Archive

I hate corruption

After church on Sunday I visited a friend of mine called Steve Mucheru. Steve coaches football to around 100 boys in Umoja. There ages range from 7 - 18. Its good to see a kenyan doing his bit for his country. Steve loves football and is passing his passion onto these boys.

On Monday I went back to Mount Angel School. I taught some of the classes hangman and did the okey cokey with the younger children. It was good to see so many of the children again, some I knew when they were 7 years old and they are now 11 so they have really grown up. In the afternoon I had a swahili lesson then played some cards with my kenyan family.

Today I visited a children's project for a friend. His daughter might be working there next year so I went to check it out. The journey there was interesting as it rained heavily during the night and the roads had turned into mud baths. I then visited 14 falls, a beautiful place which has 14 waterfalls hence the name! The man on the gate tried to charge me loads of money to get in but I refused and paid the right price.

On the way back to Nairobi we got stopped by a corrupt policemen. He wanted us to give him some money as we had a big speaker in the car which he deemed to be illegail as we didn't have a license for it! I ended up paying him 10 pounds which made me mad. He asked me how I was and I said "I was fine until our car was stopped". He then told my friends that I'd better get in the car or the fine would be more. I hate corruption, it will stop Kenya from growing. Anyway I need to go as I'm going swimming.

Will write again soon.

Pete

Bye Rach

On Friday my sis Rachel (Rach) left kenya. It's strange not having her around but I enjoyed giving her a Kenyan experience. She's back at work on tomorrow (Monday) so I hope she's slept well despite the clocks going forward!!

Yesterday I went to see Kenya vs Tunisia and despite the fact that kenya lost 2-1 it was definitely an experience I won't forget. Lots of the crowd were drunk and the majority were chewing Miraa (Khat). Getting into the stadium was an experience, the idea of waiting to get in did not exist. Once in the stadium the heavens opened so I got soaked, I was only wearing a t-shirt and shorts! After getting changed my friends and I headed to a pub. I played some pool and became unpopular very quickly. We played winner stays on and I won six on the trot so everyone by the bar was cheering on whoever I was playing. After winning six frames no one would play me so a guy by the bar volunteered. Anyway I lost to him and the whole bar and people around cheered! The celebrations were not quite as good as when Kenya scored a goal at football earlier in the day but close.

This morning I went to church to see some friends. I got interviewed by the Pastor and cracked a few jokes. This afternoon I'm doing some football coaching then having dinner with some friends.

Tomorrow I'm going to Mount Angel School before heading to Nakuru in the afternoon. I'll spend Tuesday there visiting a project and friends before returning on Wednesday. After that I just have one more job to do before flying home on Friday. I'm not looking forward to leaving as I'm having such a good time.

Thanks for reading, hope your ok?

Pete

2 weeks down, 1 to go

With only a week left in Kenya I'm shocked as to how fast time is going. Yesterday we visited Kibera slums, It was good to see people I know again. The school that we visited has expanded a lot since I was last there in 2007. The school has 120 pupils and educates them all without charging them a penny. Yet again I was amazed at how massive kibera is and saw some of the burnt buildings from the post election violence. I'd like to do something similar in Kipsongo slum in Kitale, build a school and pay the children's school fees would be brilliant.

After Kibera we visited James' (our drivers) house and family. We had lunch there and then visited my kenyan family the Mbaabu's. It was good to see them again. After spending some time with them we then went back to James' house and had dinner.

This morning I played some pool with my Mike and I'm saddened to say that I lost a frame, in fact I lost 2 but the score is still in my favour 14-2! We are now at the Mbaabu's house. We are sepnding the day with them and waiting for my friend Fred to arrive. He has been in the UK for 2 weeks. Later we will take Rachel to the airport as she flies home later today.

Tomorrow I'm going to see Kenya vs Tunisia at football and then maybe a night on the town with my kenyan mates. On Sunday I'm off to church and will relax in the afternoon. On monday I'm going to Mount Angel School, I was there teaching for 4 weeks in 2005. I popped in today to say hi and a lot of the children and staff recongised me. Will be good to see them all again on Monday. Then I think I'll go to Nakuru to see some friends and visit a children's project. The rest of the week I'll be in Nairobi seeing friends and playing pool with Mike! It's been a busy 2 weeks so I'm looking forward to spending time with my friends.

Thanks for reading

Pete

It's been a while

Greetings from Nairobi. Sorry for not writing sooner, it was tough getting online and even now the connection is very slow so I must be quick.

We said bye to the children at Birunda and Liyavo on Saturday. This was tough for us and them. Peter, the baby at Birunda fell to the ground and cried as we left! The children at Liyavo were also saddened to see us go. One of the staff made a brilliant speech saying that they were grateful for what we had done and that they would miss us. We told them that we would miss them very much too.

