Friday was a busy day. James who is part of the Fadhili Group came to collect me at about 8.30. Today was the day to put in to play the setting up of Maddison house. First stop was one of the large warehouse style shops here, where we shopped for bedding, cooking equipment, towels to name a few. I even spoke to the Manager there, explained that we were helping set up a new orphanage in memory of my daughter, asked him for a discount which he graciously did. Next stop to collect 10 new bunk beds. James tried to buy a sofa, but we think they noticed a white face and put the prices up, James will try again at a later date.
The area where the orphanage is is very rural a long way from any towns, people just stop and stare at me as it seems to be very rare that they see a white person some people have never seen one. It so nice, I smile and wave and they crack a lovely smile back at me. We stopped at some point, and I could see people especially children watching me I would go and say hello which made every one laugh at the way I spoke. Great fun.
We arrived at Maddison House just around dinner time, by now we had been joined by the young lady who be living there looking after the children , she seemed very excited and loved the place.
The army of people who had come with us to help, set about putting up the beds, whilst the girls did the cleaning. Nothing new there then!!!!
James had organised a spit cooked Goat for dinner with Maize, I love Goat, it was cooked to perfection. Thanks James!!!
Time all too soon ran away from us and we had to had back to town, the journey takes about an hour and half each way.
It was hopefully an exciting day for the Fadhili group as this is their very first orphanage!!!!!
Friday night was very enjoyable, one of the girls is going home soon and was having a farewell party, we had pizza and a beer ( well maybe 2,3 who was counting!!!! )
Today is Saturday, I had decided in the week I was going to Nairobi with Kim and another friend as I had to collect something I had ordered, the girls for one reason or another could not make it so I bit the bullet and went alone.
On the journey going out a man got on to the bus to preach, the conductor was on board and was having none of it. It got nasty, the conductor was really having a go at the chap, pushing and pulling him, then really giving him what for, the preacher just would not get off. Every one was shouted and having some input into the situation. Some sticking up for the preacher others just wanting to get on with the journey.
When I got in to down town Nairobi I lost my way, could not remember how to get to where I wanted to go, had been once but with Grace my host. So decided to pop into a Wimpey ( yes there have them here!!!) have a drink and relax a little.
Asked a security guard where the Massai Market was, he was a great help and I was soon there. Soon as you get to the gates people will just not leave you alone they want you to follow them and look at there stall, another person will shout to get your attention, could be 5/6 men just trying to get you to shop with them. Today I am afraid I gave them a bit of a tough time, told them to leave off and just stormed inside the gates. Found the stall I needed, which was helped by the fact that it was on the wall opposite the entrance, got what I needed and headed for the small buses to come home. We had all just crammed on when it stopped and the driver was arrested!!!!!
Still every cloud has a silver lining the next bus had a little t.v which showed some old goals from Theirry Henry and Berkamp heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rains have finally come, it rained early on today and again this afternoon, that is such good news here.
Must go, need to get some things in for Mamma Tunza orphanage, I am going to their Sunday worship tomorrow. After that I will give out some fresh pineapple juice with food, followed by giving out of clothes that I have sorted from their store room, there will be about 80 children there. Should be lots of fun.
Hope everyone has a good weekend,
As always please excuse my terrible spelling.
Jane
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Party time
Jambo
Two of the other volunteers and I held a little party for the children at Mama Tunza. They loved every minute!!
At around lunch time we handed out snacks and treats, they were all so eager to try them but lined up and waited in good humour. We had lots of little helpers, the children don't have a thing but will happily help share things out without putting them selves first.
Then it was time for them to have their faces painted, for quickness we were just doing flowers, love hearts and patterns on their faces, then showing them in a little mirror, what fun to watch their faces light up with delight when they saw what we had done.
One of the volunteers stood on the second storey and let balloons down, there was nearly a stampede, for a minute utter chaos!!!
Just to really step things up the children were given party blowers, boy , what a noise!!!!!
Great fun for them and us.
What a day!!!!!
I hope they remember it for some time to come, I certainly will.
Love to all,
Jane
Two of the other volunteers and I held a little party for the children at Mama Tunza. They loved every minute!!
At around lunch time we handed out snacks and treats, they were all so eager to try them but lined up and waited in good humour. We had lots of little helpers, the children don't have a thing but will happily help share things out without putting them selves first.
Then it was time for them to have their faces painted, for quickness we were just doing flowers, love hearts and patterns on their faces, then showing them in a little mirror, what fun to watch their faces light up with delight when they saw what we had done.
