Thank you so much

To all our prospective volunteers.

Thank you so so much to Helen B, Helen H, Charlotte & Louise for the fantastic photos uploaded to Flickr. Please try to use this facility as every photo if given "tags" can increase the sites visibility and the Blog can be used by anyone, just send your entries to me by leaving comments or by sending emails and I'll post your comments.

Asante & salamu !

Alison Lowndes

Founder Trustee

www.AVIF.Org.UK

Bookmark our Blog here

VoIP & IM Skype : avif_volunteers_in_kenya

Member of the NCVO & DEA

New Online Webstore

HAVE YOU MENTIONED SOLAR COOKING TO ANYONE ?

AVIF is a UK exempt charity able to claim GiftAid HMRC ref. XR99385

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

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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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AVIF Update 8

To all our prospective volunteers:

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.

 

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

 

Re. safari, numbers must be confirmed by 30 June.

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.
 

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.

The Invisible Madeleines

THE INVISIBLE MADELEINES

13 days ago four year old Madeleine McCann from Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal in which she was sleeping with her siblings whilst her parents had dinner less than 50 meters away.

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 Northern Uganda as one of the most flagrant examples. ‘The Lord’s Resistance Army has abducted an estimated 10,000 children since mid 2002. These children are forced to fight against the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces, raid villages for food, slaughter civilians, and abduct other children. Children who try to escape are killed, typically by other children who are forced to beat or hack the victim or be killed themselves’.

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 West Africa.  Many of these children were trafficked. Imagine Wembley Stadium filled three times over. This is how many children’s lives are at stake.  

Why has this not been drummed, hammered and stamped into our conscience by the media with daily headlines and graphic accounts of these children?  Their names, their age, their smiles, their tears. We hear nothing. We see nothing. Why are we not reminded every day that bonded labour, warfare and child prostitution is an everyday reality for so many of the world’s children?

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.

(Brami Jegan) 

Helen H ~ March 07 visit to Rianna's Furaha Children's Home, Yala near Kisumu

            We've just come back from spending 2 weeks in quite a rural area of Kenya, 45 minutes drive from Kisumu. We stayed in the orphanage compound the whole time we were there it was a very safe environment, it's also good to be close to the children all the time.  I think we were really lucky with what they gave us whilst we were there, we had our own bedroom, with mosquito nets, we had a shower and normal toilet, as well as a living area and electricity. We were also given a cook/cleaner, who was very helpful, at our own cost, but it was still very cheap!
            Don't expect that there will be lots to do in the evening, even though there is electricity there's still a limit to what you can do, from what I noticed Yala had no bars, and it was just safer for you to stay within the orphanage compound once it was dark anyway. Yala has a few shops and a market twice a week, where you can buy fruit and veg, pop, and phone credit, along with a few other things. Although we found we didn't need to buy much whilst we were there as you give the orphanage enough money for food and drink and they will buy it all for you. Yala also has an internet café, which we found very useful, it was only down the road and we were able to go there by ourselves, which gave you back a little bit of that freedom your used to at home. The computers were really nice, they had broadband internet, but it was still very slow to what we're used too, even though they claim it to be high speed. It's also very cheap, but I guess it needs to be if the connection is slow!
            Although the orphanage has running water, whilst we were there the water did run out for a few days. We were still able to get water to put down the toilet and to wash, but it's handy to take lots of baby wipes and antibacterial gel to make sure you can clean yourself whenever you need to.
            As I said before during the first few days whilst you are there, or even before you arrive, it is essential that you organize with them how much money you will need for food and drink during your stay, they will then buy everything you need. You may wish to visit the supermarket in Kisumu when you arrive to buy anything you may have forgotten, or any food such as crisps, biscuits or sweets to keep you going, as the food you will be getting is mainly carbohydrates!
            If there's anything you really don't like or can't eat I'd advise telling them in advance and they will cater around your needs. The food we were given whilst we were there wasn't much different from home, the only thing is it's all very plain. The one night we had shepherds pie so they must have looked into the types of food we like. Also we were never given ugali (made from maize and is eaten by lots of people in Kenya as it's very cheap), they'd really put some thought into the types of food we may like. 
            We suggest flying to Kisumu and then organizing to be picked up at the airport. We privately hired a matatu (public minibus/bus) which cost 3000ksh (about £21) to take us from the airport to Yala, via the supermarket. We advise flying, even though you will have a weight limit, because the road from Nairobi to Kisumu is very bad and will take about 7 hours, also it's not much more money to fly.
Everyone at the orphanage is so nice and really easy to get on with; they will even go out of their way to help you. We felt that we were treated like royalty whilst we were there and they really do make a big deal out of you being there. One thing you need to be aware of is they expect you to go to church with them, as they are all very Christian. I must say that their church services can be quite a shock as they are very long and very different to those in England.
            The types of things we taught the children we're mainly arts and crafts and sports/games, as its things they never have the opportunity to do. All the children are at school or nursery in the mornings so you have this time to yourself, we often found this time useful to organise what we were doing that day. Then in the afternoon most of the children are about except a few of the older ones who go back to school until around 5pm. There is a language barrier and sometimes it is hard to explain how you're supposed to be doing something, but arts and crafts were fairly easy to explain as you can show them visually. By the end of our stay there you could really tell that the children were a lot more confident with their English and were talking a lot more to you.
Before we went to Kenya we did some fundraising which was a great help to us. We then used this money to buy lots of sport equipment, books and arts and crafts stuff to use with the children. They especially loved the glitter and couldn't resist covering themselves with it; we had to take it away in the end as they were getting a bit carried away! It's very important that you think about the types of donations your going to give to the orphanage. They already get quite a lot of funding so I really advise buying lots of teaching and sport equipment like we did as it's something the children will never see otherwise.
On the last day we had a big party, they even decorated the hall with all the Christmas decorations and there was even a tree! We all had a big meal in the hall, and we ate with the children, as it's something you don't normally do. We then gave out certificates, and they even gave us them too! We also bought a few treats for the children such as crisps, biscuits, sweets and lollies, something they very rarely get chance to have.
All I have left to say is you will really enjoy it. It was very hard work and the heat really adds to this, also they can't understand how the sun affects us so much and limits what you do, as they are just so used to it. But it was also a lot of fun; I have so many memories that I will cherish forever from this experience. It really is such an eye opener, even though these children do have quite a lot for Kenyans, they still lack a lot of things that we all take for granted. Just make the most of it; what you get from the experience is what you make of it.
 
