We decided to take a Matatu past Kima to Majengo and briefly visit the Vihiga Children’s Home, which was our last place of volunteering. We wanted to meet Priscilla who runs the place, and have a look at the school, to decide how much time we would stay there. The ride was long and arduous, again over many potholes and broken highway. When we reached Majengo, we were to take a motorcycle up the road a few kilometers to the Children’s Home. It started to rain as we got on the motorcycles. Our drivers were wearing helmets, but of course there was none for the passengers. This was the only transport up the road as it was narrow and unpaved. We set out on a steep climb, the tires spinning in the wet sand. The motorcycle I was on rode behind Scott’s, and at one point we were lagging back. My driver asked me if it was OK to go faster to catch up. Of course he’s going to want to go fast in the rain on the mud – HE’S THE ONE WEARING THE HELMET! The rain worsened as did the road, but we were lucky to get to our destination, soaked. As the two motorcycles with pulled into the children’s home, hundreds of children stopped what they were doing and cheered us on, watching these odd white people get off the bikes. We had a quick look at the school and were taken to a nearby house where Priscilla lived. We were welcomed in by Priscilla, a very warm, motherly lady and her husband. They had a nice, quaint home with much more space than we were used to the past few days. The walls were wooden and plaster – are we still in Africa? We had a long chat with her, this lady has quite an amazing past, and she told us how she came about running the children’s school. Scott and I both knew we wanted to spend as much time here as we could. The rain worsened, there was heavy thunder and lightening. Priscilla arranged a taxi to get us back to Kima. The taxi had trouble getting up the road to her home, but finally made it. In the taxi we thought about our situation. We’re leaving a nice house with fairly modern facilities in a huge rainstorm so that we can go back to a mud hut and sleep in an insect-infested room on the dirt floor – what’s wrong with this picture? Oh well, all in the name of volunteering, it’s all good. We arrived back in Kima, walked the long trek back to Jesse’s house in the rain, and quickly fell asleep.
The next morning we awoke to a breakfast of peanuts and tea. Interesting combination for breakfast, but it worked. Our first stop was the Andeka Men Group to continue the lesson on small business. We both lectured for about three hours. The group was quite intent on learning, though the concepts were quite foreign to them. Scott did a great job breaking down the basics of running a business, and I covered how to expand the business once you had an idea that was working. We then did a brainstorming session with them on the potential types of businesses they could think about researching. That was an interesting exercise for them as well as us: putting ourselves in their shoes, what would we do to start a business within the frame of their lifestyles in Africa? The audience ranged from 20 years old to 70, many with families to feed, all part of this new micro-finance organization they were about to start. Again they were very appreciative for the lessons. It occurred to us that this was one way to really make a difference, as these are skills none of these people seemed to have, skills that they now need, and they seemed truly grateful.
We relaxed for the afternoon, waiting for 4PM when we were due at the orphanage we visited 2 days ago. This time we brought soccer balls, crayons and paper, and Jennifer’s infamous maple syrup for the children to try. The orphanage greeted us warmly. They loved the balls and the colouring items. They did a show for Scott and I, singing, acting, reciting poems, it was quite cute and they appreciated having a Canadian audience to practice their English on. Then we brought out the buns we had bought in the market and showed the kids how to dip pieces of the buns into the maple syrup. All the children tried it – they seemed to like its sweetness. They were happy we brought it, and we left for the long walk back to Kima. It was now time for us to check into the guesthouse in Kima. The accommodation was not great, but it was a bed, it seemed safe, and the people were very nice. And, it had electricity! And they even boiled hot water for us to sponge bath! It’s amazing how excited you get over the smallest things, it’s all perspective. As I type, it is nearing midnight, the crickets are loud, the 70–year-old security guard is watching me, the night air is warm, life is good. Good-night.
