Kenya trip of a lifetime for local volunteer

It promised to be the trip of a lifetime and Jill reports that you have to be there to appreciate the conditions the people, especially children, have to live under.

“They have so little by our standards yet they are a happy, sharing and caring people and appreciate the aid and help they receive even in the smallest measure,” says Jill.

That ‘trip of a lifetime’ was not all sunshine and roses.

From leaving Mangawhai the trip to Nairobi took thirty-six hours – car trips to the airport, three planes via Sydney and Abu Dhabi, one bus and one mutatas (van) negotiating rush hour traffic, no air conditioning, a million pedestrians and a thousand motorbikes. The 19km transfer to her homestay took two hours.

Jill was placed with Volunteer International Community Development Africa (VIDCA),  together with other volunteers caring for 25 babies, 25 infants and 11 school aged children. She was called “Cucu” meaning grandmother, or respected mother.

These are children who have been abandoned or orphaned through family being unable to provide for them or through the ravages of HIV/AIDS.
This was also election time in Nairobi and the sight of people queuing to vote from 4am was amazing, says Jill. The large population had a 70 percent turnout over the 47 counties involved.

A trip to church and Sunday school with 15 of their children was a marvelous experience as, despite the heat, the children were so well behaved during the three hour service and looked so smart in their Sunday clothes.

“The children were fascinated to see me knitting and then to see the finished jumper. One asked if I could knit him one,” says Jill who stressed that though this is Kenya, days are very hot but nights can be extremely cold.

Jill worked mostly with the tiny babies, up to 12 months old and came to realize the extreme importance for regular supplies of antibiotics and milk powder.

In visiting the Juju Farm, part of the Happy Life Organisation, Jill was impressed by the responsibilities undertaken by the older children looking after the toddlers, who also tended animals such as goats and chickens, and saw the planting of a large glasshouse as the farm struggles to become more sustainable in the future. Funds are still needed to complete accommodation and the school house.

But it wasn’t all about children. Jill was able to visit the Elephant Orphans, a project begun in the 1970s by the late David Sheldrick, where young orphaned elephants are brought in from the wild and rehabilitated over a three year period. So far over 130 elephants have been returned to the wild.
A trip, alone, into Nairobi to the National Museum was also an education where she enjoyed seeing a different side of life.

Traveling over roads many times worse than in NZ was worth the trauma on an incredible guided safari to the Masai Mara game park.
“The most amazing experience was being parked within meters of two female lions, and watching a cougar stalking a gazelle.”
Some of her team then visited the Masai Village and were escorted by the 24 year old Head Man.

Jill was thrilled to have the opportunity to make this journey and will continue her support of local groups who provide funds, clothing and medical necessities to give these African children a better future.

By Rob Pooley