tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2901027792231138182024-03-05T10:23:34.225-08:00In The Shadow Of Mt. KenyaIn the shadow of Mt. Kenya the going rate for a day laborer is $2 a day. Unemployment rate is 60%. Many villagers walk 10 Kilometers each day to get water. The lifestyle is remarkable. So much so that I will in fact be remarking on it frequently. Even with all of these hardships the people are some of the happiest Ive seen. They smile, sing and dance ALL the time. Please take the time to learn a little bit about these people and hopefully they can enrich your life as they have mine.Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-5681645071320041062013-11-21T10:15:00.001-08:002013-11-21T10:30:49.733-08:00Deng: In His Own WordsOne of the goals of the Simama Project is to celebrate the children that we work with in a positive light. We are opposed to the marketing of children as victims and instead choose to focus on their successes. However, we also believe that it is very important that our supporters understand the situations that some of our children come from and experience leading up to their experience with Simama. With that in mind we will be featuring several posts from some of our students telling their stories in their own words. The students featured have agreed to share their experiences with the public. This is in no way a requirement for them to be involved in our program and the children can choose whether or not they would like to participate and what they would like to share/withhold. There are only slight grammatical edits for clarity and, occasionally edits for appropriate content. All parenthetical statements have been added by the editor for clarification.<br />
<br />
That being said, I would like to introduce one of our most promising young students, Abraham Deng. Deng towers above his peers at approximately 6'9" and has just completed his first year at St. Mary's Boys in Nyeri, Kenya. He has distinguished himself as being the top performer in his class by leading in five separate subjects. <br />
<br />
Additionally, he has done all in his power to raise money to sponsor another Simama student. Here is Deng in his own words:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iPUfomkV_Hi3e3DprSdy7BHviKbqfkUeletinmMlJzCsK0tSG4nNnKChteu34y360fzxro-HyNOR5_pgSwcmyHb9GnxfLRWTtI_kE9aoz8kdWUGwJOg2f3ICx0dki14kkDl6bPyW/s1600/Deng.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iPUfomkV_Hi3e3DprSdy7BHviKbqfkUeletinmMlJzCsK0tSG4nNnKChteu34y360fzxro-HyNOR5_pgSwcmyHb9GnxfLRWTtI_kE9aoz8kdWUGwJOg2f3ICx0dki14kkDl6bPyW/s640/Deng.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Abraham Deng at prize giving day at St. Mary's Nyeri where he is a first year student<br />
<br />
"Life, a trap of prosperity and challenges, however, I was so unfortunate that it trapped me on the negative side and for that it had not been a morning breakfast. I was born in a refugee camp in the south-west Ethiopia. I was raised by an extended family consisting of three wives and about twenty children. We had no main source of livelihood. We all depended on the food we were offered by UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) and for sure, it was just too little for us. We couldn't afford three square meals. It was either lunch with no supper each day, or supper with no lunch. For matter of breakfast, it was history, I came to learn it the other day.<br />
<br />
Despite the efforts of my father and mother, everything seemed to be growing darker and darker. Nothing worked and as a result, life became a hard bone to crack. We tried to do petty jobs here and there to improve our living standard, but everything was null. My parents never got jobs since they had never gone to school. More so, we were not even sent to school ourselves. The school which was there was only one and it was so crowded beyond imagination. Getting admitted in that school was rare, and for those that got it, it was through corruption.<br />
<br />
So we stayed at home, helpless, not knowing what to do. We knew it so well that education was a breakthrough to a better life, but what could we have done? If we cannot change the impossibilities to possibilities, we had no otherwise. Life went on and before long, mother developed an illness, I think it was high blood pressure. She got admitted several times at hospital, however, God kept her safe. She survived despite not having gotten sufficient medical care. It was all because of God.<br />
<br />
In 2007, our uncle who was living at Kakuma refugee camp heard about our whereabouts. He was so shocked. He thought my parents had been killed in a fight that had been going on in Sudan called the Bor Massacre. Immediately he sent for us. We packed our things and walked on foot from Ethiopia to Sudan since there was no other means of transportation. After we reached a place called Buma in South Sudan we got lucky to get a truck which was heading to Kenya. We entered, and after about two days we arrived at Kakuma refugee cap.<br />
<br />
Our uncle welcomed us warmly. He shed tears of joy at having seen my parents alive again. From there we were given our ration card by UNHCR and life seemed a little better. The serenity we had gotten was now vanishing. Reports of death cases each day were really sickening us. The local people in the area were a threat to refugees. They would kill many of us at night, set our houses on fire and raped women. Children were not an exception, they were kidnapped and taken to a destination unknown to us. It was so terrible. How could people be so heartless?<br />
<br />
Nights became longer than usual. Sleeping at night was useless, like a smile in the darkness. Everyone was all eyes at night, since no one wants to meet their death while they sleep. Conditions became worse and worse and as a result my parents opted to go back to Sudan. We were to follow them, however, one brother and I were lucky. We were called by our Aunt, who was living in Karatina, Kenya, to come and live with her. My parents went to Sudan and we came to Karatina.<br />
<br />
This is the junction where my education started. Despite being illiterate, I joined class four. I worked very hard and by the end of class eight I passed my exam with flying colors. I scored a 393, (for purpose of comparison the best score in all of Kenya that year was 430) which I had not expected. Kiswahili had been a challenge to me, but I thank God I have sound knowledge of it now. Luckily I joined St. Mary's Boys Secondary school where I met Alfred Maina. We became friends and when I told him my story he got touched and told me about the Simama Project. I am quite proud that the Simama Project has given me a chance to continue my education and I am here to utilize it to the fullest.<br />
<br />
I am an ambitious guy, with the help of the Simama Project, and others, I know I will make it to the top. After my form 4 (senior year of high school) I would like to study electronic engineering, god willing. <br />
<br />
Thank you,"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Abraham Deng<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKEW2feoLnLQD65_fqHxgUAf2LQVteeeCVv7DB3uIElK38QXvs9M3evcNmvL693bJgC1_Qjz1Z0H3a77UGssjtXFfIC9h5mvKsp7fRSwf0HDqe85DDUnEPLUwpcwAJWd3ah2eJC0p/s1600/2013-10-07+15.40.00.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKEW2feoLnLQD65_fqHxgUAf2LQVteeeCVv7DB3uIElK38QXvs9M3evcNmvL693bJgC1_Qjz1Z0H3a77UGssjtXFfIC9h5mvKsp7fRSwf0HDqe85DDUnEPLUwpcwAJWd3ah2eJC0p/s640/2013-10-07+15.40.00.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deng and Alfred at St. Mary's in Nyeri</div>
Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-78516767729212536512012-12-14T16:13:00.000-08:002012-12-14T16:13:17.773-08:00Recurring Donations! <form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick-subscriptions" />
<input type="hidden" name="business" value="melanie@empowermentworks.org" />
<input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US" />
<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="The Simama Project -Donate" />
<input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="SimamaFund" />
<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="no_shipping" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="src" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="p3" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD" />
<input type="hidden" name="bn" value="PP-SubscriptionsBF:btn_subscribeCC_LG.gif:NonHosted" />
<table>
<tr><td>How many times would you like this to recur? (including this payment)</td></tr><tr><td><select name="srt">
<option value="0" />Never End
<option value="2" />2
<option value="3" />3
<option value="4" />4
<option value="5" />5
<option value="6" />6
<option value="7" />7
<option value="8" />8
<option value="9" />9
<option value="10" />10
<option value="11" />11
<option value="12" />12
</select> </td></tr>
<tr><td>When would you like this to recur?</td></tr><tr><td><select name="t3">
<option value="D" />Daily
<option value="M" />Monthly
<option value="Y" />Yearly
</select> </td></tr>
<tr><td>Enter your Donation Amount</td></tr>
<tr><td><input type="text" name="a3" maxlength="200" /></td></tr>
</table>
<input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" />
</form>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-68766225781429350832012-11-29T11:00:00.000-08:002012-12-06T13:26:04.328-08:00Simama Update: Being ThankfulDear friends, loved ones and people I don't know at all,<br />
<br />
I would like to thank everyone for the great show of support that the Simama Project has received this year. It has been an amazing year for the Project and also for me personally.<br />
<br />
I am very pleased to announce that this year, because of your support, we have managed to send 32 kids to school who would otherwise have had no chance at education. Led by a highly skilled board of directors, we have established a Community Based Organization in Kenya, to create appropriate programs and find the most innovative ways to help children get themselves out of poverty.<br />
<br />
While I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our students and pleased with Simama exceeding our lofty goal of sponsoring 28 kids, I know that there is still much to be done. This year I had to look into the eyes of too many well qualified potential students and tell them "no". Even though many of these were perfect candidates, children who eagerly wanted a chance to get themselves out of poverty through education, I simply could not commit resources that we do not have.<br />
<br />
One boy hiked from a village over thirty kilometers away, three times in one week, to ask for a scholarship to high school. He had an impoverished family and very good grades in middle school, but Simama had already sponsored more children than we had budgeted for. Another girl from a nearby village wanted to become the first person in her family to attend high school, once again I had to say no.<br />
<br />
I am very grateful for the opportunities that your support has given. Seeing these children flourish when handed an opportunity that many of us in the United States take for granted has been a dream come true for me. I hope to be able to share that happiness with more of these deserving children and more people in the United States who will get something out of giving.<br />
<br />
We are hoping to be able to sponsor an additional 20 kids this year. At $700, sponsoring a child isn't exactly cheap but it pays for everything a child needs in a year for a chance at success. You can get your friends together and sponsor kids or just give what little you can afford. It all makes a big difference. If you know anyone who might be interested please spread the word. As I posted yesterday we have a $2,500 matching donation from the Cabaud family so anything you give now, up to $2,500, will be doubled.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd53lKDsk6nAGfKfNIR3EA7wmivRufTN1n0l5pcZQVh8NZTOiw7HGI6RHr6FIYvyvep2HSQeRJX5creMiqqQSHD4K7tOx0ZjElGz50uM0eWfC3sCv_TawNol8srFv2wz4Z2CoDQ4eT/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd53lKDsk6nAGfKfNIR3EA7wmivRufTN1n0l5pcZQVh8NZTOiw7HGI6RHr6FIYvyvep2HSQeRJX5creMiqqQSHD4K7tOx0ZjElGz50uM0eWfC3sCv_TawNol8srFv2wz4Z2CoDQ4eT/s400/IMG_1863.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Five of the Simama Sponsored kids smiling at school)</div>
Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-35111874791333805142012-11-28T16:09:00.000-08:002012-11-28T16:20:43.628-08:00Matching DonationDear Simama Family,<br />
<br />
One of the project's supporters, the Cabaud family, has made a generous matching donation of $2,500. This is great news for the Simama Project, but it requires that we raise the matching amount. Please help us raise the $2,500 that we need in the next few weeks. Your support is greatly appreciated.<br />
<br />
As always, the donation link is located in the upper right hand corner of this blog. If you are interested in recurring donations, you can find the link by scrolling down on the right hand side. As always, all donations are 100% tax deductible through our fiscal sponsor Empowerment WORKS.<br />
<br />
MattMatt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-53763930339249043712012-05-18T11:33:00.002-07:002012-05-18T11:33:34.216-07:00"These Are Your Children;" the Campaign For Street Kids<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“These are the children of Nanyuki,” Joseph, former street
kid now enrolled in school through the Simama Project said. He stood on a
stage, surrounded by Simama employees and former and current street kids. He
looked out into the audience, a mixture of Nanyuki citizens, street kids, and
participants of the Campaign for Street Kids. Though when he spoke, he spoke
directly to the citizens of Nanyuki. “These are your children. They are not
dangerous. They deserve to be fed, sheltered, and the right to an education.”