Thanks
Helen

Solar Cooking in Kenya

Please read the following article re. solar cooking; a case study recently in Kenya by SCI.

 

The current volunteer programme near Kisumu, Western Kenya has been extremely successful. The 4 girls are currently in the Mara in safari, returning home next week (attached photo). Along with lessons you may already planned we are trying yto help spread the word about solar cooking during our volunteer programs so would appreciate your cooperation.

 

I would also refer you to the Blog and the Food & Money posting, a situation I felt needed more debate.

 

Kindest regards

Alison

 

Should you no longer wish to receive mailings from AVIF, please reply with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Coral holds record of Kenya's past

http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19325945.300&feedId=life_rss20

Food and money

Every different host / orphanage / school will have a different existing arrangement for food. 

Unfortunately, not every volunteer is going to enjoy Kenyan food, or the food normally cooked for the children. Therefore we cannot make a rule that every volunteer pays a certain amount of $$$ a month for food, because many will prefer to choose their own food.

 

What volunteers on the short summer program are told (on the website and in the handbook) is that it will be cheaper for them to buy food themselves, with their hosts. They should discuss meal arrangements according to the specific existing arrangements.

This means if they have to pay to take their hosts with them to the town to buy food then that is their cost. (It will be cheaper if your hosts literally go through the checkout for you as locals are charged much less than "richer visitors").

If they wish to pay their hosts to prepare meals like the children have and anything else they may prefer then that is also their cost. A volunteer must pay for the priviledge of having the food prepared for them. If they want to cook their own meals (in a solar cooker or over a fire) then the price would be cheaper.

 

The problem is that individuality means a general rule cannot be placed.

 

For longer term volunteers, it is acceptable to pay a fixed amount to cover meals and accommodation, bearing in mind they will probably not always eat the same as the children, may go out to eat, may be invited to a locals house to eat, etc. I believe USD$ 200 per month per volunteer is acceptable (including an extra amount to help with anything the orphanage may need).

Shorter volunteering including the Summer Program, accommodation is free at your host.

