Developing World Connections at Good Shepherd

Last week we saw the team of 9 from our partner DWC take part in a fun filled day of work and play at Good Shepherd. This also happened to be the day when Sarakazi was at both Malaika Kids and GS. The plan was for the team to arrive in the AM and finish two of our mini projects for CTC. First, we needed the girl's dormitory painted. We painted about a year ago and as we all know with this many children it can get dirty fast. Second, we had to finish the kitchen. Needed to put up more iron sheets, install the door and windows and finish off the roof. So the team split up into two groups. They were so FAST. By mid day they had completed both just for the arrival of Sarakazi.

The team then took part in the face painting, skits and games with the children. It's always so fun to watch the volunteers bond with the children. It's some of the most touching and rewarding work we do. Thanks DWC for making the day so great for the kids at Good Shepherd. And always thanks to Sarakazi for bring so much laughter.

Sarakazi Paints Faces for Malaika Kids

Last week, CTC had the pleasure of hosting Sarakazi. They are now coming the first Wed. of every month. As most of you know, the organization supports performing artists like clowns, jugglers, acrobats etc. Basically, they come to both Malaika Kids and then Good Shepherd to spread the love and smiles. They are truly wonderful to watch. This past week was face painting day. I know these children have never seen face paint let alone had it done to them. It was so much fun to watch the children stand so still as the boys created mini masterpieces on their faces. Then as the other children saw what was painted it generally broke out in huge laughter and smiles. We even brought their mothers from Malaika Moms in to see the children. Again, they thought it was hilarious. Was a good bonding moment. The children sharing a unique experience with each other and their Moms.

We had a guest appearance from a very famous guitar player that day also. George or otherwise known as Batman!! When the guitar was pulled out all he wanted to do was play. So he quickly sat down and started strumming. As he did all the other children started singing a song they know so well to his playing. Then the ladies joined in and so did the rest of us. He was so serious but what do you expect from a young prodigy. He seemed to me a mix between Hendrix, Santana and Batman of course :)

These children love music and we are trying to support that as much as possible. One area someone out there might be interested in is I'd like to get a guitar for the kids. Let me know if you would like to donate for a guitar. I need to find out prices locally. It would be a great addition to the burgeoning band.

I have included a bunch of pictures of the day. And thanks again to Sarakazi for making the day truly fabulous. I know it worked because by the end of the day the children were truly pooped. Exhausted from a long day of fun!!!!!!

Cool Pic

I thought this was a cool pic...two of the CTC volunteers, Sammy and Tony, in a sea of Ngeya students. Go boys!!!!!

Fuel Effecient Stove Installed

This past week, the first fuel efficient stove was installed at Ngeya Primary School. The first goal was to build the kitchen which was complete a few weeks ago. The women who prepare the lunch daily for the students used traditional methods of large pots on top of stones. They simply fed wood under the pot to boil the corn and beans. This is extremely inefficient in the amount of wood used. Also, as we all know from camping, the fire gives off a huge amount of smoke that fills the room. The women are constantly wiping their eyes and coughing. In addition, de-forestation is a major Kenyan issue. 70% of the countries forests are gone due to the need for firewood. So reducing the use of wood at Ngeya also impacts the environment. Another bonus is the school currently spends 5000 ksh $65 a week on firewood. For any school it's a huge amount. To this government school that is SEVERLY underfunded, it nearly breaks their back monthly. So reducing the amount of fuel reducing the investment.

Our third team arrived a week ago from Kansas. One of the projects they are part of is the purchase of a very large, 500 ltr., fuel efficient stove. It has been installed and just about to be put into use. We are waiting for concrete to fully dry. I have included a few pics of the old way the women cooked and the new stove. Also, a few pictures of the kids lining up daily for food. When the whole school comes out for lunch it's impressive. Over 1200 kids waiting patiently for food. Right now they serve food outside on the ground. But the next move for us when the stove is working is to purchase large tables so all food can be served through the windows to the students. Need to get the food off the ground.