He paused for a moment. “I know,” he said, “because I was one of them.”</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR57fxkSGp7U6wgMxCbk5y-zrlv8alSrZyl2ApCp0O4ZVdK4gXb5s_mp3izh7YmYXUjsrIr-8wctoy2ykOBIu_VeWhv4hu4g-IKIGlYzODYs2Pe_QyV1coUrDdFmwwkbCWpN0DjBrz/s1600/IMG_3172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR57fxkSGp7U6wgMxCbk5y-zrlv8alSrZyl2ApCp0O4ZVdK4gXb5s_mp3izh7YmYXUjsrIr-8wctoy2ykOBIu_VeWhv4hu4g-IKIGlYzODYs2Pe_QyV1coUrDdFmwwkbCWpN0DjBrz/s320/IMG_3172.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> (Joseph onstage speaking to the citizens of Nanyuki)</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks ago, the Simama Project was invited to
participate in a campaign for street children put on by Mt. Kenya Activista in
conjunction with Actionaid. The idea was simple, but important: spark awareness
around the issue of homeless children who live in the streets of Nanyuki.
Volunteers, activists, students and community members mobilized and marched
across Nanyuki. Our voice was heard through chants, songs, and flash dances.
Our message was clear: despite them being the most neglected part of this
society, the street kids are members of the Nanyuki community. We should take
care of them instead of the more commonly used tactic, throwing them in jail. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we marched and danced through the streets, the most
incredible part of the day happened. Street kids came out of nowhere and
everywhere, joining us. They didn’t know where we had come from or where we
were going, but the joy was obvious and beautiful when they realized that those
things didn’t matter. What mattered was that the very reason we were there at
all was for them. For many of these kids, this was the first moment in their
entire lives that they felt acknowledged, recognized, and respected. We waved
for them to join us, and join us they did. They marched, sang, high-fived and
danced with us until we reached our destination.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mohammed, a boy who is in school but spends any free time
looking for scraps of food wherever he can find them, joined us. Confused at
first, he looked up at one of the Actionaid volunteers. I heard him say to her,
“This is for me?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It sure is,” she replied to him with a smile.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTSMfch_hYOZpte8U47YkgBrfEcfjqgJCwc2yx0M6UuQTFLFxRBY4VIyxWj9xJwQCQEq3ogB8EXzqvPKRQVR-HobIrSO7H1NWBZzZIBYn5li6yzde_ndJSwirTN9fLMbw7CGxy5my/s1600/IMG_3106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTSMfch_hYOZpte8U47YkgBrfEcfjqgJCwc2yx0M6UuQTFLFxRBY4VIyxWj9xJwQCQEq3ogB8EXzqvPKRQVR-HobIrSO7H1NWBZzZIBYn5li6yzde_ndJSwirTN9fLMbw7CGxy5my/s320/IMG_3106.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> (Mohammed at the rally)</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The parade ended in Nanyuki’s central park, home to about 35
of the town’s hundreds of homeless youth. The program with fully stocked with
skits, speakers, and even a dance competition for intermission (guess which
part the kids loved the most?). Actionaid members put on a short drama
highlighting common issues Kenyan children deal with that could potentially
land them in the street. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Simama Project took the stage afterward. In the spirit
of the same solidarity the Project operates under on a daily bases, a large
group of us ascended to the stage. First to speak on our behalf was Joseph, a
former street boy himself who is now a very successful standard 8 student. He
looked out into the audience and found his voice, surprisingly powerful and
moving for a kid whose first public speaking appearance was at that very
moment. He called upon the citizens of Nanyuki to take action. He urged them to
embrace, instead of shun the street kids, to help, instead of ignore them. “We
must take care of our own,” he said, “and we must do it together.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The audience was visibly touched by his words. He stepped
back into the group to an overwhelming applause. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next to speak was one of the Simama Project’s founding board
members, Josephine. Josephine is a champion for children’s’ rights and
gender-based violence issues. After her, I had an opportunity to say a few
words. I introduced the project to the community at large, many of whom had not
yet heard of us. I encouraged community members to reach out to us. I offered
the Project as a vehicle for change. We are here to help, I said, and are
seeking to establish a relationship that is beneficial to the kids, which in
turn will help create a better Nanyuki. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon as we got off stage, two men approached me. They
said that they were part of a group of street kids that had listened to us
speak. They were interested in what we
do, and they had more than fifteen kids who wanted to go to school. I walked with him to meet the kids. I peered
into about 15 faces with both hope and sadness. These were kids who clearly
wanted to go to school. I weighed Simama’s mission against what we were immediately
capable of financially. Eventually, with proper resources, we would be able to
help them all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, we could only afford to
help one. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina8TBbaSIkpXh3XX6ic4EQYbGaWcS5CbxS8N9TX0YGFy-2AHl1JJB0LMLG5TN7ldn5pA5UHhcVnda3s_kLm-lsTt35ZfUoi0yyVzaxQoPRPv8iSG3D0TTrhj4_HT8KjWi0nG7SO7G/s1600/DSCF4025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina8TBbaSIkpXh3XX6ic4EQYbGaWcS5CbxS8N9TX0YGFy-2AHl1JJB0LMLG5TN7ldn5pA5UHhcVnda3s_kLm-lsTt35ZfUoi0yyVzaxQoPRPv8iSG3D0TTrhj4_HT8KjWi0nG7SO7G/s320/DSCF4025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> (Meeting with the Bogoria Self-Help Group. Kids who want desperately to go to school)</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I left the decision up to the group. The results were close,
between a small, young kid named Abdi, and Michael, a taller, slightly older
kid. Ultimately, after going through the process of a case study and tutoring,
Abdi became the newest Simama Project kid, and is now attending Il Polei with
Alfred and the other kids. Michael and
the other 13 kids are still out there.
We hope to be able to find the resources to assist them shortly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlEVWoAXd_nTA5cd3nw5J2i63fe9NhkNS_sLOLS6BDOGvzfXRgRHK5LjW6JTeMZxmzSFa0g7pOSbNRkYRPZillkrnWhKpte2DZrp6qj_vIV0w42HuK8ZeR8_dhjTMIlnkusjR5uqr/s1600/IMAG0100-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlEVWoAXd_nTA5cd3nw5J2i63fe9NhkNS_sLOLS6BDOGvzfXRgRHK5LjW6JTeMZxmzSFa0g7pOSbNRkYRPZillkrnWhKpte2DZrp6qj_vIV0w42HuK8ZeR8_dhjTMIlnkusjR5uqr/s320/IMAG0100-1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> (Abdi, studying for school)</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Simama Project is grateful to Actionaid for putting on a
successful event that built upon the momentum of what we have been fighting to
establish in this community. They took a serious cause and delivered an
important message through fun and a unique way of creating buzz. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For more photos, check out our Facebook album at:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SimamaProject" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SimamaProject</a></span>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-33670466361494559422012-03-02T01:29:00.004-08:002012-03-02T03:32:43.410-08:00A Tough Way To Education<div>Here is another installment in the videos that the Danish Action Aid volunteers made. It is about John, one of the boys that I work closely with in the Simama Project.</div><div>As always please remember that the volunteers speak English as their second language and that this video was made in hours and not days. Hopefully it will provide some insight into what it is like for some of the youth growing up in Kenya. </div><div><br /></div><div>Special thanks to Nadia Beekhuijzen, Jannie Oestergaard Neilsen, Trine Schousen Kristiansen and Mathias Isidor Andersen for making a great video!</div><div><br /></div><div> PS. if by chance I look like I am on death's doorstep, it is because I was undergoing antibiotic treatment through an iv. I dont normally look like that...I swear. (or maybe I do) I am much better now...thanks.</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUH2kcBMaSxreGtCX27bZnZX8I0jcWvU32AzikBgOV94AKUqed5sYpHDFo7wK7NG3OV_bRwS7CKU0klyEntA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-59625237718824632582012-01-29T02:15:00.000-08:002012-02-01T06:06:02.294-08:00Joyce: 2nd Year Update!<div style="text-align: center;"><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; ">If you haven’t read about taking Joyce to school last year check it </span><a href="http://www.intheshadowofmtkenya.blogspot.com/2011/06/il-poleis-famous-pride-rock.html" style="text-align: left; ">here</a><span style="text-align: left; ">. (You might want to read that one first, but dont have to)</span></div><p class="MsoNormal">The second day I was back in Kenya, I was driving into town and came across a group of local girls who were walking to town. Now Im normally not one to take the dangerous option of picking up hitchhikers especially teenage girls, but considering that they had an hour long walk ahead of them and it would take 15 minutes by car, I decided to live a little and take a risk.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It turns out the girls were students at St. Francis Secondary school in Dol Dol. The same school Joyce and Lekerimba attend. I asked them if they knew the girls and if they could tell them hello for me. They responded that they did, and they would say hello.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next day at 8 am I was walking by the gate and I saw a girl staring at me smiling. I had no idea who she was, so I smiled politely and walked by. Ten minutes later I walked by again, going back to my house. The smiling face was still there, so I smiled again and continued to walk by. I heard a muffled voice proclaim “Matt!” and turned around and walked closer. It was Joyce looking much older and more radiant than I had ever seen, with the biggest smile on her face. I approached her ready for one of her limp-wristed greeting and was met with a bear hug.</p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CdLVin0yYl2Rk8EP9PUsDMKDbngJcm08wKtUa02x73N4GbOzZ-QfMBxp1UvzyHRDAyX4T3whL1jlKb-JMdhIl36h8h7v52A2BjdJluD95bUSIg6GQVEpHC1CdnyXz4Yae41eeGH-/s1600/New.+Everything+272.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CdLVin0yYl2Rk8EP9PUsDMKDbngJcm08wKtUa02x73N4GbOzZ-QfMBxp1UvzyHRDAyX4T3whL1jlKb-JMdhIl36h8h7v52A2BjdJluD95bUSIg6GQVEpHC1CdnyXz4Yae41eeGH-/s400/New.+Everything+272.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702996650124424546" style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(Joyce, with her new smile)</b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">“I have missed you so much,” she said. “I have just been praying that you would return here safely, and here you are!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was Joyce…but not at all the Joyce I remembered. That Joyce wouldn’t talk, wouldn’t smile and definitely wouldn’t hug me. This Joyce wouldn’t STOP smiling. Later I was to find out, she wouldn’t stop talking either.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“One of my friends from school came to visit me and told me that I was greeted by a certain Mzungu and I knew it must be you!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I asked her to make a list of things that we needed to get before school started next week and hand it to me. She sat there for a long while. After ten minutes had passed I asked to see her list. Her smile showed her embarrassment, as she walked to me and put the list in my hand. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The list said: “Money for shopping”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I tried to stop myself from laughing out loud, but I am pretty sure I failed. “I know you need money for shopping,” I said, “I need to know WHAT you will be shopping for.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">She shyly looked away and whispered “you know, there are some things that girls need.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The cultural differences on this subject are great, so I tried to convey to her that she could treat me as though I was family. I understand though that even between male and female family members some of these feminine issues remain taboo. Because of these reasons I was very pleased when she finally handed me a list that included “under garments” and “feminine napkins”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We agreed to meet the next day to go shopping and I bid her farewell. Five minutes later I walked by again and there was Joyce standing at the gate blushing. I walked closer to her and when I finally got to whisper distance she said to me, “My grandmother has invited you to come to our house, will you come?