After a weary day of travel and getting to bed very late (3 am) we woke up to the sound of beautiful birds (and a rooster- not beautiful) and had breakfast at 7 am. After breakfast we discussed what it means to be content with what you have. After quick packing of supplies we headed to Machakos to see a center for disabled children, the only of it's kind in Kenya. The staff was so passionate about caring for these children and educating the families. It is considered a family curse to have a disabled child and many times the parents hide the children and they never leave the house. Parents have attempted to kill or poison the children to help them die faster as they are such a burden to the family. One patient we saw was born with spina bifida and was abandoned by the parents and the grandmother was left to raise the child, though she is very poor. Some families also chain the children to the bed so they can't get out of the house and be seen by others. These children are in need of wheelchairs, medical care and special equipment. The center is raising chickens and small crops to help cover the fees, but their shallow wells have no water now and the crops are dying. Today was an assessment trip for Hope Without Borders, to determine if we are able to help in any way. We were also their first visitors!
We left the dusty roads of Machakos and headed to the slums of Nairobi. The children waited for us patiently as we wove through traffic. We had to carry the supply bags far as the roads near the schools were impassable due to deep mud and open sewage that was flooding the streets. Who new we could traverse over such difficult terrain while carrying 50 lb bags- bravo team!!!
~150 + girls received Red Elephant packs today. These reusable packs help keep girls in school as their parents can't afford sanitary pads and the girls then need to miss school when they have their periods (every month). We started this project in 2014 and have distributed more than 1200 packs in more than 6 countries- and the girls are staying in school. We couldn't be more excited or proud of these amazing girls.
The boys were not left out and received Blue Lion packs! These packs help with personal hygiene as well as mentoring from our local Kenyan volunteers (all men). They encourage the boys to respect girls and to respect their own bodies. When we were in this slum in May, the Blue Lion team encouraged the boys to find a hobby or do something productive with their free time (instead of getting in trouble). They took our advise and started raising chickens. They now have 28 chickens and are able to sell the eggs to help pay their school fees so they can stay in school!!
Please follow us on Facebook as I am unable to upload photos here (due to the slow internet). Until tomorrow.....
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopewithoutborders/ (I can upload photos to Facebook-so check them out).
Julie
We left the dusty roads of Machakos and headed to the slums of Nairobi. The children waited for us patiently as we wove through traffic. We had to carry the supply bags far as the roads near the schools were impassable due to deep mud and open sewage that was flooding the streets. Who new we could traverse over such difficult terrain while carrying 50 lb bags- bravo team!!!
~150 + girls received Red Elephant packs today. These reusable packs help keep girls in school as their parents can't afford sanitary pads and the girls then need to miss school when they have their periods (every month). We started this project in 2014 and have distributed more than 1200 packs in more than 6 countries- and the girls are staying in school. We couldn't be more excited or proud of these amazing girls.
The boys were not left out and received Blue Lion packs! These packs help with personal hygiene as well as mentoring from our local Kenyan volunteers (all men). They encourage the boys to respect girls and to respect their own bodies. When we were in this slum in May, the Blue Lion team encouraged the boys to find a hobby or do something productive with their free time (instead of getting in trouble). They took our advise and started raising chickens. They now have 28 chickens and are able to sell the eggs to help pay their school fees so they can stay in school!!
Please follow us on Facebook as I am unable to upload photos here (due to the slow internet). Until tomorrow.....
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopewithoutborders/ (I can upload photos to Facebook-so check them out).
Julie
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