One of the volunteers stood on the second storey and let balloons down, there was nearly a stampede, for a minute utter chaos!!!
Just to really step things up the children were given party blowers, boy , what a noise!!!!!
Great fun for them and us.
What a day!!!!!
I hope they remember it for some time to come, I certainly will.
Love to all,
Jane
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Jambo
Hi,
I have been talking to the trust literally as soon as I got here, about the possibility of funding the setting up of the first orphanage that the Fadhili group want to start up. I am so please to let you know that this has now been given the green light from the committee.!!!! Fantastic news for us and the Fadhili group.
I have been talking to James, from the Fadhili group, he is such a great guy, with an even greater sense of humour. He has been so supportive from the beginning, and will be happy with the orphanage to be called Maddison House.
Maddison will be so pleased that part of her dream is being realised, and that children will benefit so much.
Please consider supporting us on this cause, as we need to continue our support to the orphanage and the children who will have this fantastic place to live. I cannot upload photos till I get back but will do so as soon as possible upon my return.
Ken will you please go into my e mails and delete all the rubbish that is piling up , looking forward to getting an e mail from you!!!!
Love and best wishes to all
Jane
I have been talking to the trust literally as soon as I got here, about the possibility of funding the setting up of the first orphanage that the Fadhili group want to start up. I am so please to let you know that this has now been given the green light from the committee.!!!! Fantastic news for us and the Fadhili group.
I have been talking to James, from the Fadhili group, he is such a great guy, with an even greater sense of humour. He has been so supportive from the beginning, and will be happy with the orphanage to be called Maddison House.
Maddison will be so pleased that part of her dream is being realised, and that children will benefit so much.
Please consider supporting us on this cause, as we need to continue our support to the orphanage and the children who will have this fantastic place to live. I cannot upload photos till I get back but will do so as soon as possible upon my return.
Ken will you please go into my e mails and delete all the rubbish that is piling up , looking forward to getting an e mail from you!!!!
Love and best wishes to all
Jane
Monday, 23 March 2009
HI ya
Jambo,
Hi everyone, hope all are well.
Sorry not been on for a couple of days. WE have had some power cuts here so unable to get online.
We are having problems with water due to the draught, people here are praying for rain!! So no showers or flushing loos back at the host house.
Took it easy over the weekend, chilled down a little. I have not had a panic attack recently so I am settling in to it. I hate being couped up at night!!! In doors about 6.30 till next day is no fun!!! Decided Friday to get some Doctor Smirnoff in along with his good friend nurse coke that did the trick. Had to hide it though not sure the host family will be ok with it. They just think I have some coke in my mug.
Wend to the Massai market on Saturday, what fun. YOu have to barter there and they feel insulted if you dont, well me and my friends went for it. SO funy it got very heated at times as both parties fought for their 'deal' then every one fell about laughing once we had agreed a bargain. Asked a Massai lady if I could take her picture, had to be careful as illegal to take pictures in Nairobi. She posed for me and said her name is Jane I cracked up, I came all this way to meet a tribal lady with same name as me!!!! Nairobi is lovely, lots of trees and bushes around lovely shades of green.
It gets very hot here but everyone is in the best of spirits so polite and kind especially if you greet them in their language they love and and laugh and the way we speak their language with our accent.
Walking home last night after spending all day with my friend NIcky, a lmonkey suddlenly appeared at the side of me, managed to get a photo. Not sure what type he was but he was big!!!
Wend to the pictures yesterday to see Gran Tourino, sorry Matt I never go I know cause I normally cant stick inside cinemas but it was a great release to sit down and chill out with air conditioning!!! Luxury!!! Great film by the way.
When i went into the orphanage I was told off cause I not go in Friday ( had a project to do) they told me they had missed me, that felt so good.
The children are starting to get to know me , they are all such pleasure. I am sure they are teaching me more than I am them.
A teacher asked me to take P.E today, as usual I worried I could not to it as well as I might. IT turned out to be just a singing as we went round and round in circles and playing tug of war, I showed them a quick clapping game just so I could get my breath back!!!
Tomorrow the other volunteers are giving the children a party dinner, party food , face painting, games etc should be fun!!! They will love it.
The teachers love to talk to me at their break times and want to know all about England they said they can understand me better the the American's , I said thats cause they kind of sing as they speak, they fell about laughing.