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“How far away is your house?” I asked her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Just over this hill”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">45 minutes later I am hiking through completely uninhabited hillside with Joyce by my side shooting out questions for me. “How was your trip to the United States?” She asked, “How are your nephews?” “Please tell me about your Aunt and the rest of your family.” “Do you think one day I will be able to visit the United States?” “Why are you not married?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“-good question,” I began, and was about to explain that in order to get married you need to find a partner who is willing to be with you.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“If it were not for you, I would be married,” Joyce said, in a matter of fact matter</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“What do you mean?” I asked, not understanding.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Last year when I met you,” she started, “I was in a very bad place, I was very sad, and everyone said that if I was unable to go to school that I must marry a certain old man.” Arranged marriages are very common amongst the Maasai, and if a family is unable to take care of a girl the marriages often happen at a young age, oftentimes even younger than Joyce, who is 17. I was not aware that Joyce was to be married off. “My grandmother does not like the man, so she said that I could just stay at home, even though there would not be enough food.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just then we reached a clearing and saw her family in the clearing. “Ah, here we are, they will be so happy to see you!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpQ7M5_7QQlWYq2md8xqxzmsoz64DhRn6nRG4TYzPUg1kYVVRlNs6ZpZrJ8LSyLZMxkXF0CfgbrUCd7Qa-PbkYKO-gx-PwrE21AgMCvyVFlp5vzPKLseyi1QFZqmp967nX1nzqmSY/s1600/New.+Everything+301.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpQ7M5_7QQlWYq2md8xqxzmsoz64DhRn6nRG4TYzPUg1kYVVRlNs6ZpZrJ8LSyLZMxkXF0CfgbrUCd7Qa-PbkYKO-gx-PwrE21AgMCvyVFlp5vzPKLseyi1QFZqmp967nX1nzqmSY/s400/New.+Everything+301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703003598853246674" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px; " /></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>(Joyce's family in the clearing)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I came into the clearing and greeted Joyce's family. It was her Grandmother and her Uncle's wife and children, and another elderly woman who she said was related to her in some way or another. The older people did seemed pleased to meet me, but the babies were visibly afraid of me. It is likely they had never seen a mzungu before.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3j3maEI8cqy633foVJEfnNpQfeumczFa1rJZ7XUBxwg7B5ILLNH8LRp7py3jkX8oqyySwpfhSIiLqddIJt1E51eX0ok8MmJ5wxjsscrw1kZXnJ2mcv7yp7uqldiIdZYy8PS0rWbS/s1600/New.+Everything+290.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3j3maEI8cqy633foVJEfnNpQfeumczFa1rJZ7XUBxwg7B5ILLNH8LRp7py3jkX8oqyySwpfhSIiLqddIJt1E51eX0ok8MmJ5wxjsscrw1kZXnJ2mcv7yp7uqldiIdZYy8PS0rWbS/s400/New.+Everything+290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703023468478278770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>(Joyce's family, baby clearly not happy to see me)</b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Joyce welcomed me into her house and showed me around. The inside of a Maasai manyatta is amazing to me. First off they are built hobbit short, I had to bend over at the waist to get in the door. </div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEANXNKK20aJRaH1W4IjynPNy2I7IUpdcnriLZx1JbcbdiOkVK0DSPoA-RHaDLrcbs2KvJh2BnrxDHXKzhwhZmfckj_S3JFZQgSYnvC2kPWRv8ny6-stUcGFBYS0CoyVuqC-XvjFk/s1600/New.+Everything+308.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEANXNKK20aJRaH1W4IjynPNy2I7IUpdcnriLZx1JbcbdiOkVK0DSPoA-RHaDLrcbs2KvJh2BnrxDHXKzhwhZmfckj_S3JFZQgSYnvC2kPWRv8ny6-stUcGFBYS0CoyVuqC-XvjFk/s400/New.+Everything+308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703002444133669874" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(The entrance to Joyce's family manyatta)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">The structure is partitioned off into four distinct rooms, one of which is a kitchen with an open flame and a very small hole or "window" to let the smoke out and light in. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LL5YCx7zFscrIAq14eQbwc33PM1wdM9VRbg-qx04-QRe4ngXB_VPXDUSH6rKwbj8E2w5y_uh_Yl-CMo4VoxuD5h6GWNIEsSaTUp-ZrrZ_H0nuB5O_4nZhKCtieNCe-BrT8YVmgge/s1600/New.+Everything+309.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LL5YCx7zFscrIAq14eQbwc33PM1wdM9VRbg-qx04-QRe4ngXB_VPXDUSH6rKwbj8E2w5y_uh_Yl-CMo4VoxuD5h6GWNIEsSaTUp-ZrrZ_H0nuB5O_4nZhKCtieNCe-BrT8YVmgge/s400/New.+Everything+309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703029614025058722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(The Kitchen with it's "window")</b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">This results in an inside that is always smokey, always smells of smoke, a ceiling that looks like it is charred and an inside is so dark that it was almost impossible for me to navigate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxBYOncm78i3vnKWZxthefSBCIjhIFbR5z3vMtTXZQ1ifdwZ0Q0rH7PiZ4ZCRUPoZIdwuI3QAeR_iJ8wSgeN9q53coxvMkZTqU-Zc5ohh38QoM5EfUOm6RBm29vlch7-CubCEeZxp/s1600/New.+Everything+317.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxBYOncm78i3vnKWZxthefSBCIjhIFbR5z3vMtTXZQ1ifdwZ0Q0rH7PiZ4ZCRUPoZIdwuI3QAeR_iJ8wSgeN9q53coxvMkZTqU-Zc5ohh38QoM5EfUOm6RBm29vlch7-CubCEeZxp/s400/New.+Everything+317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703030642969155506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><b>(The "charred" roof which lets in very little light)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">The family was very congenial and Joyce kept apologizing and explaining to me that they have no animals and no food to offer me. In Maasai culture animal ownership (along with a number of children you have), is the prime indicator of wealth. The fact that Joyce's family has no animals at all, no cows, goats or sheep is a sign that the family is very poor and possibly in danger of starving. Joyce's grandmother was walking around without shoes which is kind of dangerous since she lives in the bush. Even though it is not a common practice for the Simama Project, I made an exception and bought the grandmother some shoes (which she showed off the next day by unexpectedly walking to see me...she was visibly pleased with them).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As you may remember last year when I brought her to school for the first time I had my doubts about whether she was the right girl to sponsor. Now I feel so lucky that I chose to sponsor her. Everyone who see's her remarks that she seems like a different girl, much more confident, much happier. She is also in the top third of her class academically. Last year when I dropped her off at school it was the only time she was affectionate towards me, when she held my hand and wouldn't let go. This time it was very different dropping her off at school. She had shown so much affection the week before and almost treated me like her family. When we got to school I asked her if she wanted me to walk her in and she looked at me horrified shaking her head "no". I imagine this is what its like to drop your daughter off at high school. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNZoj8fyuO2ZwCcgb3sVldbjD-NqE5tzTQDOPprcde3_THtPJh_U3Cofjfcey3qNWFWsGe51jkcK8Ut6zBYyJWbkPl3uHSH55p1viTIx0DsbuDthj-dZVaCT8Bp7JC7mAFG3EiWoo/s1600/JOYCE+HOME+VISIT+020.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNZoj8fyuO2ZwCcgb3sVldbjD-NqE5tzTQDOPprcde3_THtPJh_U3Cofjfcey3qNWFWsGe51jkcK8Ut6zBYyJWbkPl3uHSH55p1viTIx0DsbuDthj-dZVaCT8Bp7JC7mAFG3EiWoo/s400/JOYCE+HOME+VISIT+020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703021831378966562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 249px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(Joyce smiling from far away when I dropped her off)</b></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Joyce, myself and the entire Simama Project would like to spend a special thanks to my Aunt Nancy and her partner Susan and their family, for sponsoring Joyce and making this great opportunity possible for her. There are plenty more students like Joyce who are unable to afford education, and the cost of supporting one of these students for a whole year is so low (relatively) for those of us who enjoy a western standard of living. For more information email me: matt@simamaproject.org</div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-65245368565074647662012-01-19T02:31:00.000-08:002012-01-19T04:33:21.199-08:00Matching Grant Funds Matched!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW3KSfw26r0WtpBOZq4gmzft94153BqvvLHa8hUlo4hl-2fIrZmU9Du1gmHNKxrPUMfOpL8L_xw7w0KHb6c8vsgNf-z4HeRI7o6xvIhwgnh-GlIO_SFoOPa9OY9LdI7U21eoO2k8v/s1600/New.+Everything+223.JPG"></a>Thank you to everyone who helped make the matching grant a success. The Simama Project is currently looking for other matching grants or other sources of funding to help the kids. Scholarship season has arrived so if you or anyone you know might be interested in getting a needy Kenyan child through school please email me! (matt@simamaproject.org) Thank you for those who already sponsor kids!<div><br /></div><div>A special thank you to my dear friends Angela and Nate who threw the first ever Simama fundraising event. It was a huge success and got the ball rolling on the matching grant. In addition it gave the generous folks in San Francisco a chance to learn about the situation for the youth in Kenya, and more importantly, a chance to do something about it (which they did).</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW3KSfw26r0WtpBOZq4gmzft94153BqvvLHa8hUlo4hl-2fIrZmU9Du1gmHNKxrPUMfOpL8L_xw7w0KHb6c8vsgNf-z4HeRI7o6xvIhwgnh-GlIO_SFoOPa9OY9LdI7U21eoO2k8v/s400/New.+Everything+223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699304319930768946" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">(The hosts, Angela and Nate, next to the amazing assortment of cheeses which actually probably deserves its own picture)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_VNV1sIVYvhd2_za_HOTIHqedakgKbQtkWCI5mfqQbfkvLI2hKeangB-F6o800MwPgqGbmm3X6HEFlMfF5bnRZl8Fk6kEPEwPWUGWu13aNv17giENSj1JTYvbSiQwjN2lUi5fQ5K/s1600/New.+Everything+219.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_VNV1sIVYvhd2_za_HOTIHqedakgKbQtkWCI5mfqQbfkvLI2hKeangB-F6o800MwPgqGbmm3X6HEFlMfF5bnRZl8Fk6kEPEwPWUGWu13aNv17giENSj1JTYvbSiQwjN2lUi5fQ5K/s400/New.+Everything+219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699310625850484306" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">(There we go. Yeah definitely picture worthy)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6rM6DZYeBLbaOIwoGNslpgk-YOCySJZlad6RUce6ysCbzaWhGBbbMYzZqdpoHMvjovYWU1rL8bbSNnkA3rZJF2WWzO-Zld4tOEtt8ts6d5pjXaQghvBZN2qwE4wPz5_YGAhjFHnE/s1600/New.+Everything+236.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6rM6DZYeBLbaOIwoGNslpgk-YOCySJZlad6RUce6ysCbzaWhGBbbMYzZqdpoHMvjovYWU1rL8bbSNnkA3rZJF2WWzO-Zld4tOEtt8ts6d5pjXaQghvBZN2qwE4wPz5_YGAhjFHnE/s400/New.+Everything+236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699314623643606866" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a>l</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Bonded with the Kids...as best we could being thousands of miles away)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1sa1sTlkxXJGL2P2723twGT-vdUXWymuz_ibvVDnZPXsXRMGWVuX4lpUhaxYjC6n21QZVBh52n27tkjRbJv8AtuRA7VDItXyanPNnR2uHyHJIy4wBviZocSiGIzrC7cx6Cgv7xV5/s1600/New.+Everything+230.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1sa1sTlkxXJGL2P2723twGT-vdUXWymuz_ibvVDnZPXsXRMGWVuX4lpUhaxYjC6n21QZVBh52n27tkjRbJv8AtuRA7VDItXyanPNnR2uHyHJIy4wBviZocSiGIzrC7cx6Cgv7xV5/s400/New.+Everything+230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699317211785185778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Lovely people)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-7SDiaW1lJylytb6K-juS0HhKnyEZJRZnX23-izd2sf_W9igfBfQwc6K7FYspoaBERnzKoatMb2sykycRmpgJx4ozBMDw4dFeC7-nHPeleeYIbmgQ84IBXQrrd6SKPIgROghGSIb/s1600/New.+Everything+220.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-7SDiaW1lJylytb6K-juS0HhKnyEZJRZnX23-izd2sf_W9igfBfQwc6K7FYspoaBERnzKoatMb2sykycRmpgJx4ozBMDw4dFeC7-nHPeleeYIbmgQ84IBXQrrd6SKPIgROghGSIb/s400/New.+Everything+220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699319643179536226" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">(and of course....Dessert)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THANKS GUYS!!!</div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-37015947055602527402011-12-05T15:20:00.000-08:002011-12-24T16:34:54.214-08:00$5,000 Matching Grant through the rest of 2011!