Jeff Messer, Trustee for our Board of Directors, wrote this article about his Service Learning Experience in Kenya.
“How are you? How are you? How are you?”
Imagine dozens of Kenyan children shouting this chorus, their accented voices rising with inflection at the end of each phrase. For many of them, we were the only “Wazungus” (white people, literally translated “of the aimless wanderers”) they have seen in some time, if ever. They would implore us to take their pictures and then laugh and giggle as they saw their images portrayed on the 2″X3″ viewers of our cameras. This is one of many poignant memories from my last few weeks in Africa.
As soon as I returned home (a day late due to the storms in the Midwest), people began asking “how was your trip?” Honestly, I have been struggling to figure out how to summarize the experiences of the past few weeks. But let me try.
There have been many changes in Kenya since I lived there twenty years ago but in so many ways it was the same. The roads were better but the traffic was incrementally worse. Often it would take us hours to drive even a few miles in bumper to bumper jams. We marveled at how few accidents we saw given how the vehicles weaved in, out and around each other often only inches apart.
The people were still as friendly, warm and incredibly hospitable as I remembered from our time there before. Given the hardships many of them face, their grace and love often put me to shame. There is great poverty but also incredible development that is occurring. Many Kenyans still struggle to eke out a living but there also is amazing hope.
Our team had two primary purposes on this trip. The first was to meet with several of our partners, deepen our relationships and asses the impact of our past IGA (Income Generating Activity) efforts. The second was to attend the graduation of the first class of our newly launched Global Entrepreneur Academy, assess its impact and explore further development opportunities for the training courses.
Raising Chickens for Eggs is a key IGA for REHEMA
We met with several (but unfortunately not all) of our partners. Rehema Day Care is an orphanage and day care ministering to 600 kids in the Korogocho slum in Nairobi. Rehema has used grants from The 1010 Project to raise chickens and buy several computers. In the middle of a squalid slum, they now raise enough chickens to sell eggs to the community and service a contract selling “broilers” to a small local hotel. They also rent out the computers to others in the community for a small fee. The income they receive from these activities goes to pay for food for their kids. They are negotiating a contract with another hotel that will more than double their production and greatly increase their income.
A Client of LOMORO Microfinance
Lomoro is an indigenous micro lending organization operating in the Kibera slum with over 650 members. Michael Nyangi introduced us to several members that have taken loans, built their businesses, paid back the loans and are now self-sufficient. Fair Oaks School provides educational and vocational training including computer training, tailoring and other activities to children and adults in the Quarry slum of Nairobi. Humble Hearts School ministers to and educates deaf children and their siblings. Candle Light School and Safe House takes in orphans and children otherwise left without hope.
Mother's Concern Founder Immaculate (in Blue) and a Beneficiary
Mother’s Concern works with young girls who, apart from the income generating activities assistance provided, have been or would be forced into prostitution on the streets of Nairobi. Tumaini Pomoja provides income opportunities to those with HIV/AIDs.
And St. Luke’s, located up-country near Kisumu, ministers to orphans and widows from the rural area. St. Marks used grants from 1010 to build three fish ponds and a rice hulling machine. The proceeds from those projects have already enabled them to build 7 more ponds and they now receive income from renting out the rice huller to other farmers in their area.
St. Luke's Founder Joshua Atieno in front of Tilapia Ponds
I was amazed by how industrious many of our partners have been and the yields they are receiving from the small grants they have been provided.
But with all of that said, the mantra we heard continually as we spoke to partners and prospective partners alike was that they needed training. Many of the leaders of these CBOs (Community Based Organizations) are individuals with little or no business training. They have been called to the ministries they currently run and often lack the skills and basic business education needed to deal with these operations. I was constantly surprised by their ingenuity and resourcefulness given their circumstances but we heard time and time again, “if we just had training we could do so much more.” This theme was summarized by the comment of one leader: “Ours is not a poverty of resources but a poverty of information”; which brings me to our second purpose.
Graduates of The GEA
Attending the graduation of the first class of the Global Entrepreneur Academy was a highlight of the trip. Watching these leaders graduate and obtain their certificates, which was a first for several, was inspiring. We heard firsthand the difference this training would make in their lives and in the lives of those they work so hard to affect. When asked how we could improve the training, the resounding reply was “it needs to be longer…we need more”.
Members of CBO's in Western Kenya
That theme continued as we traveled up to the rural areas around Lake Victoria. There was probably no more impactful experience than the day we sat in a small rural church built from sticks, mud and manure, in front of about 80 men and women representing two community self help groups. Both had already begun their own micro-finance operations. We listened as they begged us to assist them to “drive away ignorance” with education and then provide them with resources to break the cycle of their poverty. Here were a group of women and men with the drive, ambition and desire to change their circumstance. They were not waiting on us. They had already taken steps to move beyond their situation. But they were boldly asking for the proverbial “hand up” not just a hand out. It was humbling and inspiring.
The 1010 Project is not Food for the Hungry. It is not Kiva. There are countless others making a much grander impact than our little organization. But I saw with my own eyes the difference we have made for many; some of which may not have been helped apart from our small grants and activities. And we have found a niche that is not being well served in these communities. The business training we are providing is making a difference at the grass roots level, at the point of poverty for many individuals.
Jeff with Alex, a GEA Graduate
Frankly I am overwhelmed but also encouraged. There is a mantra that is circulating around Kenya: “Trade not Aid”. Among our partners the theme we heard numerous times was: “training first, then resources.” I believe Kenyans desperately want to help themselves and have the opportunity to accomplish much. They seem ready to move to a new level but there still is tremendous need. The 1010 Project has found a unique place to serve our friends in Africa. We seem to have been uniquely positioned to provide training so as the aid comes, it will bear much more fruit. Ours has been just a drop in the bucket of a vast ocean but I saw the cycle of poverty being broken for a few, and that made me proud.
Asante Sana for being a part of this journey with me. I hope this brings you joy, hope and purpose in this season of peace. It has for me!
Jeff
