Time Flies

Time in Kenya is a funny thing. Weekdays go by surprising fast and weekends are at such a slow and relaxed pace that each Monday you feel like you have just returned from a relaxing sojourn. Perhaps that is why I like it here so much.

I will be spending the majority of my time with the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s program (OVC). The program provides services such as school fees, school uniforms, nutritional counseling and food assistance (started just six weeks ago), medical expenses, clothing, bedding, shelter renovations, cultivation and planting of crops on 150 acres of land, caregiver workshops, work with community leaders and other OVC basic needs. At the present time the department relies on donation (no government funding). The only other assistance that is received is from the small pilot food program.

During my time here, I will be helping with client assessment, referrals for food, doing home visits, and assisting with the school uniform ordering and distribution among other things. (In the last two days alone we have enrolled close 200 children in the OVC program while still managing to attend meetings and get a variety of other things accomplished). One of the most exciting projects while I am here will be working with 8 girls who are total orphans (meaning they have lost both of their parents). I am creating a creative expression group that will meet once a week start June 2nd and continue throughout the remaining of my time here. Two of the CHW’s have helped me identify the girls who range between 15-20 years of age.

I hear that they are excited about the idea – but I also think they will arrive very quiet, and reserve at the first meeting not know what to expect from the Mzungu. My hope is that through involvement in the group the girls will be able to recognize and reflect on their strengths and concerns as well as build self-esteem. The girls will be doing some journaling – which I am anticipating will not come easy for most. Creative writing and expression is not something taught in the schools here. In addition, I will be giving each girl a digital camera to use during the length of the program and will be teaching them how to take pictures. Each week I will upload their pictures and use them to promote critical dialogue through group discussions about personal and community issues reflected in their images.

On Monday afternoon I had an opportunity to learn about the community mobilization program.
They provide mobile testing, HIV community awareness campaigns, work place trainings, workshops for community leaders, school outreach for education and testing (students 15 years or older can be tested if the wish) and prison outreach. It sounds like they have a great portfolio of interactive programs for all ages that get people excited and involved in learning about the prevention and treatment of HIV as well as encourage testing. I am excited that I have been invited to attend a community awareness program with them next week to see the program in action.

To give you an example of how fast things move, the community turnout for their programs in July 06 was 2,966 – last month alone they reached 21,648 community members. At the present time the community mobilization program alone is testing over 10,500 people a month which sounds like a lot until one learns that there are over 4 million people in the area the programs serves. The entire program has more than doubled the clients it serves since I was here two years ago. Needless to say there are some challenges when programs grow at such a quick pace but one thing is for sure, there is always work to do. No wonder the days fly by so quickly.