tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76071713573414968812024-03-19T03:37:07.463-07:00Empowering the Powerlesshttp://1amf.org/vision_katie_oconnell.phpKatie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-5301205456529740272009-11-27T22:26:00.001-08:002009-11-30T10:47:40.063-08:00"No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself." — Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wgFbvWZiHwpF-WAu0a3dEIAVvt9YzV6nyrrgggED22ftR3dtbjIOb_IOcLCyS_eBUVB7eI4ox-JNcWybwPOvDR_iOdLvM7De16EFL8F3W3U22susNDYD9oDRbqjn8PIvHK9Uz3lHntgh/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wgFbvWZiHwpF-WAu0a3dEIAVvt9YzV6nyrrgggED22ftR3dtbjIOb_IOcLCyS_eBUVB7eI4ox-JNcWybwPOvDR_iOdLvM7De16EFL8F3W3U22susNDYD9oDRbqjn8PIvHK9Uz3lHntgh/s320/IMG_2226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409970206620190018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNNeFDVpeo_OtKG6JunfiOL7KaaKU8WRURK8Py5jyErd7xs9M9jI_SarD1v201oP_gahuHuUkln9v5tJ3RSJ56nOu-y22Y9gED1cnwWf7gPnP4TrtNx302JMZxX_kRkTPZXH2Q2RUGkV0/s1600/IMG_8915.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWbFAzpSHA5uk0XauZ5-MrJJoH_-vJjz4gZgVdlC7OCmh9_rjW2_gEAlJa2ez4GPuPzQAWZdtTCA59HVsPZnVR6t7b9hxv7ufD9FNC_MR1VIh2xwVVkr4DukLh2BFhn-BgsOskusWDjNS/s320/IMG_9155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409938996664555218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl8gsImsb8Y_PmAvrYGfHMLBWbF0yjwvvm2E5Yvb7Bh5IJF1BhsU53w1Chh77I51rqpKekpLuaM0VH3hcMnE3MI1trIMgojryxfSg6O3QXGhXbYfu9SktVYYkOHPr-CIncvcIraFBnClT/s1600/IMG_8737.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl8gsImsb8Y_PmAvrYGfHMLBWbF0yjwvvm2E5Yvb7Bh5IJF1BhsU53w1Chh77I51rqpKekpLuaM0VH3hcMnE3MI1trIMgojryxfSg6O3QXGhXbYfu9SktVYYkOHPr-CIncvcIraFBnClT/s320/IMG_8737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409824159967059794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3CdQM1-YFr0xKKsoTJ88PRcAowGSajavo_q6IV3vCUTzPAsaLQ7YkLl1VM_USg7zg9Topn-Gqs7zpe_VYDO6QBuGo1kkAHGTyoUYFbv0f9aavVnWWA4zZwI8WqAQU-XFvqAhlaEGCTwW/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3CdQM1-YFr0xKKsoTJ88PRcAowGSajavo_q6IV3vCUTzPAsaLQ7YkLl1VM_USg7zg9Topn-Gqs7zpe_VYDO6QBuGo1kkAHGTyoUYFbv0f9aavVnWWA4zZwI8WqAQU-XFvqAhlaEGCTwW/s320/IMG_2179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409822373091402546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq6MYVRO5sZTHlizU4E7gZ4L90XDg7ld7u4AscgIWD9vVw9HsXft78bJjhkb_3n5bOjqGBnWJLUZe0WsSJ1BwQhggYrRbrMZpZsGeF5ev7lnpLbaRakNUDP2wfZGlijgojjv7L0fFpUQc/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq6MYVRO5sZTHlizU4E7gZ4L90XDg7ld7u4AscgIWD9vVw9HsXft78bJjhkb_3n5bOjqGBnWJLUZe0WsSJ1BwQhggYrRbrMZpZsGeF5ev7lnpLbaRakNUDP2wfZGlijgojjv7L0fFpUQc/s320/IMG_2165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409822368234917730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVInS5TpgPYzwqDPZt2QqK8cukiS8B6elYlIIwd6VH-jGWYrF5jAKFKfSBcJBRn8ntNi_hJwm62HipLL2OgrCLqUHqaNBcAgpWzSPabzntAd9RrPkGDW9M2FJvM46vXwmG7cLqhH-PLit/s1600/IMG_8908.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVInS5TpgPYzwqDPZt2QqK8cukiS8B6elYlIIwd6VH-jGWYrF5jAKFKfSBcJBRn8ntNi_hJwm62HipLL2OgrCLqUHqaNBcAgpWzSPabzntAd9RrPkGDW9M2FJvM46vXwmG7cLqhH-PLit/s320/IMG_8908.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409822362062052290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4-g847uikx_dlCLfGgOKCpVzMR4bQtHo9kyaE-a88q0k7_VwiA8E3oZA_oSl2xs6hn_2Fe7gLeygAPDnt49B6iJvUWFd3Gz-_n-m1VMYy_REUuxlIt6HgUqtth2i3v5oPweq2YaE8a3e/s1600/IMG_9062.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4-g847uikx_dlCLfGgOKCpVzMR4bQtHo9kyaE-a88q0k7_VwiA8E3oZA_oSl2xs6hn_2Fe7gLeygAPDnt49B6iJvUWFd3Gz-_n-m1VMYy_REUuxlIt6HgUqtth2i3v5oPweq2YaE8a3e/s320/IMG_9062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409822353597738114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWeY_U3yG9xbYgNx9LRklYfpBVzQuwKB8JB6svfBE7AQxy7SZY2Ev4_BmDXQfIH7W3PXnoHcCFoQ-kuw4_Kx1FSvVGSsmnsRtFeos1bfyJe_jpjjSrv29tLDamxmhcnN1tLPcI0_lv-7T/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWeY_U3yG9xbYgNx9LRklYfpBVzQuwKB8JB6svfBE7AQxy7SZY2Ev4_BmDXQfIH7W3PXnoHcCFoQ-kuw4_Kx1FSvVGSsmnsRtFeos1bfyJe_jpjjSrv29tLDamxmhcnN1tLPcI0_lv-7T/s320/IMG_2118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409822346575383474" /></a>A friend of mine wrote me at one point and said my emails were either written "from the lap of humility or the lap of luxury." <div><br /></div><div>Well, these final few days of my African journey are certainly the latter. </div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived at The Royal Livingstone Hotel on Saturday. It is, by far, the most spectacular place I have been to in Africa (and quite possibly the world.) I have dubbed the aesthetic "colonial African chic." It's simply gorgeous.</div><div><br /></div><div>I flew from Lusaka to Livingstone on a pitch perfect beautiful day. Because the flight was relatively short, we flew at a modestly low altitude (keep in mind, I have no idea technically if what I am saying is accurate.) The views were breathtaking. I have developed a slight fear of flying in small planes this month but, on this flight, I didn't even consider my fear. I was so preoccupied and simply in awe of the natural beauty of the lush green and tan landscape of Zambia highlighted by the crisp blue sky backdrop.</div><div><br /></div><div>We landed at the Livingstone airport that, while tiny, is clearly adept at handling the scores of tourists who visit daily. The driver who picked me up graciously agreed to help me try and find a new backpack. The zipper had broken on mine and my skills to fix it were non-existent. I asked if there was a "sports store" in town. Blank stare. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ummmm</span> that would be a "no". We went into town and "third world shopped." After popping into a few run-down general stores, I finally found a backpack. I had two incredibly random choices: an LA Kings one or a Trooper one? I chose the Trooper. (Not five minutes after purchasing it, I had already broken one of the zippers on the new Trooper. Perhaps, it's me?)</div><div><br /></div><div>When we pulled into the drive for The Royal Livingstone Hotel, I was blown away. The open air lobby, which offered endless views of the glorious Zambezi River, was stunning. This is the fourth-largest river in Africa and it eventually flows into the Indian Ocean. It also famously features Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. I was shuttled into the lounge area which looked like the bar in "Out of Africa". I was seated in a comfortable beautifully upholstered armchair and was offered a refreshing drink and a cold towel while I was checked in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, I settled in comfortably meeting my butler (you heard me) and my driver (you heard me) and was struck by how absurdly different this experience already was compared to the "lap of humility" leading up to this.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first night I went on a Sunset Drinks Cruise along the Zambezi River. The views of the sun setting over Zimbabwe were magical. I enjoyed a few glasses of red wine and for the first time since arriving in Africa, I relaxed. I remember the moment clearly. I was so cognizant of it. I took a breath and allowed the physical and emotional toll of this trip to release. It was both entirely deliberate and yet perfectly natural.