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px; ">Dear Readers,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;">An anonymous donor has given the Simama Project a $5,000 matching grant! Every donation you make up to $5,000 will be doubled until the end of the year. Please take this time to donate and tell people about this opportunity to change lives. These kids are worth it, and every dollar goes towards empowering the most disadvantaged youth through education and work opportunities! The donation button is in the upper right hand corner of the page and all donations are 100% tax deductible as allowed by law. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;">Thank you so much everyone for your love and support. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;">For more information on the project contact me at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px; ">info@simamaproject.org </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;">or take a look at the <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/38914310/Simamabrochure1.pdf">Simama Brochure</a>.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 8px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-38298616338699340082011-08-23T14:55:00.001-07:002011-09-06T15:27:10.732-07:00Simama ProjectDear Readers, <div>In February 2010 I met a Kenyan boy, <a href="http://intheshadowofmtkenya.blogspot.com/2010/04/does-this-look-like-face-of-future.html">Alfred</a>, who lived on the streets of Nanyuki. Many of you followed my blog as I chronicled the efforts of my friend Martin and I, trying to get him into school. Within weeks of getting him into a school he was ranked number one in his class, and two quarters later he was ranked number one in his entire district.</div><div><br /></div><div>Being inspired by that, I returned to Nanyuki last November with the goal of finding more street kids with the potential to succeed in school. As seen in my blog post "<a href="http://intheshadowofmtkenya.blogspot.com/2011/02/davids-first-day-of-school.html">David's First Day of School</a>" my community partners and I were able to enroll three more street kids from Alfred's neighborhood. By the end of the quarter, two of those boys were ranked number one in their classes and the third, David, was ranked 2nd in his class. This educational re-integration has been more successful than anyone could have imagined!</div><div><br /></div><div>The second target of the projects focus with street kids, are the children for whom education is not a possibility, either because of advanced age or lack of academic prowess. Two such boys, <a href="http://intheshadowofmtkenya.blogspot.com/2011/02/richard.html">Richard </a>and <a href="http://intheshadowofmtkenya.blogspot.com/2010/12/joseph-geoffrey.html">Joseph Geoffrey</a>, through micro-finance loans, in conjunction with skills they already possess, have been able to get themselves off the street by setting up businesses of their own.</div><div><br /></div><div>The third, and hopefully the target with the most long term societal impact will be helping the children who find themselves at risk of becoming street children. Many well-meaning boys and girls are kicked out of school in Nanyuki because of being unable to afford food, school uniform, and basic necessities, forcing them into a <a href="http://intheshadowofmtkenya.blogspot.com/2011/06/street-boys-part-ii.html">life on the streets</a>. Ironically, education is easily the most effective tool for them to use to get themselves out of poverty, but they end up without an education because of their poverty. Working with the Head Social worker in Nanyuki, Mr Hezron, individual sponsors and other community partners, the project has been able to give scholarships to seven of these children, most of them orphans, who would not otherwise be able to continue their education. The project is currently raising funds and finding partners for a food and uniform project which would stop the vast majority of the children from leaving school and going to the streets.</div><div><br /></div><div>This Project has been more successful than I could have imagined so far, but there are hundreds of kids still living in the streets of Nanyuki and many more at risk of losing their chance at education and a healthy, productive life. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the past few months I have been back in the USA working hard to get non-profit status for this important project. Earlier this month I applied to, and was accepted, by my first choice for a fiscal sponsor, called <a href="http://www.empowermentworks.org/">Empowerment Works</a>. Fiscal Sponsorship means that I use their non-profit status to collect tax-deductible donations for the project, the mission of which is in alignment with the mission of the sponsor organization. In this way I can concentrate on the work of the project and not get consumed with the day to day headache of having to run an organization.</div><div><br /></div><div>The name of the project is "Simama" which means "stand up" in Swahili. The significance is twofold: first you cannot change someones life for them, you can only give them an opportunity, they must stand up on their own. The second meaning, lies in the projects belief that each and every one of us in the world has a responsibility to stand up for those who are most vulnerable.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Simama project is a community driven project that uses both well established and innovative methods to provide marginalized Kenyan youth with opportunities to get themselves out of poverty. If you would like more information on the project, or would like to help support the project in any way, please use the email below. Thank you everyone for making all of this possible!</div><div><br /></div><div>Info@simamaproject.org<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>The official mailing address for tax-deductible contributions:</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>PLEASE CLEARLY INDICATE "SIMAMA PROJECT" IN THE CHECK MEMO</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>but make the check out to Empowerment WORKS</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Empowement WORKS</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>1793 Northwood Ct.</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Oakland, CA 94611 - USA</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(90, 36, 82); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(158, 0, 93); "><p align="right" class="plain" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; color: rgb(90, 36, 82); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; "><i><br /></i></p></span></div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-57079237600814578952011-06-29T00:15:00.000-07:002011-06-29T10:15:43.657-07:00Re:Joyce<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaj0OA1zCTNX2XzLMwDWP2juSboXE0cO0Bzo7MevYxuVKKPvtXPGW8KI8cMlj5CNOMelVcpNpbmGW3faDYWE6SD0e3Rau2gY8fpZ0fzWMFRsnno0-BlYuuKWEw1qJtrCS81oaMw9MN/s1600/IMG_0798.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaj0OA1zCTNX2XzLMwDWP2juSboXE0cO0Bzo7MevYxuVKKPvtXPGW8KI8cMlj5CNOMelVcpNpbmGW3faDYWE6SD0e3Rau2gY8fpZ0fzWMFRsnno0-BlYuuKWEw1qJtrCS81oaMw9MN/s400/IMG_0798.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623540807076253650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(Il Polei's famous Pride Rock...</b>Ok its not really famous...and maybe no one calls it that, but they should<b>)</b></div><br /><br />Today was one of the most challenging, difficult days of my life, also one of the most rewarding. At 7am I woke up and prepared my belongings for the journey up north. It was to be Joyce’s first day of High school. I was to be travelling through some of the hottest parts of Kenya so I grabbed the biggest bottle of water I could find and put it in my backpack.<br />I picked up the thin piece of foam that passes for a mattress in Kenyan boarding schools, and with my other hand the large box with a metal bucket attached to it that held all of Joyce’s belongings, , and went to the gate to meet her. She was supposed to be there at 8:30 but the guard on duty said she had been there an hour early. I greeted her excitedly, and she limply grasped my hand and averted her eyes while muttering a shy greeting, as is her custom. I met her a week before, and she was still obviously not comfortable with me.<br />I had actually never seen her act comfortable with anyone. I had decided to sponsor her not because of her outgoing personality, but because of her family’s poor background, her solid academic record and intense desire to continue school. After scoring a very respectable 300 marks on her KCPE (the final primary school exam that determines your academic future) she watched as her friends, almost all of whom had lower scores than she did, went off to school while she waited and hoped for an opportunity. Living with her destitute Grandmother and two brothers she had no chance of her family paying her school fees. The drought this year had taken their supply of food and even eating was only possible through relief rations given by the World Food Program. When the few opportunities for scholarships slipped through her fingers she settled in a deep despair and cried for weeks.<br />Though she had stopped crying after I interviewed her and informed her that I would like to sponsor her, she still seemed melancholy and distant. On the day that I was taking her to school I have to admit I was having doubts about whether she was the right girl for me to sponsor, because to me attitude is the most important factor in success. We were on our way though, and we were far beyond the point of no return. We walked for ten minutes to the dirt road and were able to quickly hail a sand truck. They were not going all the way to Dol Dol (which was our destination) but they were heading to Il Polei which is about halfway to Dol Dol. We got in the truck and started on our journey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdifLDcTknGIrsR9-SuLmSZlrXGtWQFKSaTic1xdjvlfa-Y1zXTwDT-4lb-Q_j1WfnFvsbue_PfZABCxyjaOZ2mul7w4uhSermkl_wAORsR0rxygly9-J04gVmIFHzLV7YLt1Lpa_/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdifLDcTknGIrsR9-SuLmSZlrXGtWQFKSaTic1xdjvlfa-Y1zXTwDT-4lb-Q_j1WfnFvsbue_PfZABCxyjaOZ2mul7w4uhSermkl_wAORsR0rxygly9-J04gVmIFHzLV7YLt1Lpa_/s400/IMG_0808.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623548835955181234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(A sand truck traveling on the road to Il Polei)</b></div><br />An hour later at 8:45 am we were in Il Polei walking through the town with all of her equipment in tow. I followed her to the Matatu stage that would take us to Dol Dol and found myself sitting on a big flat rock with the hot rays of the sun beating down on us. I have spent lots of time in the hot sun of Il Polei and with time I have discovered that drinking too much water early on only makes your thirst more intense later. I decided to use this wisdom and save my water for when I really needed it. An hour passed in the unbearable heat and I became aware of the discomfort. I looked around for some shade but the nearest tree was 100 yards away.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmxLyecvIcamtCyrFg1SZ6W6MHStMIX_cV92Jm8MaImwk8svXIWcXs26f0bb-w0Mzti04c_tXiPMQdnCbUWMhjw2xTPyp3KmJlEuCOV-l84Fjsoa_Rn0bMK_DFOrIA3OD_9OxAd7-/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmxLyecvIcamtCyrFg1SZ6W6MHStMIX_cV92Jm8MaImwk8svXIWcXs26f0bb-w0Mzti04c_tXiPMQdnCbUWMhjw2xTPyp3KmJlEuCOV-l84Fjsoa_Rn0bMK_DFOrIA3OD_9OxAd7-/s400/IMG_1360.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623571548094278610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(The exact spot: the Il Polei matatu stage)</b></div><br />Another hour passed and not a single vehicle had gone by. I became distinctly aware that the sun was burning my skin. Despite the intense heat of the day I found myself longing for a sweatshirt with a hood that would cover my arms and neck. During the second hour some groups of Masaai started walking by us. It served to break up the monotony a little bit. Joyce being a Masaai herself was greeted by some of the passersby and I was pleased to see that she was willing to acknowledge their presence, since she couldn’t seem to acknowledge mine.<br />By the time noon rolled around the sun had really turned the temperature dial up. I found myself thinking back with a longing fondness on the 11 o’clock sun. I knew this was likely to be the worst of it so I decided to bite the bullet and pull out my water. I reached into my backpack and to my profound dismay I found that I had forgotten my water.