View from a Volunteer Team Leader: Kenya Project, A resounding success. Developing Wo...

View from a Volunteer Team Leader: Kenya Project, A resounding success. Developing Wo...: Yes I know I'm late with this report but life moves at an incredible pace. As soon as I arrived back in the UK life took over and unfor...

Kenya Project, A resounding success. Developing World Connections with Access Kenya

Yes I know I'm late with this report but life moves at an incredible pace. As soon as I arrived back in the UK life took over and unfortunately Kenya got left behind and the planning for Cambodia took over. But I'm here now.

The team and staff at the Lodge

The team arrived safe and sound in Nairobi and settled into the hotel for an overnight stop. The following morning we were met by John. John is the representative for Access Kenya, our in country partner on this project. We then drove to Naro Moru which was to be our base whilst we assisted local parents to renovate 3 classrooms and fix a small problem with a water retention system.

Aguthi Primary School

The school was about a 20 minute drive from our lodgings which were amazing. We had the whole guest house to ourselves and as there was nothing close by except fields and cattle and crops, we made our own fun in the evenings. The fire was lit in the lounge and as there was no WiFi we had to go old school and talk to each other, play games and generally amuse ourselves. Pass the Pigs was a firm favourite causing riots late into the evening.

Classroom at Aguthi Primary School

There is a small Bar down the road that John and I visited to stock up on beer for the team. As we walked in the conversation stopped and all eyes were on me (a stranger). But it took only seconds before I was welcomed into the fold.  I thought it a little strange that everyone was drinking their beer from half pint mugs but using a straw. Big burly guys drinking beer through a straw, I said nothing. That is until after my second visit when I mentioned it to John and he explained that the glasses were not very clean so they use straws. Makes so much sense now.

Team member from Canada sign their work

A fridge was placed in dinning room as a beer store and an honesty system worked well. All our meals were prepared in house and wonderful they were too. 

Play Time

But onto the project. We were working at Aguthi Primary School in Naro Moru.  Previous teams had installed water retention gutters, pipes and tanks to the classrooms on this site. We were there to renovate 3 classrooms. Well it started as one and ended up as three. The team and parents worked so hard to get this completed. We also repaired a damaged section of the water system. This damage was cause by a storm.

Team members and parents plaster the walls

The task entailed digging out the floors, mixing and laying new concrete to form a flat and polished surface. Plastering the walls and constructing a wall to wall blackboard out of plaster at either end of the classroom and then paining it black.We cleaned the windows and doors, moved furniture and children so as to complete the project.

Team member cleaning the windows

During break time the children enjoyed watching us and making mischief. And the team members were having so much fun with them, it was a job to get them back to class on time.

Kids at play time

The work continued over the two week period with a break for the team to get some R&R at the weekend. They headed out on a safari and had a fabulous time according to the conversation when they returned. I had not gone with them as one team member did not wish to go on safari so I stayed behind with her so as not to leave her on her own. I took the opportunity to visit schools where work had been carried out by previous DWC teams and reported back to head office on the impact these projects had had on the school and the community.

Polishing the floor

To see the results first hand was quite amazing. We work on these projects for two weeks, but the impact that has long term is eye opening. To hear the stories of how lives have been changed because a few foreigners turned up and helped in a community, and made a difference.  The fact that there are other people out there in the big wide world that care and want to help, makes such a lasting impression on the local communities.

A team member playing with the children

The pictures tell a far better story than I can tell so go take a look at the following link and be amazed. Kenya Album

I know I always say what a worthwhile project this has been, but I always mean it because Developing World Connections do such a brilliant job in working with and helping communities around the globe who need help. Not just home building but water projects, welfare projects and womens rights. So now its onto Cambodia in November. I have a great team lined up and I will hopefully get my blog completed as soon as I return.

I think they enjoyed us being there. We certainly had a fantastic time with them.