Fanny's experience in Kenya: "I could never imagine the little pieces of heart you leave behind"
During the school calendar, a routine is followed where from early in the morning until early in the afternoon the children attend school and the volunteers can Collaborate helping to do homework, correct exercises and even teach a lesson in class, in addition to designing didactic murals to hang later in their classes
Once their classes are over, there are a couple of hours of leisure that must be combined with shower time, where the volunteers ensured that all the children showered and washed their clothes and thus achieve positive hygiene habits for their health. Weekends were perfect for activities of all kinds (face painting workshops, masks, dances, murals...) as well as alternating it with going for a walk in the area.
During the summer vacations, the dynamics are different: they only go to class in the morning to do the homework that they have been assigned and the afternoon is free, where we do both leisure activities (craft workshops, painting, playing soccer, etc.) , going for a walk, etc.) as routine in their culture (collecting and shelling corn, sugar cane, etc.).
When you decide to do a solidarity trip… you go with the illusion of know another culture, interact with disadvantaged children, traveling to know the country, direct contact with customs locals, taste the gastronomic delights and the not-so-delicious foods…
Getting out of the car and setting my first foot in the orphanage, seeing the happy faces of the children from the orphanage with the interest to know things about you… I knew that I would experience something special during my stay there. And I was not wrong at all: each child is unique and special where, day by day, you become more and more fond of them, be it through complicit glances, smiles, gifts of drawings, bracelets...
As a positive contribution on my part was, start a sewing machine that they had in a storage room that allowed me to repair all the uniforms of the little ones as well as give some first very basic notions of how the machine works. The demonstrations of gratitude from the children and Tabitha, the joy with which they see their uniforms and clothes arranged, gives you immeasurable satisfaction.
The experience of the extracting water from the well was an unforgettable moment. For them it was a wish that had been awaited for years where it is reflected, in the very near future, that the problems with water week after week are going to disappear. I loved seeing those faces curious about how they get the water and the cry of glory when water starts to come out... for the first time!! . There is still a lot to be done in terms of installing the pumps and conditioning the well... but step by step the challenges are being met.
Delving into Kenyan culture is... quite an enriching adventure!! Live the experience of talking in your day to day with the members of the local project and its workers, totally open to explaining their routine customs, gastronomic specialties and even ways of thinking and seeing life.
It should be noted how receptive they are to listen and put into practice possible improvements proposed by the volunteers. They always make you feel like one of their big family, offering you everything they can to make you feel comfortable. In addition, I had the opportunity to follow the corn harvesting process where, in the endless afternoons of corn shelling, you integrate into their songs that you end up singing with them and even... you learn vocabulary in Swahili!!!
I was also very lucky to meet some wonderful volunteers: Clara, Iñigo, Ana and Fran... we make a great team what perturbs usIt allowed us to organize many activities (parties, craft activities, clothing donation, sharing of responsibilities...) and to coordinate with the local project (Julius and Tabitha) to make a day to day different, fun and at the same time instilling values in all the children. .
What I could never imagine about this volunteering are the little pieces of heart that you leave inside each and every one of the children who do not want to see you leave, who ask you to stay with them forever or even to make room for them in your suitcase to come with you...
These bitter goodbyes undoubtedly make you stronger and it is clear that after trips like these… No one can ever be the same again!»
Fanny, Solidarity trip in orphanage and school in Kenya, August 2015
Unknown
Congratulations Fannie!! You have endearingly described your stay and experiences in Kenya and just as this experience "no one can be the same again" has marked you very positively, this reading has not left me indifferent. I think it is very important that you volunteers publicize your trips to raise awareness in our Western society, which is often sleepy in the consumer society. Thanks for your post, Avelina.
Tumaini Travels
Thanks Aveline for your comment.
We are glad you liked Fanny's post. We share with you the importance of disclosing the experience when you return because it is one of the best ways to work on awareness 🙂