First weeks in Shianda

Two eventful weeks have passed in Shianda village and it is crazy how fast we adapt to new environments and situations. Less than a month ago I was snowboarding with friends in the mountains of Norway, now I shop mangos that have fully matured out in the blazing sun and melts in the mouth.

Though us volunteers draw a lot attention walking the streets in town, it feels safe living here and people always greets you with a ‘hello, how are you’. When I am fast enough I use the Swahilian phrase ‘jambo, habari’ to which you get the answer ‘mzuri’ and a surprised face. Like in most other places, the locals here gets excited when they hear you trying to learn their language. They get so excited that they also want you to learn luhya, which is their tribe language and something I am saving to learn for the future when I feel more secure with my Swahili skills :)

Views from morning jog

The market preparing for rain

When I arrived to Shianda, there were already two volunteers here: Emma and Mohammed. Together with the director Esther from the hosting organization WEFOCO, they made me feel warmly welcomed. Us volunteers now live together in a big house with a big garden, waiting for a fourth volunteer to arrive in less than a week!

Our green pathway to the house

Home office

Work wise I am still in the observation period. The goal is to understand the situation, before brainstorming activities that can be arranged with the women groups. Two farmers visits have already been carried out and more visits are planned for the whole of February. The farmers are friendly and happy to show what they are doing so I am excited to work more with them! A difficulty, on the other hand, have been adapting to the work pace. For example, I am used to start meetings at agreed time, but here you for sure will wait at least one hour for people to drop in. Lets see how long it takes before I also embrace the no-stress-mentality!

The everyday life in Shianda is getting more and more pleasant for every day and I especially appreciate the good friendships with the other volunteers. Our discussions and reflections over the situation are helpful in the process of getting settled here. Together we figure out the social codes to follow, how to get around in the village and meals to cook with limited sources. Last mentioned is well taken care of: the food in our kithen is enriched with cuisines from all over the world thanks to our different nationalities and experiences. Also the local food is very enjoyable! 

Lunch at local restaurant

Cooking bananabread on gas stove

I look forward to getting to know the place better, working more with the women groups and seeing more of the Kenyan culture! 

Museum- visit 

Hike to Mumias

Bye Bye Shianda...

 The last few weeks have literally flown by, especially as Eugenie and I were caught up in organizing the event against gender violence in the market area.

Successful event, during which with theater and music performances  were addressed gbv topics, women's land rights and what to do in cases of gbv violence

 

By now it is time for me to go home as well. What can I say about these months?

It is difficult to put into words all the emotions I am feeling these last days in Shianda.

I am sad at the idea of leaving, scared at the idea of coming back. Honestly, I wish I could have stayed longer, because right at the moment when I really felt at home, the time has come.

I didn't always feel this way, the beginning was riddled with ups and downs, and anxiety due to being in a new place with new people, and especially in the first period it was hard not to feel lonely.

But that is part of the experience; over time I began to feel part of the community and and to consider Shianda my home. In all of this, the support and presence of my companions has been important.

What I would like to suggest is to come here with an open mind, try to live and laugh at every new experience, to not be scared, not to be afraid of stand for yourself , and to trust people because there is beauty in the world but sometimes it is not immediate and it takes time to be able to discover it.

I leave Shianda happy with this experience and the people I met!

This is it...

Mostly with sadness I realize that I have to leave Kenya soon. More and more I find myself thinking that I will miss certain things here, even walking down the street or buying ground nuts from my favourite lady by the gas station. Buy fresh fruit at 8 in the morning after walking home from the gym...

Time has gone too quickly, and I am not ready to leave. 

During this short period of time, I have grown- grown to appreciate and acknowledge more the privileges I have, grown to love this little place called Shianda, grown to appreciate little comforts. I have become more open-minded but also learned to stand up for myself more. I have learned to ask for help and recognize better when I need time off. I have met incredible people who I will have a deep connection and friendship for the rest of my life!

 

During my deployment I managed to work on different projects. I spent some time working in Shianda health centre, I gave trainings to young mothers about breastfeeding, safe environment for child, infant nutrition, recognizing a sick child. I trained community health extension workers as first aid trainers, so they would have the skills to train others. They also assisted me in my biggest project- training 300 community health volunteers (CHVs) in basic first aid. I organised a fundraiser to get the means to do this project, to offer tea, lunch and training materials for the participants. I trained about 300 CHV in 14 days in 12 different dispenseries and health centres. It was a very consuming project, but every day during my trainings I saw the interest and need for knowledge. The determination and dedication to learn. I am very proud of this project and truly believe it is of great value to the beneficiaries. 

