A boy named Wycliff

Like so many others who were never given a chance in life, Wycliff’s  story is just another one of those poverty ridden lives that are overrun by the countless images and stereotypes of glue sniffing, dirt ridden street kids of Kenya. I hate what my country has done to the individual. I hate what poverty has done to all of us. The sound and sight of the child on the other side of the window screen is just as much a part of the decrepit social landscape as is the blaring chaos of insomniac matatu drivers and goats chewing away on plastic trash. And in order to see anything positive in the urban junkyard that our politicians have condemned millions of lives to, one has to look really hard; one has to rip off the layer of thick skin that clouds the eyes of the privileged; we have to shove aside the cliches that act as our protection against the reality of others.

And yes, it was just another regular day downtown Kisumu when we first met Wycliff. I will admit that had it not been for the obliged role of a fixer in search of another shot for the camera and another stereotype to fill a few seconds of film time, I would never have met him, at least not by name. He would have been just another street boy. But, that is what we were there to do. The Dutch filmcrew and myself were out to capture some additional content to put the documentary in context. This is Kenya and Obama is about to be the next President of the US. Of course it made complete sense to find some little street urchin, throw an Obama tshirt on him and ask him what he thinks Obama is going to do for his country.

There is no shortage of subjects when you are looking for a vagabond in Kisumu. Step out of the car and there they are. Carry a camera and there will be at least 20 kids high on glue and ready to share a laugh with you or get out of your way for a small fee. When Wycliff limped around all the bigger guys trying to get our attention, one of the crew spotted him instantly. The fact that this documentary actually had a practical and direct benefit to it through creating new markets for local products made it a lot easier on my conscience. The crew were clearly not here to edit the flies on the faces for a ten second guilt trip amongst the Dutch viewing audience. There was a purpose for this and that made it worthwhile. So grabbing the sensational street kid shot was not as much of  burden as it usually was.

Wycliff had everything the camera was looking for. He was cute and confident and not bombed out of his head on glue. He had a terrible limp. He came straight up to us and immediately said, ‘I don’t want money or food. I need school books. Please.’ Perfect. I said I had a job for him and if he accepted to tell us on camera what he thought about Obama, then we would take him straight to the bookstore and he could choose all the books he needed. Deal? Deal.

“When Obama become’s president he will help all of us street children. He will take us away from here and give us food and good schools…”

“What happened to your leg?” asked one of the film crew

“The police were chasing me one evening and I was running across the road and I was hit by a tuktuk…”

Ten minutes later we were in the bookstore and Wycliff patiently wondered around and confidently asked the store keeper for a list he knew off by heart and no more. We paid, shook hands and drove away. It was a wrap and we  had evening sundowners to concentrate on.

The following day, we went to visit my folks and told them about our encounter with little Wycliff.  Dad reacted as soon as I described his limp and his approach. “I know him” said my father, “he approached us very politely a while ago and asked us for school books. When I told your Mom about him, she said we should try and get him off the streets but we could not find him after that.”

Could it be true? Could one of these blots in the landscape actually have a character, an identity, be a person?  For my folks, yes but sadly until today, not for me. Years of charity had rekindled my parents sense of being – it comes with a cost though and it had taken its toll on my mother a while ago. For me and I believe for most of us, the most that little boy on the street ever is, is a moment of frustration or pity. Then its over and we get on with our Nakumatt shopping.

That was about two years ago. Life went on for us in the way we know it and like it. For Wycliff, the last two years were the first two years of his life. My folks found him, found out his story, gave him a good wash and he began to live. He had a roof under his head and three meals a day. He went to school and his leg was reset so he could run around and play football like any other 10 year old boy deserves to. He was given what every child deserves: a right to live and a right to have an identity of his own. Wycliff was always special – he had a
look in his eyes of assurity. He knows what he wants and was going to get it. He performs well at school and despite having spent most of his life on the streets of Kisumu, he shed off the hardships and embraced his innate sense of respect and love that still breathed deeply in him. He soon became everyone’s favorite and grabbed Lia’s heart immediately. Lia has been coming back to Kenya regularly to assist the little charity my folks run and when she met him, she insisted on being the one to financially support him. His leg needed a
lot of work resetting as of course he had to live with a broken leg for the god knows how long that had deformed over time.