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning I woke up early to go on an Elephant Back Safari ride. My wake up call was at 6 am and it was all I could do not to turn over and fall back to sleep. But for my strong desire and need for coffee, I would have never met Danny. Danny was my elephant and we hit it off immediately. Nothing awkward or tentative. He was the perfect morning companion. The highlight was perhaps the baby elephant who tagged along for the walk with us. He was born in October and was ridiculously cute. </div><div><br /></div><div>That afternoon I had my first experience with the magnificent Victoria Falls. Aston picked me up and we took the short five minute drive to the entrance of Victoria Falls. It is dry season so the Falls aren't as robust as they will be from March to August. During that time of year, you literally need to wear a raincoat and carry an umbrella because the sprays will drench you. On this day, we were able to walk along the path without any problem. Since it was one of the hotter days since I have been in Africa, we were both dripping with sweat and wishing it were March so that the sprays would relieve us. But, as Aston quickly pointed out, the views in November allow you to really see the integrity of the Falls. These views and the thunderous sounds were something I will never forget. </div><div><br /></div><div>Victoria Falls was named by the Scottish explorer David Livingstone in the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> Century in honor of his Queen. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">idigenous</span> name, which the locals still refer to as, is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mosi</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">oa</span>-Tonya ("The Smoke that Thunders").</div><div><br /></div><div>As David Livingstone, who was the first European to lay eyes on the Falls on November 16, 1855, wrote: </div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i>No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It has never been seen before by European eyes, but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The next day, I took a short boat ride to Livingstone Island. Here is where David Livingstone actually first witnessed the Falls. It was an incredible afternoon. Alex, my guide, took me literally to the edge of the Falls. I was terrified but he was a sturdy and confident companion who graciously and without question gripped my hand the entire way. To see this natural phenomenon up close and without barrier was surreal. We were standing inches away from the edge where the water was rapidly plunging down. My heart was racing with adrenaline. Thank goodness for Alex who encouraged me as I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to venture so close on my own. </div><div><br /></div><div>They served us lunch on the Island and the two glasses of white wine helped to ease my nerves. Seeing Victoria Falls from the Island was a complete rush and, once again, something I will not soon forget.</div><div><br /></div><div>These past few days I have immersed myself in the utter sanctuary that is The Royal Livingstone and its surrounding beauty. I have delighted in seeing zebras hanging out by the pool at cocktail hour and monkeys as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ubiguitous</span> as squirrels are back home. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I am also utterly struck by what P.M. Clarke noted about Victoria Falls in 1925:</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>A truly magnificent sight, and one which brings home the tremendous glory of the whole mighty work of Nature, and the comparative insignificance of Humanity.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div>While not his intention, I have felt this "insignificance of Humanity" in the extreme and staggering poverty that blankets this continent. The vulnerable children living in the Gaza Province devastated by the AIDS crisis which has left them homeless and on their own; the women who are struggling to raise their families without means and with gender discrimination; and, the school children who are not able to continue to go to school because they are tasked with putting food on the table. How can we live in a world as wealthy and as evolved as we do and still have the enormous problems that Africa has?</div><div><br /></div><div>The glory and beauty of Africa is stunning and there is nothing comparable. But the insignificance of the humanity here is equally stunning and incomparable.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish, for the people of Africa, that their insignificance is someday soon overcome.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-62757154748949924942009-11-27T12:09:00.000-08:002009-11-28T10:51:28.555-08:00"Marvelous are the innocent." - Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDeUQ1eWBWLmkErr_FHB5SNZ-xngIjoe4rMYoC2jimt-zKyTV8iXX9PzADIFi6bEtvesnFDOqoCUs_G31rvuUV0JGl58g3Ngqe607AqN5GpWg6q372JXsYxho294ToS2hnb9E_gsNCUR6/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDeUQ1eWBWLmkErr_FHB5SNZ-xngIjoe4rMYoC2jimt-zKyTV8iXX9PzADIFi6bEtvesnFDOqoCUs_G31rvuUV0JGl58g3Ngqe607AqN5GpWg6q372JXsYxho294ToS2hnb9E_gsNCUR6/s320/IMG_2101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409227598570584482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlUist_5ifvexMAk2prRQwsIStHqMQWmJCFvJQjVCbnrf8WoltbPZn0xgYRKu_rOh0e0ARUYxZqepYgrV431RnfIsn4btvKMpzMaeIA1y-HCD6m5mxbECugsO37r-LKe4j3siNNLAu3MR/s1600/IMG_8667.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlUist_5ifvexMAk2prRQwsIStHqMQWmJCFvJQjVCbnrf8WoltbPZn0xgYRKu_rOh0e0ARUYxZqepYgrV431RnfIsn4btvKMpzMaeIA1y-HCD6m5mxbECugsO37r-LKe4j3siNNLAu3MR/s320/IMG_8667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408883662190934322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KPYLt23AJq0zO28m_HDxwEOR8q_bW5DB4HmJHxDtgrr9JrgZvTqNzMAR_95FLt_K330OdZxkkEaxS5JEYTJGPRWeUYZ01qv0IWnUILQOMTIeKC9JF_sWniHDgJ2Raz71H_339fLciq9_/s1600/IMG_8718.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KPYLt23AJq0zO28m_HDxwEOR8q_bW5DB4HmJHxDtgrr9JrgZvTqNzMAR_95FLt_K330OdZxkkEaxS5JEYTJGPRWeUYZ01qv0IWnUILQOMTIeKC9JF_sWniHDgJ2Raz71H_339fLciq9_/s320/IMG_8718.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408883659094031650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjOUxFy6VA9t_JqKktiXC11-fBkw5cCBOYfkkkHq1XVSZJvZGp6KGNY1lRxotJdUo8ZimLh1LqcIVqfjWPlIfKWsjv-7pvj5w2qbVHVZTyjPhCkkCcnHpO-DF_0cdiC7x3OOrrKi2IJ4U/s1600/IMG_8687.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjOUxFy6VA9t_JqKktiXC11-fBkw5cCBOYfkkkHq1XVSZJvZGp6KGNY1lRxotJdUo8ZimLh1LqcIVqfjWPlIfKWsjv-7pvj5w2qbVHVZTyjPhCkkCcnHpO-DF_0cdiC7x3OOrrKi2IJ4U/s320/IMG_8687.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408883648936338418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLxnOOsi4jQN01vc1RtcBu4Pgvxy-XaDomR8rya0YeqFWmvWQQ6FOKXICrTWr4bJ1TSykZlPwQ87bY-pCdc7TqUzX4kFqFDvNi7OCvhl64rR5HGwRWcy1yX1bCrXLfHr44KfDwsYEbOUZ/s1600/IMG_8693.