It is three weeks since I arrived in Kenya, and I have not seen much yet so will stay here until the beginning of next year, which will be the end of the 30 days of volunteering that I am doing for the project “From Kibera With Love”.
What with classes, activities, shopping, meals and other things, all my time is spent on the project, from morning to evening, every day of the week. At this time, because it is summer holidays, there are more than 70 kids, divided into two groups, half in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon. Everyone is entitled to two meals (some take a third one home), sports activities and classes, so they do not forget what they have learned during the last school year. During class time, everyone comes in the late afternoon for a couple of hours. Around here there are children of all ages, from pre-school to university, boys and girls. What they all have in common is living in one of the largest slums in the world, in a tent with few or no conditions, mostly with parents who give them little or no love, where a hug is a rare thing.
I love projects like this and at the same time I think they do not make any sense!
I love it because there are people like Marta Baeta, creator of “From Kibera With Love”, who give up their life style to create something whose goal is to improve the lives of some people. Like Marta, and like the almost 400 godparents and so many volunteers who in many ways help these children to have a better future.
However, I do not think it makes the slightest sense that in this day and age someone should be born without a plate of food, without the minimum hygiene conditions, or without the right to education. It’s a shame on all of us, it is really a shame on all of us!
As these projects have to exist because of human greed, let us help in the best way possible. If any of you wants to sponsor a child, send donations, volunteer, or find out more information, you can contact Marta by email – fromkiberawithlove@gmail.com
I know that it is not easy to trust institutions today, many steal, and most are just businesses which take advantage of the goodness of many to benefit themselves. Around here, from what I have experienced, it does seem to be like that. I pay a fair price for my rent and see all the donations received being invested for the benefit of the children.
Has anyone volunteered yet?
What do you think about doing that?
Cheers!
This as all the other articles on this site are translated by my good friend Devo Forbes!!