It's World Refugee Day!

It's World Refugee Day: Help us product children! Please spread the word to help raise awareness.

The crisis is real = 30M children have fled their homes due to violence, war, and persecution. From Syria to Nigeria, children are escaping deadly conditions, and they need our help. For these children, their escape from violence is just the beginning of a lifelong journey. Help us protect, nourish and care of child refugees, and provide them with medical care through my project serving Kenya, Africa.

To contribute, visit https://www.gofundme.com/medicalcentrekenya

The little things

"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up" - John Holmes

Pictured is Nicodemus Ontii, a student and volunteer who purchases bread when he is able for the children of Inua Mimi Rescue Center in Kibera (known as the largest slums of Africa).

Sending a kind message

You've seen the faces of child refugees on the news, who run from danger, violence and hopelessness. Children who were placed or grew up in camps as there are no other options. They deserve more!

What would you say to them if you could reach out? Your kind words and message of support gives them hope. I'm happy to pass that along. 

Every child deserves a childhood, an uplifting message from a caring person, and resources for survival.

A little goes a long way

Happy Red Nose Day, world! For those who don't know, Red Hose Day is run by Comic Relief Inc. in the U.S -- an organization that has a vision of a just world, free from poverty and the mission to drive positive change through the power of entertainment. It’s amazing how a little money can make huge changes to people’s lives! 

Thanks to all for your generous donations this week. I'm so privileged to be a part of this mission. #CareForKenya

Update on the recent riots in Kenya

Two days ago, I saw a video of an innocent man making his way home after an interview to work as an Uber taxi driver get violently assaulted by riot police. Officers were seen viciously beating and kicking him, after he had fallen to the ground, was unresponsive, with his head slumped against a curb. The man - who appeared to have been trying to escape before being grounded, was later reported to have died.

I also read that 33 students were expelled from the University of Nairobi for leading violent protests that led to the indefinite closure of the institution. 

That's when I read that demonstrators had gathered outside the offices of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, demanding its dissolution. Some threw stones at police, and the protesters were chased by officers wielding clubs as tear gas was fired. 

I was terrified to hear about this, as this rings close to home for those who live at the refugee camp I worked at. This violence (and root cause) is exactly what forced people out of their homes, leaving them traumatized and displaced. I've since connected with my dear Kenyan friends, who have confirmed that the riots have stopped.

The British Government has been supporting the Kenyan Police Force to promote reform, strengthen accountability and improve compliance with international human rights standards. The Head of the Kenyan Police has ordered an investigation into whether the police broke the law in the way they treated protesters during the opposition demonstration 5/16/16. 

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I wanted to leave you with something I found, shared by a Kenyan writer named Emmanuel Yegon: "Our political affiliations shouldn’t divide us. It doesn’t change the fact that we are Kenyans. We should appreciate and unite in our diversity. And let Kenya be what we want it to be. There is life beyond #IEBCMustGo. Kenya is greater than CORD and Jubilee. It’s time we awoke from our slumber. And learnt to live together as brothers."

My heart aches

HAPPENING NOW: The terrifying moment free speech is crushed by brutal Kenyan riot police: Demonstrators calling for election reform are rounded up and subjected to horrific violence. Police fire teargas and water cannons at the crowd, with truncheons to prevent some of the opposition demonstrators from storming the offices of the electoral commission to demand its dissolution. Many fear that these protests will escalate to violence much like the 2007 general election that again resulted in +1,200 deaths and left 5,000+ people homeless and traumatized. 

Read more here (warning: images are graphic):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3593243/The-terrifying-moment-free-speech-crushed-brutal-Kenyan-riot-police.html

These are our neighbors. This is our global community.

The largest slum in the world

Pro-peace graffiti has been daubed on a wall in Kibera slum, Nairobi, during clashes in 2007. Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

I've spent some time in Kibera, and wanted to share some facts and data to help bring awareness of living conditions in the largest slums of Africa.

There are approximatly 2.5 million slum dwellers in about 200 settlements in Nairobi representing 60% of the Nairobi population and occupying just 6% of the land. Kibera houses about 250,000 of these people. Kibera is the biggest slum in Africa and one of the biggest in the world.

Land Ownership
The Government owns all the land. 10% of people are shack owners and many of these people own many other shacks and let them out to tenants. The remaining 90% of residents are tenants with no rights.

Housing
The average size of shack in this area is 12ft x 12ft built with mud walls, a corrugated tin roof with a dirt or concrete floor. The cost is about KES 700 per Month (£6). These shacks often house up to 8 or more with many sleeping on the floor.

The population
The original settlers were the Nubian people from the Kenyan/Sudanese border – they now occupy about 15% of Kibera, are mostly Muslim and are also mostly shack owners. The other shack owners are mostly Kikuyu (the majority tribe in Nairobi) – although in most cases they do not live there but are absentee landlords. The majority of the tenants are Luo, Luhya and some Kamba – these people are from the west of Kenya. There are many tensions in Kibera, particularly tribal tensions between the Luo & Kikuyu, but also between landlord and tenant and those with and without jobs.

Electricity
Only about 20% of Kibera has electricity. UN-Habitat is in the process of providing it to some parts of Kibera – this will include street lighting, security lighting and connection to shacks (this costs KES 900 per shack, which in most cases is not affordable).

Water
Until recently Kibera had no water and it had to be collected from the Nairobi dam. The dam water is not clean and causes typhoid and cholera. Now there are two mains water pipes into Kibera, one from the municipal council and one from the World Bank. Residents collect water at KES 3 per 20 litres.

Sewage
In most of Kibera there are no toilet facilities. One latrine (hole in the ground) is shared by up to 50 shacks. Once full, young boys are employed to empty the latrine and they take the contents to the river. UN-Habitat and a few other agencies are trying to help and improve this situation but it is painfully slow.

Medical facilities and HIV/AIDS Clinics
In Kibera there are no government clinics or hospitals. The providers are the charitable organisations: AMREF, MSF, churches plus some others. They do a great job. All people are encouraged to have a free HIV test and if positive to take free generic ARV medicine.

Changaa
This is cheap alcoholic brew. It is widely available, very strong (over 50% alcohol) and made incorrectly, so is usually very high in Methanol. The cost is only KES 10 per glass and after a couple of glasses people become very drunk. With over 50% unemployment in Kibera many start drinking early in the morning leading to problems of violence, crime, rapes etc. Several charities are trying to help by showing the Changaa makers how to make the drink less dangerous.

Drugs
Cheap drugs and glue sniffing are an increasing problem. Initially taken to alleviate boredom but then people find themselves hooked. A big challenge to the charities!

Abortion
Due to many men still not using condoms and the availability of Changaa, many girls become pregnant, at any one time about 50% of 16 to 25 yr old girls are pregnant. Most of these pregnancies are unwanted, resulting in many cases of abortion. This can be very dangerous, particularly in such a poor area as Kibera. Many charities are working on this problem.

Unemployment
Kibera is near the industrial area of Nairobi where up to 50% of the available workforce are employed (usually in fairly unskilled jobs). However, there is still an unemployment rate of 50%. This is why the training and teaching of skills is very important.

Source: http://www.kibera.org.uk/facts-info/