News

All good things must come to an end!

As I write this it's 10.20am in Kenya. In just over 12 hrs I will be flying home. I have had such a great trip. Seeing my friends in Kitale, Nakuru, Nairobi, spending time relaxing in Mombasa, seeing the children in Kitale has been amazing.

I know I will be back for trip number 7. I don't know when I'm coming back but I will be back. I'm excited at the thought of how to move Heart of Hope forward. In particular the idea of running trips for people having gap years or just people who want to volunteer I think is a real opportunity of growth.

Today I'm packing. I don't just have a 8 hour plane journey but also a 4 and a half hour train back to Cornwall. I'm dreading the cold weather but hope to one day be able to buy a one way ticket to kenya and return once I've ran out of money!!

Thank you for reading these blogs. If you'd like more information about heart of hope then email me at pete@heartofhope.org.uk

Thanks for reading. Am going to grab some breakfast before starting my packing!!

Pete

RIP Milka

Yesterday was a day of high's and low's. I went into town looking for some gifts for people and had a laugh with the man in shop who was trying to rip me off. For two items he was asking for 92 pounds!! I got them for 34 pounds, a saving on 58 pounds. I paid slightly over what a kenyan would but being white you'd never pay the same as a kenyan would.

I then had lunch with a friend of mine called Vanessa who I've known since 2005. I then visited my friend Steve which was tough. His wife recently passed away and he is finding things tough. It was good to see him but sad to see him in such a state. I left with my emotions drained and went to Fred's house for dinner. Fred is a great guy, without him my trips would not happen.

Pete

I don't want to leave!!

As I write this I'm aware that my time in Kenya is coming to an end. I have had such a great time and the thought of returning to work and a country which is freezing cold doesn't fill me with great excitement!! It will be good to see my family and friends and drive on roads which aren't bumpy but it is the people of kenya (my friends and kenyan family) who I will miss the most.

On Saturday I spent the day relaxing and visited a lady who had a very cute 6 month old baby girl. On Sunday I went to church before going to watch a football match in Nairobi. On Monday I worked! I worked as a waiter for my friend who owns a restaurant in town. The kenyans loved it, they were laughing to see a white waiter serve them sodas and wipe down tables.

Today I visited Mount Angel school which is where I worked back in 2005 during my 1st trip. Thwn I went swimming with the Mbaabu's which was great fun. I had a great time and caught the sun. We are now heading out to town for dinner.

Pete

Back in nairobi

Greetings from Nairobi. It's nearly 1am here so I'd better be short or this message won't make any sense at all. Yesterday we headed to Nakuru, met Fran, was really good to see her. We then met Charles (my kenyan Dad as I call him). He took us to the site where he is working with Africa Venture gap year volunteers. Was really good to see him and spend quality time talking to him and the AV volunteers. Fran then collected us and we headed to her house for dinner.

Today we got up at 6.30am and went for a walk around Lake Elementiata, it's a beautiful place. We caught a shuttle to Nairobi with another 2 white people so the Europeans actually out numbered the kenyans 4 to 2!! After doing a bit of shopping in Nairobi we headed to my kenyan families house. Then at 8pm we left for the airport as Andy was flying home tonight.

I have now have 6 days to relax and see friends. Am no longer talking at church on Sunday due to a communication error.

I'm now well tired so I'm off to bed! Sorry that this message is short and lacking detail!!

Pete

Saying goodbye is tough

I'm sat in Kitale cyber cafe for the last time. Today we head to Nakuru to see my friend Fran before heading to Nairobi tomorrow. I've loved my time in Kitale. Seeing the kids and old friends. Yesterday was a tough day. Saying goodbye to the kids at both projects was tough. Charles, the manager at the rescue centre said some really nice words. He said how us being there made the children feel loved, appreciated and respected. He also said that us playing with them breaks down a lot of perceptions which kenyans have about white people - very true words.

After leaving Birunda we went to Liyavo and said bye there. Some of the kids there I have known for 5 yrs and some will be moving onto secondary school soon so yesterday was a real goodbye to them. Some of the kids were crying and I struggled to keep a straight face as I know I will miss them all.

