We have finally returned from Kenya, and we must say that our trip was more than we could ever have imagined. We know you must be anxious to hear about the Goat Project and see pictures. Unfortunately things didn't work out as we had hoped, but we feel you will be pleased with the final outcome and with all the lives that your generosity has touched.
As you may know, we went into this Fund Raising with the blessing of our Earthwatch Project Principal Investigator, Linus Gatimu. Linus had contacted the local Community Program Manager, Paul Leringato, to arrange the details months ago. He requested that Paul research what kinds of goats were needed, where to get them, and who should receive them. Unfortunately, due to Paul's schedule, not much was done before we arrived, and none of the details were in place, despite assurances from Paul to Linus that things were progressing. Linus had been keeping Paul up to date on the number of goats that we could purchase, but Paul was away when we arrived and did not return until Tuesday, the 18th.
When Paul finally arrived to talk to us, he informed us of community projects already in place: a water tank project for the women of Chuma (a local village in an extremely dry area that had been suffering through drought for the past 6 years), and a dairy goat project which the women had identified as something that would help them with their income-producing activities, which are at this time next to nil. But the problem they had was that they could not go ahead with the goat project until they had completed installing the water tanks.
Members of the Chuma Women's Self-Help Community:
JF, JH
We will be posting pictures on the website in the next week or so, as soon as we sort through the thousands we took (one of us also has many negatives to process!!). Our experience with these causes were the capstone of our experience in the field studying black rhinos and their habitat. Thanks to Linus and Earthwatch and the staff at the Sweetwaters Research Center, this was an unbelievable experience, and one that we would heartily recommend to anyone. It was quite a rewarding and eye-opening experience, and we only wish you could have all been there.
We thank everyone for their generous donations and hope we have conveyed to you the need and appreciation of the recipients of your generosity.
Asante sana! (thank you very much!), and we hope to hear from you soon.
John & Joanne
A water tank in Chuma:
These water tanks collect what little rainfall falls on the tin roofs of their houses. The water is then used for drinking and cooking. The installation of a tank at a home would mean that the women would not have to trudge over several kilometers to gather water from the polluted river that runs near the town. The residents contribute 100 Kenya shillings (about $1.40) per month until they have enough to purchase a tank (which costs about $160). As of now, about half of the 250 households have been supplied with a tank.
The river running through Chuma: A Local farmhouse:
The riverside is covered with cattle tracks, and the area around each farm is nearly stripped bare of forage for the local livestock. The dairy goat was tethered out back, and fed maize stalks and some forage that the farmer himself gathers.
We then met with the Director of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and his Cattle Manager. They were responsible for helping these nearby villagers facilitate their projects and attend to their community needs. They informed us that the goats that we had hoped to purchase for $25 each (for breeding and selling) must have been the ones used in the project upon which we based our own fund. However, the dairy goats that these village women needed were located to the north and cost about $125 each. These large male dairy goats would be used to breed with the local female goats, producing a stronger stock that delivered more milk and more kids. They discouraged any other goats on the basis that the area around the ranch, where the villagers lived, was overgrazed to the point that many of the animals were starving. And they felt if we were intent on contributing to the community, it should be based on the villagers' needs. These issues were never raised before we met them, and we wondered why Paul had not said anything to Linus prior to this. Also, because of the lateness of our meeting (it was now Sunday, the 23rd) we could not possibly arrange for the purchase and distribution of ANY goats before we left.
The Director and the Cattle Manager proposed that if we wanted to contribute to a dairy goat fund, we could give the Conservancy the money and they would deposit it in their account. When the time came to begin the dairy goat project (a year or more from now, it would seem), they would notify us in writing of the purchases. This just did not seem satisfactory for many reasons.
So we had to make a choice within 48 hours. Either we could leave the money behind and hope for the best.
Or we could bring the money back home and give it back, which we felt would be the most disappointing alternative. Or we could find a suitable replacement cause (or causes) to support and hope that everyone back home would approve and be happy with the placement of their generous donations. So we made a decision based on what everyone had hoped to do, which was to help needy single mothers and children.
We had previously visited a women's self-help cooperative, Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers. The co-op is made of single mothers who are trying to support their families through the production of beautiful woolen rugs, shawls, handbags, jewelry and such. We toured their facilities and saw first-hand the antiquated hand looms and equipment and methods, and we were very impressed by the initiative that these women exhibited. We also visited the onsite school for their children (another aim of their co-op) and were completely won over by what they were doing.
They were previously buying wool from Nakuru sheepherders, about 100 kilometers away, and were competing unsuccessfully with larger woolen companies for the limited supply of wool. They had acquired 12 sheep (plus one lamb that was recently born to them) for their own wool production, but they really needed about 50-100 to be self-sufficient. Their grounds could never support so many grazing sheep, so they hoped to purchase land that was well-watered and locate their sheep on this land for grazing. We thought this women's group could greatly benefit from your support.
The flock of 12 sheep behind the Spinners & Weavers shop:
We also visited an orphanage, the Nanyuki Children's Home. Visiting an orphanage in a third world country is quite a sobering experience. The orphanage has about 100 children from infants to teens. They have a nursery, a preschool, a playground, a small garden, and a roof over the children's heads. They have grown from about 20 children bedding in a 12x12 ft room, to adding on and limiting each room to about 6-10 children, with some larger dorm rooms bedding about 30-40 children. What they needed were donations in order to achieve their goals of educating, feeding, and raising these needy children. We met some of the kids and have many pictures to show you, and some personal stories of a few of the children to share.
Also, on a note of good faith, we went with Paul to visit the community that is in need of the water tanks and dairy goats. The area is drought-stricken, the residents are poor, but the women that we met are proud of what they had so far accomplished. Some of their livestock had died in the recent drought, and this made their efforts to acquire water tanks even more immediate.
Chuma (the black water tank is next to the house on the left):
We decided we could not leave the money behind, nor could we justify bringing it back. We decided to split the money between the three causes. We hope you support our decision. We went with the hope and promise of making lives better, and we reached more people in need than we could ever have hoped to reach. We will refund money to anyone that is disappointed.
So, 44,000 Kenyan shillings went to the Chuma Water Tank project to purchase four tanks. We then donated 75,000 shillings to the Nanyuki Children's Home. And the rest of the money, 100,000 shillings, was donated to Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers for their sheep project. Linus has offered to monitor the progress of each of the groups involved and to let us know how the groups are doing.
Joanne and John pose with (left to right) our driver Stephen, and our guards Christopher and Bernard.
(Left) The first sheep purchased by Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers, named "Hope," by Brendan Sabol of Warwick, RI. Brendan chose the name Hope for its positive message, and also because it is the motto for the State of Rhode Island. Thanks, Brendan! (Photo courtesy of Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers)
Kenya, 2006
The Kenya Relief Fund.
Residents of the Nanyuki Children's Home, Pam's Boys' Wing, and interior of bunk house: JF (5)
Members of the Chuma Women's Self-Help Community:
