until we spend time and money on bureaucratic measures to improve our governance and transparency we probably will not receive funding .. hence our need for Trustees.
We are an innovative charity and are aware of governance and transparency to the point of ridicule (this blog for example)
We do everything short of publishing the access codes to the online Barclays Community Account. Should our non-conforming current governance, however, mean we must remain financially uninvolved, we are still able to achieve a great deal more than if we followed the advice of consultants and became a limited company.
We have been wonderfully advised by someone far more bureaucratically experienced than I (thank you Liz) that certain procedures as essential for even the smallest of non-profit-organisations.
I hope we can continue to grow and juggle without spending too much time on red tape. The phrase trustee indemnity insurance will not help an orphaned child complete their secondary education rather than succumb to child labour. I do understand though that it may indirectly get us Trustees that can conform us enough to be able to obtain funding for these children.
Technorati Tags: governance transparency charity poverty kenya children
We currently only have 3 trustees, 2 of which are related. We are currently recruiting to rectify this situation.
We need them to juggle the current Catch 22 situation - to enable us to grow and with this growth, introduce all bureaucratic (some I believe unnecessary) measures, i.e.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
A governing document (we do have a constitution)
Full accounting with the annual reports (we have virutally no money !)
Minutes of the board meetings (onsite or VoIP)
Strategic, Business or Operational Plan
Policy and procedure documents of the organisation
We actually have some of these items but until we are able to obtain more Trustees we prefer to concentrate on getting the job done rather than whether or not people believe we're corrupt or trustworthy. That is an increasingly hard task in todays world but one I will not spend ridiculous amount of time / money or effort on.
We do not charge fees from our volunteers (who cover their own essential costs). I will not allow AVIF to become a "gap year con". We do not get financially involved with any of our hosts. Both myself and Sharon, as Managing Trustee, a Kenyan citizen, are unpaid and cover our own expenses. The corruption existing in Africa is severe and we actually prefer to be non-financially involved.
We "emphasise the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation; we separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. Unwilling or able to spend vast amounts on insurance policies we would like to empower individuals to take more personal responsibility for risk since they are best placed to manage it."
No-one is paid, as it should be. We have only received £650 in total for funding, which has been used to cover costs. Our current Barclays charity account holds the remaining £230 which will be used to cover costs of the orientation running in July, purchase solar cookers etc. Most will be covered by ourselves.
Until we spend time and money on bureaucratic measures to improve our governance and transparency we probably will not receive funding .. hence our need for Trustees.
We are an innovative charity and are aware of governance and transparency to the point of ridicule (this blog for example)
We do everything short of publishing the access codes to the online Barclays Community Account. Should our non-conforming current governance, however, mean we must remain financially uninvolved, we are still able to achieve a great deal more than if we followed the advice of consultants and became a limited company.
We have been wonderfully advised by someone far more bureaucratically experienced than I (thank you Liz) that certain procedures as essential for even the smallest of non-profit-organisations.
I hope we can continue to grow and juggle without spending too much time on red tape. The phrase trustee indemnity insurance will not help an orphaned child complete their secondary education rather than succumb to child labour. I do understand though that it may indirectly get us Trustees that can conform us enough to be able to obtain funding for these children.
Technorati Tags: governance transparency charity poverty kenya children
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Monday, May 21, 2007
I've had a weekend of seeing friends & family (under very heart-wrenching circumstances). It has been a soulful time and this was an equally poignant moment, while sifting through my emails, when I opened this forwarded chain apparently sent by Phil McCann (Madeleine McCann's aunt) .. followed immediately by Brami's email of a case she'd been sent.
I merely wanted to highlight the point Brami made
earlier this week
[Email 1]
PLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYBODY IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK...
As you are aware my niece, Madeleine, is still missing and I am asking
everyone I know to send this as a chain letter i.e. you send it to everyone
you know and ask them to do the same, as the story is only being covered in
Britain, Eire and Portugal. We don't believe that she is in Portugal anymore
and need to get her picture and the story across Europe as quickly as
possible. Suggestions are welcome.
Phil McCann
The chain has a portugese disclaimer saying :
Anyone with information should contact the Portuguese police direct on 00
351 282 405 400 or contact Crimestoppers
anonymously on 0800 555 111.
[Email 2]
The name of the child is: Vinisiya
She is three years of age.
Her father is a construction worker.
She was taken while playing in the street (Bindiamaamn Koil
Street, Odaimanagar, Besant Nagar, Chennai , India). She has now been missing for two months.
I hope this is of interest to you, just one
missing child of thousands.
Technorati Tags: madeleine missing children poverty
I merely wanted to highlight the point Brami made
earlier this week
[Email 1]
PLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYBODY IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK...