Wycliff joined the group of boys that Ladies in Action have been looking after for several years. He became one of the extended family members that my folks have adopted along the way and he thrived in his newly deserved environment. I don’t know much about how he has spent his time on a day to day basis as I have had this terrible ability to close out any emotional entanglement with the gutters of our society. In fact, I will be honest enough to confess that despite his new life starting through a coincidental meeting with myself and five others, I rarely asked about his well being. I knew he was in good hands and that was enough for me. I am no different to most of us. Hard skinned and wired to have a short enough memory that will allow myself to enjoy a cappuccino without an inch of remorse while looking at the fleabags sliding their dirty bums and glue plastered lips across the 4wd drive cars parked across from me. Life goes on…

Until Su called a week ago: “Wycliff is very ill and we have had to admit him in hospital…” Like Lia and my folks, Su is one of those exceptional characters that has chosen to devote a part of her life to doing something for the less fortunate of Kisumu. These are characters that are not paid do-gooders. They just do. A few days later, I received an email from Su, copied to my folks who are on holiday in Turkey:

On 11/21/09 8:36 PM, “Susan Deans” wrote:

“Dear Friends,

Sorry to give you such a poor start to the day, but things were bad. My hope this morning was you may get back in time to see Wycliff. However to quote”what a difference a day brings”, he has had one unit of blood, which he should have been given five days ago. He immediately has perked up and the new blood cells are kicking in against the infection, his temperature is down and Grandma Salome with Frederick have been brought by Father Martin’s diver Lucas and they chatted all afternoon.

Father Martin was concerned the family may have wanted him at home, but as he had perked up dramatically, he did not appear like a dying child and in the end this was not an issue. However he is a sick lad, Dr Shiroya is his, taking over from Dr Amolo who we could never pin down. The prognosis is not good, but with regular transfusions and steroids he may carry on for some time. The ultimate cure would be a bone marrow transplant. Not available here I understand.

The diagnosis is leukopenia hypoplasia He also has gardia which has caused the diarrhea. He will be given two more units of blood and all being well will return to Our Lady of Grace when that is completed. Talking to Daktari Tina, our compound pediatrician, l she tells me that cases she has known have the transfusions and do well for a while then they become more frequent to maintain the blood picture. His hemoglobin must be up today as he is a changed boy.

Love Sue”

Does the story end there? It were if it were just a story but I would like to think this flow of disjointed ramble as having a bit more of a purpose, much like the documentary that brought Wycliff to my parents lives.

He needs helps. He needs a bone marrow transplant and Kenya does not do bone marrow transplants yet. He is surviving on blood transfusions but we don’t know how long for. We are willing to do what we can financially do get him out of the country and give him a chance at life but we can’t do it on our own. So yes, I am writing for help. Can you help Wycliff? 

If you would like to help in any way, please email: pabari@vicweb.net

Animal Clinics on the Coast with Camp Kenya

Just to provide a brief update on our animal clinic projects which have spread all the way to the Coast. Our son who is working for Camp Kenya has also been running several livestock and wildlife programs in and around Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary and around Tsavo National Park so we decided to make a financial contribution and also provided a large box of veterinary supplies. They ran a total of 13 animal clinics and treated hundreds of goats and cows in an area which has virtually no support for farm animals

As they write in their blog:

The summer season is in full swing and even the goats and other farm animals are not to be spared. Out at Camp Mwaluganje, we have been increasing our community outreach and this season we are running several free animal clinics thanks to a donation of veterinary supplies and about 180£ from a charity called Ladies In Action which will go towards covering part of the vet’s cost.

You can read the rest of this post by clicking HERE

You can also view several photos from one of their clinics by clicking HERE.

We would like to thank the Klara Foundation and their supporters for making the animal clinics a big success. We have now managed to spread from the west to the east of Kenya!

THE STORY OF YESTERDAY

When our little Nelson Mandela stood in front of us, my husband was the first one to proudly stand up and say, “THE SECOND BEST STUDENT IN STANDARD SIX!’

