Me and COVID: Volunteer adventures in Kenya

Me and COVID: Volunteer adventures in Kenya

In March 2020 the pandemic was spreading around the world has all of us know, in Kenya with only 2 cases identified the government started preventive measures, closing schools, sting up a curfew time, and avoiding unnecessary travels. By then I was in Ethiopia on a trip to renew my visa (I’ve completed 6 months in Kenya and was ready for another 4). 

On my way back, because there was one covid case in Ethiopia, I had to follow self-quarantine in Shianda for 2 weeks. It is not easy to follow self-quarantine in Shianda, when you depend almost daily on market food since you don't have a fridge, but with all the support from other volunteers, I managed :) 

After one week, the number of cases raised (between 8 and 16) and Kenya decided to close the airport to all international flights. Now in 2 days' time, I had to pack my bags and go back to Portugal before there are no more flights. A lot of work pending and a feeling of sadness accompanied me as I get farther away from Kenya. 

(Last days in Shianda with the other volunteers) 

Gladly EU gave us the opportunity to work remotely, to at least finish some tasks, and support WEFOCO with the new needs: provide information to the community about covid and supply them with protective equipment. 

(Esther - on the right - distributing Covid information made during remote volunteering)

Finally, in September 2020, it was possible to return, since flights were operating frequently. On the return, everything flowed really well. Knowing the community and having clear tasks and goals in mind really allow the work to flow. I was really satisfied and noticing the impact of my actions in the capacity of the community. Training for caretakers of children with a disability was running weekly in two different schools and a manual for trainers started to become real. 

(Trainings in Rise and Shine and Precious Virginia Home)

After 2 months Covid strikes again... and now it came from being around the world ... to being inside my body. I got Corona virus! How? I don't know, the truth is that in the villages people are not so cautious, so the mask use is not implemented or when it is, they are wearing it not in the proper way. While traveling in public transport in the local communities (matatu) is also impossible to keep distance, since they still overpack the vans, despite the government advice. 

With home treatment, rest, and self-quarantine, my Covid was out of my system after 2 weeks. But the work was interrupted and we are now in January 2021 and  I'm still struggling to make things flow again. Has any volunteer in the field resilience and flexibility are a must, and this time I had to focus on what I can do?  My training were all canceled since the Min. of Education was not giving permission for me to be in the schools and then there was the Christmas break. 

Noticing the rise of covid cases in Shianda and Kakamega region, together with Esther (WEFOCO), we decided to prepare a second outreach in the communities on prevention and home treatment of COVID.  

The session has been really useful and with interesting discussions in the groups, a lot of members said that I am the first person they meet that had covid, and that some people still believe that covid is not real.  We also realized that the way their grandmas used to treat them for cold and flu is one of the best ways to treat covid symptoms at home. Some members were very surprised and proud to know that this ancestral natural medicine (eucalyptus steam breathing) can be helpful to overcome COVID.

(COVID19 Outreach in Women Groups)

The sessions are conducted in a participatory way and home treatment advice focusing on the potential of local vegetables, fruits, and plants to support on covid treatment, allowing the groups to feel more confident on what to do to prevent and if symptoms arise. We also learn about breathing and chest expansion exercises to help during recovery.  Thanks to the microfinance each participant in the session receives also vitamin  C tablets and masks. 

(Breathing and Stretching Exercices)

Has Covid decided to meet me in Shianda, I decided to use it has the advantage to build capacity in the communities.

So far so good!  

Andreia (EUAV in Shianda) 

Gender Based Violence Ambassadors: building capacities in the community

What this title tells you? I’d start sharing what I understand by capacity building.

I believe is a continuous process that promotes the capacities of local individuals/groups/communities and their abilities to take responsibilities for their own challenges and development.  

With this purpose, 9 volunteers from the local groups (6 women and 3 men), with whom WEFOCO works, have been trained on Gender Based Violence (GBV).

As a part of the capacity building strategy, after the training, the participants had a practice period in which they carried out GBV raising awareness seminars to other groups. I have attended to the seminars as an observant to offer feedback after each session, so that the ambassadors could improve their teaching and facilitating skills.