I'm not sure whether I'm going to have access to the internet back in Nairobi. For the rest of my trip I'll be seeing friends, having fun and relaxing. Andy leaves on Friday night, I fly on the 11th.

Thanks for reading my news. If you'd like to see some pictures I'll post some on the website or my facebook page asap.

Thanks for reading

Pete

Happy & Sad

Hello Folks, hope you are ok? Yesterday we visited Birunda again and gave out toys, stationery and games. The kids were clapping as we were taking the bits out of bags with big grins across their faces. After a few pics they played with them and had fun. To those who donated toys, games and stationery a big thank you. To those who gave money we bought footballs, skipping ropes, tennis balls and more with that money, thank you to you too.

After eating lunch at Birunda we went again to Liyavo. Again we just had fun being with and playing with the kids there. We also gave them some footballs which they loved. On another note, ten goats are now grazing around Liyavo. At christmas time Heart of Hope ran a buy a goat gift idea with each goat costing 25 pounds. Yesterday the ten arrived. The plan is for the goats to give milk, have baby goats, use the manure for building and eventually be used for meat when the time is right. I think in the future Heart of Hope could look into other ideas such as being able to buy chickens, mosquito nets and a course of malaria tablets etc. Child sponsorship remains an area we'd like to push forward. With only 40 children needing sponsors I think it is definitely a goal we can reach. If you can please please sponsor a child at 20 pounds a month.

The sad part of yesterday was the slum. I've been in several times but the reality of how people live (or suffer might be more approperiate). One man from the slum died 3 days of TB. In the slum there are 360 families all sharing 4 toilets. The school there has 4 classes under 1 roof, the only material available to the teachers being a blackboard. There are some positives there such as running water and a women's group who sell jewellry to make money but it is still very much a place in need.

Last night I had dinner with the Africa Venture group. Was good to chat to people who are the same age that I was when I was first in Kenya. It has got me thinking about gap year students and the massive potential it has.

Today is our last day in Kitale. Saying goodbye to the children at the 2 projects will be tough. I don't know when I'm going to be over again or if I will see many of the older ones or the ones at the rescue centre (Birunda) again. I guess I'll have to start my plans for trip number 7 soon.

Surprise surprise, they loved the toys

As I thought the toys, games and stationery went down a treat. Thank you to everyone who either donated something or gave money for us to buy other bits for the children. After taking a few pics and saying a few words they were let loose with the toys and had loads of fun with them. NPYT's aim is to give every child their basic human rights, especially the right to be a child. To me that involves having fun and is one of the main reasons why we bring toys etc over.

A group from Africa Venture (AV) were there too. It was great for them to see the project, see what we do and play with the kids. Some of the AV girls painted the older girls nails whereas others just played and taught them games.

Today we go to Birunda and do the same there.

Pete

I love these kids

Yesterday afternoon, on the way to Liyavo the long term project we saw Linda. I hve known her since 2005. She left the project last yr as she had finished school. We stopped the car, got out and ran towards each other. We forgot the kenyan way of shaking hands and just hugged. She did the same to Mike too. Linda and all the others at the projects are not just children, they are more than that. To me they are like family. Seeing Linda was great and it made me realise how much I care for all the children at the projects.

Linda came with us to Liyavo where she saw her old fiends. We pplayed with the kids again and had fun before taking Linda back to her home. Her story and being at her home was tough. Her parents died when she was young and her uncle stole the families possession and moved into their house kicking them out. She now lives just down from that house. We saw the graves of her parents and I wondered how tough life must have been for her. It was though great to know that sh is ok and doing well.

Today we are just going to Liyavo giving out the toys, gams and stationery. I'm positive they will love it.

Pete  

Twice in two days!!