As you are aware my niece, Madeleine, is still missing and I am asking
everyone I know to send this as a chain letter i.e. you send it to everyone
you know and ask them to do the same, as the story is only being covered in
Britain, Eire and Portugal. We don't believe that she is in Portugal anymore
and need to get her picture and the story across Europe as quickly as
possible. Suggestions are welcome.
Phil McCann
The chain has a portugese disclaimer saying :
Anyone with information should contact the Portuguese police direct on 00
351 282 405 400 or contact Crimestoppers
anonymously on 0800 555 111.
[Email 2]
The name of the child is: Vinisiya
She is three years of age.
Her father is a construction worker.
She was taken while playing in the street (Bindiamaamn Koil
Street, Odaimanagar, Besant Nagar, Chennai , India). She has now been missing for two months.
I hope this is of interest to you, just one
missing child of thousands.
Technorati Tags: madeleine missing children poverty
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What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger
A volunteer has asked about safety .. the website contains these details but I'll post it too :
AVIF cannot enforce but make recommendations that volunteers apply for membership to AMREF's Flying Doctor Service which will ensure emergency evacuation to the nearest registered major hospital. While we also have a discounted medical package available from SafeMed we believe the average "western" UK/US travel / medical insurance will provide the same cover.
Should things go wrong our hosts are able to contact us immediately. We hold all emergency information .. Volunteers are asked to pass on all details of travel / medical insurance as well as references for Flying Doctor membership, at Orientation.
We insist that volunteers travel up-country by air, a much more convenient, faster and safer method of travel, though this cost must again be borne by yourselves. We have
an established arrangement with 540 Airlines who are a new but very amenable company.
AVIF will give you all the information you need but also emphasise the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation; we separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. Unwilling and unable to spend vast amounts on insurance policies we would like to empower individuals to take more personal responsibility for risk since you are best placed to manage it."
You will be given a full safety brief in Nairobi, will have the full welfare support of AVIF Liaisons as well as the protection of the village you will be aiding ~ their support speaks a thousand words.
Technorati Tags: safety kenya risk flying doctors AMREF
AVIF cannot enforce but make recommendations that volunteers apply for membership to AMREF's Flying Doctor Service which will ensure emergency evacuation to the nearest registered major hospital. While we also have a discounted medical package available from SafeMed we believe the average "western" UK/US travel / medical insurance will provide the same cover.
Should things go wrong our hosts are able to contact us immediately. We hold all emergency information .. Volunteers are asked to pass on all details of travel / medical insurance as well as references for Flying Doctor membership, at Orientation.
We insist that volunteers travel up-country by air, a much more convenient, faster and safer method of travel, though this cost must again be borne by yourselves. We have
an established arrangement with 540 Airlines who are a new but very amenable company.
AVIF will give you all the information you need but also emphasise the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation; we separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. Unwilling and unable to spend vast amounts on insurance policies we would like to empower individuals to take more personal responsibility for risk since you are best placed to manage it."
You will be given a full safety brief in Nairobi, will have the full welfare support of AVIF Liaisons as well as the protection of the village you will be aiding ~ their support speaks a thousand words.
Technorati Tags: safety kenya risk flying doctors AMREF
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Thank you so much
To all our prospective volunteers.
Asante & salamu !
Alison Lowndes
Founder Trustee
Bookmark our Blog here
VoIP & IM Skype : avif_volunteers_in_kenya
Member of the NCVO & DEA
AVIF is a UK exempt charity able to claim GiftAid HMRC ref. XR99385
Saturday, May 19, 2007
AfriGadget - solving everyday problems with African ingenuity
Really not sure about how this works (live bookmarking etc) but this is a great idea for spreading the word .. About BlogAfrica
This leads me to AfriGadget which then ... arrrghhhh .. why is the everyday world not as efficient as the internet .. I can do so much just with a laptop and my fingertips but it takes so long to drive places that I have to leave now just to be able to fit in everything I have to this weekend, back and forth driving to get to see & do everything I need to today (including seeing my darling Uncle because my Aunt died a few days ago).
Have to go offline now .. as soon as I get back I'll be sifting through Eric Hersman's site and no doubt making contact to help in some way .. Neeeeed ... more .. .hours .. in .. the .. day !
Technorati Tags: blog africa bookmark global voice innovation development
This leads me to AfriGadget which then ... arrrghhhh .. why is the everyday world not as efficient as the internet .. I can do so much just with a laptop and my fingertips but it takes so long to drive places that I have to leave now just to be able to fit in everything I have to this weekend, back and forth driving to get to see & do everything I need to today (including seeing my darling Uncle because my Aunt died a few days ago).
Have to go offline now .. as soon as I get back I'll be sifting through Eric Hersman's site and no doubt making contact to help in some way .. Neeeeed ... more .. .hours .. in .. the .. day !