On Sunday we caught a coach to Nakuru where we met a friend of mine called Fran. We went for a walk with her as she has an amazing view of a lake called Elementitia. The next day Mike and I went for a 12km walk in order to see my kenyan parents Lucy and Charles. On the walk we saw Flamingoes, Gazelles, Hartebeast, Waterbucks and were 150 metres away from Buffalos! Everyone thought we were nuts but we were safe, I think!? After seeing Lucy and Charles we headed to a nearby lodge. Rachel sunbathed and Mike and I played pool. In the aftrnoon we visited a baby orphanage which looks after 170 children and went gift shopping. It was quite an experience for Rachel as we got surrounded by people trying to sell us things.

On tuesday we relaxed in the morning. We had a tour of a nearby hospital and then caught a mini bus to Nairobi. We arrived at the hotel we are staying in, played pool with Mike and James our driver and then had dinner. At present I have beaten Mike 11 times and not lost and beaten James 3 times and also not lost!! They are finding other opponents for me to play tomorrow!

Today we were tourists. We went to the animal orphanage, saw lions, a leopard, buffalo, oesterich, hyiena and stroked a cheetah!! Rach was scared as they were big! After that we visited the elephant orphanage. Here we were very close to baby elephants and I had a baby rhino rubbing against my legs! I got covered in mug but i did not mind. After washing my hands and legs we had lunch with a friend of mine called Anthony. Then we headed to the giraffe centre. Here you can feed giraffes or if you choose to (and we did) you can kiss them. I beat Mike in the competition, he kissed Eileen the giraffe 4 times whereas I too kissed her 4 times but also got a kiss from Daisy so won 5-4!!!

Tomorrow we are visiting Kibera slums, the biggest slum in africa. After that we are going to relax. I'm going to relax but Rach is keen to sunbathe! Next week I'm heading back to Nakuru to see friends and a project.

Yet again I have been struck by how corrupt Kenya is, its everywhere. It took a William Wilberforce to abolish slavery so maybe it will take a Pete Gray to abolish corruption??!! What saddens me is that its so wrong. People are dying and yet others are so rich! Anyway I'd better stop there as I could write about this subject for hours. I'm now off to get some dinner. We are the only white people staying in this hotel which is funny and I can speak swahili the local language which shocks the kenyans I meet!!

Before I forget, on Saturday I'm off to see Kenya vs Tunisia and I'm not sure how many white people will be there either??!!

Thanks for reading

Pete

One more day in Kitale!

I'm amazed at how fast time goes when your having fun. As I write this it 8.30am in the morning and we have only 1 more day left in Kitale. It has been so good to be back here but I'm gutted that I'm leaving tomorrow. This morning we will visit Birunda, take some pics and video footage, have lunch with them and then say bye. In the afternoon we will do the same at Liyavo. The children at the two projects are very important people to me so saying bye will be tough. I have seen so many of them on all my trips so I have seen them grow up, I feel like an older bro to them. 

Yesterday we visited both projects again. Needless to say we played football at both projects too! It's hard work when the altitude is nearly 2000 metres! At Birunda we helped with the class and then had a drama performed for us. Before lunch we visited another project called Challenge Farm as a few boys who I know from the streets are there so I wanted to go and see them and say hi. At challenge farm they have everything you need, its like a 5 star childrens home. Despite it being so nice to me it did not feel right. It came across as an institution and I've been told the children there have very little to do with their parents so when the child leaves at the age of 18 they have very few ties with their family. This I don't think is right. In the afternoon we went to Liyavo. We taught them how to use the parachute which we sent over in 2008, they loved it.

I'm going to try and upload some pictures onto my facebook page and Heart of Hope's page so if you have facebook check it out. I've tried twice already so hopefully third time lucky. Not sure when I will be able to write again but I'll definitely try. So from Kitale it good bye for now.

Pete

A mixed day

Yesterday morning we headed to Kipsongo slum. It has not changed much since I was last there in 2007. The smell is horrible, people are ill and the houses people live in (if you call them houses there more like shacks) are terrible. Being there did not affect me as it has done in the past. I know that the conditions those people live in is wrong and its that which drives me in order to somehow bring about change them for. I hope to be able to support them in some shape or form when I get back in April.

After the slum we had lunch and headed to Liyavo. We gave out all the toys, stationery and games. The younger children began to sing as we were putting everything out on the tables. For the younger children they were given two pencils and a toy. For the older ones we gave pencils, pens, pencil cases and a pack of colouring pencils. They we very grateful and very happy. I'm pleased I'm able to come here to Kenya and do this but at the same time I know its not the answer to the problem. I feel more driven now to get back to England and try to get every child sponsored. That is now my main aim. 

As I think about Heart of Hope's future the more I think about its massive potential and how it could make a huge difference to so many children's and adults lives.

For the next two days we will visit each project and then catch a coach on Nakuru on Sunday. I will be saddened to leave Kitale as saying bye to friends is always tough. I'll be back though I know that for sure.