GBV Seminar

GBV Seminar

GBV Seminar

GBV Seminar

As a result, they have strengthened their knowledge and confidence to share with others and stand as GBV Ambassadors.

GBV Ambassadors

‘Thanks to this training I feel in a higher position than before. Now I know the Kenyan constitution and law, and my rights as a woman. I’m also able to teach others and even people is coming to me to ask for advice, support and solutions related to GBV issues, which I never imagined it would happen’ GBV Ambassador (woman)

'Gender Based Violence is being really a problem in our communities and internationally.  By passing short precise messages, we shall have followers and we may win the entire sub-county of Mumias East and reduce GBV to minimal’ GBV Ambassador (man)

GBV Ambassadors

With this capacity building approach the purpose was to minimize an over-reliance on outside experts as sources of knowledge, resources, and solutions to community GBV issues.

I have seen how the activity has already fostered a sense of ownership and empowerment among the participants and it has encouraged them to envision and take action on the issues.

The Ambassadors are committed to continue carrying out raising awareness activities and other GBV related services voluntarily because they have understood how serious the problem is and they have realized how every action taken can have a great impact. WEFOCO will continue supporting the Ambassadors so that they can reach their full potential and become fully independent.

GBV Ambassadors follow up meeting

 Social change on GBV is a complex issue, we still have a long way to go but every step on the path counts so we celebrate the process and how far we have come!

16 days of activism against Gender-Based-Violence

The elimination of violence against women and girls starts with me! 💪

This was the main message spread through the Public Campaign that we carried out, on 27 November, in Shianda market area and its surroundings.

Contributing to the activities organized at the sub-county, county and national level in Kenya within the 16 days of activisim, we considered appropiate to raise awareness in a market day since it brings a lot of people to the area.

The campaign started in the outside area of WEFOCO office📣 Why did organized such an activity? We opened with a brief explanation of the occasion and the day’s program. 

With Salvation Army Band playing we marched until the Deputy County Commission Offices to officially open the day, we picked up the official guests (DCC representative and OCS) and we continued with the procession to the market area.

During the march we used a mobile speaker to explain the reasons of the campaign and send key messages to the population. 

Once in the market we had two drama plays in two different locations, to attract the crowd and raise awareness about VAW. 

Drama is a great tool to communicate messages to people of all ages and backgrounds. They run to see the plays and follow us after to see more!
After, we marched to the ending point were the last drama play took place.

For closing, the different organizations who participated sent clear and concise messages and we had speeches from the officials invited, the Deputy County Commission Representative, County Security Representative and Gender Office Representative. They emphasized in the devastating consequences that violence has in the victims, families, communities and even in the country development and sent a call to each individual and his/her responsability to eliminate violence.

Thanks everyone who made possible this day! 💜💛

“Many small people in small places doing small things can change the world”. Eduardo Galeano.

Working in a Special School in Kenya!

       

It’s been three months already since I arrived in this beautiful country, time flies! 

The main focus of my deployment here would be to build capacity in the local community, mainly training teachers in special schools to support children with physical disabilities.  The reality of a child with disabilities here is quite different from what I was used to seeing in Europe, and the first time I entered in Rise and Shine Special School, I could not be indifferent to the number of children moving around without a wheelchair or any assistive device… just crawling on the floor. Seeing the knees already covered with a hard skin layer because of the constant pressure contact with the grown, it was not easy I have to admit. And the first thought that came to my mind was… “There are so many issues…from where should I start?”

Children playing with the teacher in outdoor activities.

Well I started from the beginning, with a lot of observation and multiple conversations with the teachers and staff, understanding their needs, motivation, and attitudes. We discussed, planned together actions to improve the classroom and dorm management providing to the children opportunities to change the positioning, to eliminate cases of children seating on the concrete floor, strategies to improve hygiene, knowledge on transferences, positioning and so on.