<br />The next hour (from 1-2) things got interesting. First I noticed that Joyce had picked a rock up off the ground and put it in her mouth. I was already having doubts about her and at this point I thought to myself “She is eating a rock, great, Im sponsoring an idiot”. (Later I found out that tribes who live in the desert often place rocks in their mouths on particularly hot days when they have no water to keep their saliva flowing…yes I am the idiot)<br />The other thing that happened was that people started passing by who knew her. They would come by smiling and give her a hug, greet me and pat me on the back. This is when the miracle happened. She started smiling. She would tell everyone who came by that she was going to school and give them a shy but proud smile. Every time a group would pass I would ask what they said and she would repeat it to me in Kimassai and translate it to English. She found it hilarious when I stumbled through phrases in her mother tongue. A large group of men came by and I decided to use my little Massai: “Enta Supa” I called out to them, and either I mispronounced the words or the men had little interest in talking because they walked by un-amused. I turned around to find Joyce rolling on the rocks laughing. Inspired by her display of Mirth, I broke into a loud laugh of my own.<br />Now I didn’t want to miss a matatu, especially because at this point it seemed as though they only came every five hours. I was however very thirsty. I decided to run to the nearest store. I got there and asked for water the whole time looking over my shoulder for a matatu. The lady shook her head at me. “Encare” I said using the massai word for water. Still nothing. “Maji?” I asked, switching it up to Swahili. The lady looked at me like I was crazy. “Okay, give me two warm sprites” I said pointing to the loose bottles on the shelf. I grabbed the sprites from her and started running back while opening the first bottle. As soon as top came off the sprite started spraying everywhere. I put it to my lips to the mouth of the bottle to try to stop the onrush of liquid. When the explosiveness was finally contained the bottle was almost empty and most of the liquid now resided on my face and clothes, unfortunately very little of it in my mouth. I quickly drank the rest and, already unsatisfied, ran to join Joyce. I handed her the sprite and she looked at me like I was crazy but she did take off the top and start drinking.<br />The stickiness from the sprite somehow made my sunburn feel worse and I began to wonder if it was possible for me to die because of the exposure I was experiencing. The contemplation of my mortality was short lived however because I was interrupted by screams of a passing Massai woman. Joyce immediately got up and started screaming…and smiling, so I knew it was ok. She ran to the screaming woman and embraced her. The woman was carrying a baby on her back and a plastic bag full of milk. She turned out to be Joyce’s Aunt despite the fact that she looked by age to be her slightly older sister. She had noticed the school equipment and had been unaware that Joyce had found a sponsor, so she was elated. She came to me and hugged me, turned around and made sure her baby got a good glimpse of me all the while smiling. She then put down her empty bags that were to be used to bring the relief food back to her shamba (homestead) and gave the bag of milk to Joyce with a smile. Joyce glanced at me conspiratorially and grinned big. “My Aunt has given this to you as a gift, will you drink it?” she said.<br />I laughed…and waited for her to tell me she was just kidding. “Of course Ill drink it,” I said hesitantly. She kept smiling but somehow looked relieved. She handed the bag to me and kept looking at me expectantly. “You want me to drink it NOW?” I asked incredulously.<br />She smiled again and nodded, “my Aunt was bringing the milk into town to sell it, but she is so happy that you are taking me to school that she wants you to drink it”. A list of excuses flashed through my mind but I knew what I had to do.<br />“Ok,” I said to her, “How do I drink it? Show me.”<br />She expertly pulled the outside plastic bag away, untied the inner one and poured a sip of the milk into the other bag. She then put the corner of the bag into her mouth and bit through it, sucking the milk through the hole in the bag. She then looked at me with a smile and handed the big bag of milk to me. The look on her face said “well, get to it”.<br />So I did. I bit the corner and started sucking the milk out of the bag. It was surprisingly thick, and surprisingly warm. I started thinking about pasteurization and the health benefits it had brought to our society and how I wouldn’t be experiencing any of those benefits because this milk came literally straight from the udder of the cow into this, most likely dirty, plastic bag. At Daraja we always boil our milk before we drink it, as I was enjoying that thought I started to wonder why we do that. I had guzzled about half of the milk and pulled the bag from my mouth. I looked at Joyce and her Aunt looked into the sun that was frying my skin and said “Its really hot out….Milk was a bad choice.” I guess neither of them had seen “Anchorman” or they just aren’t Will Farrell fans because they just looked at me once again like I was crazy, but they were also obviously pleased that I had drank some of the milk. I took the bag back to my lips and drank the rest of it.<br />Then, just as if on cue, a matatu appeared over the horizon. I have written about them earlier, but basically they are vans that serve as buses for the general public, most of whom cannot afford cars. I helped the loader tie Joyce’s items safely on the roof and squeezed in to a spot in the very back row, middle seat. I say squeezed because the matatu had 14 seats and literally 21 people in it. As soon as I sat down on the laps of the two people next to me one of them , a breast feeding woman, handed me her second baby who looked to be about two years old. He looked up at me and I smiled, praying that I wouldn’t throw up on him.<br />After a long adventure that day we finally got Joyce to school. My experience with her that day had left no doubt in my mind that she deserved to be in school. As I was about to leave her there and head home, she said goodbye to me and took my hand. She didn’t let go. I looked at her and told her that I was proud of her and that she was going to do well. She smiled at me and reluctantly let go of my hand.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgk3Zt5GvQfnEtwIQ4AGDIOAz0QgMpXrSlw_2_pCG7bzLJNs2E0GGt3kiC2hYLSkC5F2sHExWUD7HhLM_JUcOw-iix7CB7anws-6yFzYaTu1_v6nMQOKXaIGgqPZoWmyXjm_0WN6e/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgk3Zt5GvQfnEtwIQ4AGDIOAz0QgMpXrSlw_2_pCG7bzLJNs2E0GGt3kiC2hYLSkC5F2sHExWUD7HhLM_JUcOw-iix7CB7anws-6yFzYaTu1_v6nMQOKXaIGgqPZoWmyXjm_0WN6e/s400/IMG_1369.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623542410309715218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(Posing with Joyce two weeks after she entered school)</b></div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-60651953905712847082011-06-09T01:49:00.000-07:002011-06-09T10:15:19.305-07:00Street Children Part IIMy last post was about the street boys who have been re-integrated into school. After seeing the success they have had it would be easy to forget the tough environment that they have come out of. It is also important that we dont forget the hundreds of kids who are still living on the streets of Nanyuki. This video takes a look at their lives.<br /><br />This is the third video in the series that the Action-Aid volunteers made. Once again, try remember that these are amateur videos that were edited in a matter of hours. Special thanks to Mikkel, Rasmus, Sidse and Mette, you guys did a great job!<br /><br />The video doesnt seem to be working properly so take a look at it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR8quW_kY0A">here</a>.<br /><br /><object style="height: 351px; width: 576px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UR8quW_kY0A?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UR8quW_kY0A?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="576" height="351"></object>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-49781171338385173372011-02-25T00:24:00.000-08:002011-03-12T03:43:44.854-08:00David's First Day of School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLn5z1G3_OPTBQlZ-cW8puL-3aarQ40GUKyegeMtY0iGc-LyZ5Rv5qmSNj0VuSMeh7uyCTUGCdZllMUNoA1e8OghyrxYa5LOKSd-nYzjF6Si6W67lHZLRFXgm01bFi7D-jqk29-t4/s1600/Davidwithboysatilpolei.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLn5z1G3_OPTBQlZ-cW8puL-3aarQ40GUKyegeMtY0iGc-LyZ5Rv5qmSNj0VuSMeh7uyCTUGCdZllMUNoA1e8OghyrxYa5LOKSd-nYzjF6Si6W67lHZLRFXgm01bFi7D-jqk29-t4/s400/Davidwithboysatilpolei.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579386588347534514" border="0" /></a>
<br />
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><div style="text-align: center;"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->(Joseph, Alfred, George and David in uniform at Il Polei Primary School)
<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">When I first started sending kids to school and decided that it was something I wanted to continue doing, I became worried that I might not be able to find the right kids who really wanted to go.<span style=""> </span>One of the tactics I used was to have the kids who were already in school recruit other kids that they knew couldn’t afford to go to school, and really wanted to.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David is my first student that was recruited by other students.<span style=""> </span>Alfred and his brother Joseph came to me one day and said that they knew a boy who was really smart and could not afford to go to school.<span style=""> </span>David had been at the same detention center as Joseph (although in a different grade).<span style=""> </span>I said great, and not thinking much of it, invited him to one of our study sessions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the study session I was honestly not very impressed.<span style=""> </span>Later I realized that I was kind of to blame because we ended up studying in a place that had a TV on.<span style=""> </span>Kind of stupid I know, but there aren’t a lot of places in town that will allow a study group of street children.<span style=""> </span>David ended up watching TV over his book for most of the study session, and I decided that he wasn’t a good fit for what I was trying to do.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Weeks went by and I was working hard trying to find a place in a school for George and Joseph.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t even consider trying to convince a school to let David in, since he obviously didn’t want it that badly.<span style=""> </span>He came to me day after day and asked about going to school.<span style=""> </span>I told him that he didn’t seem very serious in his study session.<span style=""> </span>He then started coming to town and showing me the work he had been doing in his notebook that I had given him (I found that giving the boys study guides was a cheap way of figuring out who is interested and who isn’t).<span style=""> </span>He had done a good deal of work and done it well.<span style=""> </span>A week later he came to me with his report card from the detention center.<span style=""> </span>He was ranked number one in his class for the majority of his time there (and though both the competition and quality of education were suspect it still said a lot about his drive for education).<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This document changed everything and it was easy to convince the principal of Il Polei Primary to let him attend just by showing his marks.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is the second of four videos that the ActionAid volunteers made.<span style=""> </span>The group spent the day with David and myself, visiting his home and bringing him up to Il Polei for his first day of school.<span style=""> </span>Their video is aptly named: David’s first day of school.<span style=""> </span>Please again, remember that these are amateur videos that were edited in a matter of hours.<span style=""> </span>The sound on the video isn’t the best, but try to listen carefully to what these boys say.<span style=""> </span>From David saying he is glad that he no longer has to eat “dust bin food” to Alfred saying that he has proved street boys are clever, this video captures a wide range of the ups and downs of poverty stricken youth.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiavmbWAIG6bUi5Lin-o-4EnFI8suBybP3k5IMoJBtgr9LmyJG4_NLQGe1n4An5LGLH8sIfpUWfPDnKCuNC3zITp_UMjphgLKjDMCWTZIxDsrnmRmUGnaqhNNB43JqdyU_6iJs_pZ/s1600/msgroupwithboys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiavmbWAIG6bUi5Lin-o-4EnFI8suBybP3k5IMoJBtgr9LmyJG4_NLQGe1n4An5LGLH8sIfpUWfPDnKCuNC3zITp_UMjphgLKjDMCWTZIxDsrnmRmUGnaqhNNB43JqdyU_6iJs_pZ/s400/msgroupwithboys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579381232807226882" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I would like to give a special thanks to Amanda Brinkloev, Emilie Bak, Catherine Jesting and Signe Anderson (pictured above with the boys) for making an amazing video, also Il Polei Primary School!
