Friday 5th October - Stakeholder Dinner

Friday – Stakeholder dinner tonight – but first general preparation and marketing but still had time to go to the lakeside of Lake Victoria and eat fish fresh from the wooden hut restaurants by the lake. Late the venue for the dinner was set as night fell the lighting came into it’s own. The tables were set around the pool with the “stage” at one end. Sponsors, supporters, friends and family gathered and after a fine feast the music started, local acts then Sol Afrique, Malfred, Shamir, Clinton Fearon and then DNA. Here are a few photos of the night and the link to my Flickr account with more is (http://www.flickr.com/photos/westfield21/sets/72157631746772234/)   

DNA doing his Skools out run for freedom (see T-Shirt)

DNA

BATOO

Shamir by the lake

Shamir doing his stuff

Malfred 

Batoo

Clinton Fearon supported by Lenser and Malfred

Me getting in front of the camera for once!

Sol Afrique

Thursday 4th October - Turtle Bar - Kisumu

Thursday - was general preparation and time in Kisumu during the day. Sol Afrique are from Kisumu and they have a regular slot at a bar with an open mike session from 9pm. All the acts went for a relaxing night and each performed a song before the night out. It was a good time for all to get together in a relaxed forum before the main events started. It is a great bar too so the Thursday evening music is well worth a visit – Turtles Bar Kisumu (http://maps.google.co.ke/maps?rlz=1C1CHMR_enKE493KE493&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=turtles+bar+kisumu&fb=1&gl=ke&hq=turtles+bar&hnear=0x182aa437ad4ac81d:0x2012a439d6248dd2,Kisumu&cid=0,0,8202556202376309110&sa=X&ei=vvWZUJnZOvDV4QSPwIGADw&ved=0CG8Q_BIwAA) on the Nairobi Road next to a petrol station. This was a relaxing night off for all before the main events so I took a night off from the camera too.

Unite the People Concert - Preparation

3-7 Oct Unite the People – The first week in October I travelled over to Kisumu to be the official photographer for the Unite the People Concert (http://www.onevibeafrica.org/asanteni-sana/asanteni-sana.htm) organised by One Vibe.

Wednesday – the press conference which entailed interviews with the acts: Clinton Fearon (Jamaica) http://www.clintonfearon.com/, DNA (Kenya) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ABrzRDL9Y , Shamir (Tanzania) and Malfred (Tanzania) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYNvbD7haL0. Clinton also did a couple of acoustic songs under the shade of a tree. 

Clinton Fearon 

The Press Conference

Later in the afternoon we visited to the Manyata Young Generation Orphanage (http://www.schoolchildafrica.com/eproject-basisschool-kenia.php). This was set up by Simon Okelo’s Mum (Simon is the organiser behind the event). There are 150 orphans who were treated performances and inspirational ales of how the acts made it all intended to inspire them to pursue their dreams. The idea was if we motivated just one child to succeed that was great. Hopefully more. I was to capture the mood of the day and preferably one that illustrated that inspiration goal. I think the black and white shot below with the girl in colour does that? You can just feel that she is thinking “That will be me one day”

Clinton Fearon 

Singing his heart out!

Sol Afrique and Lenser

Hey they are my sunglasses!

DNA in his element

Inspired to chase her dreams?

Clinton Fearon 

Malfred 

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

22/9 Nyama and Chapati

On returning home to England my Mum did a presentation to a women’s group who were moved to hear the financial challenges at the orphanage and the diet the kids are provided with. They had a collection which resulted in me being able to buy meat and chapatti flour for 80 kids and staff for 3 Saturdays in a row. Much to the delight of all concerned. The chapatis are great as it is a real community affair with all the kids getting involved with needing the dough, rolling, cooking, feeding the fire etc, etc – oh and a lot of eating the chapati before they reach the final stack!!

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

18/9/12 – Ngong Hills

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngong_Hills These are the hills that are the backdrop to the start of the film Out of Africa where the immortal words “I had a farm in Africa” are spoken in the opening scene. Many volunteers describe this as one of their top 5 experiences. Apparently Ngong means knuckle which if you look closely they do vaguely resemble. The walk is about 7 hills and about 12km. Luckily when we did it, the weather was a little overcast but it was still very warm. A fantastic day and amazing views too. Below at the first of 7 summits with (left to right - Nick, Nicole, Harvey and Irene with another Simon behind the camera)