Opportunities

This past Monday, Madison and I went to Korogocho, the fourth largest slum in Nairobi. Our friend Purvi put us in contact with Pato (Patrick), one of the highly respected "business leaders," from Korogocho. Madison wants to partner with business leaders from various slums to create distribution networks for 100 gram jars of honey (from his company, Honey Care Africa). After a brief tour of Korogocho’s radio station, an overview of the Korogocho Slum Upgrading Programme (http://www.ksup.org/), and a walk-through of the newly constructed bio-gas public showers and bathrooms, we gathered in the community meeting room, directly above the restrooms powered by bio-gas. I was amazed how quickly Pato was able to organize a meeting with his team, including the local Councilman Steve (for political buy-in), his accounting guy, and four local potential salesmen. Madison did an excellent job presenting this business opportunity. All seemed extremely interested in this opportunity as they can make a profit on each jar (potentially 8 shillings per jar, compared to 1-2 shillings on other products) plus honey has numerous health benefits, which all were well aware of (to convert shillings into dollars you divide by 80). The men are going to work on a business plan while Madison works on a bulk rate sheet for the honey and they will reconvene in a week.

They also brought me to a local center, Light and Hope For the Disabled Children, in the heart of the slums. I was quite impressed by the center, which is only 2 years old, and they are in desperate need of a therapist – yet another sign that we are on the right path. They have a whole room set up with donated therapy equipment and therapeutic activities. Apparently they did have an occupational therapist, but no longer. There was also a small educational classroom set up and another room for younger children. They have approximately 30 children who come on a daily basis, the youngest being 4 years old, with all kinds of diagnoses (autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, microcephaly). This center is primarily run by a local mother on a volunteer basis who has a 9 y.o. with cerebral palsy. One of her main goals is to reach out to other families in Korogocho, showing them it's okay to have a child with a disability and there is a place for them to go for an education, therapy, and to socialize/learn with/from other children.

As many of you probably know, it's common for certain cultures here to believe that having a child with a disability is a result of witchcraft and/or a curse. Therefore, they rarely take their child out in public and don’t even consider having them attend school. I would say this center has been pretty darn successful in the two years since its birth as it already attracting 30+ families. So, put Light and Hope For the Disabled Children on my list of projects :) One possibility I exchanged with the founders is that I volunteer my time there a few times a month and teach the parents and teachers on functional, applicable ways to work with the children to promote their development.

I find myself definitely coming from a different place than I was while in Uganda. I have only taken my camera out 1x since being here and that was to take a picture of Sach's house. I feel if the locals of the slums, the girls centres, and poverty stricken areas are to take me seriously I can't be snapping pictures – as I am not here to look, stare, or “tour” the slums, nor am I coming from a place of pity or sympathy. I am here to be of assistance, to offer my skills and my heart in the most appropriate of ways. It is so hard for me to grasp how there are organized “slum tours” in existence. Yes, this may bring some money to the people and environment of the slums, but doesn’t it seem a bit inhumane to tour someone else’s homeland and snap pictures and video of people and their surroundings for their own self serving benefit like it’s a spectacle? Perhaps someone can shed some light on this topic for me.