When my eyes followed  the direction he was looking at, and finally comprehended what he was reading, it was the badge pinned on Mandela’s chest. My own  chest swelled out so big I could hardly content myself with pride, tears in my eyes. I gave Mandela a hug , and keep on repeating like a broken record, “We are so proud of you”. Mandela had this beautiful smile, looked in good health and taller. We were at his school visiting our four orphans.

Five years ago when we were visiting one of the remote schools as we do as part of our charity work, we were introduced to Mandela.
Mandela, was six years old , with a fragile body had not much energy, to walk and talk, and wore a pair of broken glasses that were so thick, you could not see his eyes. His body language said: let me be, I’ve had enough of this miserable life.

He was the last child of almost a dozen, and is HIV positive. His parents had already passed away from AIDS related illness and the rest of the family could hardly feed themselves, and it was obvious he was the one getting the least food, when there was any. Later on, he said his best days at home were when they had a guest and ate rice which was not often. After many days battling with my conscience, we sent for Mandela, (you see we were already fostering six other orphans).

That was five years ago. Now Mandela still wears a pair of thick glasses and he will always will, but he is healthy, happy, and looks wonderful. When he smiles you can see a bright full moon on his face. When I rumble and grumble about , the stress of our charity work, and many times our own children ask me why I do it, I suppose now I have an answer: FOR A SMILE, which feeds my heart with so much hapiness that wakes me up at 3am in the morning .

But before I go back to bed and hopefully to sleep  just one more  very important word to all of you: Thank you for your moral and financial support which helps to bring smiles to the faces of our orphans like our MANDELA and fills our heart with warmth and pride. I hope you are sharing the same feeling with me NOW AND FOREVER.

Never a dull moment…

June has been a bit quieter without volunteers and deworming in Nursery Schools.  The Kenya Government carried out an exercise of de-worming primary schools this term . So Ladies In Action and Klara Foundation  has been quite busy de-worming children in Nursery Schools in Manyatta and Kondele.

The Following schools have benefited on the de-worming program

Jenali Nursery School                                   35
Manyatta Faith & Hope                                45
Meeda Home Based Care                            75
Magadi Catholic Centre                                80
Golden Bells Junior School                           70
Exodux Nusrery School                                 80
Little Hearts                                                   28
Citystar Junior School                                   112
Jack & Jill                                                      80
Kings “N” Queens                                         230
Little Angels Nursery School                        55
Voice of God                                                  63
St. Tereza of Avilla                                        40
Gateway                                                         50
Umoja Nursery School                                   40
Precious Nursery School                               88
Britons E.C.D.                                                65
Children of God                                              40
St.Jedidah                                                       50
St. Marks A.C.K.                                           70
Lizpat Juniour                                                66
Millennium Nursery                                      19
Tunnel Nursery                                              50
St. Michael                                                     60

We were approached by a community coordinator in Nyahera requesting a medical camp which was  carried on 20th of June and a total of 259 men, women and children were treated.  There was quite a number of wounds on school children. Assisted by Lataben Shah and Nishaben Haria and two doctors,  Dr. Frances and Dr. Willis, myself and and Tobias Kadonga made this event a success. Our thanks to Lataben and Nishaben who ran the registration and pharmacy .

Ladies In Action have found another run down Primary School called Langi Primary School.  A community meeting was held with concerned community members and the CDF committee . After lengthy discussions the conclusion was that a partnership was formed of three parties to rebuild the entire school which will be funded by Mrs. Shakuntla Shah and her sister Ramilaben Shah (both of Indian Origin). Block making has already started at the school compound.  The partners are Mrs. Shakuntla Shah, Mrs. Ramilaben Shah , CDF and local community.

More goat purchasing was done on Friday 26th June at Kombeywa and 14 women benefited. There is a plan for some more on Tuesday June 30th.

Nyakongo Primary School is now complete thanks to financial support from the Klara Foundation. The school has been very fortunate to receive donations from but Khethshi Dharamshi & Co Ltd of Nairobi which will help us to build a library. The school has already collected materials like sand; ballast; hardcore; murram and bricks. Construction is soon to start.
On Monday June 29th we visited the Gee E.C.D. with the Chairman of CDF.  The population of the area is 5400. Out of this they are estimating 2000 orphans. The 50 children have no class room and are currently using the side of the church plot. The community has agreed to bring materials like sand; ballast; murram; and hardcore; Depending on the availability of funds we shall try to build them a classroom.  The children received clothes and bananas.

