It was mighty good to be back in Kenya, after 22 years! The first time that Alvin travelled in Kenya was in 1989.
For the first week of orientation in Nairobi and to seek out seva opportunities, we stayed at the Wildebeest Camp, where we lived in tent and room on alternate nights due to availability. It was a nice start to our African journey.
We enjoyed a spacious tent in the garden.
It was a great place to read and do homework...
Robyn and Fatty.
Nairobi is at an altitude of 2000m so it felt chilly even though we were in the tropics! When there's sunshine, it was delightfully warm but not hot.
24 Aug 2011 - Visit to the Children's Garden Home
On recommendation by Monika Fauth and Sonal Nagda, respectively the Chairperson and Secretary of Art of Living Kenya, we got in touch with Moses Ndung'u, Founder of Children's Garden Home.
We visited the home where Moses takes in orphans, abandoned and abused street children from the slums and provide them with love, care and school.
We decided to move in to the home on 27 Aug to live amongst the kids and see how we could help.
Jin at Children's Garden Home.
Eric Mogaka (Service For Peace) and Moses Ndung'u
Robyn and the children at CGH.
25 Aug 2011: Viewing the Kibera Slum from the Kenya Scout Association HQ
We met Lesley Dann from the UK at the Wildebeest Camp. She is the founder of the Harambee for Kenya, a charity that provides home for 30+ street children in Kisii, 5 hours away from Nairobi. She travels to Kenya 2-3 times every year and has been doing that for 13 years! Her dedication is truly inspiring. Lesley drove us around to visit the Kibera slum and the Scout HQ.
In our background was the huge Kibera Slum.
Over 2m people live in the Kibera slum!
Kibera slum viewed from the Scout Camp.
Alvin was a scout in Victoria School.
"Be Prepared" - the scout motto
< Lord Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941) was the Chief Scout of the world. After his retirement from the Army, he stayed on to lead the scout movement in Kenya till his last day.
His home was at the foot of Mount Kenya.
> This is a true footprint
of Lord Baden-Powell.
26 Aug 2011 - David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Orphans' Project
On Lesley's recommendation, we visited the Elephant Orphanage where orphaned elephants are rescued and raised for subsequent re-integration to the African plains. While David had passed on, his wife continues the wonderful work of wildlife conservation.
The public may view the feeding only at 11am-12noon daily. The elephants are fed special milk formula.
The trust relies on donation, entrance fee collection and elephant adoption for sustainability.
27 Aug 2011 - Children's Garden Home, our new home henceforth...
We finally moved in to Children's Garden Home to live amongst the children. This would be the best way to grasp the needs of the home and identify areas of seva that we could do.
We are so blessed to have so many children to play and laugh with everyday. And we soon discovered that every child here has a very moving life story to tell...
Our room is a simple one but comfortable.
Jin chatting with Harriet to gain better understanding.
Robyn and Beth, who is the student spiritual leader and she has a beautiful and powerful voice.
> Robyn with baby Joy, who is just beginning to walk.
Alvin with baby Ng'ang'a, who was abandoned at birth but rescued by a samaritan and brought to CGH, where is his home now.
Every Sunday morning, Moses holds a service at the dining hall and provides spiritual nourishment to the children.
Kezia is the eldest of Moses' 3 daughters. All 3 live, play and study with the 250 street children. Moses treats all children as his own.
Silas is our youngest rapper and is always smiling. His mother died and his father could not be found. So a nun brought him to CGH.
Moses showed us the classrooms. We thought it was high time for a fresh coat of paint.
> A few classroom doors were either damaged or missing. We thought it was high time for some repair.
Kitchen where meals for the children are prepared by the children themselves. There is no gas and electricity is too expensive. They use firewood.
When even food is sometime not enough, when bread has to be sliced thinner so everyone gets something to munch, infra repair is naturally low in priority...
We decided here's where our seva should begin in earnest...