I just watched a program on PBS called Half the Sky. It was comprised of several segments concerning a variety of women's issues in third world countries around the world. I read the book this summer, and found the video version of these stories to be compelling.
One in particular held my attention, it had to do with empowering women in Kenya through microfinance loans and education. While this was filmed in the slums of Nairobi, the story is the same throughout Kenya, throughout much of Africa. Women are generally the ones who care for and provide for their families. Lack of work and education create a hopelessness in the men that often leads to drinking and narcotic use, which further disengages them from their families. The women, however, work hard to provide whatever they can for the sake of their children's futures.
You can read the article about by clicking on the link below.
The second half of this series will air tomorrow night, October 3, at 9:00 p.m. MT on PBS.
In our work in Kenya, we realized early on that empowering women is a key factor to making change happen. Girls now fill our schools, we have girls being educated at the secondary and university level through scholarships. We have taught sewing skills and provided a sewing workshop at the BTW workshop in Mnyenzeni. We have several small microbusinesses that are run by women. We have encouraged women to deliver their babies at the dispensary rather at home, which creates a safer environment for them.
I am passionate about the necessity to empower the women of Kenya, as I see them as the future of the country. They have the same desire as mothers everywhere: to provide a better future for their children, with opportunities for them to seek and find success. I have seen the improvement in the lives of those women who have embraced the opportunities we have given them. The challenge we face is to continue to find and share opportunities with women, to give them the start, the key to lifting themselves out of poverty.
"Talent is universal, opportunity is not." Nicholas Christof
Koins for Kenya is dedicated to providing opportunity to those whose opportunities are limited. If you would like to help, we welcome your thoughts, ideas, and contributions. All funding goes directly to the work we do in Kenya. Join us in our work to change the lives of those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves with limited options to improve their lives. In the process you will find your own life changed. Contact us at info@koinsforkenya.org
As I was reviewing my notes from last year's expedition, I realized I had never posted the notes I took during our women's forum meeting held at the KCC. We invited women from Mnyenzeni to join us for tea, cookies and an opportunity to talk openly about our different lives.
Wednesday, August 4
Women's meeting at KCC
All women came with babies.12 village women, 13 Americans:
Robyn Kimball - Utah
Umazi Dzombo - Mnyenzeni
Mjeni Dongoi - Mwache
Kendy Taylor - California
Uchi Chondo - Mnyenzeni
Zawadi Ndawa - Mnyenzeni
Asha Dzombo - Mnyenzeni
Marcie- Utah
Lacee- Utah
Sherrie- Utah
Mbeyu Chombo - Mnyenzeni
Fatuma Chondo - Mnyenzeni
Leigh - Utah
Cindy- Utah
Shelley- Utah
Sara Chikuta - Mnyenzeni
McCall- Utah
Kanga Juma - Mnyenzeni
Mjeni Viyani - Vikolani
Kris - Mwaka- Utah
Zilpa Mlongo - Mwongaraba
Ingrid (KweKwe) Utah
Margaret Luvuno - Mnyenzeni
Naomi Mwenda - Mnyenzeni
Jami (Chizi)- Utah
Lindsay (Pola)- Utah
Open time for questions:
There was a vote held during our stay, the citizens got to vote on the constitution.
Kris: Who voted?7 women voted.
Constitution interpretation:
New constitution is better.President has to win by certain percentage.
People vote and win is decided immediately, not months later.
Naomi:Most people are squatters, at any time they could be told to move out.
Land in Duruma land is clan owned.
Margaret: She has decided to vote for constitution for next generation.Has brought men and women together in vote.Equal rights approaching.Kind of a 70-30 equation.Encourages women's education.This constitution will give women more rights, especially in area of inheritance.Women will be counted in division of parents assets, not just men now.No child labor.Children to be in school not working through Grade 8.6,000 ksh per year for scholarship, only for school lunch cost.10,270 ksh from government for school fees.
It appears the constitution will pass.
Men also supportive of this vote.
What is issue they are concerned with most?
Delivering babies.Most give birth at home with help of a midwife (often mother-in-law). Average # of children for Duruma:8-9
Reasons for large family: naming children after someone important to them. Lack of family planning is tradition.They need to birth more than 10 children to be called an "African woman".High mortality rate.Out of 100 children, 20 die before 5.If they don't continue pregnancies, they worry husband will leave.Hesitant to do family planning, for fear of husband's reaction2 of the group have 10 or more children.One of them was 15 when she had her first child.