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLxnOOsi4jQN01vc1RtcBu4Pgvxy-XaDomR8rya0YeqFWmvWQQ6FOKXICrTWr4bJ1TSykZlPwQ87bY-pCdc7TqUzX4kFqFDvNi7OCvhl64rR5HGwRWcy1yX1bCrXLfHr44KfDwsYEbOUZ/s320/IMG_8693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408883641987127266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSFQmAq-Pr9eP0YIlK2-SY3BfxZvRCcqNNp8AcM7wS7zwoX073qjJ9E5xSIUOKO85ThPVVeRq6vEqt7u-UvUP16QLeuMARMUhFne5g9KJ5mlc__pAskee63V1IhMVrAMXF3vEibYInY0c/s1600/IMG_8720.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSFQmAq-Pr9eP0YIlK2-SY3BfxZvRCcqNNp8AcM7wS7zwoX073qjJ9E5xSIUOKO85ThPVVeRq6vEqt7u-UvUP16QLeuMARMUhFne5g9KJ5mlc__pAskee63V1IhMVrAMXF3vEibYInY0c/s320/IMG_8720.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408883631116083074" /></a>One of the beneficiaries of SLA is the Natuseko Community School. I visited the school and, with our generous donations, I was able to provide much needed supplies of books, pencils, and chalk. <div><br /></div><div>These children were so happy to have a visitor and were really fun to be with. They excitedly told me their names and their favorite subjects in school (math and science ranked high). The older students told me about their exams which are coming up next week. </div><div><br /></div><div>The challenge in this community and with this school is a disturbing lack of resources. They have lost teachers because there is no income to pay them. When I was there I met the headmaster and one other teacher. These two teachers were responsible for the entire school (grades 1-6). Also, they don't have a food program so these children are in school the entire day without a meal. For most, they have one meal a day at home and that is it. The headmaster showed me the field in the back of the school where they are attempting to grow maize and sweet potatoes, which could provide some food for the students. The problem is they don't have fertilizer and they were devastated to see that the crops the students and teachers planted just aren't growing.</div><div><br /></div><div>The school has lost a lot of its enrollment because the children are having to fend for themselves and for their families. They have to leave school to try and find some way to make money to put food on the table. For those students, if they do go to school, they only go for a day or so a week.</div><div><br /></div><div>The true gift and true heartbreak of this trip has been meeting all of these wonderful African children: whether it be in the school in Ngungugu, Kenya (where we provided much needed desks); or, the children orphaned by AIDS in Maputo and Gaza provinces in Mozambique; or, the children at the Natuseko Community School in Kabwe, Zambia.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have honestly and truly fell in love with these children. Every single one of them. They have such smiling, happy faces. There is such hope in their eyes. But there is also such sadness. They struggle daily just to survive in a world that is seemingly content with children homeless and starving and without parents. This reality has truly broken my heart and changed my outlook in so many ways. How can we, as a society, accept this as our reality? It is beyond any logic that we live in a world in which our most vulnerable are most suffering.</div><div><br /></div><div>From the book "Half the Sky":</div><div><br /></div><div><i>A Hawaiian parable: A man goes out on the beach and sees that it is covered with starfish that have washed up in the tide. A little boy is walking along, picking them up and throwing them back into the water. "What are you doing, son?" the man asks. "You see how many starfish there are? You'll never make a difference." The boy paused thoughtfully, and picked up another starfish and threw it in the ocean. "It sure made a difference to that one," he said.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>While the poverty is staggering and the number of children I met is too numerous to count, the idea that I can maybe even impact one of their lives is so important to me and something I am committed to do. It doesn't take much in terms of financial resources to change the direction of any one of these precious lives. The hardest part is realizing that I can't help all of them but I am inspired to help as many as I can.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>You must be the change you wish to see in the world. -Mahatma Ghandi</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:31.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 49px;font-size:38px;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-61378167391686826772009-11-27T09:32:00.000-08:002009-11-27T20:40:30.748-08:00"Still, one got over things. Still, life had a way of adding day to day." — Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiFrj04iIV0yAjZmje1_09ZhzdD4EhI1D4XnxmQJZ3IEp5E5oWD_ZH-mgEqL8FSwZWOzVdsCf7Be29Pd0S5SwqCos9Rwi4nd6z_kCDhiXSarN1NiibIMN9nbWkttdrjp3yHHxo5f6oJap/s1600/IMG_8724.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiFrj04iIV0yAjZmje1_09ZhzdD4EhI1D4XnxmQJZ3IEp5E5oWD_ZH-mgEqL8FSwZWOzVdsCf7Be29Pd0S5SwqCos9Rwi4nd6z_kCDhiXSarN1NiibIMN9nbWkttdrjp3yHHxo5f6oJap/s320/IMG_8724.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408870698688063954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyQeTDk-nkBP8Tkpr1orFBN4Qp1qY67Q3LoI9c3Mr70hzQvdDC0LZdxtWINQSU8dd_nhUBZriWZrhpHfJ09dy8N2pdmc-_Cd_AL7DE6PbZiS2lAxJ7gCzUhPgEruDU4i3ip6OvY7ZVvFF/s1600/IMG_8648.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyQeTDk-nkBP8Tkpr1orFBN4Qp1qY67Q3LoI9c3Mr70hzQvdDC0LZdxtWINQSU8dd_nhUBZriWZrhpHfJ09dy8N2pdmc-_Cd_AL7DE6PbZiS2lAxJ7gCzUhPgEruDU4i3ip6OvY7ZVvFF/s320/IMG_8648.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408870696464800690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqV-1SUMref1na1_2plC-pgT7yHei3tySdt0MahnISrtCA418_PGB7T2inR9WAz22qkj5f94qImj4fZZldvemyTh89aWqOtyZIddq0InY5YQIZg0fyxl4OStdY5rWCh8zrXBec5DvCu8tO/s1600/IMG_8725.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqV-1SUMref1na1_2plC-pgT7yHei3tySdt0MahnISrtCA418_PGB7T2inR9WAz22qkj5f94qImj4fZZldvemyTh89aWqOtyZIddq0InY5YQIZg0fyxl4OStdY5rWCh8zrXBec5DvCu8tO/s320/IMG_8725.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408870682158875986" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It seems almost poetic that the last day of the volunteer part of my journey was Thanksgiving. This month has certainly put in perspective in such an acute and emotional way how much I have to be thankful for. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I spent the past couple of days in Kabwe, Zambia. Kabwe is a remote community about two hours outside of Lusaka, which is the capital of Zambia.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">My project was to work with a group of women who started SLA (Small Loans Association.) It was incredible to meet with this group. They were beyond impressive. In a world that is still ruled, for the most part, by patriarchy (especially in developing countries), these women have taken the bull by the horns to amazing results. All of these women have risen to be the primary breadwinners of their family. And, are both so incredibly savvy from a business perspective; and, also so generous with their profits. It was inspirational to learn from them (even though ostensibly I was there to 'teach" them.)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">From the book "Half the Sky":</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Bill Gates speaking at a conference in Saudi Arabia with a segregated audience. 