‘We Waste Too Much Time’

Monday morning we started off the new week at our placement with Tesia Isanga. We met at 9 am and got a matatu to Mwashuma where we would be working, assisting, Mwakibu Farmers Cooperative Society. We were shown the production process from Aloe Vera leaves into toiletries such as soap, shampoo and lotions. We then discussed potential marketing strategies to promote and expand the product audience. We agreed to join with the salesperson, in Voi, on Tuesday to see how their current marketing strategies are working.

In the afternoon, myself and my placement partner had to attend a funeral service. One of the members of the Disabled group we were supporting had passed away, so we were invited to partake in the ceremony.

We arrived slightly late but when we arrived towards the homestead of the family, there was music, singing and clapping, more like you’d expect at a celebration. We were welcomed to the service and made to feel like a part of the community. We were escorted to the family home, where we were served food and greeted by many people (probably surprised to see a foreign face). After eating, they sat us down on chairs at the front of the ceremony, like honorary guests, alongside the leaders of the community. All the while the music was still playing and people gathered.

The music toned down and the service began with another hymn or song (not too sure) which everyone sang together and then many people gave speeches. The respected and leaders who were sat alongside us then each spoke… until it came to us where we were also expected to say a few words. Thankfully Geoffrey was able to give a speech in Swahili whilst I stood next to him nodding along pretending to understand. After the speeches were done and another song was sang, the Pastor gave a sermon.

I couldn’t understand most of it as it was in Swahili, but the few bits I had able to pick up and the rare English used, I think the broad sentiment of what he was explaining was of needs and wants, and how we utilise our time. My understing was as so; ‘We go through life talking about the things we want, complaining about the things we don’t have, and comparing ourselves with those that do have what we want… but the problem with many of us is that we have the most important thing, but don’t realise it: Time. Time if used correctly can be a powerful tool to making those things that we want, to things that are ours. We should stop wasting time begging, complaining and comparing… We waste too much time!… Instead of doing these things, we need to make the most of the time we have and utilise it to create our own opportunities and rewards’.

I’m sure what he said was better than just what I managed to pick up, but it still resonates and has poinancy across all walks of life, and in particular with my time as a volunteer in Kenya.

A final song whilst all the attendees then formed a line to view the face of the deceased, the service came to a close with a prayer.

My first experience of a traditional Kenyan funeral was an interesting and insightful one into their culture and the community.
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Hussein

Hard work ahead

My placement is also located around Mwatate. During my placement I will be working with Geoffrey kaka. We have been allocated 2 placement groups who we will work with to assess their needs and begin to facilitate and implement a project plan.

The first group is Tesia Isanga. The organisation covers a large number of activities from farming and enterprise support to working with HIV/AIDs effected orphans and children. Recently, the organisation has been ‘sleeping’ but the head of the organisation, Gerald, wants to restart some of its projects.

For the first few weeks me and Geoffrey will be working with Mwakibu farmers coperative society. This group is currently sourcing Aloe Vera and using it to create products like shampoo, soaps and petroleum jelly. They have steady production, but are struggling to get to market to help grow their business. Our roles as volunteers will be to assist and help grow their production and simultaneously increase demand for the product through new marketing and business strategies.

The second phase of working with Tesia Isanga is to collaborate with in Community Health volunteers who support OVCs (Orphans with Vulnerable Cases). The CHVs work within their communities with around 20 children who have been disadvantaged due to HIV and AIDS. They are supported by Tesia Isanga to help the children continue essential daily activities such as making sure they are going to school and getting life saving medical attention. Our role as volunteers will be to help the CHVs to ensure they are able to carry out the vital work to ensure the livelihoods and futures of the children.

Our final phase will be working with Tesia Isanga to help promote and involve the youth in local social and sporting events to help them engage with the community and keep them off the streets. This is primarily in conjunction with The Safaricom Madoka Half Marathon which is organised by Tesia Isanga. We aim to promote active sporting involvement of the youth in this and future events, teaching them the importance of community.

Alongside Tesia Isanga, we are also working with Mwatate Disabled group. This is an umbrella group which through various initiatives provides support for other organisations that work with People with disabilities, caregivers and families. Our role is to engage with this group of people to help catalyse their existing activities.

Today, we joined them in their monthly meeting to discuss potential ideas and initiatives which will help increase their development. Unfortunately they only speak Swahili, so I was just nodding along with the odd translation by Geoffrey. The meeting was very productive and lasted over 2 hours.

We then met up with the separate groups, one was JOY and another Gandia Group. We discussed ideas such as poultry farming and also for them to start growing their own crops to sell for further income. The JOY group are also engaged in making rugs and baskets out of sisal and recycled materials which they intend to sell. So we will be working to see how they can increase their capacity and go into market.

We spent the whole day today working with group and next week we shall be visiting each separate group to see in action what they are currently doing and also create a feasible plan to help them with their work to secure their livelihoods.

During this session I realised the biggest constraint for development and volunteer work: TIME. During the meeting there was so much potential and positive ideas, however with only 11 weeks remaining it’s difficult to implement them all. Hopefully, with volunteers arriving long into the future, lots more of this energy is fulfilled! Asante Sana.

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Hussein