Karen to Kibera

I am back in Athi River, after a terrific Thanksgiving meal last evening. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes and wine; it was very nice. I was able to spend the evening with friends and celebrate all the things we have to be thankful for. We took turns at dinner talking about our memories of Thanksgivings when we were young.

Kibera

In contrast, today I accompanied a friend to Kibera slum. We met tall Ben and the three of us visited a small preschool of 45 children, in the heart of Kibera. We took with us some school supplies and some fruit (bananas and mangos) to celebrate the end of the school year. We found 45 children crammed into a room about the size of a tiny bedroom, no desks, only benches. In fact this was a bedroom connected to a small iron sheet shack. No place for children to run or play, actually no space to move at all. These are children whose parents (if they are living) are HIV positive. One or more of their siblings are HIV positive. The children we met at the school, for the most part, are negative. That is a good thing with the only drawback being, the HIV positive child is supported with medications, food and school fees. These siblings receive food aid but cannot afford the school fees to attend school. The mothers have started a cooperative of sorts and pay a teacher a little money to teach these preschoolers.

Kibera

The students were to celebrate their last day yesterday, but once they knew we were coming, they added on a day. They sang, danced and thanked us over and over again for coming. They need so much but the top priority is a latrine. Because this classroom is in the center of Kibera, the fact that the children go to the bathroom outside the room is a problem for the neighbors. They need a latrine cemented and a structures built around it. There is a large hole already dug, big enough for the children to easily fall into it! The Foundation will try to help complete the job. They are also in need of sweaters to unify the school. The kids that come here have left whatever other school they were attending, for lack of fees. So the tattered uniforms they have could be unified with a common sweater. We will see what we can do.

Kibera School

The pictures are of Kibera, the second largest slum in Africa. There is also a picture of the students singing in the class today. The room appears bright and well lit. Trust me, it was dark and oppressive. The pic was made better by the flash.

I am hoping to return with my son Zac this coming Thursday. The children will return that day for tutoring. I hope to be able to tell the teacher the amount we are able to assist them.