 

AVIF are aware that volunteers have spent a massive amount of money simply travelling to Kenya. It was their choice to come, but it is still a large amount of time and money they have committed to help the children.

 

AVIF are also aware volunteers will no doubt bring many donated gifts and classroom materials, and will very probably buy more gifts for the children or spend more money on their hosts during the visit.

 

The point being made here, which may differ from a poor, rural Kenyans view, is that people are always more open to help, if they do not feel obliged. Money has a negative effect on people this way.

Volunteering by its pure nature, is a person offering their help. Unfortunately, where financial donations are involved it is very easy to offend someone by asking for too much.

 

Volunteers (assuming hosts have bought the food with them and you are not charged "visitor prices"

should only spend around USD25 a week on food.

This is NOT a fixed amount and emphasis must be made on making clear arrangements at the beginning of your volunteering with YOUR host, according to existing arrangements and your own preferences.

Cassava

Ramon,

I wanted to share this with you, published in New Scientist magazine http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19325915.700&feedId=health_rss20 as I believe solar cookers will do the same job of removing the cyanide. Perhaps you could publish this on the Archives.

If you can't access the article, here's the text below :

New improved cassava recipe removes deadly ingredient
17 February 2007

MILLIONS of people in Africa depend on cassava for food despite an unfortunate bitter ingredient: cyanide.
Although cassava (Manihot esculenta) is processed to remove cyanide, the techniques are not always effective. Commonly the plant is ground into flour and then mixed in boiling water to create a claggy paste, but this only reduces cyanide levels by about 60 per cent. Consequently, each year thousands of children across central and east Africa are struck down by konzo, an irreversible paralysis of the legs.
"Even in a good year in north Mozambique, cyanide levels [in cassava paste] frequently top 45 parts per million, far more than the WHO-recommended 10 ppm," says Howard Bradbury of the Australian National University in Canberra.
Bradbury has now developed a simple technique for removing cyanide that could prevent much of the sickness. Cassava flour is mixed with water, and the dough spread in a layer no more than 1 centimetre thick, and left in the shade for 5 or 6 hours. The process removes almost all of the cyanide (Food Chemistry, vol 101, p 894).
It works by bringing together an enzyme in the plant cell walls with the cyanide-producing compound linamarin in the cytoplasm. The enzyme breaks down the linamarin, releasing hydrogen cyanide gas that then diffuses out.
From issue 2591 of New Scientist magazine, 17 February 2007, page 16

AVIF update 2

To all our prospective volunteers

(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)

 

Apologies for delays in updates but negotiations are ongoing.

Please keep an eye on the website for progress and events.

 

We have 4 trainee teachers from Nottingham Trent University, UK, currently teaching and mentoring at the Rianna's Furaha (happiness) Childrens Home close to Kisumu right now. The temperature is in the high 20's (80F) and the children are wonderful. The volunteers will update the Blog once they get into the town for internet access, so you can read more about their experience.

 

 

 

AVIF Volunteers will now be assisting with distribution of goods and literature to all our hosts in the effort to eliminate Malaria. Working with KeNAAM (part of the RollBackMalaria initiative hosted by the World Health Organisation) simply by passing on information AVIF Volunteers can help prevent, control and reduce the socio-economic burden of malaria. Educational materials and mosquito nets will be passed around at Orientation in Nairobi.

 

Depending on UK numbers there may be a pre-departure meeting in Harrogate in June, once we know confirmed numbers we will update you.

 

Please forward the e-mailings that BT produce for us "www.buy.at/AVIF" to increase chances of donations. Volunteers overseas may forward the mailings but bear in mind shipping costs.

 

We have signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with 540 Airlines http://www.fly540.com/beta2/ for all internal flights. 540 allow up to 45kg baggage allowance for AVIF Volunteers. We must insist that volunteers travel up-country by air, a much more convenient, faster and safer method of travel, though this cost must be borne yourselves. .. internal flights take 1 hour rather than 6-9 hours by road and cost around GBP60 return. Original plans to transport volunteers by coach can no longer take place due to "Duty of Care" regulations and AVIF cannot currently cover air transportation costs, we hope you understand.