Back in Action!

Ladies In Action (well, actually “Gents in Action!:)), Chotu Pabari and Tobias Kadongo, started their duties after a short Easter vacation. All our volunteers have gone: Ren back to States and the team from Klara Foundation back to Holland.

We intended to start our activities by deworming primary school children as usual but found out that this term the government was doing the deworming (it’s great to hear that the government is actually doing something on the ground so we are very happy about this!) So, instead we have chosen to focus on other activities for now.

On 11th April, I visited Arise and Shine Orphanage to give away juice and biscuits donated by Manish Makwana and his mother. This was in memory of the late Natubhai Makwana.

15th April was once again day of buying goats for Sinyolo women’s group. Total of 39 goats were bought and given to the old ladies of Sinyolo. This was a special project by Klara Foundation called Animal project.

On 17th April, my John (our Contractor), Mrs. P and myself went to see a school in Otonglo Market. This school had 3 classes destroyed by a storm. It was decided to assist if the funds will be available.

April 28th: Wycliff had to go for his regular check up. He came from Chavakali ( holiday home).. All went well and Tobias took him back the next day.

May 5th: schools open and the boys from Chavakali go back to school in Kakamega.  Chotu and Tobias took all six back to Daisy Special School.

May 11th: start of Deworming in other locations:
Bukuna School
Mkwendwa School
Bar Ogwal School.

May 12th: Continued deworming at the following schools:
St. Anne School
Kianja School
Kibos Primary School
Kunya Primary School

May 13th:

Genesis Nursery school (also received cloths for children)
Usammaa Primary school
Nyazvnya Primary School
Ragumo Primary School
Pyolo Primary School

May 14th: Distributed biscuits and sweets in memory of Lataben Shah’s sister at the following schools:
Usoma Primary School
Kirembe Primary School
Ngege Primary School

May 16th: Medical Camp at Gilwatsi total of 260 people were treated. This event was kindly supported by Lata Shah in memory of her late sister.

May 19th:
Sunflower Nursery School in Ebukuya received de-worming tablets and buns.
Ebukuya Primary School and School for Deaf and Dumb received de-worming tablets and buns and cloths. Ebukuya Primary School also received school books for the library.
Sinyolo Primary School received library books
Obambo Primary School received payment for school fees for one of the orphans.

May 21st

Trip for school fees for orphans assistance from the Return To Sender.
Sianda Primary School
Kawino Primary School
Sinyolo Primary School ( uniforms for nursery children)
Gilwatsi Secondary School
Gilwadsi Primary School ( cloths )
St. Babrnabas Girls High School

May 23rd
Goats purchasing for Chavakali women.
Total of 29 goats were bought making 29 old women happy.

Animal Clinic at Sinyolo

The Animal Clinic held at Sinyolo Primary School on Saturday April 4^th 2009 was very successful.

The Team of Ladies In Action and Klara Foundation, Chotu ; Marja ; Marion ; Bart and Jam arrived at the site by 9.00 and were welcomed by herds of Cows and barks from dogs. Hundreds of animals had already arrived. Tobias had already set up the place ready for the vets to arrive and start work.

Large tables were borrowed from the school for the pharmacy.

Arrival of the vet Dr. Asoka from the District Vet nary Maseno was welcomed. Dr. Asoka apologized for coming late with explanation of having car trouble.

He got his team, himself and three assistants and our team with Tobias and 8 volunteers. Dr. Asoka divided three groups: one for cows; one for goats and sheep and one for dogs and cats to do de -worming; vaccinating and spraying.

Number of animals vaccinated, de-wormed and sprayed against teaks:

COWS	864
GOATS	209
SHEEP	161
DOGS	153
POULTRY	27
CATS	7
PIGS	2
	1423

It all ended when Dr. Asoka informed the organizers and all the volunteers that a good work had been achieved and all the owners of the animals will see the difference the very next day.

The Klara Foundation team and Ladies In Action  also went shopping at Gambogi Market and the old ladies of Sinyolo received 69 goats!