Despite the lack of infrastructure, assistance and support these children developed ways to move, wash themselves, wash their clothes, eat…etc that a child with the same disability in Europe would not be able to develop without therapy. This made me think about a Portuguese saying “a necessidade aguça o engenho” “necessity is the mother of invention” and when there is no other option these children do create their own way with amazing strength. Being a child with disabilities here is not easy, not only because of the environment physical barriers but mainly because of the attitudes towards disability. Sometimes the discrimination comes from parents and family, sometimes they hide and feel ashamed of the child, believing the disability was caused by a curse. Others families feel that because of the disability the child will not be able to learn, and so it’s not worthy to go to school. Having large families with a lot of children,  and struggling to afford them being in school, it’s a difficult choice for parents, and the child with disabilities sometimes needs to be in a special school where the fees are even higher compared with regular schools. This puts children with disabilities in a very vulnerable situation.     

Rise and Shine despite being a school for children with physical disabilities, accommodate students with intellectual and multiple disabilities. The lack of knowledge about the proper school the child needs, the inefficiency of the referral system and the geographic location of the school creates this situation. Since this is the only special school in Shianda's area, the parents choose it based on proximity.

Being a school for children with physical disabilities it was not set up with an alternative curriculum and vocational training, the teachers adapt in the best way they know to each child's academic level, but they do see the urgent need to implement vocational skills training in the school. To inspire them and the children we decided to do a “Rise and Shine Jobs week”, a week where the children had the chance to go to the community visit different professions and learn some skills. 

During this week we also invited an adult with a physical disability to inspire the children to trust in their abilities and prepared a workshop on shoe repairing, where they had the chance to learn this art and, at the same time, repair some of their own shoes!   

The older ones will have the chance to continue mentorship in shoe repair during the school break and we are preparing a proposal to present to the education office to support the implementation of vocational training in the school.

Andreia Silva

EU AID Volunteer in Shianda, Kenya

25th November in Shianda

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a day which aims to raise awareness to prevent and eliminate violence cases. 

As we know, violence against women continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights.

For this occasion, WEFOCO worked hand in hand with New Vision, Soroptimist, People Against Poverty - PAPO, and UDPK to organize a forum to bring key stakeholders together to discuss about the issue.

The discussions went around three main topics: (1) Understanding VAW, the different forms and consequenses (2) Identifying VAW in Kenya, Kakamega County and particulary in Shianda: reality and challenges (3) Finding solutions and acting together to eliminate VAW.

 Amongst the main stakeholders invited they were the Deputy County Commission, Office County Security representative, Kakamega County Director Gender Office representative, Education and Social Services Deparment, as well as chiefs from different communities. 

Participants were very active, discussions were very fruitful and one of the main initiatives taken is to ensure that institutions and civil society work more together. Everyone also agreed that raising awareness on violence against women and gender-based violence at different levels (public places, schools, stakeholder training, etc.) is necessary to tackle the problem of violence.

We join the 16 days of activism and next Wednesday 27th we are organazing a public campaign around Shianda market place now to raise awareness among the public and share with them some of the points discussed during the forum. I will share more! :) 

Opening the forum singing and praying

Security Officer sharing about Shianda situation

Discussions

Elimination of VAW, starts with me!

Civil Society-Organizers

Täna algas viimane nädal Shiandas

Nüüd on siis rannikul käidud- Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu. Panin neid puhkuse pilte FB sse ja sain kommentaari, et jah, nüüd on tunda päris Aafrikat. Kuid mis on päris Aafrika? See tundub olevat see, mida me tuleme otsima olles lugenud raamatuid näiteks nagu Livingstone "Reisid Lõuna Aafrikas " või Hemingway "Aafrika haljad künkad ", seda Aafrikat enam pole.
Seda Aafrikat etendatakse turistidele, sest seda nad tulevad otsima.
Ja kuigi seda Aafrikat enam pole, leiad sa siit ikkagi midagi, mis on väga ürgne ja väga soe ja kodune. Maal vanaema juures...