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p>
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzrC4e-xsNPh5LItscTSCxKZQ_TSC_fY3sc2tW5KdH2sYI_DFKryhitMmy83IydVIuNWL2nguPbJc5oKzro7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-85467088103560449472011-02-16T00:51:00.000-08:002011-02-16T22:33:07.585-08:00Meet George<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIddwV4KDRix8wOJBdn4wDMXZPF4De0JtyA5aqQ_lV6DwIAL25xOaWRdoAfKJzoPJkDgCH0AnhuWmALNZ5ydsbYmhA5tcWQLfpGYaxwQ61z8arI9JIj8usVZsQSu_VNiWBK284xVq/s1600/JGAhezronoffice.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574217515024610930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIddwV4KDRix8wOJBdn4wDMXZPF4De0JtyA5aqQ_lV6DwIAL25xOaWRdoAfKJzoPJkDgCH0AnhuWmALNZ5ydsbYmhA5tcWQLfpGYaxwQ61z8arI9JIj8usVZsQSu_VNiWBK284xVq/s400/JGAhezronoffice.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Left to right: Joseph, George and Alfred)<br /></div><br /><br />“Little George,” (as he is known to me) is a charmer. This has made his life as a street boy very comfortable. I first started seeing him around on the streets about a month into my first visit to Kenya. He was kicked out of school because his shoes had holes. In the street he always insisted that he wanted to go back to school but always had a huge smile on his face and was obviously having too much fun. He spent a few minutes on the street asking for money and once he had enough for the day he was off to play pool, or playstation, or watch a movie. George is so charismatic that people ENJOY it when he asks them for money. It reminds me of the Tom Brady Saturday Night live Sexual harassment video…which if you haven’t seen check it <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgBVuAGFcGKY&h=2e4a7p6xN9M-FVJqQnCMt0Ig5Xg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425" wmode="transparent"><br />here.</a><br /><br />After a couple weeks George was able to get some shoes and go back to school. Two weeks later he was out again saying that his uniform was too ratty and he had been kicked out. Despite the fact that George probably made more money begging in a day than the average manual laborer he never went back to school. He was always just playing pool. We had many serious talks about the importance of school and he seemed like he understood. During tutoring sessions he always showed up, and paid lots of attention. I knew however that he needed to be sent to school out of town, otherwise the pull from the streets would be too much for him and he would likely run away.<br /><br />Ill Polei Primary (the same school that Alfred and Joseph go to) agreed to let me bring kids from town to their rural school and in exchange we agreed that I would create scholarships for three of their poorest student at the school to become boarding students. Rural students are one of the most important demographics to target when it comes to education. Uneducated rural children in the best of circumstances stay at home and do what their families have done for generations. In the worst of cases (such as the drought that we are experiencing now) they are forced to venture into cities in search of employment or food. Their lack of education and street smarts make them easy targets for the people in the city and they often become the most vulnerable of street kids. Educated rural students often return to their villages and use their knowledge to improve the circumstances for their whole community. This is why rural education is so important to me, and why this situation was more than just a compromise for me, it was a win-win.<br /><br />A British woman from town named Marisa heard that I was sending George to school and offered to help find some of the things he needed. She recruited her friends and in a week we had donations for almost everything he needed to go to school!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr9VhHuHMBpSIDwgZjHdT2YT2f2ki1260MqGFxB9jqJvoOLiSa1dEt20IRBq0KkwaTsa4kZ64ulRY-HVreedTLr7Q0pOXvyML7YcqyEAhBBFD41UqZZmbYqUyRSGfaydy0aTQafut/s1600/Marisanfriends.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574210619586816130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr9VhHuHMBpSIDwgZjHdT2YT2f2ki1260MqGFxB9jqJvoOLiSa1dEt20IRBq0KkwaTsa4kZ64ulRY-HVreedTLr7Q0pOXvyML7YcqyEAhBBFD41UqZZmbYqUyRSGfaydy0aTQafut/s400/Marisanfriends.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Thank you to Marisa and Friends, pictured here with George)<br /></div><br />George has also found his own sponsors! Some students from an American University met George and decided to sponsor him. George wasn’t quite ready to go to school at that time, and the students left soon after, but we have stayed in touch and they are looking forward to sponsoring him!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6t2DyfFvXCvYSNH7b7G4-VgfALq2fqF8W9MwJJ79mBPq9yyS4dNqY3hZBJKvRnBK-msbHK8HY5hV0G7frd8m_kv7bWLvkVGh85ju_p6bHlLr9a-VjuVa5QJ6K682MsTT1Ro5iVVd/s1600/zoomflip.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574213630616726146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6t2DyfFvXCvYSNH7b7G4-VgfALq2fqF8W9MwJJ79mBPq9yyS4dNqY3hZBJKvRnBK-msbHK8HY5hV0G7frd8m_kv7bWLvkVGh85ju_p6bHlLr9a-VjuVa5QJ6K682MsTT1Ro5iVVd/s400/zoomflip.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">(George at Il Polei school showing off his skills as an acrobat) </div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-1633153600433379722011-02-03T22:46:00.000-08:002011-02-04T01:45:49.418-08:00Richard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY_gB0ZtTZCOdL_ihoKzgBuYQQanbkWiUXGHMkIFtUPvqOys0bf8ChTgd4avL6v5cTJKJ2yZIuoeZfosP1jrI4jVuWlbHjSP3S-7Ry8HXKxHQIG41LMy51ZPyVg7etskCm-XyNIyG/s1600/theboys%2528withrichard%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY_gB0ZtTZCOdL_ihoKzgBuYQQanbkWiUXGHMkIFtUPvqOys0bf8ChTgd4avL6v5cTJKJ2yZIuoeZfosP1jrI4jVuWlbHjSP3S-7Ry8HXKxHQIG41LMy51ZPyVg7etskCm-XyNIyG/s400/theboys%2528withrichard%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569741905902988258" border="0"></a><br />(Part of the former Main Street Gang, from left to right, Joseph, George, David and Richard)<br /><br />Richard is one of the first street boys I met in Nanyuki. I have always been impressed with his bright demeanor despite the fact that he has been in the streets for many years. He has always avoided doing glue because he says "if you do glue, the other kids see you and (they) will go do it". In order to make money he begs or carries water from the river to local businesses. At age 16 he is truly a positive role model to the other street kids. His primary caretaker is his grandmother who is unemployed and responsible for the well being of eight grandchildren. She is a sweet woman and when I met her she invited me in and showed me the death certificate for Richards mother who had been killed in a car accident.<br /><br />I had hoped that Richard would be the first of the boys to join Alfred in School. At the tutoring sessions however, he showed a lack of concentration. Eventually he started forgetting his books and saying he would come "next time". After years being out of school it was obvious that Richard had lost either the interest or the concentration required for academics.<br /><br />When I returned to Kenya from my trip to the US I was sad to find out that Richard was no longer in Nanyuki. Often the street kids will disappear, most of the time just relocating to a new place where they might find better luck. Sometimes however the kids disappear because they are arrested, have an accident, or are sometimes kidnapped. I was hopeful for the best, but you never know.<br /><br />Two months later Richard returned. He had been in Malindi on the coast because his grandmother was ill. I decided that while he was here I wouldn't let the opportunity to help him pass me by. Richard (with help from some of his educated friends) has turned in a business proposal to me. If he has a bicycle he will be able to bring water to many more businesses per day. He estimates that with a bike he should be able to make over 100 shillings per day. This is easily enough money for him to live on, while paying back the loan for the bicycle. He will be getting his bicycle in the next couple weeks and starting his new life as a working man.<br /><br />This past month I have been collaborating with the Danish NGO ActionAid (formerly MS) which has a platform located on Daraja's campus. I worked with some of their volunteers to create a series of videos on the street kids and their lives. This video is about Likii Village the area that accounts for about 70% of the street children in Nanyuki. It is also the proposed location of the kitchen project I am trying to implement. Richard (who is from Likii) is featured predominately in the video and watching it is a good way to see what he is all about. The video is intended to be an amateur introduction to the issues, it was made in one day and has some sound problems so don't be too hard on it!<br /><br />Special thanks to: Marie Lunau, Ida Peterson, Simone Bakke, Ida Marie Odgaard for making a great film!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5biiKrl66YaZp5SwrwZ9lln2HWKivDSn7ahJertrYaIOG7MBfBm8TVISfiFq7XFyoju14TW14q847MXOtsQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-55982493964982564232011-02-02T03:54:00.000-08:002011-02-02T04:44:21.132-08:00Alfred's brother Joseph<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUser%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">It has been such a long time since I have written that I don’t even know where to start.<span style=""> </span>The past month has been a busy and productive one, but also a difficult one for me concerning technology.<span style=""> </span>I have had to deal with two of my most vital possessions (my phone and computer) breaking, and my most entertaining possession (my Ipod) being stolen.<span style=""> </span>I have concluded that this is just part of life, and a part that ultimately reminds me that material possessions aren't that important.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Upon reaching Kenya, this most recent time, I received two pieces of good news from Alfred.<span style=""> </span>The first is that he was no longer just first in his class.<span style=""> </span>His latest test results had propelled him to being first in his entire district for his grade level.<span style=""> </span>This is obviously a huge achievement and if he continues to do this well he can hope to get a scholarship to a top Kenyan high school.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The second piece of good news was that his brother Joseph had been released from a juvenile detention facility.<span style=""> </span>Two years before he had been picked up off the street by police and sent to this facility.<span style=""> </span>He was eleven years old and had committed no crime except for not being able to afford food and therefore leaving school.<span style=""> </span>He attended school at the facility but most of the time the teachers did not.<span style=""> </span>After being released from the facility he was again left up to his own devices and forced to find food on the street.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLEI-NQMEHza9gFi9W_DPhtG8O32qyKLsWPUQqXcsRiy9GxidPK5FgR_d-J3rPpxTqp2gQG7K61XkjcwBCum0_AQqujQHDjaT044RH-q7I7PArtTX6p4kC_7lTzeqKOoeB_QwEBWn/s1600/Pictures+197.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLEI-NQMEHza9gFi9W_DPhtG8O32qyKLsWPUQqXcsRiy9GxidPK5FgR_d-J3rPpxTqp2gQG7K61XkjcwBCum0_AQqujQHDjaT044RH-q7I7PArtTX6p4kC_7lTzeqKOoeB_QwEBWn/s400/Pictures+197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569070180249412418" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Joseph and his Father
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was very familiar with his family and his situation and after some study sessions with him I was thoroughly convinced that he was interested in going back to school.<span style=""> </span>I was able to sponsor him without too much trouble and as of last week he had joined his brother at Il Polei Primary School.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFB6bPCUaGfnsjF3PfjpDPfu_CWI5Wml15AC-yJO3gwy_Iwp5TBA-Z2T6evca4U1X8RVmfeoSFQeNMWll-802Um8djX8fIKj6qWK4egHBpzH5i7BZ9kTIO7ivoU8r4ycCvivxfarQQ/s1600/alfredandjosephatschool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFB6bPCUaGfnsjF3PfjpDPfu_CWI5Wml15AC-yJO3gwy_Iwp5TBA-Z2T6evca4U1X8RVmfeoSFQeNMWll-802Um8djX8fIKj6qWK4egHBpzH5i7BZ9kTIO7ivoU8r4ycCvivxfarQQ/s400/alfredandjosephatschool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569066614286894050" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Joseph (left) is joined by his brother Alfred on his first day of school</div>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-43827072577701999172010-12-27T05:24:00.001-08:002010-12-27T05:24:45.530-08:00You Are a Philanthropist<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsviLsRn4Apqgqkse7_h_rYZWt98YMzlZ5tJkDqWkVG4Vc9WxNzsP9U90jS-hLkb7DEQVI-mSdGOSDNZfXzITbUlSP_8P896fcHr2UE1_zWQ223Nx8X3glMo6kDdYwBMwXMbArO-F2/s1600-h/New%20Pictures%20and%20video%20041%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="New Pictures and video 041" border="0" alt="New Pictures and video 041" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPkf1FxbPpHd6QObf6A9FuyKAQ5YUGC49H7VchhEIIcsNT8xGhCnY3ShYv5iZ23O4uiGOOgy5bnKTWVR0mks9JNfVm-kx_Q2lJAEe81mbY23I4edDKzUY-Yr3iIz1kfrWNv0DT6Wp/?imgmax=800" width="308" height="207" /></a></p> <p>(Local orphan boys sitting in front of the Daraja sign)</p> <p>Recently I have been reading about the push to get billionaires to donate half their fortune to charity led by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Most recently 17 billionaires have signed up, pledging to give at least half of their fortune to charity either during their lifetime or after their death.  I am extremely encouraged by this.  This is a necessary step in the right direction.</p> <p>The fact that these people are Billionaires is great because it means a HUGE amount of money will be going to charity to help make this world a better place.  More important than the money however is the mindset.  Every person should be making sacrifices and giving back.  Not just billionaires.  The fact is, speaking practically, for those billionaires having  500 million dollars is not a lot different than having billion dollars.  Either way you have more money than you know what to do with.  Not much of a sacrifice…but its a step in the right direction.  Reminds me of both a Chris Rock quote and a passage from the bible (both of which you will find at the end of this rant).