Pete 

Giving out the toys, stationery and games

Yesterday afternoon we headed to Birunda and gave each child a couple of HB pencils and two exercise books each. The other pencils, games and toys they will share. It was really good to see how happy this made them all. After giving everything out we went inside and they began to draw and colour in their drawings. Some of the drawings were very good. I think it is so important that these children feel loved and have a sense of self worth which I know we achieved yesterday. I took lots of video footage and pictures so look forward to uploading them soon. I was meant to upload a few now but left the lead in the NPYT office. I will try again tomorrow.

This afternoon we are going to do the same at Liyavo. They were really gratefully when we donated 3 footballs so I think they will be over the moon when they see everything we have.

This morning I sat in on an NPYT meeting which was very interesting. After I have written this news post we are heading to Kipsongo slum. I have been there before in 2005, 06 and 07. I remember my first trip in the slum well. I was blown away by what I saw and felt my pride and my self importance crumble. As I take my sister in I'm interested to see how this will affect her. I feel a little odd thinking about the slum as it brings back so many images and emotions which I will be experiencing again in about 20 minutes time. Will let you know how it goes when I write next. Although being apprehensive about the slum I am looking forward to going to Liyavo this afternoon.

Thanks for reading, will write again soon.

Pete

It's great to be back

Hello again from Kitale, Kenya. My sister and I are doing well. On Monday morning we went to Birunda the rescue centre. It was good to see a few children who are still there and all the staff again who I know from previous trips. It was also good to meet the new children at the project. There is one little boy there called Peter. He is 1 and a half and was abandoned by his mother. The organisation is trying to find his mother and send him back if it is safe to do so for him. After helping with the maths class we then played some kenyan games and taught them Duck Duck Goose, Simon says and played relay games.

In the afternoon we went to Liyavo the long term project. It was good to see them again as I know a lot of the children there. I got out the car and they shouted "Pete." It's nice that they remember me. We played some football with them and I'm sad to say that my team lost!!!

Yesterday (tuesday) we again headed to Birunda in the morning. After listening to the teacher teach Swahili the local language to them we gave them three footballs as they had none. They love foootball so much and were very happy to be given a ball. After playing football there (and my team winning) we had lunch and then headed to Liyavo. We played football again with a new ball which again they were very happy to have. The day before we used a very small ball so to play with a football was great. I'm also pleased to say that my team won!!

In the evening we went out for a meal to celebrate St. Patricks day. We ate Irish food and listened to U2!!

This morning we went into town with Steve, a social worker. We were looking for street boys who wanted to go to Birunda in order to go home. This my sister and I found upsetting. I find it difficult to describe what I felt but I know that this is simply not right. There were boys from the age of 9 who live on the streets. Some were abandoned, some ran away from home for various reasons and some are orphans. The street boys find it difficult to go to projects like Birunda as they don't like the structure of it. They enjoy having the freedom to do what they want. Many of them sniff glue, many get beated up as life on the streets is tough. As we left the streets Steve was deciding which childen should go to Birunda as there was not enough space for them all who wanted to go. When I was at Birunda yesterday one dormitory is nearly finished but there is not enough funding there to finish the building or to pay the extra costs of looking after an extra 44 children.

This afternoon should be good. We are gong to Birunda to give out toys,stationery and games. We have also made some drawing books for them as well as buying exercise books for them all.

Tomorrow we will do the same at the Liyavo project in the afternoon. We are going into a slum tomorrow morning.

Thanks for reading.

Pete

Greetings from Kenya

Hello from Kitale, Kenya. The time is 9.30am and the temperature is 20 degrees!! It is good to be here after a long journey. We left Cornwall at 10.30am on Saturday (14th) and arrived in Kitale at 4.30pm on Sunday (15th). We had some trouble at heathrow as we were only allowed 100mls of fluid to take onto the plane so we packed all our fluids into our big bags. Then in the air we struggled to sleep as it was so hot. To add to this a lady collapsed next to me (Pete) so I and a doctor looked after her for a while. Finally we arrived in Nairobi and caught the coach to kitale. Again we were unable to sleep as it was too hot and the road was very bumpy. From Eldoret to Kitale it was extremely bumpy and we were getting thrown all round the place despite wearing a seatbelt. On arrival we checked into our lodge which is very nice and had an excellent dinner. Needless to say we both slept very well and have just caught a boda boda (a bicycle with a chair on the back) into town which Rachel did not like at all!!

Today we are going to visit the two projects and will discuss with the project managers when the best time to give out all the toys, stationery and games is. We will keep you posted on news whenever we can get online again.

Thanks for reading

Pete & Rach

The adventure begins

Tomorrow (14th March) my sister Rachel and I (Pete) head to Kenya for a three week trip. Whilst in Kenya Pete & Rachel will be giving out the toys, stationery and games which have been donated and seeing how best Heart of Hope can support the two children's projects.

To be kept up to date with the trip keep your eyes posted on Heart of Hope's news page.