Hello again. Hope you are ok? Only a short update today. Yesterday we returned to both projects but for Andy this was his first time at them. He enjoyed it and the kids enjoyed playing and getting to know him. Yesterday we took one lady who was high on glue to see the nurse at Liyavo as she has had been hit by a motorbike. The nurse was unable to know whether it was broken but the lady is too poor to afford an xray. I doubt we will hear anymore about it. We also learnt that just 1 mile from the Birunda project is an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomitting. 3 people have died!! It's crazy to think that people die from this.

Today we have visited Birunda, had lunch and are now going to Liyavo. We have brought a few more toys which we are going to give out now on Sunday and Monday.

Catch you soon

Thanks for reading

Pete

Sorry its been a while

Hi Folks. Hope you are all ok? Sorry that it was over a week ago since I last wrote, the internet was down in Nairobi so I couldn't access the internet let alone update this page.

So much to tell you. As you know last friday we caught the coach to Nairobi. I stayed the night at Fred's house. Fred is like an uncle to me. He helps me organise my trips and is a really great friend. We had to be up early on Saturday (4.30am) in order to make sure we were at the airport on time as my friend arrived then. Well, we arrived early to find out that Andy's (my friend who is over in kenya for 2 weeks) flight was delayed!! Anyway, after picking him up we headed to the national park, an amazing place. We saw a lion, hippos, buffalo and a lot of the other smaller animals which aren't so exciting!! When seeing the hippos an armed guard walked with us to the river as apparently buffalo were around that area hence all the buffalo poo!! Well, after seeing the hippos we see a bush move around 15 ft from where we are to see a crocadile run into the river!! To think a wild croc had been so close to us and we never saw it!! There by the grace of God go I springs to mind. After the national park we visited Nairobi animal orphanage. Those these animals are not wild it was still great to see cheetahs, a leopard, lions, a buffalo and others. In the afternoon we headed to my Kenyan families house (the Mbaabu's) to relax.

On sunday we were up early (3.30am)! We were going to Mombasa as we had hired a cottage right on the beach. After the 8 hr journey the car refused tro start as we tried to drive off the ferry which we found out later was due to a low battery. Anyway Andy and I got out the car and with the help of a few of Mombasa's drunks we pushed the car off the ferry and up the slip road. The car then started again after we played with the engine for a bit though Mike (my kenyan friend who travels with me when I'm here) did spend 9 hrs that day in a garage with one of his mates trying to find out what was wrong and fixing it. We also had to pay the drunk men 20 pounds for the priveledge of them helping us, but we had no choice. Hundreads of people (no joke) were waiting for the ferry as 2 white men and the drunks pushed the car!!

The rest of the time in Mombasa was great. An amazing view, lots of snorkelling, hot, a warm sea. We saw lots of fish and star fish. Was great to relax. On Tuesday we headed back to the Mbaabus house. On Wednesday I took Andy to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where you get really close and can touch baby elephants. After that we went to the Giraffe centre where you can feed Giraffes and if you choose kiss them! We all kissed them, Andy twice, Mike three times, me 5!!! We then visited the restaurant which Mike runs in Nairobi. I'm going to work there for 1 day when its my last week. The kenyans will be shocked to see a white man speaking their language and serving them food. I served one guy and his face was a picture!!

Yesterday we were up early as we had to leave at 6am latest in order to get in Nairobi on time for our coach. We left at 6 and were actually early. The traffic in Nairobi in the morning is really a sight to see. We got on the coach and started our 8 hour journey. It was great to get into bed last night and know that we could get up later than 7am!!

Today we are visiting both projects and going through the toys/games/stationery and deciding what to give to each project. Tomorrow Birunda the rescue centre has a football match against another project called Challenge farm. Challenge farm is headed up by a really cool american woman called Cheri but we must beat her team. The brits can't lose to the Americans at football, they don't even call it football they call it soccer! On Sunday we have another match this time with Birunda playing against a team of street boys. I'm sure this will be entertaining, 11 boys high on glue playing football!! On  Monday we will give out the toys etc.

Anyway time is ticking so I'd better go. Its nearly 10am and we need to go to Birunda now. Sorry that this message is not very detailed. This keyboard is doing my head in so I'd better go before I go insane!!

Thanks for reading

Pete