How does the stove work? First it's built with a layer of brick and covered on the inside with concrete. The outside is covered in a layer tin. This insulates almost all the heat inside the stove. If you walk up to the stove and touch the tin when it's boiling water it's cool to the touch. Wood is fed through the the square opening and the large pot sits perfectly down through the hole. This allows no heat or smoke to escape through the sides of the pot or stove. What cannot be seen from the pictures is out the back of the stove is an opening that has a large tin pipe going out the back wall. This takes a quick L bend towards the roof and the exit of the smoke is many feet above the roof. This allows an escape for the build up of smoke within the stove and eliminates any smoke in the room. No coughing or teary eyes for the cooks. A stove like this this will easily reduce wood use by 60-70%. Because it's so effecient in keeping heat in, it will boil a large pot in a fraction of the time it takes for a normal fire.

Thank you to the Kansas team for working so hard to raise money for Maai Mahiu. This stove will be a huge help to Ngeya and Kenya for that matter. Not only do we affect the local community but we help eleviate a Kenyan problem, de-forestation. Without you CTC could not have completed this project.

First Classroom Complete

This entry is a continuation of the previous one. Great news!!!! The second team from our partner, Developing World Connections, completed the new classroom that was once the old kitchen. Take a look at the below picture from the previous blog. Smoky and very non hygenic... The picture included is of the pre schoolers who are now using the new classroom classroom. Thanks again DWC and the team of volunteers for the funds and VERY hard work. CTC is so proud of you.

Second Team Arrives!!!!

Our partner, Developing World Connections, is a volunteer tourism company. We work with DWC by giving their teams access to Maai Mahiu and development projects. The newest team is made up of 9 students from the University of Toronto. Many of them are journalism majors. This team is staying the longest yet for CTC, 5 weeks. This team is staying in Maai Mahiu and have come with the goal of building. All building projects this year are focused on Ngeya Primary which is the government school in MM that is severely under funded. With 2000 students and an average of 75-100 students per class you can imagine the chaos. The first team, Bodwell High School, finished a new kitchen as you have seen from previous blogs. Now the next goal is to turn the old kitchen, first picture, into what it was originally meant for, a classroom. The team is on their 3rd day of work today, Wednesday. This post will have many updates as they are here for many weeks and working on 3 distinct projects.

First, they will complete this classroom with a new concrete floor, windows, doors and blackboards. From there they'll move to the adjacent classroom and put in windows, doors and fix parts of the existing floor. Finally, they move across the school compound to finish a 3rd classroom with a concrete floor, dirt currently, windows, doors etc. In the end, they will have made 3 classrooms in good working order.

To put in a floor in Maai Mahiu is hard labour to say the least. I feel sometimes it looks more like a chain gang. There are no machines or electricity. So all the large rocks have to be pounded down to make a flat floor. All 40 bags of concrete have to be manually mixed, carried and poured. Walls have to be concrete spackeled by hand. The first two days have been A LOT of work for the team but they have stepped up. Rocky is really proud. I have included a few pics of these days and will update as things get completed. The kids at Ngeya, who are in school right now, find the visitors truly mesmorizing. It's hard for the DWC group to stay focused sometimes as the kids are hard to resist. But DWC has done a fabulous job staying on course.

Thanks to DWC and this team, there will be 3 beautiful classrooms for the students at Ngeya Primary!!!!!

Kitchen at Ngeya Primary Update

I promised an update once the kitchen at Ngeya was complete. Happy to say it is!!!! I have included a few pics of the before and after. The first picture was of the old kitchen that is supposed to be a classroom. Second, is the final outside view. Third, is the inside of the completed kitchen. Last, is the kitchen mid work. This project at Ngeya Primary School was funded by Bodwell High School in Vancouver who also was our first team of 2009. The kitchen will now feed all 2000 students out of a clean, proper kitchen. As always CTC is looking for additional funds for fuel efficient stoves and will eventually need tables and the like, so if anyone is interested you know where to find me.

Thanks again Bodwell for working so hard. Rocky and Mwaniki keep using the work of your team as a benchmark for each team this summer. So you really impressed us and knowing Rocky and how hard he works, you impressed Mr. Work. Thank you again from CTC and Ngeya, we could not have done it without you.