Tie-Dyed Carport (posted by Elizabeth)

Yesterday, our group gathered under St. Anna’s carport to begin the first step in tie-dying prep for Saturday’s seminar. Yes, we came to Kenya with enough dye to color the 120 GIS t-shirts we brought in tow. It turns out that tie-dye works on carport concrete just about as well as it does on white cotton t-shirts. After our librarian/chemist (we affectionately call her Ahh-Dell) began her water and powdered dye brew, we knew we were in for some serious coloration. The morning work took a bit longer in clean-up than it did in preparation, but we left St. Anna’s with perhaps only a hint of turquoise on her concrete floor. So, we are officially one step closer to Saturday’s GIS extravaganza.

In the afternoon, after a quick jaunt to the market or two or three, we visited Archbishop Okoth Ojolla Girls’ Secondary School. We met with the principal and then had a brief moment to introduce our group to the 9 Umoja scholars living and studying at the school. We were very impressed by the boarding school, and were excited to hear about the girls’ daily and weekly routines. It is our hope that someone from Umoja may begin to visit these girls on their “visitation day,” which comes around each month. As orphans and vulnerable girls, they often do not receive visitors on that day, which we feel must be difficult for them.

Later that afternoon, we traveled back to St. George’s Sianda Primary School to meet with some of the female guardians from the many different Umoja schools. They shared with us about their concerns for the girl child. Much of what they said echoed what we have been hearing … that the girl child is often overworked and underappreciated, that many relatives or guardians do not see the benefit in educating her, and that she is often forced to turn toward men (many times, bad men) for economic support. We also discussed the information allowing girls more rights in the new constitution, and like in many other places, some of the women seemed aware, while many seemed uncertain about what the new bill of rights means for them. The women also differed in their understanding on the girls’ reproductive health education. The women were passionate and truly opened up to us. We are so appreciative of their trust and desire. They hope that the day’s meeting may be the beginning of a regular gathering for the guardians to discuss such issues.

In the evening, we met Umoja supporters Tom and Philip (Dave Berry: Philip says hi!) at a Chinese/Thai restaurant for dinner. Plenty of food was eaten by all. It was the UN of dinners, Americans and Kenyans gathering around a Chinese/Thai table. A great close to a good day.

The Girl Child (posted by Suzanne)

Over the last few days, we have been trying to gain a better understanding of the challenges specifically faced by the girl child in the Umoja Project. We've talked to guardians, teachers, school leaders, primary school students, secondary schools students, women's groups and congregational leaders and visited schools, churches and homes. The challenges emerge out of cultural, systemic, legal, developmental and physical issues. They are all interwoven into a complex fabric that can seem overwhelming and heartbreaking.

In a conversation with Joseph, the Umoja Project Country Director, in my first days here, I asked him what his greatest lesson learned so far has been. He said that it is is easy to look at these big problems and think that they will only be solved by big solutions and that scares many people away. But really, big problems are made up of many small challenges and each person can do something to help meet the small challenges and in doing so, we will start to tackle the big problems. The Umoja Project is already helping address the issues that the girl child faces by providing sanitary towels, schools uniforms and school fees to help her stay in school and working with guardians and community groups to create a stronger support structure around the orphans and vulnerable girls. We will be helping the Kenyan women put on a workshop on Saturday as an opportunity for the girls to have fun and build self-esteem.

We have learned much about the immense challenges that keep the girl child from reaching her full potential to be a healthy, smart and productive woman. We will continue to work with our Kenyan partners to build relationship and partnerships that reduce the challenges a bit more each day so that our Umoja girls have every chance to grow into strong Umoja women that will be role models for the future girl children in their communities.

