Intellectually we know the ‘right’ answer. Kenyan women whose family trees have been decimated by AIDS know the ‘right’ answer. But faced with daily hunger & grinding poverty yourself, and looking into your children’s hungry eyes, what would you choose? It’s not a surprise that unwanted pregnancies happen and AIDS/HIV continues to spread. The saddest part is that the women can’t see a third choice, not to have to prostitute themselves at all. (And don’t get me started on the selfish irresponsibility of the men involved!)
Susan Saleeba with Nakuru Hope children
To see that third choice they need education, skills and counselling. That’s why educational centres like Gabriel’s in Nakuru are vital – they provide alternatives to young girls, and boys, with the school and orphanage, the women’s workshops, counselling, health care, access to clean water and food, and safe respectful role models. www.NakuruHope.org
On 29th April Peter & I will be flying over to spend 3 weeks volunteering at Gabriel’s. I’m hoping I can find ways of making my own work on personal power and mindfulness accessible to staff and students. Until I live with them and experience their day to day lives I won’t know to translate it meaningfully, so just I’ll take lots of ideas and resources and go with the flow.
Many of you here have generously asked what you can give me to take over to the school and kids. Our bags are full already. The most useful thing to give is a tax deductable donation that way it can go where it’s most needed at the time e.g. “$28 = 1 mattress, $21.00 – a new school uniform. $10.00 a pair of second hand school shoes, $50.00 school books for a term for a child, $34.00 food for a week for a family of four. … when we go on our home visits, this is where a big difference can be made. We purchase from the local shop – salt, fat, flour, sugar, soap each home visit is about $10.00 then we give this to the family we are visiting. It makes an immediate difference plus it also shows we care. I hope this gives your donors some ideas. If they wish to make a donation which is tax deductible they can go to http://www.nakuruhope.org/donate-sponsoring where all donations are 100% guaranteed to go where the needs are the greatest. Big thank you to all.” Susan Saleeba, founder.
If you mention my name “Sue Lester’s visit” in the comments box, plus email me just to make sure I know, I’ll endeavour to take photos of how your kindness is put to good use while I’m there. Nakuru Hope is run by volunteers so 100% goes to the kids and families. Even $5 goes much further over there than here – we get a mug of coffee at Coffee Club!
I met the founder of Gabriel’s, Susan Saleeba, on a trek in Nepal in 1999. www.NakuruHope.org wasn’t even a dream then, past both of us
Sue Lester, Susan Saleeba & Juliette Strickland Nepal 1999
intending to volunteer overseas, somewhere, sometime. In the past 7+ years Susan has worked miracles, and in 2014 both the new school and orphanage buildings opened, the women’s workshops continue, land has been purchased to grow food, a bore sunk for clean water and lives are starting to have choices. Volunteers are very much welcomed, and any skills you have will be put to good use – ‘skills’ including being able to speak English!
(And yes, of course you can go on safari on weekends too.)
Here’s the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/nakuruhope/
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