Esimene kuu Keenias, Shiandas

Olen Ester Väljaots, 02.05.1963.a.
Minu missioon Shiandas: EU vabatahtlik ettevõtluskonsultant maapiirkonna naiste kooperatiivide (~ 20) ja blokkide (4) jätkusuutlikkuse tagamiseks.
Missiooni kestus: 25.05.19-20.11.19
Jõudsime Shiandasse koos teise vabatahtliku Julie Escoffieriga 26.05 õhtul kui oli juba pime. Päeva pikkus on siin, ekvaatoril umbes 12 tundi. Päike tõuseb 6.39 ja loojub 18.48.
Praegu on vihmaperiood, see tähendab, et hommikud on selged ja õhtuti sajab.
Temperatuur päeval 24-26 kraadi, öösel 16 kraadi.
Pool tundi enne päikeseloojangut hakkavad malaariasääsed lendama ja seetõttu on vajalik võtta iga päev ennetuseks malaariarohtu. Ravimil on palju võimalikke kõrvalmõjusid, meie Juliaga tunnetame tavalisest suuremat väsimust, kuid see võib tuleneda ka kõrgest õhuniiskusest (85-90 % keskmislt) kombinatsioonis 26 kraadise õhutemperatuuri ning igapäevase äikeseelse ilmastikuga.
Malaaria on siin küllalti laialt levinud ja kohalikud on sageli haiged. Kohalik ravi on siin kiire ning tõhus ja meedikud kompetentsed tavapäraste haiguste ravimisel.

See pudelike oli üks esimesi ostusid. 150 ml vahend vee puhastamiseks. Üks korgitäis lisatakse 20 liitri vee kohta, segatakse ja lastakse seista 20 minutit ning vesi on joogiks kõlbulik.
Vee puhastamine on oluline.
Niipalju sissejuhatuseks :-)
Esimene nädal möödus WEFOKO treeningu tähe all. WEFOKO on MONDO partnerorganisatsioon Keenias, Shiandas:  https://wefoco.org/
Treeningud sisaldasid muu hulgas ka meie tutvustamist kohalikele võtmeisikutele ja organisatsioonidele (kool, politsei, haigla, orbudekodu ja osad naiste kooperatiivid)

Pildil WEFOKO direktor Esther meie sissejuhatava treeningu viimasel päeval kui tegime nädalast tööplaani. Esther on WEFOKO rajaja.

Pildil on Abraham, meie mentor, kellega meil on ette nähtud kord nädalas üks tund aega arutada töö ja kohanemisega seotud teemasid.

Pildil Abraham, Julie, Esther ja mina Ester :-) sissejuhataval treeningnädalal.

Pildil Chenda Kala kooperatiivis koos Hannaga, varasema vabatahtlikuga, kes juhendas seal toiduvalmistamist uue retsepti järgi. Kohalik toit on ugali, mis koosneb maisijahust ja veest ning seetõttu jäävad vajalikud toitained sageli saamata. Alatoitlusest on ohustatud vaesemate inimeste lapsed ning orvud.
Peale meie esimese treeningnädala lõppu järgneki meie vaatlusperiood varasemate vabatahlike juures. vaatlusperiood on oluline, et saada kurssi tehtud töödega ja võtta üle pooleliolevad teemad ning kohustused. See on üks osa jätkusuutlikkuse tagamisest.
Seetõttu kattuvad ka vabatahtlike missiooniajad osaliselt. Korraga on praegu Shiandas 5 MONDO vabatahtlikku.

Pildil Marta kommunikatsioonitreening Wichelu, Esukura, Emusirasire, Bumin cooperatiividele. Marta tegi ühtlasi ka hindamise ja kokkuvõtte, tema hakkab varsti koju sõitma.

 Siin on üks tüüpiline selle piirkonna jõgesid. Vool on väga kiire ja vee värvus tuleneb pinnase punakaskollasest toonist. Jões on ka väikesed kalad, umbes väikese sõrme suurused, keda püütakse ja kuivatatakse, nad on turul müügil. Praegu kalu ei püüta, on keeluaeg.
Meie esimese kuu sisse mahtus ka Nairobi külastamine, sest pidime pikendama viisasid ja Estheri Eesti külastus seoses uue eu projektiga. 
Minu Suahiili keele õppimine edeneb visalt, sest siin on ka Luja keel käibel ja muidugi kõnelevad müüjad enamasti Inglise keelt küllalt hästi. Nairobis rääkisid kõik kellega suhelda tuli korralikku Inglise keelt.
Ostsin Kakamegast (üks lähimaid asulaid) Inglise-Suahiili sõnaraamatu ja Nairobist päris lootusrikast olekut tekitava "Simplified Swahili", Peter M. Wilson
Eile tegin juulikuu tööplaani valmis ja ootan juba võimalust oma supervisiooni ning coachingu meetodeid kasutama hakata. 
Lootusrikkalt,
Ester

145 days on the field.