 

Overall, I have loved my deployment here in Kenya. Not every moment has been easy, there has been setbacks, frustrations, stress, sadness, anger, annoyance. But there have also been incredible moments, successes, a lot-a a lot of laughter, deep connections and friendships. It has been an extraordinary journey which I will appreciate for the rest of my life!

All of my 14 amazing groups, who I trained in basic first aid!

Enjoy your place!

The advice I want to give to those who will come here in the coming years or to anyone who finds themselves living a life experience in a completely different context from the one they consider "home", is:

  ENJOY!!

Face every day with extreme curiosity, let yourself be carried away by events, by people, take new paths every day, ask questions, experiment.

Take as many walks as possible and get lost in the trees and houses.

Try your hand at experiences never done before.

Experience the local culture first-hand.

Taste new foods, let yourself be attracted by the scents.

Be ready to change and evolve.

Enjoy it and you will be forever grateful.

Shianda for me was all this.

Go out at any time of the day to buy something fresh to eat, 

stopping at the corner, on the main street or in the large market 

and chat with the ladies of the stalls.

Waking up in the morning to go spend an hour with my friends

and the "Shianda guys" in the gym above the office

and there fill up with smiles to face the day.

Walking for a 10-minute walk and returning home 3 hours later, 

because the landscape was getting more and more beautiful and new,

and it was impossible to stop.

Spend 5 hours sitting on a plastic chair, 

alternating moments of play with children, 

and laughter with passers-by, 

to have the famous braids.

See truckloads of sugar cane pass by 

and children run after them to get some. 

And many, many, many, many others..that I wish you all.

Facing everyday life in the village was an extremely beautiful and full of life experience.

Time flies

In the past two months time has flown by, and it is amazing to think that it is now only a short time before I return home. It is in the last month that I started to feel at home, because in any case adjusting to a new place, habits and people takes time. Especially the first month, because of the election everything was at a standstill, I experienced some ups and downs, had some anxious moments, and wondered if it was the right choice for me to come here. The answer is yes

Support group with young mothers

With Eugenie, a counseling volunteer, and the help of Hanna, a volunteer in the health area, we started meeting with a group of young mothers. At the first meeting we tried to understand their main needs. Most of them requested support for their children and for school fees, which unfortunately we have no possibility to grant. Hanna, however, managed to organize a three-day training on breastfeeding and child care. Meanwhile, Eugenie and I have started four support groups in different areas of Shianda. The groups meet every Sunday for about an hour each. To date we have talked about puberty, menstrual cycle and contraception. The girls are very shy, do not feel confident enough to speak in English and feel intimidated by the presence of two unknown adults, so there is a secret-box at each meeting where they can ask questions on any topic. The main goal is to create a bond between the girls and a safe environment where they can be free to express themselves. Hopefully the groups will continue to meet after we leave. Crucial will be Patrick, my mentor and active community member, who will help the young mothers meet. He is already involved in organizing the support groups every week and also trainings in the schools.

Bumini and Ebubere trainings

We organized trainings in two schools on reproductive health, consent, and how to recognize a healthy relationship from one that is not. Two students from each class participated and will then be responsible for disseminating the information they receive. Each class will be left with materials to help them talk about the topics.

GBV Ambassadors 

As soon as I arrived in Shianda, I attended Eugenie's counselling training, and from that moment our 

collaboration. At the end of September we organized a two-day training on different points of view, approach towards victims and listening.

I personally dealt with the approach to cases of violence that puts the victim at the center. I prepared two case studies: in one the victim was refusing help and in the other the victim had behaviors that were not accepted by the community (drinking, wearing short clothes). In both cases I focused on a non-judgmental approach, the importance of listening and respecting the victim's time. The goal is to always put the victim at the center and let them choose.

We are also working together to organize the November 12 public event on the topic of gender-based violence. For this reason, on October 24 we organized the first workshop where we decided on the topics to be addressed and their dissemination through posters and flyers.