Palju paberimajandust on vaja ära majandada :-) : kokkuvõtteid mitmes erinevad vormis ja keeles...
Kokkuvõtteks saan ütelda, et umbes 90 % kõigist mõtetest, mis pähe tulid, on ka teostatud selle poole aasta jooksul. Neist olulisemad minu jaoks olid Mondo toetusprogrammi laste ekskursioon Kisumusse, õmbluspoe remont ja sisustamine ning mangode, avokaadode ja sidrunipuude pookimisnädal. Teostamata jäi Bukura Põllumajandusinstituudi külastus Chair Ladydega, see jäi tegelikult juba Microfinants projekti algstaadiumis kõrvale, kuid vaikselt lootsin, et rahaülejääkidega saab seal siiski see nädal ära käia, kuid kuna rooter wifi jaoks officile on siiski eluliselt tähtsam hetkel, siis nii ta ongi.
Jääb selle käigu korraldamine järgmisele vabatahtlikule minu positsioonis.
Põllumajandus on selgroog nagu Salim ütleb...
Ja õige kah, kui süüa pole, siis kuidas sa ikka õpid ja edened ja kasvad ja oled jätkusuutlik :-)

 Pookimas Chenda Kalas.

Üks esimestest käikudest naistegruppidesse. Pildil koos Abrahami- mentori ja tõlgiga, kellele olen väga tänulik. Jalutuskäigud külades ja turul, kõikide teede teadja ja kõikide inimeste teadja ja Suahiili keele õpetaja. Ja väga palju naljakaid juhtumeid.

Üks on kindel, ma tulen tagasi, et vaadata kuidas läheb nendel 104-l puul.
Kui Jumal tahab, ütleksid kohalikud.

Shianda Sunday Soundtrack!

Shianda Sunday Soundtrack!

Today is Sunday and you feel it in the air! Why?

Because since around 5 a.m. the vibrant music and voices enter through the room window to wake you up with blessings!  In Kenya, every day is a good day to pray, but definitely Sunday is the most special one.

Being a predominant Cristian country (more than 80% of the population), the presence of worship places is noticed everywhere. Christianity, with Roman Catholicism, was brought by the Portuguese in the fifteen century and was spread with the missionaries’ through the 20 century. But nowadays the most common Christian church we see in Kenya is Protestant. And it can diverse from Anglican, Gospel, Presbyterian, Reformed, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal churches and even more. 

If you say you went to the church, the most common question that follows is "which one?" Personally, I totally get lost in such diversity, so I just say… “I don’t know… it was a Church” The question that follows is “And which one you go in your country” and then the answer can vary with what you feel, and how comfortable you are with the person… so sometimes I might say  "Roman Catholic",  others I just say "I don’t go to church I pray at home". :) 

    

But even if you are not religious, to have a Church experience in Shianda is quite interesting. Being raised in the Roman Catholic Church back in Portugal to experience the energy of service here was really interesting. While a Roman Catholic mess normally lasts 1h maximum, here the service can go from 5 a.m. until afternoon. This allows people to go early morning and then still go to work in the market at 8h... or go later and then open their business in the afternoon. 

Last Sunday I was invited by a friend to attend a Pentecostal Service with his family, and it was an amazing experience.  The joy, the energy that is spread by singing, dancing praying out loud, the verbal expression of gratefulness, the feeling of hope that emanates through all the persons, the strength of their faith and how they vibrate in the service is super powerful, I had goosebumps!

When you vibrate your religion in this manner, for sure it will reflect in all aspects of life. 

Here God is present everywhere… in the Matatus (minibus) is quite common to see religious citations and in the hotels/guesthouses you find a bible or in the room or the common room. In the community, you always have prayers before you start the workshop/campaign and when you finish. Also to inspire and motivate action it’s common to say that your actions will be paid by Gods will, and if you perform well you will get consequent blessings in your life. Or to put your own wish our desire in God’s hands through your prayers. 

In schools, Christianity is part of the curriculum and it’s common to see teachers (especially women) reading the bible in the break time.    

Something I found super funny last Sunday was to see people during the church service looking at their phone and swiping up and down. In Roman Catholic Church in Portugal this would be considered quite disrespectful, but here is totally fine since your simply checking your E-bible! J When the service was finished, we went home for lunch, we talked… and guess what? Watched Cristian TV music channels until evening! Because this is the…

Shianda Sunday soundtrack!  

(Two different churches in Shianda)

(Florence and her kids going to Church "looking smart" = with nice clothes)

(Pentecostal Church Service - prayings wishing children good luck for the primary school exams)  

(Sunday with Daniel and his family after the service)