February 2013 - Security Meeting

With the forthcoming elections 4^th March in Kenya and the troubles in the last ones in 2007/8 there were inevitable concerns about security risks to volunteers etc. There had been a number of meetings to put plans in place for every eventuality. I was involved as one of the regional volunteer representatives. The latest meeting was following the decision to relocate us to Tanzania as a precautionary measure from 2^nd March for a week or so. This also allowed the office to close and the staff to concentrate on their families etc. There is a lot written about the 2007/08 election violence so any google search will find many commentaries. There is also a very good documentary on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUUcjWC6rG8 not easy viewing but the personal interviews and viewpoints give a very intimate and emotional perspective on the impact of the events on real people not just a headline about a far of country.

There were many views amongst the volunteers about this decision. Most agreed it was the right thing to do, but a small number thought it was an over-reaction. My perspective was: Yes there is unlikely to be any trouble in the village where I live but, other volunteers are less fortunate. Also last time the staff at VSO had to try and extract volunteers from high risk areas after the trouble started, meanwhile a number had family members unaccounted for. The most important thing for me was to let the Kenyans focus on their families. We were praying for peace but planning for the worst. If it turned out in hindsight to be an over-reaction then that was OK. Better that than the other way around!

Project Evaluations – Meru, Dol Dol, etc.

In February I spent a few days travelling with VSO staff on an evaluation exercise assessing the impact of the funding and volunteers. This was great as it gave me the opportunity to visit other volunteer’s placements. But the one I had heard so much about and wanted to visit was the Dol Dol Masaii women’s group. This is a great programme that helps Masaii women set up support groups to work together to sell their products better in larger groups. It also helps them with accounting and book keeping, pricing products, improving product quality and consistency and in particular identifying product diversification and markets.

We traveled a couple of hours in the hot sun on dusty dirt roads into the bush. Passing a very dry and arid landscape and many dry river beds. This is a very inhospitable environment. Finally, we passed Il Polai and then another 20 mins to Dol Dol – this link is a good background to the programme http://www.vsojitolee.org/news/press-release/38426/

Zaitun and one of her daughters

Some of the products they make

Modelling one of the ear rings

Another of the group members making bead work

We arrived on time but, it being Kenya, it was another hour or so before the rest of the ladies arrived. Luckily two of the main representatives were there so Mike did the individual interviews with them whilst I entertained one of their kids. Inevitably, in minutes I was entertaining half the village kids!!

A happy "student"

Studying hard

The class is growing!!

Great fun and they had an impromptu computer lesson and “helped” type a little report for me. They seemed to love it. It helped to let the Mums focus on the questionnaire. When they had finished we had time for a trip to one of the ladies, Zaitun's, home for photos for the report, etc. We needed photos of the Zaitun and her family doing the beadwork on location etc. The house was a little out of town up on a small hill. Zaitun used to rent it but due to income improvements resulting from the training etc she ha been able to buy it and was slowly making it int a lovely home as the money came in. 

"Look at what I made!"

They had made it very homely and I was made very welcome. The kids loved the photo opportunity and were not shy at all. The son decided to be solemn for the photos but had a great smile like the others when the camera was not in his direction!! Then after some fine chai we headed back to the village for the focus group discussions.

Finally we were through and it was time to leave, what a great insight though into this amazing group of ladies. 

February - Crater Lake

During February I decided to arrange a weekend visit to Naivasha Lake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Naivasha and Crater Lake for my birthday http://www.lonelyplanet.com/kenya/the-rift-valley/lake-naivasha/sights/volcano/crater-lake-game . We stayed at Camp Carnelley’s  http://www.campcarnelleys.com/ on the Friday night (refer earlier blog for new year 2012) and then visited Crater Lake http://www.mericagrouphotels.com/craterlake/ on the Saturday. 

Crater Lake is an extinct volcano with a lake inside (as teh name suggests) it is a  conservation area and privately run. There is an exclusive hotel with only about 12 amazing rooms. Each is in a separate enclosure from the other and all are inside the crater. The experience of the crater is amazing as there are few visitors due to it being quite a trek - a 20-30 min matatu (around 50 shillings each way I think from memory) from Naivasha and then a 15-20 minute piki ride (200-300 shillings each way) from there (unless you have your own vehicle of course). 
To stay the night is very special due to the limitations on numbers who can stay. The tranquillity is amazing and the sound of the animals enclosed in the bowl of the crater is an amazing experience. In the morning we sat on the terrace as the sun rose and the animals began their morning rituals – awesome. After breakfast we walked around the crater rim with views of the giraffes, buffalo, antelopes, birds of prey etc. We only saw 5 other people on the whole 3 hour walk. Such isolation, silence, proximity to animals without being accompanied by a guide is very special and worth the trip. Finally before leaving we had a late Sunday lunch on a floating pontoon, when we had the treat of the lone hippo popping it's head up just 5 metres away..... magical. Well recommended.