Wow! It really has been a crazy week, it seems to have flown by and I have done so much! Its hard to know where to start with updating you all with this blog, but here goes...
As I think i mentioned in my first blog the ICC (Interim Care Centre) that i am staying and working at is in a transition period, where the last of the boys are in the process of going back to school and next week we get the new intake of street children who will stay at the centre for rehabilitation for 6 months. This means since I arrived we have only had 4 boys staying at the centre, as as of today all the boys have now moved on! The centre therefore has been very quiet, which I shouldn't get used to with 25 boys arriving on Monday!
The positives of me arriving at this time has meant I have been able to spend time meeting all teh staff, getting to know the volunteers and learn the ins and outs of the charity, understanding all the projects and how they run. Along with doing school drop offs where we have taken the remaining boys to boarding school, I have also been on home visits with the intowork and economic programme, attended networking meetings, visited school feeding programmes, and had some good induction sessions around the charities work and finances.
The social has been good too! I have been for dinner at the directors and a trustees, attended a fundraising film night, eaten at the volunteers house, watched movies with the children.. oh and been for a Saturday night out in Nairobi - where i danced badly compared to the Africans!
I have been really impressed with the work the charity does. Although focused on Street Children it is very holistic in its approach understannding the need to work with the family to make a positive difference and fully rehabilitate and help the children . As well as rehabilitation and outreach work, there is a big focus on preventative work with education projects providing school feeding, uniforms and child sponsorship. For most children the one meal they get at school if they are on a feeding programme is the only meal they will get all day so this is the reason they attend school instead of work on the streets to get money for food, but while they are there they learn so its a real necessity. Another programme that has been a real eye opener is the into work programme which provides young people with skills based training and the tools they need to get a job or set up sustainable work. I have seen the outcomes of the support the charity gives them in this programme, an example is a young tailor er who now has her own shop and is training a new into work student, she now has money to support her family and they have made improvements to their living. There are more projects but I will go into detail about them on another blog where I will hopefully have examples of the work i have done with them.
Although I am based at the ICC where i will be primarily working, building relationships with the children and running activities, I hope to also be involved in working on some of the other projects. I have a meeting with the director this week to talk more about my role and sort out a timetable so i will keep you posted!
On a lighter note, the food is okkkk I like the cabbage, rice and beans but not impressed with the uglai (google it lol) The fruit is AMAZING and a mango will cost me 20p! On Saturday night in Nairobi i went out for Ethiopean, it was yummy and a new eating experience! the other volunteers live in a separate house and they have cooked for me too, there food is better than at the centre! So basically Im not so sure about some of your comments about me getting skinny out here!! .oh and the boys put so much sugar in the tea when they make it so i might return home without any teeth too!
Not missing home.. yet! I am happy i have picked the right charity and volunteer experience and i have already learned so much. its a real eye opener, we forget how lucky we are in the UK I am loving the sun - although very modestly dressed, and the nature all around me. Even the bucket shower and toilet\t facilities are quire liberating!
On that note I will leave you all for today! Hope to update you soon with news of the new intake and any exciting adventures. and i will try and get time to upload some pics.
Love hearing from you so keep in tousch with your news
All my Love xzx
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