Bet you guys think we do nothing but laugh, well we have a got time, but the people here suffer so much sometimes not eating for days. The teachers sometimes fall asleep they had not been paid for weeks,
If any of you guys from Coke are looking in, Coke is every where, even in the Slum sells for around 20p. Burn is here also sells at about a pound. In the slum is a building that has been sponsored by Coke, cant take a picture as not safe to do so in the slum. People do not like it they think we are looking down on them, they say they are not a circus. Fair enough. People do not like having there photo taken, I even had to pay the Massai lady for her photo.
Well must go .
Sorry about any mis- spelling cant wait to do spellcheck as this has taken 50 mins to do. Internet is SO slow here.
Bye for now
Jane
IN t
Hi everyone, hope all are well.
Sorry not been on for a couple of days. WE have had some power cuts here so unable to get online.
We are having problems with water due to the draught, people here are praying for rain!! So no showers or flushing loos back at the host house.
Took it easy over the weekend, chilled down a little. I have not had a panic attack recently so I am settling in to it. I hate being couped up at night!!! In doors about 6.30 till next day is no fun!!! Decided Friday to get some Doctor Smirnoff in along with his good friend nurse coke that did the trick. Had to hide it though not sure the host family will be ok with it. They just think I have some coke in my mug.
Wend to the Massai market on Saturday, what fun. YOu have to barter there and they feel insulted if you dont, well me and my friends went for it. SO funy it got very heated at times as both parties fought for their 'deal' then every one fell about laughing once we had agreed a bargain. Asked a Massai lady if I could take her picture, had to be careful as illegal to take pictures in Nairobi. She posed for me and said her name is Jane I cracked up, I came all this way to meet a tribal lady with same name as me!!!! Nairobi is lovely, lots of trees and bushes around lovely shades of green.
It gets very hot here but everyone is in the best of spirits so polite and kind especially if you greet them in their language they love and and laugh and the way we speak their language with our accent.
Walking home last night after spending all day with my friend NIcky, a lmonkey suddlenly appeared at the side of me, managed to get a photo. Not sure what type he was but he was big!!!
Wend to the pictures yesterday to see Gran Tourino, sorry Matt I never go I know cause I normally cant stick inside cinemas but it was a great release to sit down and chill out with air conditioning!!! Luxury!!! Great film by the way.
When i went into the orphanage I was told off cause I not go in Friday ( had a project to do) they told me they had missed me, that felt so good.
The children are starting to get to know me , they are all such pleasure. I am sure they are teaching me more than I am them.
A teacher asked me to take P.E today, as usual I worried I could not to it as well as I might. IT turned out to be just a singing as we went round and round in circles and playing tug of war, I showed them a quick clapping game just so I could get my breath back!!!
Tomorrow the other volunteers are giving the children a party dinner, party food , face painting, games etc should be fun!!! They will love it.
The teachers love to talk to me at their break times and want to know all about England they said they can understand me better the the American's , I said thats cause they kind of sing as they speak, they fell about laughing.
Bet you guys think we do nothing but laugh, well we have a got time, but the people here suffer so much sometimes not eating for days. The teachers sometimes fall asleep they had not been paid for weeks,
If any of you guys from Coke are looking in, Coke is every where, even in the Slum sells for around 20p. Burn is here also sells at about a pound. In the slum is a building that has been sponsored by Coke, cant take a picture as not safe to do so in the slum. People do not like it they think we are looking down on them, they say they are not a circus. Fair enough. People do not like having there photo taken, I even had to pay the Massai lady for her photo.
Well must go .
Sorry about any mis- spelling cant wait to do spellcheck as this has taken 50 mins to do. Internet is SO slow here.
Bye for now
Jane
IN t
Friday, 20 March 2009
Me again
Jambo!
HI Every one
Today I have been to visit the house that the Fadhilli group, th support group here, want to open as their very first orphanage , let me tell you guys it will be state of the art to what i have seen. There is a school nearby so all the children who live at the new place can attend this school. I also had time to visit the school. Fantastic place, teachers are very keen to teach the children from the orphanage. I had a little cry as it was so emotional!!!!
This going to be so short as it is my turn to cook and i am late back from the visit, no not my fault this time, Kenya time!!!!
Will try to do a longer one tomorrow.
Bye for now!!!!
HI Every one
Today I have been to visit the house that the Fadhilli group, th support group here, want to open as their very first orphanage , let me tell you guys it will be state of the art to what i have seen. There is a school nearby so all the children who live at the new place can attend this school. I also had time to visit the school. Fantastic place, teachers are very keen to teach the children from the orphanage. I had a little cry as it was so emotional!!!!