4/5th men and 1/5th women. Partition separating them. Someone asked if it was realistic that by 2010 SA would be one of the top 10 in the world in technology. Gates said, noting the segregation "Well, if you're not fully utilizing half the talent in the country, you're not going to get too close to the top ten."</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Well, in Kabwe, Zambia, the women have taken upon themselves to be utilized. SLA was started about three years ago by a group of 20 women. These women had no choice but to start this group. They did not have the means individually and on their own to acquire loans through banks. And, as women they are at a gender disadvantage. In the welcoming speech that Mary Kombe (chairwoman) gave she described the group as such:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">SLA is a small women led group. We try as much as possible to help women and widows to improve on their living by giving small loans. Each member gives a small contribution weekly and can borrow money. After three months they are required to repay with a small interest. The interest is what we use for our operations, and to help other members in our community, especially the vulnerable children orphaned by AIDS. The small loans we get as members may seem small to others but in our hearts and in our community they are big and offer a huge change in our lives.</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">At the end of the year, they divide up the savings and earnings based on what each contributed. They all used the loans to start small businesses. And, to a person, they said they could not have started their business without this microloan. Some of the businesses they have started include: raising chickens; selling cosmetics; selling homemade sweaters and baby clothes; opening a small general market; etc.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">They use a portion of the money they make to give back to the vulnerable children who are orphaned by AIDS, the community school, and the community clinic. (Our collective donations contributed to each of these efforts; as well as giving some more seed money to SLA.)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">These women are very poor and are responsible for so many members of their extended families and yet they feel it's their responsibility to give back to the community who are suffering in way that is worse than them. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Many of these women are widows. Their children have died of AIDS. They are caring for their grandchildren by themselves. Some of the women have children who are living in their household with their children but are unable to get work. The economy here is really troubling and the unemployment for someone in their 20s is quite high.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I found this concept and the spirit of giving back, even though they themselves are struggling, so incredibly moving and inspiring. And, fitting to hear this on Thanksgiving.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">While I didn't have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year with family and friends, I was treated to an incredibly generous home-cooked meal. The entire SLA group gathered us in the home of one of the members. We gathered on couches and chairs and floor space. They sang songs of love and thanks. We ate a delicious meal of stewed pumpkin leaves, cucumber salad, rice, chicken and nshima. I missed my family but I have to say, it was a nice way to spend the day. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">They did not have any awareness of Thanksgiving but they were still so grateful for our generous donations to their organization.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Didot, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:19px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">A friend of mine emailed me today the following:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"you know, in the ripple effect of life...when we went around the table last night to say what we were thankful for and we weren't allowed to say 'family and friends' i could only come up with the context that your trip has provided, even to me. i.e., it's been such a crap year for me i didn't really have much to be thankful for, but i certainly could be glad that i'm not an aids orphan living in africa. things could be SO much worse; when we say things like, 'my life sucks', or 'my life is a disaster' i really have to take a beat and think twice. i live in an apartment that for most people in the world would be the lap of luxury. i can go to the supermarket and buy food. i sleep on clean sheets at night. no one is abusing me. i don't live in abject fear all the time. it's hard to remember on a daily basis, but i do think it's important to try to every now and then. your experience, the blog, etc. has certainly provided the impetus to Keep Things In Perspective..."</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">These women struggling to survive but feeling emboldened by SLA and their contributions back to their community was as clear a symbol of Thanksgiving as I have ever seen. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">As my friend so eloquently related to me....we must keep all things in perspective. Life indeed has a way of adding day to day. Let's all try and make the next day better than the last day. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Didot, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-46031503163642963622009-11-23T20:45:00.000-08:002009-11-24T04:02:01.679-08:00"Together we will melt stones." Malangatana<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSasfLmkM_f_MscK6YPWSxd0TWbD73hTC9yU7BJoiMv9iWS9KKzBZpAHU3XTRtG249OoxbIRxx2EWyT-8-ohz5ilit0fFILI-NZ1tuD_KacZgI8gsiz41Vjff91q2Wb3k3jI7GE8X_m5F/s1600/IMG_8605.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSasfLmkM_f_MscK6YPWSxd0TWbD73hTC9yU7BJoiMv9iWS9KKzBZpAHU3XTRtG249OoxbIRxx2EWyT-8-ohz5ilit0fFILI-NZ1tuD_KacZgI8gsiz41Vjff91q2Wb3k3jI7GE8X_m5F/s320/IMG_8605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407533814129937826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzDN86_NpqV2Rpclru3roN4w8ZrVUDu9IklnclblPT8Ro2f1oM0HQ2Nh6TWiBOVZ6tVWLS9ORnFFHiSuM5s7nqMLEfXFBhUn4KtbjebmtkkDjx6_VpqSdCnqBFKI_3qNGwfF4Fv6MVTXC/s1600/IMG_8634.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzDN86_NpqV2Rpclru3roN4w8ZrVUDu9IklnclblPT8Ro2f1oM0HQ2Nh6TWiBOVZ6tVWLS9ORnFFHiSuM5s7nqMLEfXFBhUn4KtbjebmtkkDjx6_VpqSdCnqBFKI_3qNGwfF4Fv6MVTXC/s320/IMG_8634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407531919318669778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EIcIpsGuLq0qX05gAHCx7fXfgPesE-xyUNb22PipdXaaSVJSrdOzyhid4FQmME0cq5p2IKxkL7tAA1CEw_QPXbMd0z1ypd5FqgwVeYFF-15UKGq67k8DUpk3GnsEJ36-Mia1uxLl3_iN/s1600/IMG_8633.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EIcIpsGuLq0qX05gAHCx7fXfgPesE-xyUNb22PipdXaaSVJSrdOzyhid4FQmME0cq5p2IKxkL7tAA1CEw_QPXbMd0z1ypd5FqgwVeYFF-15UKGq67k8DUpk3GnsEJ36-Mia1uxLl3_iN/s320/IMG_8633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407531912175743202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScc2gms4Jx0UcPHcMg5xvh6SUKJk7Fi8-mRyXBk6ysJQp1cO_epXabwRZkaaBequxR8dzvmbwi7kOvKpqw3i7loKGAJhz3IhRY0sqwRabscKx6FxcU2rwD6D2qfxjuXHwo4_rN9OctRQl/s1600/IMG_8641.