Update from Ladies In Action

On Friday 20/3/09 we: Mr Pabari, Sarafina, Marion, Jan, Bart, and me visited 10 old ladies in the neighbourhood of Seraphina’s place. We gave them a package containing: flour, salt, soap, matches, vasaline, slippers, blanket, tomato and sukuma seeds, tea, and a dress. The ladies we visited are:

1) Petronella Nyagol, Age: 73
7 children, 2 dead, 5 daughers living in a other place. She takes care of herself. She takes care of two orphans

2) Domtilla Mumbu, Age: 82
5 children, daugther in law takes care of her

3) Rael Nyagaya, Age 80
7 children, one son takes care of her.

4) Silva Ogindo, Age: 75
Six children, 4 dead. She takes care of herself. We give her a mattress

5) Doris olero, Age: 60
No children. She takes care of herself

6) Agnes Oluuel, Age: 66
6 children, the all a live, but the live not in the neighbourhood.  She takes care of herself

7) Prisca Ouko – Nyaumauga
Age: 78, 16 children, 13 dead. One son takes care of her

Rispa Oyoo, Age: 75
7 children: 5 daughters, 2 sons (are dead) grandchildren takes care of her

9) Dorina Obura, Age: 83
3 children, one dead, 2 daughters living in a other place. The neighbourhood keeps an eye on her. We gave her a mattress

10) Angelina Oduuer, Age: 80
15 children, one of them is still alive, and takes care of her

Update by Marja (volunteer)

The old mamas of Sinyolo

On Friday 6th of March we visited 10 old ladies in the neighborhood of Sinyolo and surprised them with a little package of food, omena (dried fish), blankets, tomato and sukuma seeds, and clothing.

Miss Leonora Atieno , Age 85
She has one son but he does not take care of her

Miss Priska Nyakwaka, Age 82. She had 8 children but 7 of them passed away. Some people from the neighborhood help her. We want to give her a mattress

Miss Unita Ocieno, Age 75
No children

Miss Jerksa  Liech, Age 87. She had two children but one passed away and the other is mentally impaired one dead. The church give her a new roof, and food. We want to give her a mattress

Miss Ludia Nyoche Odidi, Age 85
Both her children have passed away. Her grandchildren take care of her

Miss Agnes Odhiambo Okelo, Age 90, One son (mental handicap). Her husband (85) takes care of her.

Miss Margaret Ogola, Age 80. Two children. Her son lives in the neighbourhood, but does not care of her

Miss Grace Obuya Okiri, Age 85. One son and one daughter who visit her occassionally

Mama Mimba , Age 92, 2 daughters
People from the neighbourhood take care of her. We want to give her a mattress

Miss mama Muga Odidi, Age 90

THE UNSUNG HEROES

The Ladies Ladies In Action were rewarded for their efforts in helping other Kenyans and fostering peace during post election violence that occurred in the beginning of last year.

They were selected as one of the eight Unsung Peace Heroes out of 500 nominees through SMS,phones or internet. Each of the eight received a certificate and cash reward of KShs. 30,000/00.  The event was organized by Media Focus on Africa Foundation and Butterfly Works.

The Pabaris together with Ren Odabashian and Tobias Kadongo both volunteers with Ladies In Action  gave food and paid transport to Internally Displace People who had to flee out of Kisumu to their  homes. They also assisted many who returned to Kisumu areas with food, seed, farming equipment, bicycles, and medical support. They also received business packages to start small businesses.

Ladies In Action and Sukuma Kenya nominated as “Unsung Peace Heroes”

From Sukuma Kenya:

Just received some very touching news that Ladies In Action and Sukuma Kenya are among 8 nominations that have been selected as “Unsung Peace Heroes” for efforts during the post-election crises. As you may remember, this blog was initiated to raise funds and awareness for victims of the crises in and around Kisumu. In a matter of weeks, all of you out there donated a total of 12,000$ which Ladies In Action (the tiny little charity run by my folks) used to help thousands of people.

