Jan 2013 - Back to Kenya

Back in Kandara the following day I passed through the Arch of Kandara Children’s Home and then “SIIIIMMMOOOONNNNNN!!!!” and a stampede of smiling, running kids were coming down the hill. I dropped my bags and caught one and threw him round, then another and many more hugs and huge smiles in welcome. I will miss this place when my term is up!! I expect, as seems to be the case, once you have spent any time at Kandara Children’s Home, you are forever emotionally tied in and will always have it in your thoughts.  Sorry my camera was in my bag.

Christmas 2012 - Back to the UK

England – So I left Kenya and 30 degrees plus sunshine and landed in England at 6am to a balmy 5 degrees! I was lucky, the week before it had been - 5 during the day!). It was good to be back for a couple of weeks and catch up with friends and family. I had been away for the previous 2 Christmas’s. 2010 I worked in La Plagne in the French Alps for a ski season, so I was there for Christmas and in 2011 I had been in Kenya sharing Christmas and new year with volunteers here in Kenya (refer to earlier blog posts for 2011 Christmas and New Year).

I spent the first 3 days in Roehampton at my sister’s (Ruth) new pub – The Kings Head, a Young’s pub that has just been fully refurbished. It is a great place and if anyone drops by please mention you know me or my blog and you may get a free pint!! Ruth always enjoys it when random people who have encountered me drop by for a pint! http://www.kingsheadsw15.co.uk/.

My friends Eddie and Allys threw a party one night for all the Kenya volunteers who were in the UK. Eddie is a great cook and around 10 of us got together for fine food, a little wine and lots of catching up.

Then I travelled to my Parents for Christmas, before heading to North of England to see friends and to the Lake District http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/ for some walking.

 I was in the Yorkshire Dales http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/ town of Settle for New Year and then meandered back to London before flying home to Kenya. To those who made the trip special a big thanks for a warm welcome, your patience when listening to my tales of Kenya and your fine food. You know who you are……

Whilst at home, 3 kind donors had provided me with laptops to give to the Polytechnic and assist with setting up an ICT/Computer course. This gave me the amusing scenario at airport security. In my hand baggage I had 4 laptops, 2 cameras, a kindle, etc. Passing through you have to remove all laptops and electrical equipment!!!

I put my bag on the counter and got the first tray. Removed a laptop and pushed it on. Then another tray and another laptop, and another, 4 in all including mine, followed by a camera. 7 trays including my bag and shoes, etc. clogging up the conveyor! Great banter with thankfully cheerful and helpful security people who probably enjoyed something different from the norm. I was a little worried about my reception at Kenyan security and how to explain my bag full of technology but luckily there was no query at the other end and I passed through in no time.

If anyone else has an old laptop gathering dust in a cupboard, please consider donating it to our Polytechnic. Get in touch and we can get it delivered to my Parents in Huntingdon, UK and then I will co-ordinate with them to arrange delivery once we have a few. With planned multiple classes each laptop will benefit 20-30 people a year. With the average family being 6, if each trainee then gets a job and valuable income through the skills learnt then, 180 people could directly benefit each year from the donation of the laptop that is cluttering up your cupboard. If you are interested, or know someone or a business that may be able to assist, please the contact link to this blog or e-mail me direct simon.dixon67@gmail.com.   

27/9/12 Youth Trade Fair

Today we took 4 of our trainees to the Murang’a Youth Trade Fair on a fact finding mission with a view to stimulating interest and ideas for income generating activities. They were to observe what was good and bad about each stand and design good ones for next year. On returning the 2 girls and 2 boys presented their findings to the rest of the school. There was much interest and hopefully we will have a successful display next year. All we need to do now is start the income generating activities in earnest!.

A hearty breakfast before we start :)

Baraka Polytechnic Fashion and Beauty products

Polytechnic students demonstrating pedicure

Isaac, Beth and Alice

21/9 Poly Activity Photos

Today we took photos of the poly in action to assist with marketing photos for the next year. Here are just a few to give you a taste of the polytechnic. We are opening a ICT/Computing course next year so if any readers have an old laptop in a cupboard that they do not use anymore, then, please get in touch and send it to us to help us assist the youth of rural Kenya escape the poverty trap.

Planting tomato seedlings in the new greenhouse

Hairdressing trainees - Njoki, Wambui doing Beatrice's hair

Happy in the carpentry class