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScc2gms4Jx0UcPHcMg5xvh6SUKJk7Fi8-mRyXBk6ysJQp1cO_epXabwRZkaaBequxR8dzvmbwi7kOvKpqw3i7loKGAJhz3IhRY0sqwRabscKx6FxcU2rwD6D2qfxjuXHwo4_rN9OctRQl/s320/IMG_8641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407531908756825954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQI1RuL42LPo1BTz1V8BN1M_u_v_kRfMi-rL59Dn5D0xCLrIj23o0SxkezB65wvotmfcFlXxfdqIsPGUnNLbtyCytoHqruW-PgdLj7FmHBGUd3cvogMy6GhmX19wD4NC08VDBzfKQ5ryS/s1600/IMG_8627.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQI1RuL42LPo1BTz1V8BN1M_u_v_kRfMi-rL59Dn5D0xCLrIj23o0SxkezB65wvotmfcFlXxfdqIsPGUnNLbtyCytoHqruW-PgdLj7FmHBGUd3cvogMy6GhmX19wD4NC08VDBzfKQ5ryS/s320/IMG_8627.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407531899046102194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs1mRgfNEEdwewoLCInwmqxnmgy5X6rWpZucs-UclTa1rVfYlkOlT-VHKhdKVerhYZ1zW13ooklmQd9rmMfKGAJlfKZprE8qs5nzSAKzrxdLSMH-vSYM818io2FcOkc_-W2X2ufZsEDC1/s1600/IMG_8643.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs1mRgfNEEdwewoLCInwmqxnmgy5X6rWpZucs-UclTa1rVfYlkOlT-VHKhdKVerhYZ1zW13ooklmQd9rmMfKGAJlfKZprE8qs5nzSAKzrxdLSMH-vSYM818io2FcOkc_-W2X2ufZsEDC1/s320/IMG_8643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407531889318938018" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I think I fell in love yesterday! Truly. I met the renowned national treasure of Africa: the artist Malangatana.</div><div><br /></div><div>His works are displayed in gallaries throughout the world, including the Smithsonian.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We sat in his studio and talked for over an hour. His English was perfect, which was a good thing because my Portuguese is limited, at best. (I do know "obrigada" means "thank you" but I think that would have limited our conversation immensely.)<div><br /></div><div>He elucidated his artistic philosophies and regaled me with stories of his humble roots. He said he observes the world through his soul and tries to translate that as images on his canvases. I said how struck I was by the eyes in his paintings (and thought that this must clearly be intentional because one's eyes are a window into one's soul.) He said he doesn't pay particular attention to that specific detail, but appreciated the compliment just the same.</div><div><br /></div><div>His works have been lauded for their exploration of the hardships of human life and the heroism in overcoming those hardships. He is such a proud and important cultural figure in Africa and the world.. His works are the reflection of a culture that has fought for independence and is now fighting for survival. </div><div><br /></div><div>He thanked me for coming to Mozambique and asked about the projects I was working on - particularly my work with the vulnerable children in Maputo and the Gaza province. He was so grateful. Though the problems are enormous and seemingly insurmountable, he was convinced that "together we will melt stones." We will embrace the impossible together and see miracles happen. He was so moving. It was really incredible.</div><div><br /></div><div>He was also a shameless flirt, quick-witted, and so wise. I was completely charmed by him.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I was leaving he asked if I had left some of my spirit inside the studio for him to keep. I smiled at the generous flattery and what I didn't tell him was that I absconded with a bunch of his spirit the moment we met.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-28061731381667627202009-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:002009-11-22T20:44:04.851-08:00"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." Mother Teresa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX1P8LaANr_SUJCIH5W0Vt30au5d7RN75kZa6tJcIlaFzBWkpBjOtDg1EOQIY2taI5rQflctsMO5t2EPUQMF5uaDaeBOV2A45p-fSPnRZPkaGrd_TXdRxyACoump7Q0Ka_9eLSPsgFEAq/s1600/IMG_8529.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX1P8LaANr_SUJCIH5W0Vt30au5d7RN75kZa6tJcIlaFzBWkpBjOtDg1EOQIY2taI5rQflctsMO5t2EPUQMF5uaDaeBOV2A45p-fSPnRZPkaGrd_TXdRxyACoump7Q0Ka_9eLSPsgFEAq/s320/IMG_8529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406969335010782082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPErrDqcxDP75wdatLTNM21UVEFbkig-fsrXPpCKZ-jfGhxRkEXyGeSpRwBJMNhTawuYai0fiTSG-VB_71ecdrm5OcxCoR6VdbY-op7GG2miGX17hLVh8Lb__k3GfIgybEqlrZThewCvN/s1600/IMG_8527.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPErrDqcxDP75wdatLTNM21UVEFbkig-fsrXPpCKZ-jfGhxRkEXyGeSpRwBJMNhTawuYai0fiTSG-VB_71ecdrm5OcxCoR6VdbY-op7GG2miGX17hLVh8Lb__k3GfIgybEqlrZThewCvN/s320/IMG_8527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406969331619836626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M2vvsCelhBbGgMnadley2bYxEfjIjjnfsKFag8BVyAxl2s85BLg1wrzYiCPKXUQD3cN5gL1vGxuoMe-lG-nuO106vCzHggoGqNsH_K1NS3oEVfpBaoTiWsCYVzI4xZ6wtnUqzd9Vk5mf/s1600/IMG_8526.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M2vvsCelhBbGgMnadley2bYxEfjIjjnfsKFag8BVyAxl2s85BLg1wrzYiCPKXUQD3cN5gL1vGxuoMe-lG-nuO106vCzHggoGqNsH_K1NS3oEVfpBaoTiWsCYVzI4xZ6wtnUqzd9Vk5mf/s320/IMG_8526.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406969326754248642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWvTGyUGMaiJdgnRKfVDxkFcryxbOtYHq74D__avr5ROQL9KAhwD9hNb2U8rf7U_bqg_drnrdr-4MOkXCzfChl8xXgWD-YsidpaHuHDyK4Ez6JGhN9_rieZRq0khTSjZseZiW-9fETDVj/s1600/IMG_8520.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWvTGyUGMaiJdgnRKfVDxkFcryxbOtYHq74D__avr5ROQL9KAhwD9hNb2U8rf7U_bqg_drnrdr-4MOkXCzfChl8xXgWD-YsidpaHuHDyK4Ez6JGhN9_rieZRq0khTSjZseZiW-9fETDVj/s320/IMG_8520.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406964051572224530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpD1a7MdagXuarxxb5rDsUAVaukwUDhQUpkAHxPRu6-2C7QhsdsOTdk68DvGOPzjaqLeGfJRsc0U21j0yXhzAELI6qWHUQQc-nJoUeuxhV66DW10UfETQ_mnvqGFLQ5HzoCE_nlEV8B1B/s1600/IMG_8553.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpD1a7MdagXuarxxb5rDsUAVaukwUDhQUpkAHxPRu6-2C7QhsdsOTdk68DvGOPzjaqLeGfJRsc0U21j0yXhzAELI6qWHUQQc-nJoUeuxhV66DW10UfETQ_mnvqGFLQ5HzoCE_nlEV8B1B/s320/IMG_8553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406964046673684722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPuS9Vhy42Se26f1y47VTzsNtwWsKyU0Uk3Y-ostnH16PRO-ZZhN1wsEf1MEUpGO5cbAXXjcbcn8sUTuSAOI20gbyMNpgo7NZHgXXm3UCqYy-eGH4mwyG2Dh5kVo7_9PLx5opaGIwmPZS/s1600/IMG_8550.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPuS9Vhy42Se26f1y47VTzsNtwWsKyU0Uk3Y-ostnH16PRO-ZZhN1wsEf1MEUpGO5cbAXXjcbcn8sUTuSAOI20gbyMNpgo7NZHgXXm3UCqYy-eGH4mwyG2Dh5kVo7_9PLx5opaGIwmPZS/s320/IMG_8550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406964040003078498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_l0xMQHRB1BEZkMyZ463-DO8f35JjiVCkYw7qwMpa0_7Dy78CTRPrdGrc1U00bsddbmOdF1sK9hKGanJnrXVU6x0kWNVziqqqvmNoIHcEyKgJtxMhSEhwaukUIf_vx5b4_huJiC5uVdi/s1600/IMG_8548.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_l0xMQHRB1BEZkMyZ463-DO8f35JjiVCkYw7qwMpa0_7Dy78CTRPrdGrc1U00bsddbmOdF1sK9hKGanJnrXVU6x0kWNVziqqqvmNoIHcEyKgJtxMhSEhwaukUIf_vx5b4_huJiC5uVdi/s320/IMG_8548.