</p> <p>A more important step I think is getting the average person thinking like this.  I don’t mean giving away half of what you have.  For most of us this isn’t practical at all, its hard enough making ends meet.  The goal is to changing our way of thinking.  We should all be doing our part to make this world a better place.  This could be choosing NOT to spend $300 on a handbag and instead donating the money to charity, taking the money you would be spending on a pair of jeans and sending a child to school, or just spending one day a month volunteering at a local soup kitchen.</p> <p>I am willing to bet that if you are the type of person who is willing to read through this whole boring blog about philanthropy you are also the type who will feel your life enriched by empowering yourself to help others.  </p> <p>Check out the <a title="http://givingpledge.org/" href="http://givingpledge.org/">Giving Pledge</a>.</p> <p>Donate to <a href="http://daraja-academy.org">Daraja Academy</a></p> <p>Or Help me with my project with the Nanyuki Street boys.</p> <p> </p> <p>“<em>If Bill Gates woke up one day with Oprah money he would jump out a ****ing window”</em></p> <p><em>-Chris Rock</em></p> <h6>The Widow’s Offering</h6> <sup>41</sup> Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. <sup>42</sup> But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. <p><sup>43</sup> Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. <sup>44</sup> They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”</p> <p>Mark 12:41-44 (New International Version, ©2010)</p> Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-7809238130587098122010-12-15T03:29:00.001-08:002010-12-15T03:29:09.512-08:00Joseph Geoffrey<p>I met Joseph at the beginning of my first trip to Kenya.  He was one of the street boys on the main street of Nanyuki.  </p> <p>He is notable, because at 18 he is a little bit older than most of the other boys.   He has also abstained from glue use which is no small feat for a street boy of his age.</p> <p>Joseph has been out of school for a really long time and the idea of him going back was quickly ruled out as an option  because of his age and lack of academic interest.</p> <p>Joseph does have some marketable skills however.  His father was a shoe repairman and before he died he taught Joseph how to repair shoes.   The death of his father left him with nothing but a large family to support. He immediately took to the street begging for money and food everyday.  </p> <p>Upon becoming close with his group of friends I was made aware that he had the skills to polish and repair shoes, he only lacked the equipment.</p> <p>After consulting with social workers and verifying his claim I gave him a small loan (he never actually touched the money but I got him the equipment) to start up his shoe repair business.  A loan which he is slowly repaying.</p> <p>Four months later (after I returned to Kenya) I had a chance to go by his stand and found him busy repairing shoes.  He is not going to make a lot of money doing this, but he earns enough to support himself and contribute to the well being of his family.  He has gone from standing on the street everyday asking for handouts, to supporting himself.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdMXbm_nZdxZ56fKNtYcMYlMcqt30kwsqKxkrQRedkk0J14x75nppon1sPi0Yxc_eGAlQ0AruKyvqO2tpOSU9kwX7b5lP_dDDNGheKhsvqtfAqO1aSnyzq5rkW6sSHuzPJMyNv2RB/s1600-h/December20100204.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="December2010 020" border="0" alt="December2010 020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcMZ83wd01mx8beq30QC3WFXPD5X8bQ_AjCeYfUGUJniyaqb18Vi9hOFcRfDPPd2ko-ws1Xbxu84xGSgibTL23c_sRU_fmAEVCAG41QHWiviFh_jyA65LisYwKhqJzgpIOsJrwIn6/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="223" /></a> </p> <p align="center">(Joseph at his post)</p> <p>The difference in his appearance was noticeable.  He has gained confidence and as he explained “I am working hard everyday”.</p> <p>He has ambitious plans to build an awning over his bench so he can continue working even when it rains.  I am proud to know him.</p> Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-45838258423631189462010-11-21T03:26:00.001-08:002010-11-21T03:26:50.265-08:00Welcome Back!<p>My flight landed in Nairobi at 2am but my internal clock told me it was 3pm.  About 26 hours before I had boarded a United plane and began a multi-continent journey which led me from San Francisco, through Germany, Turkey and finally to Nairobi.   </p> <p>I would have liked to start my journey to Daraja, but instead I checked into a hotel, mostly because Nairobi isnt the safest city for a foreigner to travel after dark, and matatus don’t leave until its light anyway.  As my cab driver said “they see you, a Mzungu, and they will come to beat you…they will even come to beat me.”  Awesome.</p> <p>After a solid four hours of sleep and what promised to be my last warm shower for some time I appeared on the streets of Nairobi, ready to meet my destiny.</p> <p>On my way to the bank I came to a large road and looked both ways before crossing.  While crossing I saw a man waving wildly at me, pointing.  He didn’t really look familiar to me so I just smiled politely.  People in Kenya are so friendly, I thought to myself.  It started to dawn on me that he is probably gesturing to someone behind me.  I spin around trying to avoid obvious embarrassment only to come face to face with a van going 50 MPH, mere feet away from me.  Naturally, it responds as vehicles in Kenya do when faced with pedestrians- SPEEDS UP.</p> <p>I jump out of the way and feel the woosh of air around me as it misses me by literally inches.  I look back at the man to thank him for the warning, but he has long since gone on his way, and is probably unaware of my fate.</p> <p>I look around hoping to find someone who witnessed the moment and could share it with me in a glance.  The throngs of people were unimpressed.  Motorists try to kill pedestrians in Kenya everyday.  I didn’t even get hit.  They think my close scrape with death is pathetic.</p> <p>Mental note: People drive on the other side of the road here.  Welcome back.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSEQIrj3xqqEcDH06VzA5efdU2q-KDvsq9wcasRVhtR3BT8EL22a9aobmggI0ElGMWUNjkDEMw0EedCMQNnfZf9fA4DQEOG-30Iy5xlGBJccpwp83t9vya13GwkRjezDoqjeUHrKn/s1600-h/140%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="140" border="0" alt="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAVivYj0NDYSLnIfgWAYAVJCO98SQIGAIeynmw7J8JlBhyphenhyphenaUPYCTdKrAQSKSaIE48mHsMXtayvkrOiIHxGirTsqKxMEoWBUMjl7Y4koB-ODg_XjRN8mVDigF7VN0_cId892dbi5aR/?imgmax=800" width="368" height="245" /></a> <p align="center">(Nairobi intersection)</p> Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-15483149288703974232010-08-16T14:42:00.001-07:002010-08-16T14:42:18.008-07:00Il Polei Primary School<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4LwoGGJjydZtgDkIe0vW3bal0JkleCGeju5zjWBDwqorh-c6TMKKIDKTClCKc2XwRWltNng0UU7enctvKvcF3aEX-VhC0kmhjQJrYgCJvvALEhUlmCnKaRhEpoAMxotAubRY8Itw/s1600-h/P10003082.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="P1000308" border="0" alt="P1000308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ppwcIj4gzPUr8qwPLsB1sLISD7nGI1LvLx-M2bbSDzsslru2XM85wiqCqghSNXaLAw_cFvN4xk-_MzJolMJuOly2gj06IYwR_a8KKi2EaQJh_TUgL9be23hAB9sXJMmyNxDQcfst/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p><em>(Il Polei Primary School’s main building)</em></p> <p>The next day a group of us hailed a sand truck to take us up the dirt road to visit Alfred at Il Polei primary school.  It is about an hour drive, and drives through animal conservancies on the way.  Seeing gazelles and giraffes is automatic, but sometimes you can see elephants, buffalo,  hyenas and Rhinos.  Lions and leopards exist there but stay well hidden and away from the roads for the most part so I have yet to see them on the way. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcGLWxtcdD0Pf8jyWcOKWs31VZ_APp2x5FMwRysyuLRqmpXYI6E6wErbN46Zfw5v2vMpuTPqozW7rKwWXUY_2LF-3_1e-oIf0Hnxxt9RwC8XgdLH2hFbIkQxfptSAaUEaU7_W4LCe/s1600-h/125%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="125" border="0" alt="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGSpbgAUvnm-o03VIL5O2i_B1GKM5UUQN3Avy2HxeOLb4Lbop8a5ATTGGEAbWj-zKsK_3Qsx13oq5M23FS09mfVM8GTzmXHHZ6eBiYgQjkS7ofLViMEUkymwa254iiOofXEznCKad/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163" /></a> </p> <p><em>(Giraffe, on the way to Il Polei)</em></p> <p>These sand trucks are a cheap, adventurous way of traveling but sometimes the speed at which they travel over the terrible dirt roads makes me question the safety factor.  Sometimes they lurch one way or the other so far that I can feel the truck tipping over and start preparing to fall out of it/die.</p> <p>Il Polei is almost completely made up of Massai and once we arrive there the little Swahili that we have picked up is even more useless than it was before (and it was pretty useless before).</p> <p>The sand truck let us off in the middle of town. The walk to Il Polei primary is about ten minutes from the center of town and after getting past the concrete and stone buildings that make up the town you pass a few authentic massai shambas (a family group of huts usually surrounded by acacia thorns to keep domesticated animals in, and predatory animals out) and an intense sandy ravine that I have only seen dry.  </p> <p>Il Polei is a little bit off the beaten path and foreigners are relatively uncommon.  This makes a group of wazungu travelling through quite a spectacle.   All eyes were on us.  One group of ten kids was entranced by us and wouldn’t let us pass until I had touched all of their hands.  Another child was so scared of me that whenever I looked his way he screamed and ducked for cover behind his dad.</p> <p>The school itself is rather magical.  I don’t know if its just magical to me because it was a place that came out of nowhere and offered salvation for this boy, or if other people have the same feeling about it.  It is on the tall side of a hill which overlooks a beautiful valley and becomes an uninhabitable mountain just beyond the school.</p> <p>As we walked up the crest of the hill some students spotted us, some of them ran away to tell their friends, and others shouted greetings to us.   We continued towards the main building and bounding towards us in full uniform with a gigantic smile was Alfred!  After seeing that smile, all of my worries went away.  </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRtwcQbBzAcmNx874Z6NM7noXVSwVzkhF1JhImQMxrvu8LjF10nvzmky8qQrnA1jvCCKrwC_xg-WPZGASysZDZqYVk3cXS0hB7C0teNBS-CVWW74ZJWKhy-KNdFF28lJT0gRJzavz/s1600-h/P1000305%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000305" border="0" alt="P1000305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI5SW6wgrwoDT9B_BR4mU2LGMyTXWHzxETdYJ3WZB4UPnQd19r7YUJUimvwIPNLgsmCUMx105oZR1hGh2jZDAvbW92KHugWBWegUfU1qRf8rHm02HB8eF96Uk_fbzwWTyemKc6qw5/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="196" /></a> </p> <p><em>(Alfred’s best friend in Il Polei is the brother of a Daraja student!)</em></p> <p>Alfred had been there for only two weeks so I was just hoping that he was getting along with people, getting adjusted and so forth.  I was not at all prepared for the next thing that was coming.  “I am first in my class,” he said.  It really didn't register, or I didn’t believe it.  His only complaint about the school was the food.  “We just eat Maize plain,” he said.   PLAIN?  Poor kid.</p> <p>Soon he came back from school for vacation and there in his hand were his test results:  NUMBER ONE IN HIS CLASS.  1/52 STUDENTS.  This was beyond my wildest dreams.  I knew he was a smart kid but this was incredible!  Just a little bit of work turned a street boy with no prospects into the number one student in his class, out of 52!  This had a profound effect on me, and while I do not expect the same result from other kids, I cannot stand by and do nothing while they sit in the streets.  </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>UPDATE:</p> <p>Alfred has completed his second term at school and is STILL RANKED #1.  I am told that if he continues to perform at this level until he graduates he may be able to get a full scholarship to a good private high school!</p> Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-25094292964492404862010-07-30T13:53:00.001-07:002010-07-30T14:30:56.925-07:00Journal entry: Alfred Part 4<p>Writing a blog is interesting because most people live faster than they write about it. This is also true for me. I am writing about events that took place months ago.  I recently stumbled upon a journal entry that I wrote the day before I went up to see Alfred for the first time:</p> <p> <em> Tomorrow we go to Il Polei to visit Alfred.  He has been at school for about two weeks now.   I haven’t heard from him at all (which is a good sign).  I must admit however that I am nervous.  Nervous that Alfred has been miserable in Il Polei.  Through no fault of his own.  I imagine it is such culture shock for him.  He is a little kikuyu boy taken out of the city and brought to a school in the middle of the bush that is almost entirely made up of Massai.   Massai, the pastoral warrior tribe among whose chief concerns are their Cows and how high they can jump.  Alfred can’t jump very high and he is scared of Cows.</em></p> <p><em>What if he never made friends?  What if he decided that these people are weird and he had nothing in common with them.  Even worse, what if they hated him and he was ostracized from day one?</em></p> <p><em>What if he just can’t function in school?  He isn’t used to studying all day and night.  What if he is exhausted by his schedule and decided to give up.  What if he already gave up and headed home?   It would be pretty embarrassing for me to show up then.</em></p> <p><em>I have to have a positive attitude.  I am sure it will turn out fine.</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeUET1WQP9G51s20cLqw9m_-szBR6WNDkxvo2ftLf0ugshJ9NK5HJiMIe7p0JJ60IsBGnZJ-osXQuFtOmXlBj8MfH6Mz0-lc25nOi4USoLTeY4793vmSMnt7aMtD8CtIBwQL80Cwv/s1600-h/005%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_7s-8Pxp2t9I/TFM7zJCOT8I/AAAAAAAAADg/56YqYBhzaRY/005_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" height="204" /></a> </p> <p><em>(Alfred the day before he left for Il polei Primary)</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgAZXw9hc-FBX_lnMwu_ea2Jo37ca-ebdBROwRQtvdZO7Z5dDb9ieIdRcmO3aRZeJLivKpmQPmj3rJh73JlxjEaB3_HF2Dzu7KOvWS9_zG44fOUS895rGVC9e-HlseRXbRrV1R-fh/s1600-h/008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC2sACE5vfv_bshlFbTvqr3Kk6JlTTFQ3K6TivcV5m2JeGomOdwUCZ587cOUx_kKq_7UjoK9Nkgebz_iGNxUq4uuoV92lge4y8Uu_eButRMIPr9iUuhdmNtg2K38T4mriJsCFEbnl/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p><em>(Alfred with all his gear, dressed like a student)</em></p> Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-15330748475177480042010-07-05T02:57:00.000-07:002010-07-05T03:02:01.665-07:00Getting Into School: Alfred Part III<p>The recommendation from Mr. Hezron came as quite a relief. “Alfred has a legitimate case and should be helped, but he needs to attend Boarding school.” Boarding School?