We have so far had twenty four hours of proper rainy season in Nairobi. Hooray!
For the past few months I have been mindful of trying to limit the amount of dust my car kicks up for pedestrians, now it's all about avoiding those puddles. This morning it was wellies, umbrellas, raincoats and mud....everywhere.
Tell tale flying ants were flying out of our lawn, which indicates that we didn't get all of those termite nests. Gr! On the upside, a pair of Turaco's, a Hadada and the dogs were all enjoying a tasty snack at breakfast time this morning.
I am mindful of not making this too much of a charity website, but have been listening to Kiss FM (again!) and a guy from Habitat for Humanity has been on the show. They are raising money to build houses for those internally displaced Kenyans living in tents since the disputed election two years ago! The situation has become critical since the Government have recently ordered the closure of all remaining camps and the flimsy tents are being destroyed.
The Habitat for Humanity guy says they need donations. (For people in Kenya, they have an Mpesa Number, 0723 957685). He stressed that at little goes a long way. Their website is http://www.hfhkenya.or.ke/
1,000/- would buy you the heavy gauge wire mesh for all the windows on the house
3,000/- would buy you the 3 doors
14,000/- would be enough for the mbati (corrugated iron) for a roof
x3 truck loads of sand would build you a house.
Caroline Mutoko gave 20,000/- and crowed 'I've just bought a roof and three doors - what are you going to do?'
One house costs 200,000/- to build. International School of Kenya raised and donated 500,000. Corporate business have also donated funds and have joined in with physically building the houses as well. - that would be quite a bonding session!
I carry guilt about Habitat for Humanity. When I first moved to Tanzania in 1999, I met a very enthusiastic American lady called Debra. I said I was bored and lonely and she asked if I would go upcountry with her for three days and take part in a 'house build' in some remote place. I agonised, then wimped out. I never went which was embarrassingly. Strangely enough I still have her business card somewhere, though I never really did see her again. Couldn't bring myself to throw it away.
The diary of a British expat living in Kenya. News, views, debate and a healthy dose of trivia.
hellew...
ReplyDeletemaybe this is your chance to do something that you didnt get in 1999!
It would make a big difference in people's lives...
p.s great blog! :)
Thank you for the weather update.
ReplyDeleteWe always used to say Nairobi short rains to start on October 15th (long rains in Meru/Embu) and new moon coming up so it may continue for a day or two.
Hopefully not too destructive!
Tim
I just read that all the money that had been earlier donated by individuals and organization, plus what the government set aside for IDPS has disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI am kenyan but I am sorry, there are some really, really horrible people in positions of responsibility in that country.You have to have a heart of stone, if after seeing what these IDPS' lives have been reduced to, to embezzle cash meant for them.
How sure is anyone that the money being donated now won't be stolen again. Our country is just sick!
I agree with the comment above that sometimes you have to be wary about donating to the big funds, especially those related to the government. Much better to donate to small NGOs who will be very happy to show you their work and where the money is spent.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI hope you’ll excuse a comment on a more general matter than this specific post?
I think your blog’s really interesting and well written and I’ve got a suggestion that I’d like to present. Would be very grateful if you could contact me on the mail address below.
Thanks!
Best regards,
Oskar
TheWorldLog.org
theworldlog.org@gmail.com
So glad the rains have started at last. Hope El Nino isn't going to be too destructive this time round though.
ReplyDelete