Technorati Tags: blog africa bookmark global voice innovation development
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Friday, May 18, 2007
Congratulations Brami
We've been Afrigator'd.
I'd like to introduce another fabulous page. John Powers of Bazungu Bucks
has helped us in many ways; not only pushing us up the blogging curve, but in simply including us in his network. John mentions Ethan Zuckerman
who I had the pleasure of communicating with a few months ago over our
current project promoting Solar Cooking. Ethan highlighted a few
realities of rushing into helping the africans in general without
thought for their customs, ways of life e.g. solar cooking (slow
cooking but using the power of the sun) may have a massive amount of
advantages but could possibly alter the taste meaning people won't like
the food .. and the whole project fails. Solar Cooking International,
however, who introduced us, have a tried and tested well-established
procedure for training and gentle introduction to this much-needed
concept. All details and even plans of action for helping, field tests, etc are all available on their extensive Wiki.
Changing the subject (essential with my multi-tasking lifestyle) ..
Nick @ PodNosh suggested that I also take a look at Diggers Trackbacks Tutorial (for Blogger) too to help, many thanks to everyone but why doesn't Blogger give us automatic trackback ?
If anyone needs to Fire Up their Blogging I'd recommend ScribeFire I'm now testing the new Performancing-ScribeFire publishing tool .. if you're reading this ..
Lastly .. what a ride its been this last few days but thanks to everyone involved esp. Beth Kanter, Nick Booth,(hope my trackbacks worked) and Congratulations to Brami Jegan, my anonymous, link-less friend, for reaching the Orange Blogs Round Up for her article on the imbalance of media coverage of the abduction of Madeleine McCann. Every child is equal.
Technorati Tags: kenya, children, volunteer, trackback, blogging
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Thursday, May 17, 2007
AVIF Update 8
To all our prospective volunteers:
SHOULD YOU WISH TO RECEIVE UPDATES AUTOMATICALLY PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG
ALL PHOTOS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR FLICKR PAGE
PLEASE BOOKMARK, UPLOAD PHOTOS AND CONTRIBUTE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avif/
Re. safari, numbers must be confirmed by 30 June.
SHOULD YOU WISH TO RECEIVE UPDATES AUTOMATICALLY PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG
(This email is being sent to you as you have enquired about the Summer 2007 Volunteer Program or individual programme. Should you no longer be able to attend please let us know immediately as places are limited)
ALL PHOTOS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR FLICKR PAGE
PLEASE BOOKMARK, UPLOAD PHOTOS AND CONTRIBUTE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avif/
1. Please ensure that everyone has seen, read and returned the Medical Form from the Volunteer Handbook and sent in flight details.
2. By July 1st we will assume that without flight details you are NOT attending.
2. By July 1st we will assume that without flight details you are NOT attending.
3. Itinerary as per website :
27 July arrival at JKIA, Nairobi & Gracia Guest House (see below)
Orientation 28 & 29 July
Return flights to Kisumu (book through www.fly540.com or other) or road to Nakuru Mon 30 July
4 week programme 30 July to 26 August
Return flights to Nairobi for Safari rendezvous / own plans/ home 27 Aug
Maasai Mara Safari 27-30 Aug
30 Aug travel to Nairobi for return flights / hotel accommodation
NB. Safari is optional ~ itinerary on JOIN US > Safari section
GDS require deposits to secure by end June and full payment by end of July.
Please contact GDS directly or via the website link (JOIN US > Safari) to make arrangements. There is an itinerary available there.
AVIF has no financial involvement with GDS.
4. Rather than approx USD70 to go by road (250kms and 5/6 hours) you can fly (45mins) for USD118 (one way) with AirKenya. Unfortunately 540 Airlines do not currently fly to the Mara.
This transfer cost is additional to the safari price quoted in the itinerary.
5. Our Food, Our World, Oxfam’s latest resource for teachers, introduces five children from around the world, and uses the food they eat to explore their lives. By focusing on similarities between the children, the pack helps to build global awareness and empathy with others, and also assists in challenging stereotypes.
Ideal for pupils aged 5-9, the pack covers issues such as food production, food transport, and healthy food. It contains a 64pp teachers’ booklet, 32 full-colour photocards, a CD-ROM, and a colourful A1 poster.
Teachers can also access free online materials (lesson plans, case studies, and photographs) on Cool Planet: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/teachers/ofow . To receive a free poster featuring all five children, email your details (name, address, and job role) to: publish@oxfam.org.uk. Our Food, Our World can be ordered from Oxfam’s Catalogue for Schools, or through the pages on Cool Planet.
AVIF has no financial involvement with GDS.