</p> <p>When I started on this journey I expected to pay for a uniform and some school supplies. The problem for Alfred however was not that he couldn’t afford these things. He couldn’t afford them, so they were a problem, but the much larger problem was food. He was supporting himself by waiting all day for someone to buy him food. If he went to school he would come back and have nothing to eat at night, and nothing to eat in the morning when he left home.</p> <p>So we had to find him a boarding school. Cost was an important factor but not the most important factor. We decided to focus on midrange to cheap schools in the area that had a good reputation. I talked to EVERYONE about school recommendations. All the teachers and staff of Daraja, Mr. Hezron, and the lady who works at the academic bookstore was particularly helpful. I felt like a soccer mom trying to find out the best school for my kids. I narrowed it down to a list of 6 schools.</p> <p>Anticipating the Mzungu factor I had a teacher call the schools and ask in advance what the price was and what the application process was like. Some of the schools wouldn’t tell me until they met the boy so they were automatically put at the bottom of the list. We settled on a school called Nanyuki boarding as the first logical place to go.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uxjK8clHaNCwy0tLSE55Pn1FP5JiWmfW5_7uAoEgJohIHAKOWLO5QATRExWvjFyhgkd9riLBcQMcNbatkczFG-bGCH8Le6rjZjLEAHQD-qaMjqMqz9ndhudWteyD7_IIizDngi0y/s1600/Mattandalfredtestday.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uxjK8clHaNCwy0tLSE55Pn1FP5JiWmfW5_7uAoEgJohIHAKOWLO5QATRExWvjFyhgkd9riLBcQMcNbatkczFG-bGCH8Le6rjZjLEAHQD-qaMjqMqz9ndhudWteyD7_IIizDngi0y/s400/Mattandalfredtestday.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490360102653299458" border="0" /></a><p align="justify"><em>(Alfred and myself, the morning of his admissions test for Nanyuki Boarding)</em></p> <p>We showed up in the morning and I paid the application fee of 200 shillings (about $2.50). Alfred was to take an entrance exam that lasted five hours! I don’t think I would be able to take a five hour test. But the poor kid did it. When he came out he was smiling which gave me some hope. The woman who graded the test did it right in front of us. Math, English, Kiswahili, Science. He passed them all except the Math. They wanted 80% and he got 77%. Inwardly I was pleased that he could even do that well after spending a year on the street and out of school but we also needed to find him a school. The lady said that we might be able to get him in and she said that she would talk to the principal and text us that evening. </p> <p>The next morning I received a text “your boy has failed to qualify for class 6 or class 5- secretary of Nanyuki Boarding”.</p> <p>It was to be the first of a number of rejections. After making the poor kid take tests at 4 schools it slowly dawned on me: he might not get in anywhere. </p> <p>After a month of calling places and applying we had had little luck. Mr. Wathitu the administrator of Daraja had an idea. He called a public school up in the middle of the bush. It is called Il Polei Primary and it is a public school. Since it is in Massai territory many of the children’s families are nomadic and might be fifty miles away at any one time of the year. Because of this Il Polei is a public BOARDING school. Mr. Wa (as we call him) talked to the principal and he said “Sure, send him up”. That same day Mr. Hezron called saying that he had pressured a private school in town into accepting the boy. Suddenly we had TWO options. </p> <p>Il Polei being a public school was much cheaper. In addition it was a good distance out of town which would make it less likely that Alfred would run away. In the end Alfred decided he wanted to leave town and go someplace where there would be no stigma of “street boy” following him.</p> <p>We got him the necessary equipment and clothing and took him up that next week.</p>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-91428266705281371582010-06-30T03:41:00.000-07:002010-06-30T04:28:36.247-07:00Nyama Choma<p>Kenyan restaurants usually serve nyoma choma which means cooked animal and that is exactly what it is. They will bring a leg of lamb, goat or cow right to your table and cut it into little pieces and you eat it with your hands and dip it into salt.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogJbjtomMTbfTxHw2CLvY2FHKKHv_XeAMRPz_cGP_zIg3gyfB4IN_eOMVmaCdsJiL_vtxkjuMLfZcqmcVtc3JDyggY48YXgPGygsrufCniE-vXZlIu5oYENz2wDyis0TWPyMzdvIu/s1600/choma+cutting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogJbjtomMTbfTxHw2CLvY2FHKKHv_XeAMRPz_cGP_zIg3gyfB4IN_eOMVmaCdsJiL_vtxkjuMLfZcqmcVtc3JDyggY48YXgPGygsrufCniE-vXZlIu5oYENz2wDyis0TWPyMzdvIu/s400/choma+cutting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488526637378169394" border="0" /></a>(<span style="font-weight: bold;">Our server cuts Choma for us at our table)</span></div><p>They also serve the basic kenyan dishes that I wrote about in Everything and Hot Sauce. Choma is actually really good (and after spending months at Daraja only eating meat once a week it is sometimes VERY good). The problem with choma is that the Kenyan restaurants have a series of mzungu scams. I am pretty sure that most of them have been tried on me, often successfully. </p> <p>The first time I went for choma was the first day we were in Kenya. We were in a large group and the waiter went and pushed two tables together for us and talked to the bartender and ordered our drinks for us. Upon ordering our food the waiter said that for such a large order they needed to get half of the money up front. Fortunately I was not one of the decision makers on this journey and we insisted on talking to the manager. We soon found out that our “waiter” didn't even work in the restaurant as he ran out the front door. </p> <p>As we found out the next time we went (to a different restaurant) scams aren’t just limited to people who don’t work in the restaurant. We went into a well known restaurant in Nanyuki and we were greeted by the manager who sat us down at a nice table and began to make suggestions. We admittedly did not know what to order so we were happy taking his suggestions. To the table he brought the biggest leg of choma I had ever seen and 10 side dishes for 3 people. Way too much food for us, but not blatantly dishonest.</p> <p>When the bill came I was a little surprised. It was around $25, which for a night out in the states is nothing, but for a meal for three at a local Kenyan restaurant is pretty outrageous. I started to feel a little ashamed for letting him order us so much food and then I looked at the bill and realized that the prices were twice as much as what was advertised. We called the manager over and asked him about this. “Those are the correct prices” he says as he reviewed the bill. </p> <p>“But here (on the bill) it says pilau costs 120 shillings, and there on the wall it says 60 shillings,” my girlfriend pointed out.</p> <p>“Oh yes,” said the manager, “those are the OLD prices.”</p> <p>I looked at him incredulously and said “I see, you have the wrong prices posted on the wall of your restaurant. Perfectly clear.”</p> <p>“Let me see that” he said as he quickly snatched the bill from my hand and ran into the back with it.</p> <p>Later he came out with a reduced bill costing $10 less than the previous. We paid and got out of there but we were pretty unhappy.</p> <p>The last time we went to Choma we were veterans in Kenya so we knew what to expect. Before we ordered I asked the server how much each dish cost and wisely compared it to the menu. We ordered one KG of choma. As it arrived at the table we were very pleased to find that it was quite large. Later when we got the bill we found out that they had charged us for 4 KGs. When the manager came out he explained that he had seen how many people we had so he had decided to order extra choma for us. He had ordered us 2 KGs. </p> <p>“We were charged for FOUR” I said shaking my head. </p> <p>“I know,” he said, “that was a mistake by your server. But you do have to pay for two.”</p> <p>“If you had given extra choma to that table that they hadn’t ordered,” I said, pointing to a table with a Kenyan family “would you have made them pay for it?”</p> <p>“Of course not,” he replied, “but you need to pay your bill.”</p> <p>Such is the life of a Mzungu in Kenya. It’s a good thing it was tasty. </p>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-48188517712377403452010-06-16T00:49:00.000-07:002010-06-16T01:03:55.394-07:00Fainting: A Kenyan Pastime<p>I have a lot of experience with young people. I have in fact lived most of my life being one of them and consorting almost exclusively with them. I went through elementary school, middle school, high school, University and years working with kids as a camp counselor. Never once had I seen someone faint. </p> <p>I have seen people faint in movies, and every time I dutifully suspended my disbelief, the whole time knowing that it doesn’t happen in real life.</p> <p>Very soon upon my arrival in Kenya I was made aware of the fact that fainting is actually a Kenyan pastime. After playing a particularly heated football (soccer) game against another school one of the girls on the opposite team abruptly fell down onto the ground and did not move. Her teammates rushed to her side and carried her off of the field. She soon returned to consciousness and stood up and walked away. As an isolated incident this was surprising to me but no big deal. </p> <p>The Daraja girls have recently been conditioning for long distance runs by running around the outside fence of our campus with staff members. One evening a girl had ran around the perimeter and sat down for a nap. Twenty minutes later her friends tried to wake her up but to no avail. Twenty minutes after that someone came and got me, distressed that she had still not woken up. I arrived at the scene to find her surrounded by her classmates holding up her legs and fanning her.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEG6h1AT3iyBkoUw4HvzZSW7wrnl5kFfzTX91seO2j041TnO-mHpMmmD1UNPUukQYdaRDRYYeDIFYahd9o7k2ORUWYc5S7IY4clTNMYRDQpqHL-4kXsH2ZEk9MjgWei73feMyHKuQd/s1600/462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEG6h1AT3iyBkoUw4HvzZSW7wrnl5kFfzTX91seO2j041TnO-mHpMmmD1UNPUukQYdaRDRYYeDIFYahd9o7k2ORUWYc5S7IY4clTNMYRDQpqHL-4kXsH2ZEk9MjgWei73feMyHKuQd/s400/462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483277475083902578" border="0" /></a><p>My first Aid training did not cover fainting, but I thought that maybe that was what you used smelling salts for. I didn’t know, I just knew that whatever had been done wasn’t working. The fact that everyone seemed so worried got me worried. She was breathing and had a pulse so I felt like it would probably be okay. I tried to calm everyone down and have them give her space.</p> <p>Then she opened her eyes. But not in a good way. He eyes were glazed over and rolled into the back of her head. She wouldn’t respond to hands in front of her face. I felt her pulse again and I wasn’t sure if I could find it. I asked a teacher and she wasn’t sure either. Lets get her to a doctor I said. I pretty much had to insist, but I figured it is better to be safe than sorry.</p> <p>We started speeding to the hospital over the terrible roads (previously mentioned). About two thirds of the way there (after an hour of being unconscious) she started responding. We took her to the doctor anyway who insisted that she get a blood test to make sure it was nothing serious.</p> <p>It wasn’t anything serious. The biggest repercussion of the episode was that the entire Kenyan staff of Daraja made fun of me for days for insisting on taking a fainted girl to the hospital (even though it was admitted that 60 minutes is a long time to be unconscious). Since then we have had the regional athletic events. At the end of virtually every track event girls would drop like flies (pictured). Now I don’t pay any attention to it. It is just another aspect of the Kenyan landscape.</p>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290102779223113818.post-40440478239127160682010-05-19T04:07:00.000-07:002010-05-19T04:10:35.645-07:00Alfred Part II: The Department of Social Welfare<p>Martin and I decided we should try to get Alfred into school but we were being cautioned by many people not to be scammed by the street kids. One of the teachers at Daraja had a close friend in the social welfare department named Mr. Hezron, and he advised us to talk to him about the boy so maybe he could shed some light on his story.</p> <p>Martin and I took Alfred to the office of Mr. Hezron and Alfred waited outside. “I appreciate your interest in this matter, but I must caution you that most of these street boys are addicted to being handed money and do not want to work hard. Most of the boys that go back to school end up running away.” Mr. Hezron started “I will have someone of my department look into this but please don’t be encouraged.”</p> <p>By this time we had grown pretty close to Alfred and though we had considered it, the idea that he might be scamming us was a hard one to swallow. I told Mr. Hezron that Alfred was outside and would like to speak to him. Alfred came in the office, and though he was obviously intimidated by the older serious man he answered his questions in Swahili. I found encouragement in the fact that Alfred was willing to be there answering questions. I was not encouraged by his inability to look Mr. Hezron in the eye however.</p> <p>After speaking with him for some time Mr. Hezron looked at us and said “It seems likely that this boy is a candidate for help, I will have someone do the case study and you can pick it up in two days time.”</p> <p>We left somewhat bolstered by the meeting. I was sure that if Alfred had just been looking for a handout that he would have balked at talking to the skeptical Mr. Hezron.</p> <p>To Be Continued…</p>Matt Orcutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04690289781940324138noreply@blogger.com0