Most standard 8 dropouts get married and pregnant young.Question: what would happen if girls get pregnant without being married: Traditionally chased to grandma or aunt and will not come back.OR your parents will ask you to tell who is the father of the child and you will be forced to marry him.If you marry someone else the child remains with aunt or grandma.
How many have had a child die? 8 of the 12.Margaret has had 3 children die, 3 months, pneumonia.Malaria, 6 months.Malaria, 15 months.
Question from Margaret: What does our constitution do for women.In Kenya it is possible for a woman to run for president.But women don't generally support women politicians there.
Husbands can beat wives, wives can seek legal action but it is a long tedious process.
Question: Is family planning practiced in states? What is size of average family?surprised by the answer of 2-3.Surprised by Jami having 8 children, having many children ages mothers here, so they look much older than we do.Margaret is about 40.
When they have twins did they know they were having them? One did, one did not.
Often people go away and live together without marriage.
No dowry paid for wife in U.S.Bret explained specifics of relationship in America.Now that girls are becoming educated, their daughters will begin to move the way of Americans.By letting them get educated, they will improve their lives.
After they have a baby, how long do they rest.40 days of rest.A family member will come to help them with work.
Is husband there when your children are born? In hospital, they are able to be there.At home, no.
Can a man have two wives in America?No, he will get sent to jail.Laughter.
Bret: In U.S. he will cook in his kitchen.Help clean the house.If he has his friends at the house, he will cook and serve them.In Kenya the husband will order the wife out until the baby is quiet.
When a husband has more than one wife, the wives do not get along and usually don't live near each other.Men sneak out to see other women.Women always have responsibility of the home and family.
Most difficult work they do?Fetching firewood.Fetching water.Working in fields.
If something needs to be purchased, where do they get money to buy?If husband is working, he can give money for a purchase.If husband has no work, women must do odd jobs to raise funds.
Raise hand if husband works with a salary.2 raised hand.1 works at dispensary.1 works as a cook at a boarding school.One lady has a husband who was employed but he died from a boil (abscess). The remainder of them will raise corn in their shambas to survive.
As you can see from my notes, I was typing as a conversation was going on. It was an interesting conversation. Bret coming into the room helped the conversation get going. The village women in Kenya tend to be very quiet and submissive. They aren't quick to offer information, unless they know or trust you. They know Bret because he has been coming to Mnyenzeni for so may years. They offered more information once he encouraged them to talk to us.
During the 2 hours we met, the women enjoyed chai tea and the flat biscuit type cookies common here. They were quick to feed their babies both the tea and cookies as well.
The American women enjoyed the information we gleaned from the village women, and learned more about their lives. This kind of interaction helps us to understand their lives better. We as Americans have such easy lives by comparison.
I was watching the Today Show this morning, and thought this video worth sharing. It is a universal story of rural African women, this could have been shot in Kenya, the story is so similar.
With the building of a clinic in Mnyenzeni, Kenya, we are hoping the future of the local women and children will improve. It is the first clinic to be built in the region. As Americans, we have been raised in a country where most of us have never questioned the availability of health care should we have need. In the majority of Africa, this is simply not the case.
If you want to contribute to an organization that is truly making a difference, where 100% of all donations go towards the work being done in country, please consider making a contribution to Koins for Kenya. In our years of operation, we have accomplished so much, on a shoestring budget, by comparison to most NGO's. As we prepare for a new year of projects in a country so desperate for help, we can use your contribution for good.
We had a leisurely morning, which was really nice. We started sacrament meeting a little early, but we were all there, so it was perfect. It was cool to have Paul and Curt bless the sacrament and Brayden pass it, right here in the KCC. We followed the normal script for a fast and testimony meeting, with Mike conducting the meeting (he is in the bishopric at home). It was a very good meeting. I think we all enjoyed hearing from most every member of our group. It was emotional at times, heartfelt and open. It was the best sacrament fast meeting I have attended in a long time.