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406964034402934738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrim4v2l4dAGRxugSeagBC4luzAD7fU0juSNKa7_SXH5QQuNXgZ1zNaF2Dzy3L5s4ycC_W4T3plMsihXXaX30fq_97PP2BUR5xAoXVEKcyESl-qQTQvJiR6XhDAN4xOmxPzjho4IRco4Up/s1600/IMG_8546.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrim4v2l4dAGRxugSeagBC4luzAD7fU0juSNKa7_SXH5QQuNXgZ1zNaF2Dzy3L5s4ycC_W4T3plMsihXXaX30fq_97PP2BUR5xAoXVEKcyESl-qQTQvJiR6XhDAN4xOmxPzjho4IRco4Up/s320/IMG_8546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406964024528376274" /></a><br />This group of children represent two different families under the care of their grandmother. Both of the grandmother's daughters have died of AIDS (along with the fathers of the children). So the grandmother is raising all of her grandchildren on her own in basically two small reed huts.<div><br /></div><div>It was mind-numbing to bear witness to this. I honestly had a hard time wrapping my arms around this emotionally or practically. I can't imagine how hard of a struggle it is for this woman having to raise 8 grandchildren by herself without any resources whatsoever.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was able to observe Reencontro gathering all of their information so they could be put into the system so that help could be provided as soon as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>The trip to the Gaza Province was really grueling. The roads in the villages in Xai Xai were treacherous and at times almost impossible to travel on (especially given the non-stop rain.) My back was aching from all of the dirt road driving. I have never experience car sickness in my life but I was nauseous from the hours of this driving. The lodge that we stayed in was uncomfortable and impossible to sleep in. I was physically and emotionally drained.</div><div><br /></div><div>I emailed a friend of mine this morning and described the trip. I said that I never wanted to go back to the Gaza province again. I did my work and would continue to provide whatever resources I could - now that I have been there I know what the enormous needs are. </div><div><br /></div><div>But then I realized that the truth is: I can't NOT go back. I really feel that I need to continue to check in and help these children. It's like it's my responsibility now that is beyond anything I "want" to do. One can't stand in front of this poverty and suffering and not always remember and not feel a sense of duty. I did not enjoy the trip but that wasn't the point now, was it?</div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-85787656929763669252009-11-22T05:36:00.000-08:002009-11-22T20:39:58.950-08:00"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Mother Teresa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIWYVSf63zHwm_zY0JXjUEqu3PakyIzNWssbQAJHiE-uzzRZk9QrcSV66EAJIxPe8ZqIsRfs7HwtRK4mgIODxEXcfJgdHeqhUArsg4AWgE_LG5cKsxdBZVZeFaT4Ze8AUjVGPzDf6N1RP/s1600/IMG_8564.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIWYVSf63zHwm_zY0JXjUEqu3PakyIzNWssbQAJHiE-uzzRZk9QrcSV66EAJIxPe8ZqIsRfs7HwtRK4mgIODxEXcfJgdHeqhUArsg4AWgE_LG5cKsxdBZVZeFaT4Ze8AUjVGPzDf6N1RP/s320/IMG_8564.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406935927177549794" /></a>This young boy, who is infected with AIDS, is being raised by his very elderly grandfather. He and his brother (who was too shy to come out to see us) are suffering from a lack of proper care from their grandfather who is too weak to really provide the care they need.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdR4JSetKI-fx0k84q2XdW7sHRRV1AhFhkuySd3odQwhXR_O0-SbKFs6WSbQPsdK2P2pnK56D2NYujmk9sw-x1yC2eNnu_QkmceTcd39TIrI3oFm34G7bd_babBQgqeHeynP9GTNFx6Xs/s1600/IMG_8346.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdR4JSetKI-fx0k84q2XdW7sHRRV1AhFhkuySd3odQwhXR_O0-SbKFs6WSbQPsdK2P2pnK56D2NYujmk9sw-x1yC2eNnu_QkmceTcd39TIrI3oFm34G7bd_babBQgqeHeynP9GTNFx6Xs/s320/IMG_8346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406935922988592322" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l-t8DkUXkegPP2JFgsSbFEK2b-aX1SfHWe9EQcZOujqm5opu97LocuBPio3seDJ-Tk0WqDiYQSkBC0mKKrEdef34-gWiThs5F7cEta0NjKr6mG-icDAngwxNmXcB2atPik4ZAxDl8pxf/s1600/IMG_8317.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l-t8DkUXkegPP2JFgsSbFEK2b-aX1SfHWe9EQcZOujqm5opu97LocuBPio3seDJ-Tk0WqDiYQSkBC0mKKrEdef34-gWiThs5F7cEta0NjKr6mG-icDAngwxNmXcB2atPik4ZAxDl8pxf/s320/IMG_8317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406935914859328210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5hUyQRmudlkLj1j2fJRx3DT3iPSDKo_BpAlmYOUBtLzwU-KXmv5SpomN-DgCKO4-ixwpO6NQJvnhigYSnx6Z5cUkXxf5f6It6kFu3SdMgONG2aixCqeyh9SgqBg-RbZKLO_3BFaOUDIX/s1600/IMG_8295.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5hUyQRmudlkLj1j2fJRx3DT3iPSDKo_BpAlmYOUBtLzwU-KXmv5SpomN-DgCKO4-ixwpO6NQJvnhigYSnx6Z5cUkXxf5f6It6kFu3SdMgONG2aixCqeyh9SgqBg-RbZKLO_3BFaOUDIX/s320/IMG_8295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406935911533427250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCH_gC7AomIBSkTUACiNb0pPoXdRU3x11hmoLEnXM7PbEpGNe3JzS2Pooiy3RPnbHMgfPSU-QPjAhNoYAd39aS-NGnBfDQWm6OuSxWt-9mkgYLbBilcXOf6kmM_cv-uAzgWe6fgIo_mk8/s1600/IMG_8288.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCH_gC7AomIBSkTUACiNb0pPoXdRU3x11hmoLEnXM7PbEpGNe3JzS2Pooiy3RPnbHMgfPSU-QPjAhNoYAd39aS-NGnBfDQWm6OuSxWt-9mkgYLbBilcXOf6kmM_cv-uAzgWe6fgIo_mk8/s320/IMG_8288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406935905376597026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNJKgspdUNDZx1ACny6FFpMdkDqDWX4PAh6WMaGKorHiwYZIQ6jcUj2L8IZ8pPqPXG1qSEAxabBMYTg5dlTc6vlPMH-kh2kgvj0IGev6n5J6xFUTw4mRpY1WX6ihHEzfkbESh4_a5dwYJ/s1600/IMG_8265.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNJKgspdUNDZx1ACny6FFpMdkDqDWX4PAh6WMaGKorHiwYZIQ6jcUj2L8IZ8pPqPXG1qSEAxabBMYTg5dlTc6vlPMH-kh2kgvj0IGev6n5J6xFUTw4mRpY1WX6ihHEzfkbESh4_a5dwYJ/s320/IMG_8265.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406927986849026066" /></a><br /></div><div>This young boy and his younger sister are in the care of their elderly grandmother. They are in a hopeless situation without proper shelter or care.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>These two angels are living in this hut with their grandmother along with a chicken and a baby goat.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This girl and her older brother (below) are living in a hut, while their mother is away getting treatment for AIDS. We provided them a much needed new mat to sleep on.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>These two children just lost their mother to AIDS in October. They were going through the motions when we visited them but it was so clear they were in so much shock and pain. Reencontro is looking for somebody to sponsor them for $60/month which would pay for a care-taker to live with them. They are currently living on their own.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-89327322287271218332009-11-22T03:41:00.000-08:002009-11-22T12:29:42.581-08:00"If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one." Mother Teresa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqbOR3zF_21rt55Ji9c03NA9EQ8z8W-lB31N8IdjERaMmzGkFavYgI7XaSVVdNuxd8LWAf3dLTFvDHJgQ6jv81GPmex30oalYaYZxJELbnLU5M38UFGZpXM0Spv2D7qkrW5HGeAqC57vC/s1600/IMG_8474.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqbOR3zF_21rt55Ji9c03NA9EQ8z8W-lB31N8IdjERaMmzGkFavYgI7XaSVVdNuxd8LWAf3dLTFvDHJgQ6jv81GPmex30oalYaYZxJELbnLU5M38UFGZpXM0Spv2D7qkrW5HGeAqC57vC/s320/IMG_8474.