This going to be so short as it is my turn to cook and i am late back from the visit, no not my fault this time, Kenya time!!!!
Will try to do a longer one tomorrow.
Bye for now!!!!
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
THE KENYAN TRIP
WOW !!! This morning I left the hose house and headed to the orphanage with two other volunteers who have been here some time.
This was to be my first time in the slum, boy is it dirty!! There are huts that are so small but whole families live in them. THere are lots of shops but again not big just tin shacks, the huts sell food, clothing and have hairdressers also sell drinks , beer and soft drinks. Matt you will smile Coke still get in here they have there trade signs every where.
The orphanage is filthy!! The children are crammed in to two dorms. There are class rooms these are about 6ft by 4ft no windows if you shut the door you cannot see!!! IN one classroom I asked where the teacher was they said they did not have one so me being me took the class. They had science books todays lesson was to be body parts so we did it , at the end we sang hands shoulders knees and toes. The children are about 7.
Had to laugh because as I marked there work one little girl gave me to mark some home work she had done, but she had wrote in Swahili had to laugh can hardly spell in my mother tongue!!!!
THe lesson was great fun I think they got out of it what they needed but i figure that it was better than no one to teach them. About 3 of the children could not speak English , one little girl helped me over come that.
I have a project to do so that a previous volunteer can get a website up for the orphanage to get sponsorship for the children. I have to visit the schools here to get the prices of courses, uniform equipment travel etc.,
There may be a first page that has already been loaded, please try to see if you can see it as it may tell you more about the orphanage. In case I forgot to tell you the place is called Mamma Tunza . www.mamatunza.com.
I hope everyone back home is well.
Love to Matt and Ken. Matt I miss you so much !!!!
Take care all
Kwaheri (Goodbye)
Jane x
This was to be my first time in the slum, boy is it dirty!! There are huts that are so small but whole families live in them. THere are lots of shops but again not big just tin shacks, the huts sell food, clothing and have hairdressers also sell drinks , beer and soft drinks. Matt you will smile Coke still get in here they have there trade signs every where.
The orphanage is filthy!! The children are crammed in to two dorms. There are class rooms these are about 6ft by 4ft no windows if you shut the door you cannot see!!! IN one classroom I asked where the teacher was they said they did not have one so me being me took the class. They had science books todays lesson was to be body parts so we did it , at the end we sang hands shoulders knees and toes. The children are about 7.
Had to laugh because as I marked there work one little girl gave me to mark some home work she had done, but she had wrote in Swahili had to laugh can hardly spell in my mother tongue!!!!
THe lesson was great fun I think they got out of it what they needed but i figure that it was better than no one to teach them. About 3 of the children could not speak English , one little girl helped me over come that.
I have a project to do so that a previous volunteer can get a website up for the orphanage to get sponsorship for the children. I have to visit the schools here to get the prices of courses, uniform equipment travel etc.,
There may be a first page that has already been loaded, please try to see if you can see it as it may tell you more about the orphanage. In case I forgot to tell you the place is called Mamma Tunza . www.mamatunza.com.
I hope everyone back home is well.
Love to Matt and Ken. Matt I miss you so much !!!!
Take care all
Kwaheri (Goodbye)
Jane x
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Kenya
Monday 16th March
Jambo ( HELLO)
TOday all the new volunteers met with the Fadhilli Workers, these are the people who run the project along side IVHQ.
I have been allocated to the Mama Tunza orphanage which is found in the largest slum called Kibera ( you can find KIbera on google earth and google pictures). Everyone lives in small huts, the slum houses 1.5 million people.
I am now staying somewhere different to the first 2 days of my stay. I am with about 7 other people who are mostly American, there are only about 4 English people on the whole project.
I am still trying to adjust, had very little sleep, did not sleep on the plane Friday had 3 hours sleep Saturday and about the same on Sunday.
You must excuse me if this blog is not very eloquent, but it takes ages to get on and costs a bomb!!! Even trying to write from notes is hard 'cause the keys stick. Still Hakuna matata, which means no worry . It is a genuine saying that is used a lot. IN case your in the dark, it means No Problems!!!!
So tomorrow I will start at the orphanage which is a little scary as it is held up on stilts, ( i hate heights) the children sleep in lice infected beds and the loos I understand are a sight to see!! or rather smell!!!