The nomination process was done through the public and they received over 500 entries via sms, phone calls and emails so we are rathered honoured as a family and all the credit really goes to my folks, Tobias Kadongo and Ren Odabashian and other volunteers who were on the ground helping people as well as all our friends and family and friends of friends who sent in vital funds. Thank you…

Other nominees whom I look forward to meeting tomorrow and the small prize giving ceremony are:

Alfred Sakwa Sabatia (Eastleigh) – Alfred is 21 years and grew up as an orphan. Since 1996 he lived under sponsorship of the St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Eastleigh. He got hurt while bringing a friend’s child to school. He decided to help others during the crisis. He took food, clothes, and utensils given by friends, churches and organizations to Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in Mathare, Air Force and Huruma. He organized peace talks, composed peace songs, verses and plays, started a peace self help group to keep the youth engaged named “High hopes”, “The jaws” and “Joapapes”, he joined organizations like Eastleigh Youth Network. Currently, he is recording three new peace songs.

Esther Wanza Muisu (Mombasa) – Esther is 42 years old and a Kamba married to a Kikuyu. She lives in Mikoni, Mombasa. During the period December 28th – January 15th she helped people with food and shelter, a total of 25 people slept overnight at her place. She said; “I know what it means to lose”.

Joel Cheruiyot Sigei (Bomet) – Joel is a 48 year old Kipsigis who hid 18 people, 4 Kisii families, for 2 weeks in his compound. He did this secretly to hide them from the community. He gave them maize from his stock and milk from his two dairy cows. Furthermore, he helped children in an IDP camp by bringing them 40 litres of milk every day. When the violence ended, he arranged transport for the 4 families.

Freddy Kamakei Ole Sangiriaki (Narok) – ‘Freddy’ is 28 years old Maasai who wanted to protect his Kikuyu friend from an angry group of Maasais looking for ‘enemies’. He got beaten up and decided that this could not be accepted. He and his neighbor friends formed a group called ‘Kenyan Initiative – by Kenyans for Kenyans’ consisting of mostly Maasai together with Kikuyu, Kisii and Luo men. They went out at night to follow and find the angry mob. By talking to them they convinced them to stop the violence and killing after one week. As they went around Narok area, other groups copied their example and set up similar ‘peacekeeping groups’. As a result, (Freddy claims) the violence ended much sooner in Narok area than in the rest of the country.

Maureen ‘MKenya’ Auma Obonyo (Kibera-Kisumu Ndogo) – When others were too afraid, ‘Maureen Mkenya’ went out and helped the weak in Kibera. When Kibera started ‘burning’ there was a sudden shortage of food. She witnessed the anger and despair from close by. Uzima Foundation received food donations and Maureen distributed food and food vouchers for them to the sick and the old. Maureen hid her Luo identity by calling herself Maureen MKenya. Some people thought she was a Kikuyu and she was beaten up three times for this reason. She furthermore facilitated peace sessions and organized football tournaments and drama festivals.

Ann Wangari ‘Mugeci Damiano’ (Nariobi) – Next to her own three children Ann (39) takes care of 15 orphans in the age 6 to 15 years. During the post-election period she went to Muranga district and found 59 children from a burned children’s homes, children from Molo and Narok who needed help, she chose the youngest and brought them to her home in Kasarani. One is Luo and the rest are Kikuyu. All children are now in school. She receives support from friends, church and family.

Paul Omukaya Ayodi (Kawangware) – This 39 years old pastor took immediate action after the election violence broke loose. He took orphans and people who lost their homes to a school for shelter. He helped a total of 20 families of which 5 families are still supported by him, mostly with contributions through the church. One family is Luo, two Kikuyu families, some Luhya and other tribes. Every day he works in a bar in Nairobi from 3pm to late and the rest of his time he dedicates to charity.

Needless to say that none of the people who did anything to help during the post-election crises did it for personal recognition (except politicians of course), it is wonderful that all these people have been recognised in the hope that it brings us together more as a country. As Sharad Rao, former Director of Public Prosecutions and chair of jury says, “The initiative is premised on the understanding that in order to move forward, there is a need to profile and hear the very beautiful stories that gave us hope as Kenyans and strengthened the social cohesion among the antagonistic communities. It recognises that not everyone gave in to the madness in those dark hours. There were people who, during moments of crisis and violence, risked their own lives to save members of other communities,” says Sharad Rao, chair of the jury and former director of public prosecutions.

Special thanks to Media Focus on Africa and Butterfly Works for putting this together. In a time of perpetual political darkness, its nice to have some light.

Thank you.