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406909337860269666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjrCUJ6Q87pNVjXppwVgFSz5wif7ZejVndS2yRHEHPtkdAng8d55bG9dNbEmdCTJ5lSahcY9Qp8mtEG2fE2HYzVEx3cYfc2VLS9U53q4-A1-EvuNJj43IL_A9Dy3cFKQTlm6m5byBvco7/s1600/IMG_8434.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjrCUJ6Q87pNVjXppwVgFSz5wif7ZejVndS2yRHEHPtkdAng8d55bG9dNbEmdCTJ5lSahcY9Qp8mtEG2fE2HYzVEx3cYfc2VLS9U53q4-A1-EvuNJj43IL_A9Dy3cFKQTlm6m5byBvco7/s320/IMG_8434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406909335680954066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2xw-33Z9NLkYffpkBkVuDqHU0jFpJIuNdXSNynb5de5cdAn_BwJyYsXCQvXYk4vb6tXEnuXskiYU6cON0y15IZAAuZmNxVV4yAmDXX85exoIWZjxP7AMawyeNwx7kcOlZZu0K6ata8CX/s1600/IMG_8428.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2xw-33Z9NLkYffpkBkVuDqHU0jFpJIuNdXSNynb5de5cdAn_BwJyYsXCQvXYk4vb6tXEnuXskiYU6cON0y15IZAAuZmNxVV4yAmDXX85exoIWZjxP7AMawyeNwx7kcOlZZu0K6ata8CX/s320/IMG_8428.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406909329798313602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECxaQgdOuPuHBgBtbf0bXAwtbr3J3MxrRw2bwnV66_X5H8WKAPxqP0Lur8QhHKWj0nO5UC1BoFf5OC-BwpaNBY315Y-m1b01mF7kMf1ZdmSP6ls8cDKKUgn0mh_U9vKu2KkF3GJhjYZLL/s1600/IMG_8426.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECxaQgdOuPuHBgBtbf0bXAwtbr3J3MxrRw2bwnV66_X5H8WKAPxqP0Lur8QhHKWj0nO5UC1BoFf5OC-BwpaNBY315Y-m1b01mF7kMf1ZdmSP6ls8cDKKUgn0mh_U9vKu2KkF3GJhjYZLL/s320/IMG_8426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406909321932490242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-X1YH25hz5oKyBcsLnqOmIG9dLOxLN6sGhLYtbMKI2jYHR_FONNyhBAAlOUhEqX7-Ko0gfAyO0TF7PBmOycH3vK4JyXdq2JavEc63DPyIuMZlx6wfuaDyZNR3E1fQITxz3k3P9YAkUDm/s1600/IMG_8372.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-X1YH25hz5oKyBcsLnqOmIG9dLOxLN6sGhLYtbMKI2jYHR_FONNyhBAAlOUhEqX7-Ko0gfAyO0TF7PBmOycH3vK4JyXdq2JavEc63DPyIuMZlx6wfuaDyZNR3E1fQITxz3k3P9YAkUDm/s320/IMG_8372.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406909318386395186" /></a><br />The next posts will highlight some amazing and troubling examples of children who are living in extreme poverty and orphaned by the AIDS crisis which is devastating this continent. <div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div><div>I wanted to start with this village that Reencontro set up. It was a long and treacherous drive to get there. We veered off the dirt road we had been traveling on and drove for another hour in the brush. The rain didn't help the conditions or the visibility. This was, by far, the most remote place I had traveled to. It is a community in the Gaza province. This particular area we were in is known for its cashew industry. The villagers gave us a bag when we left and they were beyond delicious - unadorned and freshly roasted. </div><div><br /></div><div>We were greeted by the villagers who sang a welcome song and gathered us all in a room (it was a downpour when we arrived). Olinda had everyone sit and we went through every child's story. The village is made up of a group of orphans who are parentless because of the AIDS crisis and a group of selfless volunteers (mainly women; although the director of the village was a young man who looked maybe 25) who live in the village as caretakers. </div><div><br /></div><div>We proceeded to walk from home to home to observe and note the needs of each child. The entire village walked together either behind us or in front of us, singing songs as we walked. It was truly an experience that I will never forget. So moving and communal and welcoming.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reencontro has built all of the homes and are providing food and access to schooling for all of these children. We saw several of the homes which were well built structurally but did not have any furnishings. This village is desperately in need of beds and other basic supplies for their homes.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of children to think about: </div><div><br /></div><div>Angelina was such a scared and reclusive soul. She lost her mother recently to AIDS. Her uncle took her in but abandoned her when his wife said she did not want her. This community has enveloped her and hopefully in time she will find peace and, I really hope, happiness.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next little girl had such a warm and loving face. She was found living under a tree with her very elderly, blind grandfather. She is infected with the AIDS virus. This village has taken she and her grandfather in. Reencontro is providing her much needed medication and housing in the village.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of these children need our help desperately.</div><div><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-20673339018491879052009-11-21T21:54:00.001-08:002009-11-21T23:02:28.505-08:00"My notion's to think of the human beings first and let the abstract ideas take care of themselves." Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF9cIid_g9j1zyC36upFWSTbbtiFP29SQsweHaYihNDvuGrYqSaVaAtm711QLtXZi0zq7S5Kg5441_0PtmH_MVe5JnHzckPnR_IYqBY1efYY4xlrYHbDRfpjkCsshfkmwJD2VxJRXJ5xp/s1600/IMG_8494.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF9cIid_g9j1zyC36upFWSTbbtiFP29SQsweHaYihNDvuGrYqSaVaAtm711QLtXZi0zq7S5Kg5441_0PtmH_MVe5JnHzckPnR_IYqBY1efYY4xlrYHbDRfpjkCsshfkmwJD2VxJRXJ5xp/s320/IMG_8494.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406815166035250370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgPaHPybuQ5gNFrARewTUL6NxOQilzm8vs0VrduDZESigAoJ-2impUv7-iHF_kW_xbB3GMVevtHI-VConI85M289InYUo3Rxu234VGTRqkPyI3z1JxS6O0mSFOFNMkSdRT0JvRjwP16Z8/s1600/IMG_8513.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgPaHPybuQ5gNFrARewTUL6NxOQilzm8vs0VrduDZESigAoJ-2impUv7-iHF_kW_xbB3GMVevtHI-VConI85M289InYUo3Rxu234VGTRqkPyI3z1JxS6O0mSFOFNMkSdRT0JvRjwP16Z8/s320/IMG_8513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406815160667836594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B8bnubNHfNy___mca5ywwX2NbuN9sepFWP7k46ktcYLxtGtKmreslHR_UNI9PcGXSZFNvJYkwa1x3jWVujXg7bRT6WIhUFrRCMAkDEv4w-dU5p7JAh95H3ancX6Px5nvtqEWDqZaZoRC/s1600/IMG_8512.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B8bnubNHfNy___mca5ywwX2NbuN9sepFWP7k46ktcYLxtGtKmreslHR_UNI9PcGXSZFNvJYkwa1x3jWVujXg7bRT6WIhUFrRCMAkDEv4w-dU5p7JAh95H3ancX6Px5nvtqEWDqZaZoRC/s320/IMG_8512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406815153233574898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMbgPMqMCJ_sI79NTE8CEqJJUspsPNMBUqxTRSJeCHfgWJ92OViq9X6Afg0_8V2v75PO-HHIq-cEu47vl1djJ_qXEV9CTIMJbTrvwNQCXaobJkpFNu511f7Okf5bgajrSxidt0FnI_s6b/s1600/IMG_8488.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMbgPMqMCJ_sI79NTE8CEqJJUspsPNMBUqxTRSJeCHfgWJ92OViq9X6Afg0_8V2v75PO-HHIq-cEu47vl1djJ_qXEV9CTIMJbTrvwNQCXaobJkpFNu511f7Okf5bgajrSxidt0FnI_s6b/s320/IMG_8488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406815143935050930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEWA9M2r4pt6U2bUx8JeZOpnOD2Jc9yY9hMjv6X8QzfgEFD-dY5sXRlq7AZWlzhb30IQBxAW0L5VTHSf2OVMhp0U-h4305yLRWNHmXDmhGdbQLmf-oMlJY2-cdUUQqDoRNtOMYZDrfrcn/s1600/IMG_8506.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEWA9M2r4pt6U2bUx8JeZOpnOD2Jc9yY9hMjv6X8QzfgEFD-dY5sXRlq7AZWlzhb30IQBxAW0L5VTHSf2OVMhp0U-h4305yLRWNHmXDmhGdbQLmf-oMlJY2-cdUUQqDoRNtOMYZDrfrcn/s320/IMG_8506.