4. Rather than approx USD70 to go by road (250kms and 5/6 hours) you can fly (45mins) for USD118 (one way) with AirKenya. Unfortunately 540 Airlines do not currently fly to the Mara.
This transfer cost is additional to the safari price quoted in the itinerary.
5. Our Food, Our World, Oxfam’s latest resource for teachers, introduces five children from around the world, and uses the food they eat to explore their lives. By focusing on similarities between the children, the pack helps to build global awareness and empathy with others, and also assists in challenging stereotypes.
Ideal for pupils aged 5-9, the pack covers issues such as food production, food transport, and healthy food. It contains a 64pp teachers’ booklet, 32 full-colour photocards, a CD-ROM, and a colourful A1 poster.
Teachers can also access free online materials (lesson plans, case studies, and photographs) on Cool Planet: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/teachers/ofow . To receive a free poster featuring all five children, email your details (name, address, and job role) to: publish@oxfam.org.uk. Our Food, Our World can be ordered from Oxfam’s Catalogue for Schools, or through the pages on Cool Planet.
Learning from the pros
In true Blog style I'm making use of all the incredible help and tips I've received over the past few short hours, simply by writing this post.
We've now joined Digg, Reddit, re-pinged with Technorati, been publicised by www.oneworld.net, been helped by Beth Kanter, Studio 501c, Podnosh and many more.
I try to use my Thunderbird (still trying to get to grips with it) Sent box to record all the daily occurrences made possible only by the internet but its hard to remember them all.
Brami just sent a HIGH FIVE by email .. I need to get her on Skype so I can send an emoticon backatcha .. she's another virtual friend that I may never meet. Truth is I may never meet 90% of our volunteers but I'm a lover of photographs being the next best thing and they ply me with many .. of course I'll make sure to load them onto Flickr now .. in fact I'm trying to figure out the Merge facility since "lucky me" Flickr and Yahoo just partnered up.
Its all going so well, thanks to everyone.
We've now joined Digg, Reddit, re-pinged with Technorati, been publicised by www.oneworld.net, been helped by Beth Kanter, Studio 501c, Podnosh and many more.
I try to use my Thunderbird (still trying to get to grips with it) Sent box to record all the daily occurrences made possible only by the internet but its hard to remember them all.
Brami just sent a HIGH FIVE by email .. I need to get her on Skype so I can send an emoticon backatcha .. she's another virtual friend that I may never meet. Truth is I may never meet 90% of our volunteers but I'm a lover of photographs being the next best thing and they ply me with many .. of course I'll make sure to load them onto Flickr now .. in fact I'm trying to figure out the Merge facility since "lucky me" Flickr and Yahoo just partnered up.
Its all going so well, thanks to everyone.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The Invisible Madeleines
THE INVISIBLE MADELEINES
Since then we have seen endless footage of two young individuals whose pain, sadness and fear for their daughter’s safety can not be described nor imagined. One only has to see Gerry and Kate McCann’s faces to know that every moment since that night has been a living nightmare for them.
11 days after the incident the reward offered to anyone with information leading to Madeleine’s safe return reached £2.5 million. The generosity of the individuals who have contributed to this fund and every other that has taken time to help in some way is a display of human kindness at its finest. Once again we have united as a nation to show our support, courage and strength. We did this after little Jamie Bulger’s brutal murder, the 2004 Tsunami and 07/07 and we will continue to do this as future tragedies take their place in history.
Yet there is something very uncomfortable and disconcerting about the media’s reaction to Madeleine McCann. As each day passes, it is becoming harder to ignore the imbalance of their reporting. Why has precedence been given to one child and her family over the countless others in this world who are locked in endless slavery, abuse, torture and poverty?
The media say they report News. Surely it is the media that has driven the news over the past 13 days. The momentum of this front page 24/7 reporting has created a void which is not backfilled by any measured reporting of an issue that affects thousands of children every day of every year. Once again the media have failed to give voice to the poor.
In a report by Human Rights Watch published in January 2004, the report details child abductions in
Around Easter this year the plight of children slaving on Cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast so that we can effortlessly eat Easter eggs was given some media attention albeit very minimal. A survey in 2002 by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture found that 284 000 children were working in hazardous conditions on cocoa farms in
There is no doubt that there is a lot of money being given to aid children whose human rights have and are being violated. There are many selfless and generous people in our world and every bit counts. And there is no question of the validity of the reward to bring Madeleine home. Everyone wants this beautiful little girl to be safe and back in her parents’ arms again.
It is unfortunate that the media has isolated this heart wrenching story and have failed to frame it within a global context. Every child is priceless and most importantly every child is equal. As human beings we have a moral duty to remember the thousands of invisible children who we will never ever hear about every time we think, hope and pray for Madeleine McCann.
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