Tumaini Afrika SSM

After an emotional couple of days, we welcomed a more relaxing schedule.  We knew we needed it because both Holly and our host, Lois, mistook a cat for a monkey - twice! 

On Friday morning, we visited Mary Thamari at her Life in Abundance offices to discuss the differentiated learning and goat presentations we’ll be making in her home community of Homa Bay. Then it was off to the Masai Market to hone our bargaining skills. Judging from the haul, both sides won. Our visit to Mary Warindi had to be rescheduled, as torrential rains had our driver, Faraj, ferrying our van through rivers. 

Meeting With Mary Thamari

Mary Thamari

Faraj’s titles are growing: so far, he is Driver, Riverboat Captain, Communications Coordinator ( as the only one with a Kenyan phone number, he’s fielding and making all local calls and texts), mPesa Manager, Buyer, and Translator. Oh, and he is actually a licensed mechanic.  He tells us he will add the new titles to his CV.

Sheree & Faraj

We got to sleep in on Saturday and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before meeting with Dr. Elizabeth Ngewa and seven women she invited to learn more about Days for Girls and its operations. Gabi, our DfG team leader presented the concept to us and we shared our experiences with the program and the needs it fulfills. As educators, business students and community leaders, we hope they will be able to partner with current local operations or develop their own enterprise. How exciting it is to see these young, educated Kenyan women taking the initiative to make change in their communities.

After lunch with our guests, we travelled to Embul-bul slum (Informal Settlement) to visit our friend, Mary Warindi, and her children. Some of you have purchased the beautiful beadwork Mary produces. We picked up orders when we visited and were just awestruck by her artistry. Mary and her girls, Daisy and Mercy, received DfG kits, and Gabi gave them instruction on their use while the rest of us enjoyed the delicious chapati made by Mary’s eldest, Elvis. It was great to see how much the kids had grown and to enjoy Kenyan tea in the little home Mary has built and decorated with such care. She really is an inspiration, and we were pleased to be able to give her and the girls a gift of three goats. We, too, received gifts - handmade beaded bracelets bearing the word Tumaini made by and presented to us by Mercy. They are more precious than gold!

Carey and Mary

Holly and Elvis

Jeannine and Mercy

Rhino in Progress

Beadwork

Beadwork

Sunday was a day of rest - sort of. Rain and traffic played havoc with our plans. Our stroll at  Resurrection Gardens was replaced by a visit to the giant Nairobi Chapel. It was particularly encouraging to learn that the church has launched a mental health counselling program, and marriage/divorce, and grief counselling. Then we went to Java House for lunch where we met our Canadian friend, Mary Idehen’s cousin, Cecilia Gatere, who has returned to live in Kenya after twenty years in Toronto. We were thrilled to learn about her enterprise initiative to teach arts and crafts skills to young people with the intent to ready them for independent business development. She was really impressed by Mary Warindi’s beadwork, and we are hopeful that a partnership can be developed. We also introduced her to the role played by Mary Thamari Ogalo at Life in Abundance. Relationships and networking - the way of Kenyan women and the road to economic security.

Cecilia Gatere

We did some more educational supplies shopping (teacher planners and notebooks), then headed out for a visit with Lois’s son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren in their temporary home (their home base is in the Congo), we headed back to AIU where we enjoyed a casual dinner, a little wine, and great fellowship at Lois’s Kenyan home.

Lois and Family

Tomorrow we head to Mathare slum. In anticipation of storms and mud, we all purchased rubber boots today. Think of us as we wade through the streets and meet again the children and students whose circumstances broke our hearts two years ago.