Hello All,
I recently returned from three weeks in Kenya. I was able to make a short trip of 5 days to see what was happening at Chazon Children Centre in Molo. Thanks to the help of a number of volunteers from all over the world things have greatly improved since my last visit. The major improvement is access to water. You actually turn on a tap and get clean water to drink, cook with and wash your hands. This may not sound like a big deal to those of us in US or Europe but in Kenya water is scarce and precious. A long term drought has led to starvation, death and water rationing in all of Kenya even the capital of Nairobi. Water is turned on at unpredictable times and days and you had better be around to get it. Many people have to go to a local tap and fill cans with water. These “jerry cans” weigh about 40 lbs each and many women carry them on their heads for long distances. Others carry them on their back with a strap around their forehead to hold the weight. I truly do not know how they do this; they may be carrying a baby at the same time. The poor women in Kenya break my heart. Some have told me they are “beasts of burden”.
At the same time there are more and more educated women who are trying to help their sisters in Kenya. They are bright, brave and determined. I believe it is the women who will be the future of Kenya. The politicians are mostly men and often corrupt. If you have been reading the papers you know that some of them may have been responsible for precipitating the post election violence in 2007 that killed many innocent and poor people and displaced thousands of others. The orphans we care for at CCC are refugees from that violence.
But I digress; getting the back to progress at CCC and more importantly the hope that Chazon Children Centre and the directors Samwel and Lucy offer not only to the children but to the community at large and the volunteers. They do not take time to lament but work and pray very hard. Their belief that they will meet their goal to take care of all the orphans in Molo never seems to waver and is an inspiration to me and many others.
Since I was there in June the number of children served has increased from 74 to 102, and they are managing to feed them all. To be truthful I guess I was not hungry enough to eat the frequent fare of Ugali (a maze staple and Scuma (kale). For the children this and porridge for the younger ones may be all the food they get.
Thanks to the recent volunteers the children have text books, swings and a brightly painted wooden building for a kitchen. (I love the stripes!!!) The teachers and directors have a decent place to work and are able to accomplish even more.
While I was in Molo the rain came down in buckets for a good period of time. The community was ecstatic and hopefully the crops will benefit and water will not be so scarce at least for a short time. It also rained in Nairobi when I was there! I cannot take credit for this although people were sure I was blessed when many birds managed to cover me with blobs of purple gifts as I stood under a beautiful tree.
If you can spare even the smallest donation ( we are not proud $5 can buy food for a few kids) please send it. Lucy and I have an agreement that to start I will manage donations from USA You can send a check to me at 126 Ferguson Drive Hilton NY 14468 (this way there are no charges and CCC gets every penny) I then deposit it in a checking account I have opened for Lucy, she can access it with ATM card. This by the way is the cheapest way to get money to Kenya. Daniel will you please verify this for those who don't know me.
Blessings
Virginia J Duffy PhD, Psychiatric NP
WWW.PsychSense.com