A Note from Ann

Hello to all! We are all finally sleeping well under the mosquito netting---kinda different. Yesterday we visited one of the Nat. parks on the shore of Lake Victoria and took a boat to an island. the boat was wooden, about 25 ft. long and abut 3 ft deep. We hiked a very long path up hill through beautiful long grasses to the crest. we saw a herd of Impala's running across the grasses. Afternoon visit to our first school was a real eye opener. Just like the pioneer village replica with wooden benches. Supplies were not apparent. children were very curious and giggled when they saw us. All in uniforms which were torn and repaired. Teachers told us stories of how their culture devalued girl children and did not think they were worthy of educating. Umoja is giving scholarships to children so they can go on to secondary. School lunches were so primitively prepared, but without this they would not eat at all. Today we will go to two more schools. Love to all---bananas are delicious!

Monkeys, Impalas, and Kitchen Stoves (posted by Elizabeth)

Hello from the Kenyan travelers!

Our Monday began with a 7:30 a.m. van ride to Ndere Island National Park, "The Island of Serenity and Beauty" - a subtitle coined by their free brochure. The van ride, like any Kenyan mode of transportation, was a jostling but entertaining experience. We saw much of the countryside on our route, and loved getting photos of the rocky terrain. (Seriously, the rock formations are fantastic!) Ndere Island is located in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria. We took a little boat ride over to the island (our boat driver/island guide told us that the same boat was used to take 11 bulls to slaughter yesterday. That boat can handle a lot of weight. I was relieved to hear that my extra slice of bacon at breakfast wouldn't sink us.). We hiked through the bush and into the grass, crested a lovely hill or two, and scoped monkeys and impalas in the distance. Apparently, there were also hippo and crocodiles, though I have seen no photographic evidence to date. In our number were Adele, Ann, Suzanne, Ellen, Elizabeth (me), Bernard (our faithful driver), Leah (the Umoja Project Assistant), Linda (Umoja Project Deputy), and Leonard (a primary school teacher). We had a wonderful time, and I even came away with a v-neck tan.

This afternoon, we met with female teachers representing 13 different primary and secondary Umoja schools. We gathered at St. George's Sianga Primary School, where the Umoja Project has recently donated a stove for the use of the school lunch program. We saw where the guardians and teachers helped feed the children. We also briefly met the guardians of children in the school (guardians are those adults who take care of vulnerable children who have lost all adult family members who could care for them). Our meeting with the teachers went very well. They shared very openly about the issues and problems surrounding the girl child. These women are amazing. They teach and oversee a number of classes, and some serve as link teachers for the Umoja Project. The stories and concerns they shared reveal a great deal of care and concern for the young girls and boys in their schools. We are grateful for their time today and for their gifted work every day. We hope our conversations may lead to further conversations and ideas down the road.

Our evening closed with dinner back at the boarding house dining room table. We are all a little sleepy, but looking forward to what tomorrow and the next days will bring.

The Sisters finally meet one another!

The Global Interfaith Sisters -- 19 Kenyans and 6 Americans -- met this afternoon at Mirunda HTCA Church. Although for most of us it was a first meeting, it felt like a joyful reunion after our many Skype sessions together.


Grace Abayo holding her watercolor print created by Sarah Brouwer.

Hello to all my family! (posted by Ann Rose)

Havin saw warthogs, giraffe and baby elephants. Visited the home and coffee plantation where out of Africa was filmed. I am taking many pictures to share with you when I return. Lake Victoria is beautiful from the air and will see it closer today. Meeting lots of young people and enjoying seeing their culture. Love to you all!
-Ann

Indiana sisters have arrived!

After many months of planning, our Indiana delegation of the Global Interfaith Sisters (GIS) has arrived in Kisumu. We are:

Adele Hoskin (St. Luke's United Methodist)
Alice Brown (North United Methodist Church)
Ann Rose (Second Presbyterian)
Elizabeth Howell (Second Presbyterian)
Ellen Daniels-Howell (Global Interfaith Partnership)
Suzanne Anthony (North United Methodist Church)

Today we will be worshiping at the Anglican Church of Kenya's cathedral church for the Kisumu Diocese, where one of our Kenyan sisters, Reverend Mary Onginjo, is a priest. This afternoon we will meet the rest of the Chulaimbo members of GIS. We are excited for our day!