 

Distance-learning for Solar Cookers .. see Plans.pdf at http://solarcooking.org/plans/Plans.pdf

We need all volunteers to study these plans. A full demonstration will be given in Nairobi and all hosts have pre-sourced materials. The volunteers in Kisumu are currently helping to train women staff at the home in the extremely simple methods of cooking using the sun. We have donated cookers and sisal food warmers. You will all be training your hosts in simple construction and use of the Solar "slow-cookers", under the guidance of SCI (Nairobi). SCI Archive site www.solarcooking.org

 

Points to note :

• Woman need to be trained since women do most of the cooking
• We must gain the attention of the elders of each community, for people to follow
• We must be sensitive to how they cook and how solar cooking may affect taste so men need to be involved, since they also may pay for the cooker / build the cooker, and will most definitely eat the food
• For those that rely on gathered firewood instead of purchased wood or charcoal, women and girls usually do most of the fuel collecting. Time saved by women and girls gathering firewood must be given a recognized value, as time to earn money building and re-selling cookers, baking cakes for example.
• Less firewood is needed so solar cooking is saving the forests - Forests mean rain, crops, livestock…money.
• Lack of smoke and soot is essential to lung health for cooks and children.
• Benefits of cookers for pasteurizing milk and water.
• Free to use because the sun's power is great enough to cook their food !
• Women and children can make extra money by using solar cooking to bake birthday cakes.

 

Here are details of SafeMed medical insurance. This is a package discounted for AVIF Volunteers though you may find that your travel insurance covers most of this anyway :

 

Scope of Cover
The Outpatient Cover provides for medical and surgical expenses reasonably incurred by the insured members as a direct result of their sustaining accidental bodily injury and/or illness and/or a disease within the period of insurance. Members of the scheme will have a choice of a medical attendant within our provider network. Treatment will be restricted to medical practitioners registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners & Dentists Board. 
 
Minimed Cover
This is a standard outpatient cover providing access to quality clinics around the country.
Members are entitled to:-

• Outpatient care at selected top quality facilities
• Treatment by medical practitioners registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners & Dentists Board.
• Consultation Fees
• Laboratory and Diagnostic Services
• Dispensing of pharmaceutical drugs
• X-ray
• Physiotherapy Services
• Referral to appropriate specialists
• Surgical dressing when necessitated by accidental body injury or disease
• Physiotherapy fees.

Price at September 2006 Ksh8,550 for Summer Programme period

 

I would recommend taking out Flying Doctor membership (please see Join Us > Safety section on website).

 

For all those not already informed please see the section on Development Education, especially if you are a UK trainee teacher. Preparing for volunteering, volunteering itself and reflecting on the experience on your return are all likely to impact on your teaching.  

 

We are now working with MASTA. They have an online shop and we will be supplying you all with a discount code. MASTA's free travel health guide is attached, if you do not have the Adobe Reader software to open .pdf documents, click here for free safe download http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 

Current allocation list is :

A.
Imani Agape Children's Home
P.O BOX 2768, 40200 KISII KENYA 

B.
JNMCC Mercy Home Orphanage
Mr & Mrs Edward and Deborah Buyengo
Sopwith House PO Box 321 MASENO 40105 KENYA
Ebukuya Primary School

 

C.
NAIROBI

Corrugated iron roof accommodation w/ electricity and cook/cleaner

Close to 3 slum schools

D.
Gem
Rianna's Furaha (happiness) Childrens Home

PO Box 765, Yala

(Kenya/Ugandan border)

 

Ulamba Childrens Home
Person in charge is Asuna number 0734837718

E.
Bondo
Glad Toto school P.O.Box 65 Usenge

Nyayo school P.O.Box 36 Usenge

 

F.

Ambrose Adongo Secondary School

PO Box 1068, Siaya District, South Alego location, 7km from Siaya Town

 

G.

LDK

Virginia M Bueno Centre

School & Orphanage, Nakuru

 

I will not be able to allocate individually for another 2 months but you can study maps to get your bearings. Please bear in mind there are new orphanages being contacted all the time.

 

Spread the word

Take a look at www.tiptheplanet.com

STEREO Eclipse

Awesome !!