It's these moments when the neighbour tells you that she doesn’t like it when it rains at night because then you can’t hear when someone is crying for help. These moments remind you again, that you are living in a rural area of Kenya, where the key word is insecurity. I’ve been safe and I feel safe, sadly, this is not the situation for locals.

Violence - domestic violence, gender based violence are problematic topics here. There is still tabu and stigma around it,  still myths and traditions around it, which makes it a difficult topic to tackle. During the trainings on women empowerment we discuss these topics and the ways to protect oneself. I always encourage reporting to police. Unfortunately, to some women, this is not an option because of the fear of not being helped but instead chased away from home.

I have noticed, how in one county, just a few kilometres apart the opinions, behaviours, beliefs and customs can differ. For example, mothers and fathers teaching their children about adolescence or talking about sexuality and ways to protect themselves can be obvious in one area and unheard of in another. Religion appoints a lot in family values. In schools, absence of sex is promoted. Hence, the problem of early pregnancy. I have heard different opinions regarding to this. Some families of course support their child and the continuation of studies. In these cases, child is normally transferred to another school after giving birth, to make the integration back to school more supportive. Other times, when the father of the child is not supporting the mother, which normally is the case, and the family is too poor to take care of the school fees and the newborn, drop outs happen. Even when the daughters family tries to convince the boys family to help them, they are usually left empty handed and boy claims that there is no proof. 

I get asked for help a lot - asking for money; assistance; building a house; fixing something; a friend, marriage, a ticket to Europe or a sponsor from Europe who could support. I understand, how being in need and how living in such uncertainty makes us desperate. Still, I explain, that this is not how it works and that everyone has to work for their own well-being and try to come out of the situation. At this moment, we are both sad because both of us know that “getting out of this situation” is difficult in this context and sometimes seems impossible. This is why being here and trying to make a difference in mind-sets and empowering communities is so important.

Living in such insecurities - trust; work; help; health; authority; even relationship related can make you hopeless but somehow, everyone carries on. We finish the difficult topics and the next moment we joke about something and laugh and enjoy what the host has cooked. Needless to say - the guests can’t leave with an empty stomach!

Stories behind the smiling faces

My 5 months in Kenya have been full of lessons for lifetime, heartwarming moments and exciting experiences. I get to do what I love the most - work with people, especially with kids. 

One of my projects that actually awakes the most conflicting emotions is the opportunity to carry out health assessments and provide treatment opportunities to children supported by Mondo’s Brilliant Fund. There are moments when I hear the stories of the kids and they bring a big smile on my face and warmth to my heart, but there are also moments the stories create a lot  of frustration.

Mondo started supporting the primary school children in Kenya since 2010. and today there are more than 150 kids in primary school who get to access education thanks to that help. 

The program doesn’t only emphasize education for all boys and girls, but it also supports child health and nutrition and the protection of children from violence and exploitation. 

Interacting with these children has challenged me in so many ways. Of course there are practical hurdles I’ve had to cross - such as connecting with them without a proper understanding of their language and using the help of a translator, but then there are those challenges that cut deeper, yet build higher. These are the challenges of understanding their stories, sympathizing and finding the right words to say. How do you console a child whose father is imprisoned for life, who’s mother died and who lives with an HIV-positive grandmother whose health is getting worse and worse everyday. How do you console a 12-year-old who’s biggest dream is to become a lawyer, but has never had money to walk through the school doors? What are the words that you can possibly say to make them feel better, yet won’t give them too high hopes, hopes that you can’t help them reach? These are the challenges that once overcome, will leave a mark to be carried with for a lifetime. 

Working with those students and seeing how fast they’ve had to grow up, difficulties they’ve had to face, the work they have to do and how heavy the rucksack of responsibility they have to carry on their backs are, makes me understand the importance of giving children the opportunity of being children. It reminds me the meaning of the word childhood. They have taught me so much about being brave and building a castle up from nothing. And in the end of each day, no matter how emotional, buzy or chaotic, my heart is filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to be here, gratitude for being able to actually do such a rewarding work and interact with those beautiful souls.