Samburu

Over the past few weeks i have visited numerous children's homes, and even whilst Roy was visiting i took him along to see a Children's home in Nakuru. My work seems to be developing a pattern and now feels more focused with a better plan. I am going to continue to assess and monitor Childrens Homes, and where there are children who can be rehabilitated home then this will be the focus. I am showing managers how to rehabilitate children back into their communities, and also how better to care for the children they have in their homes. There aren't really enough hours in a day to do this work, and not enough people either - i have teamed up with the local social workers and wherever possible i take them along on the inpections - they are really appreciative, interested and learning a lot. I am going to be working on setting up a practice manual for staff in homes, followed by workshops and triaining events.
The most amazing and moving visits i've made so far have been to childrens Home for disabled children, in the Kajiado, a Masai area, and in Maralal, a Samburu district. I have just been amazed at the work some people are doing with such little support. Both these homes are really well managed by good honest and reliable people who just have nothing thenmselves and have to go begging to the local NGOs for food - its shocking, especially as the home in Samburu has 109 childen who are either deaf, blind, have celebral palsy or have various limb deformaties. I am trying really hard to get them some funding so if anyone has any ideas - email me for more details.
You've all got to go to Samburu - it has the most breath taking scenery with shocking views of the Rift Valley - the Moran (Samburu Warriors) just add to the amazement and wonder of the place with their bright colours and showing their off to potential brides!! I had half a day in the national park and got up very close to the elephants and surprisingly the eagles too - it made for an intersting journey to work. The manager of the Serena Lodge where i stayed overnight is from my tribe, Kisii, and knows my cousin who is a catering manager, so i managed to persuade him to give me a great reduction on the accommodation, and he also hosted dinner and drinks. He was very interested in the work we're doing and it looks like he may persuade the the other Serena Hotels to support other homes close to where they are. I'm going back and see him in January hopefully. They aready have a toilet installation project thing going on in Samburu, so at the moment that's where most of their local funding is going.
Really wish some of you would come out here and see how beautiful Kenya is once you get away from the cities - it really is extreme. I hope somehow that i will get to go to Lamu or Zanzibar, now that would be a treat!! I'm off to Kisii, the place of my birth next week. I know that will be hard for me in many ways, apart from the fact that western Kenya has the highest aids problems and aids Orphans in Kenya.

Am i still sane i hear you asking - well only just - so looking forward to the Christmas break and a couple of days off - met some nice supportive people and trying really hard to avoid the rest!! I've been distracted by the odd lunch party and a Christmas fair Kenya style, with various tribal gifts on offer and all that you might imagine so i bought a jar of Whiskey marmalade to remind me of home and some fab beads. So much to say that i could write a book! Its hot and dry getting hotter still.

Love to you all

Veronica