 

----- Original Message -----

From: NASA Science News

To: NASA Science News

Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 8:39 PM

Subject: STEREO Eclipse

Subject: STEREO Eclipse
NASA Science News for March 12, 2007

No human has ever witnessed a solar eclipse quite like this: NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft was about a million miles from Earth last month when it photographed the Moon passing in front of the sun. The resulting movie looks like it came from an alien solar system.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12mar_stereoeclipse.htm?list988245

 

Celebrate International Womens Day

 

This email has been sent via AVIF, please forward responsibly International Women's Day is the global day connecting all women around the world inspiring them to achieve their full potential. Women's Day celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future… Kenana Knitters Beautiful handmade gifts made with natural products by women in the rural Kenyan communities which benefit the children within the community by providing an education programme and an income for the women. Mini Chunky Pig £10.99 Monkey Winter Warmer Basket £25.00 Woolly Sheep Tea Cosy and Tea Set £25.00 People Tree People Tree was founded by Safia Minney in 1991. People Tree works with 70 Fair Trade groups in 20 developing countries and provides an escape from poverty through the use of Fair Trade. Jute Cosmetic Case £4.50 Cotton On design shopping bag £4.50 Cuddly Bunny Easter Set £12.00 Wola Nani Wola Nani crafts emerged in response to the need for unemployed, HIV positive woman to generate an income. Through a developmental, self help approach the project's members have been enabled to take greater control of their lives and achieve a better quality of life. Fair Trade Coffee Lovers Gift Hamper £30.00 Papier-mâché Red Lucky Star Bowl £9.00 Fair Trade Chocolate Lovers Gift Hamper £25.00 Craft Aid Craft Aid employs many woman who are the sole bread winners or in a particularly difficult situation. Craft Aid runs a number of workshops and produces many of Traidcraft's cards, sugar and clothing range. Easter Chick Card £2.50 Keen Gardener Card £2.50 Cross and Daisy Card £2.50 Craft Link Craft Link works closely with 47 Artisan groups, involving 5,000 artisans in northern Vietnam, 85% are women. The handicrafts are made of local materials and are shipped to fairtrade organisations around the world providing a steady income for the artisans through fairtrade. Pink Flowers Bag £25.00 Sheep Tape Measure £3.50 Silk and Canvas Bag £45.00 So make a difference with Fair Trade think globally and act locally! Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls and women is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. *free delivery only applies to the mooncup - offer expires 20th March. Activist Gear | Baby | Body & Soul | Books | Bulk Buying | Cards & Stationery | Children | Cleaning & Household | Eco-gadgets | Fashion & Accessories | Food & Drink | Garden & Outdoor | Gifts | Home Decor | Kitchen | World Music & Film About Us | Contact Us | Delivery Services | Sale, returns and shipping items | Special Offers | All FAQ | Trade Partners

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Roll Back Malaria Campaign

AVIF Volunteers will now be assisting with distribution of goods and literature to all our hosts in the effort to eliminate Malaria, in line with Millennium Development Goals 6 and 7 and in attempts to achieve the Abuja targets of reducing malaria mortality and morbidity by 60% before 2010.

Working with KeNAAM (part of the World Health Organisation) we will be disseminating materials for the National Malaria Strategy and Communication.

Simply by passing on information AVIF Volunteers can help prevent, control and reduce the socio-economic burden of malaria. 

 

Small world, it must be. CEO of KeNAAM, Mr Gerald Mwangi Walterfang studied at Leeds University, where he met his wife. (I studied there too and live half an hour away.)

 

 

Thank you, Jacqueline

 

 

Dear Alison, We wanted to share with you an article on Acumen Fund that just appeared in BusinessWeek's "Inside Innovation" supplement (the March 12 issue, now on newsstands).  The story, an extension and update of what was featured in their online magazine last fall, is also up on their website – along with a few web-only features, including slide shows on our investment in drip irrigation and about the Acumen Fund Fellows. We're excited, of course, to be able to share the Acumen Fund message, but more so about the growing interest there seems to be in market-based models for addressing problems of poverty. All the best, Jacqueline Novogratz

Placement review

Info for volunteers

 

We have various projects including solar cooking introduction (please read details on Projects section of website they are very simple and small units which will already be being used but it is ongoing to ensure the cooks are still using them properly), also solar energy panel kit production (details later). You can help with health & hygiene teaching (we are receiving a brief from AMREF on this).

If we have raised funds for computers you can help teach basic IT..

 

We are also talking about projects for sustainable development such as oil production from sunflowers or from local tree seeds, also dairy farming (cattle to provide milk) or goats, etc .. you will help with whatever is ongoing at the time.

