Day One in Kenya

This comes from Kelly Campbell, Day One of the Hoosiers' trip to Kenya, on their way to Eldoret to participate in the reconciliation conference with IUPUI and Moi, and to push along Pamoja city projects between Indianapolis and Eldoret. Kelly, Carole Darst, and the others will probably be zapping photos as well as updates depending on the technological links ... in the meantime, my friend Google offers a few pictures of the places they have gone.

The group arrived in Kenya and met in Nairobi. After a night of rest, we gathered and headed to Sheldrick's Elephant and Rhino Orphanage to learn about conservation efforts happening throughout Kenya. A 2 month old baby rhino stole the show!

A warden at Sheldrick's Elephant and Rhino Orphanage feeds Maalim the rescued rhino at 3 weeks ... bet he was bigger when he met Kelly and her Hoosier crew

We then proceeded to the Giraffe Center to learn about the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Group members were able to feed and get up close and personal with the graceful creatures

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We spent lunchtime at Utumaduni Craft Center and then headed to Kazuri Beads to learn about one of the most successful models of Fair Trade in the developing world.

The group interacted with the local women and watched the process of bead-making from clay formation and creation of beads to painting of beads, firing of beads, and assembly of jewelry. This was a special treat for the group who has seen Kazuri jewelry in The Village Experience store and now gets the opportunity to see the organization first hand. The group was moved by the success story and the economic impact it has had on the lives of so many women that many of us bought multiple pieces to bring back to the states.

In the evening the group experienced a traditional Kenyan meal of chicken, chapati, rice, and greens and celebrated the birthday of one of our passengers, Melissa Higgins. We had a special guest join us for dinner, a young woman named Esther, who is a teacher at a school in the slums of Nairobi. We had previously met Esther at a school in the Masai Mara in December 2007, so it was a special treat to see her again and learn about her new school. We are trying to arrange a visit there before we leave.

Stay tuned for more!