I think the thing I love about being in Kenya is the people in our group. I love how this humanitarian work brings out the best in people. And I mean the best in whatever they are. Some people are naturally good at interacting with children, some with different cultures, some are good with their hands and building, some are organizers, but by and large, all have good hearts and are here for the right reasons. I know I should be loving working with the Kenyan people, and enjoying that cultural interaction, but I find it awkward and difficult at times. I really don't understand the culture, I am offended often by the way the women are treated and that sometimes makes me uncomfortable with the men. Bret is just the opposite, he loves the work, he is comfortable with the men and being in a position of power here. He interacts well with the children and has a way of getting the women to respond to him. I often feel the discomfort of the men when they work with me, as a woman, but knowing that as wife of "Baba Bret" they have to treat me with respect. Being here really puts me outside of my comfort zone, on so many levels. Another issue I am dealing with is that after more than a week, my night time combination Ambien and Malarone starts making me restless and nightmarish. My dreams are becoming very vivid and strange.
Buffalo demonstrating borehole well at Mwache
Marcie at Mwache borehole well
Jason, Austin and McCall
Our group walking to the well at Mwache
Leigh getting crazy climbing the tree
Paul getting crazy climbing the tree
Anthony Yama's parents met us on the path near Mwache
Kendy faces her fears in the cornfield
A village woman, preparing food and caring for her children
After the service, we had a sandwich lunch, cleaned up, then a few of us got in a van and went to Mwache to see the bore hole well in action. There are 3 bore hole wells that LDS Humanitarian built in 3 different villages in 2009. It is quite amazing to see them pump clean, unlimited water so effortlessly. Anthony's parents walked from their home up the trail to visit with us. His father is sick with malaria, and his mother is recovering from a terrible foot injury, so it was with great effort they came to see us.
Chakaya, the nervous groom
We returned to the KCC and the wedding guests started arriving. Chairs were brought over from the secondary school, and the front yard of the KCC became the gathering place for about 200 people. Chakaya arrived, and we joined the crowd in the yard as we awaited the bride. It was kind of comical how they blended American traditions and who knows what other traditions for this wedding.
Women cooking for the wedding crowd
Women singing to greet Kwe Kwe, the bride
Kwe Kwe arrives and is escorted to Chakaya
The bride's father and sister
Chakaya and Kwe Kwe prepare to be married
Kwe Kwe reacts to a comment of Bret's during ceremony
The bride and groom kiss (not a typical Kenyan public behavior)
And they are married (notice the interlocked pinkies...)
Our group made an arch for the newlyweds to walk through
As Kwe Kwe arrived, the women from the kitchen came out singing and dancing and welcoming her and her entourage. The rest of the women in the crowd joined in. As she was escorted from the car by Dallin and her bridesmaid, there was a line of women that threw rice at her. She walked up to the porch of the KCC, where Bret and Chakaya were waiting, and Bret asked her father to come up and give his daughter to Chakaya. Then he proceeded with a ceremony that blended traditional US wedding vows with kind of a "make a new start, don't do what Kenyan men typically do" recommendations. It was interesting to watch the reactions of the crowd to this different kind of wedding. Kwe Kwe seemed embarrassed at some of the things Bret was saying, but I think ultimately she was excited about getting married, in her shy Kenyan way. The funny part was when they cut the cakes we bought, and fed a bite to each other, then another bite, then a bite to their best man/bridesmaid, then the parents and then all the guests. I had to leave. It was just so funny. Shortly thereafter, the music and dancing started and didn't stop until about 8:00 p.m.. Lots of pilau was served along with ugali, and most guests stayed outdoors, although Johnson's wife and kids and Lucy, Anthony's wife, and kids came inside and ate and played games and had fingernails painted by our group.
Austin and Catelin dancing
A large pot of pilau, ready to serve to the wedding guests
Our group was pretty exhausted by the time the last guests left. We bypassed P&P because of our testimony meeting this morning, and had an early bedtime.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Everyone was up early preparing to depart for the safari in Tsavo.
Bret and Anthony left for Mombasa. I deep cleaned the KCC, and with the help of the kitchen staff we washed and bleached every single dish, table, surface, and tidied up inside and out. I began washing my clothes, and Emily took over for me. She kind of laughed as she walked up to me, asked me if I used a machine at home, to which I responded "I have a machine for everything at home!" I hate to admit, but I was happy to have her finish washing the clothes for me. I showered and spent much of the rest of the day in the KCC updating my journal and getting caught up on Koins work. All day one of the board members was outside the KCC watching over me. I didn't mind staying in. It was hot outside and I had a chance at quiet and cool productivity sitting in front of the fan.
Foundation of the new clinic in Mnyenzeni, just in front of the dispensary
In the afternoon I took baby blankets up to the dispensary, and took a few photos of the foundation of the new clinic being built. It is quite exciting to think what it might offer to these villagers. It looks to be about the size of the KCC.