 

You can teach at your own schedule and help with whatever stage current construction projects are at. You will be mentor, teacher, friend to the children, playing sports, singing, eating, not "caring" for them in terms of a nanny. You will help cook meals, in solar cookers hopefully, and to tidy up, any way you wish. Teach art, teach creatively, there are kenyan teachers to teach straight maths etc. you will take part in the lives of the children as a whole.

 

The best advice I can give you, is to have an open mind .. nothing is written in stone. AVIF does not operate regimented classes as in ESL positions around the world. This is more of an experience for you all.

 

You will pay your own costs but .. if you wish you can pay the orphanage certainly no more than $200 a month (each) for costs upfront (fuel for electricity generator at orphanage/ firewood / electric to charge phones / cameras etc. & for any meals you have with the children, any transportation you need and fuel for the vehicle.) This price will cover all costs except drinks, bearing in mind you will eat with the children.

You will probably buy your own food too if you do not like the standard meals of rice and beans or maize and ugali (green veg).

 

$200 is only EUR150, or £100 for a whole month of transportation, meals with the children, electricity. This is very reasonable. The actual costs you may incur may be less, but $200 will also cover a donation to the construction of the next building, improvements to the orphanage, etc.

 

If you prefer then you can simply pay out for your costs as you incur them, and make sure you have discussed this with your host first. i.e pay for all taxis, pay for all food .. but you will find that you are charged more if you are paying yourself, than a local ever will be (your hosts). Please bear in mind that some volunteers pay agencies to place them (and may pay $500-$1000) for this, part of which is donated to the orphanage. Other volunteers may pay fees and costs of $300-1000 per person per month for the experience.

 

We believe you have already paid enough to get to Kenya, and in the time you are devoting but you should NOT incur any costs on your hosts.

 

AVIF are only concerned in sustainable development .. giving your host money does not help the children, giving them a way to earn money continually will .. and by doing something that involves the children is even better.

 

Asante & salamu !

Alison Lowndes

Founder Trustee

www.AVIF.Org.UK

VoIP & IM Skype : avif_volunteers_in_kenya

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HAVE YOU MENTIONED SOLAR COOKING TO ANYONE ?

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Posting for transparency

Alexia (a volunteer),

 

Imani Agape is not a tourist venue. You will have to wash in the river, and be careful not to contract malaria ! The children are orphans amd most have suffered abuse of some form. However they are lucky as they do have support from a US church and mission, who have funded their school fees, clothing and built a new building. Imani Agape are now at a stage where they can help AVIF in a logistical way as well as being a fantastic experience for volunteers.

 

....(part removed for confidentiality) Greed is an unfortunate consequence of success and sometimes clothing and donations to children are sold on for other means. The fact remains that the children are still in need of our non-financial support.

Giving a poor child money will not help them in life.

 

We do not support Imani Agape financially, in fact we only ever pay them for their logistical support e.g. driving / hiring a minibus. Job Manenga is a very trustworthy young man and will go far out of his way to make you comfortable. Money is a different matter but when asked Job will help with anything we need. I value the work he has done for us.

 

Do not get too focused on the dark side of Africa (e.g. The Constant Gardener movie). There is corruption all over Kenya, and Africa. We should be thankful that there are areas in Kenya we can actually travel without fear of being robbed, mugged or killed. Darfur is not so far away !! Security is a serious issue which is high in our priorities, and Imani Agape is a good introduction. From there you can go to stay at the JNMCC, Jehovah Nissi Mercy Childrens Centre in Maseno. Mercy home, ran by Deborah and Edward, and also supported by a US church group are in more need than Imani Agape. ..........(part removed for confidentiality) 

Imani does not have computers or grid electric by the way, Pastor Liston lives nearer to Kisii and has such things, probably because of his salary from Directing the home, but he has worked very hard over the years on behalf of the children, and his wife, and son, Job. He is, however, paid a pittance compared with some larger "aid" organisation salaries. Corporate costs is not something I want AVIF to be covering, I would rather money go directly on sustainable projects.

 

AVIF seeks to keep everything in perspective, and does not simply handout money !

However, be assured we are not blind ! and are currently actively involved in removing a proven corrupt Director from an orphanage in Nakuru, so as to ensure the safety of the children housed there. I do not believe, however, this is something you need to be involved in.

 

Kindest regards

Alison