Will try again to do this soon
Love to all
Jane xxx
Asante sana (Thanks a lot)
Kwaheri (Goodbye)
Jambo ( HELLO)
TOday all the new volunteers met with the Fadhilli Workers, these are the people who run the project along side IVHQ.
I have been allocated to the Mama Tunza orphanage which is found in the largest slum called Kibera ( you can find KIbera on google earth and google pictures). Everyone lives in small huts, the slum houses 1.5 million people.
I am now staying somewhere different to the first 2 days of my stay. I am with about 7 other people who are mostly American, there are only about 4 English people on the whole project.
I am still trying to adjust, had very little sleep, did not sleep on the plane Friday had 3 hours sleep Saturday and about the same on Sunday.
You must excuse me if this blog is not very eloquent, but it takes ages to get on and costs a bomb!!! Even trying to write from notes is hard 'cause the keys stick. Still Hakuna matata, which means no worry . It is a genuine saying that is used a lot. IN case your in the dark, it means No Problems!!!!
So tomorrow I will start at the orphanage which is a little scary as it is held up on stilts, ( i hate heights) the children sleep in lice infected beds and the loos I understand are a sight to see!! or rather smell!!!
Will try again to do this soon
Love to all
Jane xxx
Asante sana (Thanks a lot)
Kwaheri (Goodbye)
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Hi Every one Jambo!!!!!!
Here I am in Kenya, Good flight . Had a long but great day. Arrived at 5.30 UK time, then on to a host house where i will be for two days then taken to the place I will actually be staying. We went to see a house that the group (IVHQ) want to open as a orphanage. Long journey there and back and quite hot!!! Going back to Racheal our host for the evening meal now.
Internet access is so slow here it took me 15 mins to get to start this blog.
Gotta go others are waiting for me .
Love to all
Jane xxxxxx
Here I am in Kenya, Good flight . Had a long but great day. Arrived at 5.30 UK time, then on to a host house where i will be for two days then taken to the place I will actually be staying. We went to see a house that the group (IVHQ) want to open as a orphanage. Long journey there and back and quite hot!!! Going back to Racheal our host for the evening meal now.
Internet access is so slow here it took me 15 mins to get to start this blog.
Gotta go others are waiting for me .
Love to all
Jane xxxxxx
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Hi Everyone
Sorry its been a long time.
The ball was a great success we raised over £3,000 over 100 people attended. From the funds we sent a barrel of much needed goods, toys and clothes to Zimbabwe. Paid for a trip for children from wards E38/E39 of Q M C University Hospital in Nottingham to see High School Musical on Ice, in February. Committed to spend £1,000 on some new art work for the Malcolm Sargeant House in Ayr (clic sargeant ) as it was felt that Maddison was very artistic and would appreciate this, and that the House was being reburbished.
Although Maddison was only 10 years old she had planned out her life, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She said that during her 'gap' year she would go to Africa and work in an orphanage, in her words " if i could clean the children up a little maybe people would adopt them". So in tribute to her I will leave England on March 13th to work for three weeks as a volunteer in an orphanage in Kenya. It seems fitting also that the day I go will be Red Nose Day something that was also close to her heart, she loved the fundraising and the fun of the day.
I hope to do a blog whilst there so long as I can get access to the internet, so people can get a feel of the experience.
Maddie this is for you!!!
Love and best wishes to everyone reading this.
Thank you to all who support the Trust.
Love Jane Maddies Mum
Sorry its been a long time.
The ball was a great success we raised over £3,000 over 100 people attended. From the funds we sent a barrel of much needed goods, toys and clothes to Zimbabwe. Paid for a trip for children from wards E38/E39 of Q M C University Hospital in Nottingham to see High School Musical on Ice, in February. Committed to spend £1,000 on some new art work for the Malcolm Sargeant House in Ayr (clic sargeant ) as it was felt that Maddison was very artistic and would appreciate this, and that the House was being reburbished.
Although Maddison was only 10 years old she had planned out her life, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She said that during her 'gap' year she would go to Africa and work in an orphanage, in her words " if i could clean the children up a little maybe people would adopt them". So in tribute to her I will leave England on March 13th to work for three weeks as a volunteer in an orphanage in Kenya. It seems fitting also that the day I go will be Red Nose Day something that was also close to her heart, she loved the fundraising and the fun of the day.
I hope to do a blog whilst there so long as I can get access to the internet, so people can get a feel of the experience.
Maddie this is for you!!!
Love and best wishes to everyone reading this.
Thank you to all who support the Trust.
Love Jane Maddies Mum
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