Itinerary of the next Village Experience Kenya trip, December 27-January 5, 2010

Day 1 (Dec 27) – Arrive in the bustling capital city of Nairobi. Check into Heart Lodge and relax after the long flight.

Day 2 (Dec 28)– After breakfast, spend the morning visiting the Giraffe Rescue Center to feed and interact with local giraffes and Sheldrick’s Elephant Rescue Center. Stop for lunch at the Utamaduni Craft Center. Spend the afternoon with a women’s cooperative known as Kazuri Beads. Kazuri employs over 350 women and is rapidly expanding in the community. Tour the factory, watch the bead making process, and contribute to the effort by shopping in the cooperative’s store. Welcome dinner in the evening at Carnivore Restaurant – be sure to try the crocodile and ostrich! Overnight at Heart Lodge.

Day 3 (Dec 29)– In the morning, visit local social enterprise “Alive and Kicking.” Meet the amazing community members involved in creating and selling soccer balls in order to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS. Purchase a soccer ball to help their cause and donate it to one of the orphanages later in the trip. After lunch, travel to Mary Kamau’s project in Mathare Slums and learn about innovative means of uplifting the local community. Overnight at Heart Lodge.

Day 4 (Dec 30) - In the morning, begin the drive through the Great Rift Valley on the way to Nakuru. Check into The Lake Nakuru Lodge and spend a relaxing evening at the hotel. Lunch and dinner provided at lodge.

Day 5 (Dec 31)– Embark on an early morning safari to spot the infamous pink flamingos of Nakuru. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Travel to the Child Discovery Center just outside the park. This orphanage is home to approximately 100 exceptionally bright children. Spend quality time with these children – distribute shoes, deliver funding for their new income-generating project (cow!), and walk through their village. Lunch will be served at the Summit Resort in Nakuru town. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or watching the wildlife from your front porch. Overnight and New Year’s Eve party and dinner at lodge.

Day 6 (Jan 1)– Spend today working at a local IDP Camp (internally displaced persons). Work with the locals on income-generation activities such as tree planting, chicken coop construction, or farming. Check the progress of new homes being built by The Village Cooperative and its supporters. Check into Waterbuck Hotel for overnight.

Day 7 (Jan 2)– Spend the day in Mwariki Village. Meet the women who will be a part of the new Village Experience Handicraft Center – learn their stories, walk through the village, visit their homes, and share a meal. Play an active role in developing this center – learn about funding opportunities, possible product ideas, and marketing initiatives. After lunch, distribute health supplies to the women in the village – the local Kenyan Rotary Clubs are active sponsors of this program. Return to Waterbuck Hotel for overnight.

Day 8 (Jan 3)– Early morning drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve – arguably the most famous place in the world to go on safari! Check into Mara Leisure safari camp. Enjoy an afternoon game drive. All meals provided at safari camp.

Day 9 (Jan 4) – All day safari to spot the Big Five. Picnic lunch provided while on safari. Return after a long day and relax in the evening. All meals provided at Mara Leisure safari camp.

Day 10 (Jan 5)– Morning visit to Masai Village. Learn about their unique culture, tour the village, shop their market, and interact with the families one-on-one. In the afternoon, begin the drive back to Nairobi and board your flight back home.

Day 12 (Jan 7) – Visit Village Experience projects in Mbita. Overnight at Safari Village.

Day 13 (Jan 8) – Begin drive back to Nairobi

Kelly's overview of the Kenya trip

Below see notes on the Kenya trip from Kelly Campbell. An impressive set of meetings, an even more impressive list of potential projects with which we can be engaged. More later, much more later.

Carole Darst and friends

Nakuru

Child Discovery Center – home to over 80 children in the 8-22 age range. Real struggle is to find school fees for secondary school and college.

• The group brought to the Center: $180 in new clothing; $400 in sheet sets; $300 lunch provided to 80 children; Bus and entry fees to Lake Nakuru National Park ... it was the first time the kids had been into the park they live next door to.

• Future project – need income generating projects. Ideas – chicken coop, cows, cultivation of farm land. Use Jacaranda Girls Home as an example.

IDP Camp – home to 255 families displaced due to the political violence. Currently living under one tarp.

Photo of Nakuru IDP camp (from Matt Steele)

• The group delivered to the IDP camp: $1800 for land purchase and house building; $165 worth of sanitary pads

• Future project – need to purchase 13 more acres of land ($1400 per acre). Will begin building individual homes for families ($600 each). Fruit trees and farm plots next, then women’s income generation project.

Mwariki Heart to Heart Women’s Project – 57 women have joined this cooperative to produce handicraft.

• The group provided $200 for handicraft training, and $40 for government certificate; Passengers and Village Experience purchased new product
• Future project – marketing and development and distribution of product.
  

Eldoret

Tumaini Street Kids Project – beginning stage of development. Targeting kids living on the streets to rehabilitate them and teach them vocational skills. Have artisan trainer and land for eco-village secured.

• The group provided $100 for first month’s rent on new space, the Village Experience purchased new product

• Future project – need funding for drop in center in town. Rent is $100 per month. Need social worker and administrator salary.

Joybringers – HIV/AIDs advocacy group. Members are positive. Focus on educating youth on HIV/AIDS. Attempting to produce handicraft but really struggling.

• The group provided $100 for HIV/AIDs educational materials; 1 bag of educational supplies donated

• Future project – supply group with HIV/AIDs educational materials and trainer for creation of sellable product.

Micro-financing Projects – Partner with George Ngesa to research and develop individual small loan projects throughout the slum areas of Eldoret. Will work with Stan Abell and Power of One on creating website to raise money for projects.

• Future project – seed money for projects and salary for George ($200 per month)

Neema Children’s Home – home to over 30 children affected by HIV/AIDs. Provide shelter, food, medicine, and schooling.

• The grop delivered a $200 cash donation

• Future project – further development and construction of school.

Imani Workshops – employs people living with HIV/AIDS to create handicraft product and school uniforms for the community.

• Future project – collaborate with Herron students on further developing quality products for retail market.

Mbita

DaySpring School – school enrolling orphans free of charge and others in the community for a nominal fee. TVE sourced the funding for the school renovation and building of a kitchen.

• Future project – need to help make the school self sustainable so they can afford their teacher salaries and feeding program. Idea – create large chicken coop to produce eggs. School will use eggs in feeding program and sell the others. Egg outlet is needed in the village and they have the land in which to do it. Awaiting budget for project.

DaySpring Widows Program – 27 women widowed due to HIV/AIDs and caring for orphans in the village have started a cooperative to make handicraft products. Trainer is there right now teaching new products.

• Future project – seed money for materials, sewing machines, and tools

Meru

Ripples International – community development organization focusing on OVC care and support, HIV/AIDs education and prevention, protection and care of abused girls, and primary health care for youth. Features New Start Center for children under 2, Rescue Center for Girls, Vocational Skills Training, Community Support Program, and newly built youth hospital. Great goat project – could be used in other areas.

• Future project – training and development of new handicraft products for girls center, funding of more goats for women in the community, help with further painting and set up of new hospital.