Tool crib in workshop
Workshop, neat, tidy, organized and in good working order
I walked over to the workshop with Buffalo, Chief Tuku and Eliud. They showed me around, pointing out all the work that had been done since we had been here. The workshop really looks great, Mike and Curt have done an incredible job with that building. It is tidy, the tools have been organized, hand tools labeled and marked where they should be stored. The workshop workers have been trained by Mike and Curt how to care for the tools, the building, how to sharpen blades, replace broken parts, keep track of tools. What a difference from when we arrived. Curt has agreed to take on the role of Workshop and Construction Management on the Koins board. It will be wonderful to have him in charge of the workshop on a full time basis, and for him to get our construction costs down to a science.
Sewing center workes busy making Koins purses
Bret arrived and started a discussion with the Kenyan board members about how they had done the electrical work in the workshop. I walked over and checked out the sewing workshop. They were busy sewing our bags and pajama pants.
Bret and I accompanied Chief Tuku to Mnyenzeni, and we went to the home of Peter Mrabu (Purity's dad) and spent some time visiting.
Back to the KCC for dinner, just Bret, Paul and I. It was nice and quiet. We finished our pilau and fruit with hot scones and honey, then cleaned up and headed off to bed early tonight.
Tuesday, August 3
Up at 7:00 this morning. Sometime during the night our netting came untucked, we had mosquitoes in our netting so all night I was getting buzzed by them. It was very annoying and I woke up to blood spots on the sheets, and as I smashed a few of them there was blood on my hands. No itching though. I don't know where they bit me. Not a pleasant thought, with the prevalence of malaria here.
I took a morning shower, then we had breakfast with Purity's dad and discussed his desire for his son, who is high in his Form 2 class, to receive a scholarship. He missed qualifying by 5 points on his exam. Bret told him to retake the exam and we would be happy to take care of his scholarship once he qualified. He is a nice man. We discussed some American customs, like Bret accepting our son-in-laws as extensions of our family, having dinner with them, traveling with them, being friends with them, and he had a hard time understanding that. It is so not Kenyan custom to be friendly with the son-in-law. It is as if they lose a daughter when one gets married. Bret encouraged him to try that new idea out when Purity is married in the future. He looked doubtfully at Bret, but didn't say he wouldn't do it.
Rain coming off the roof of the KCC
Bret on the road with a boy tending goats
Local bread delivery
Brand new baby at the dispensary
Young mother returning to her home with a bucket of water from the river
A man we crossed paths with carrying chickens (alive)
Woman and her daughter cutting wood
A heavy rain came down for a few minutes, then Bret and I went on a walk through the countryside up to Chikomani. Along the way we shot some photos and observed Kenyan life. As we were heading back we came across two women cutting sticks with machetes and binding them and putting them on their head. It was interesting that the first thing that happened was the younger woman asked us for money for taking her photo, then she asked for Bret's shirt and his sunglasses. We offered them candy and I gave them a bag of dried mangos. They seemed happy with that and didn't mind that we followed them back towards their village. They even seemed to be encouraging us to stay with them. They spoke in Duruma and only knew "give me 50 shillings" in English, but I showed them photos as I took them and that seemed to please them.
Woman with her baby, cutting wood
Pregnant woman who was cutting wood.
Women carrying wood back to their village
We got a call from Johnson asking about going to the Massai village on the way back from safari. Bret has had bad experiences with the Massai, who are used to dealing with and abusing tourists. He has had experiences with people spending way more than necessary for trinkets, and also with a couple girls being cornered and groped on a previous trip. He didn't want the group to go, but the majority ruled and he just warned Cindy to keep an eye on things.
Matuwa on the roof of the KCC
The monkey, Matuwa, who is Dallin's pet and an occasional nuisance, keeps running on the roof of the KCC. It makes an amazing racket. He was tied up behind the bathrooms in his little shack, but eventually he chews through the rope and then runs around like crazy. The local kids tease him and he chases them and grabs and bites their ankles. Both sides seem to feed off the attention.
Anthony's portrait from Rebecca Peery
The group returned from safari about 4:00, so we caught up with their activities as some headed to showers. We had a lot of rain today, so it is really muggy and sticky tonight. We presented Anthony with a portrait painted of him by Rebecca Peery, an artist and friend of Koins. She want to Kenya with the March expedition. Anthony was so happy with the painting of himself.