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406815141441017778" /></a><br />The past two days I spent in a very remote area in the Gaza province about a 6 hour drive from Maputo, Mozambique. (I'm told the drive can take 3 hours but we were driving in really bad rain storms which made the roadways very slow and treacherous.)<div><br /></div><div>I visited two of the remote Reencontro centers. The first center was in village so remote that we were on a dirt road for about 3 hours to get to it. It felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. Literally. When we arrived at the center we were greeted to a room full of singing children (all orphaned by AIDS) and the wonderful Reencontro volunteers. These volunteers are, themselves, very poor and yet they volunteer their lives to helping this generation of young children who have been abandoned by the AIDS crisis.</div><div><br /></div><div>We met with several families and heard such heart-breaking stories. I will post some of those individual stories in the blogs that follow.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second day I visited the center in Xai Xai which was the nicest of the centers I have seen. One of the biggest benefactors of Reencontro is Graca Machel. She is married to Nelson Mandela and is the widow of the former president of Mozambique who died in a plane crash several years ago. (I think uniquely she is the only woman to ever have been first lady twice - in Mozambique and in South Africa.) She has focussed her efforts in the Gaza province which has been devastated by the AIDS crisis. (For perspective, the Maputo branch of Reencontro works with 1,500 children and the Gaza branch works with 7,000 children.) She donated this building and spends a lot of time working with Olinda and Reencontro to help support the devastating crisis affecting this region. </div><div><br /></div><div>I asked why there were so many more people impacted by AIDS in the Gaza province. There were a couple of reasons. One, a lot of the laborers in this region worked in South Africa and contracted the virus there and then when they came back spread the disease. Also, polygamy is common so the disease spreads quickly through families. Reencontro is working tirelessly on education and prevention so this cycle can someday stop. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will also tell some of the stories of the children I met in Xai Xai. Unfortunately, since it was raining quite hard, we could not do as many visits as we would have liked. I did have the chance to have a lengthy meeting with the volunteers and the directors of the Xai Xai Reencontro branch. These people give their daily lives to this fight. They are heroes beyond measure.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other project I was able to get some insight on was a project that the LA-based architect Polly Osborne is working on called "A Nossa Casa" ("Our Home"). Malena Ruth, director of AMF, recruited Polly and her husband Tim to work to build a center that will provide housing, schooling, and vocational training for children orphaned by AIDS. It's an enormous project but one that is truly inspiring. I saw the grounds where they are hoping to build the center and I also was able to bring the plans to Olinda and her team. They were beyond happy to see all of the work Polly had done.</div><div><br /></div><div>Polly had asked me to check in on one of the families she had visited when she was here in June. We drove as far as we could and then had to walk up a big hill to get to their remote reed hut where they were living. When Polly was here she met the mother who was in the final stages of her battle with AIDS. When we arrived I met the two young children (their mother had passed away after Polly's visit.) It was truly heart-breaking. These two beautiful children were living alone in extreme poverty without any family member to help them. Thank goodness for Reencontro and the help they provide. But, the truth is, the day-to-day life for these two angels is complete hardship. At one point, Anish, the older girl who was so brave and strong for us and her younger brother (Martin), just broke down in tears. Heavy, heavy sobs. It was so chilling to witness this. I realized, in that moment, that I had not seen any of the children cry since I have been in Africa. They all have such sad eyes but are almost numb to the pain. This little girl emoting in such a way put a pain in my heart. It puts a pain in my heart just typing this. I reached in my pocket and gave her all the money I had. I wanted to give her my suitcase full of clothes. I wanted to take them away from this horrible situation that nobody on this planet deserves to be in. It crushed me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank goodness there are people like Malena and Polly and Olinda and so many other people whom I have met who are beyond the chatter of what to do and are doing the work on the ground with these children. They are not being paid but are simply moved to action by the world in which we live in where children are being abandoned without any hope. </div><div><br /></div><div>(I posted a picture of Olinda because I realized I hadn't done that yet. The other pictures show that during our visit we gave these children some food and cooking oil and some other rudimentary supplies.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-54842666360352120352009-11-21T20:52:00.001-08:002009-11-21T21:52:39.509-08:00"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." Virginia WoolfSweet 10 year old Christine showed me how to strap a baby to your back - African style!<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpattGa3bye03_OJLeKaBTVJFKCIg1nb3n-t3W24Z2PsgOtAJZdjEC0P0pWYw6XwFrX_2poeF3xvMzSSygmwwg-_mg5DtXwZU4rQKVbszb5YPQfyIbZ_p9NQAt_K8V5Uyc4dZAyZKW0RUt/s1600/IMG_8122.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpattGa3bye03_OJLeKaBTVJFKCIg1nb3n-t3W24Z2PsgOtAJZdjEC0P0pWYw6XwFrX_2poeF3xvMzSSygmwwg-_mg5DtXwZU4rQKVbszb5YPQfyIbZ_p9NQAt_K8V5Uyc4dZAyZKW0RUt/s320/IMG_8122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406790185631014786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g6MlRunn4f8mKy2PVr2DgWfOiqFINlu5GY2Kld5j81p9o9lVdpr9oCBLWnfD3OUjUg7WexoFQnCBrT7TpMeA3atecczDUFwrPch88NUeZZmVI53e2lTO1ziiE5ndq3_3fbwR3vDRmo9w/s1600/IMG_8123.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g6MlRunn4f8mKy2PVr2DgWfOiqFINlu5GY2Kld5j81p9o9lVdpr9oCBLWnfD3OUjUg7WexoFQnCBrT7TpMeA3atecczDUFwrPch88NUeZZmVI53e2lTO1ziiE5ndq3_3fbwR3vDRmo9w/s320/IMG_8123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406790183946108530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FgfeZheSo2M1l4K4eNyvtt6MGMLtoeibyv6VrOj1walPK5xoUKy-4H4YN9YJyA4TXQ7TADS9G82J1FjA7oFWHfRplWuIGpFOeXn1QRT_TgDjwlq5LTyUmCugnkWiVY0YoJ8DhFGsZHEx/s1600/IMG_8124.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FgfeZheSo2M1l4K4eNyvtt6MGMLtoeibyv6VrOj1walPK5xoUKy-4H4YN9YJyA4TXQ7TADS9G82J1FjA7oFWHfRplWuIGpFOeXn1QRT_TgDjwlq5LTyUmCugnkWiVY0YoJ8DhFGsZHEx/s320/IMG_8124.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406790180350832850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KAEn9k6CtF0BaF5spn8Gwf7pozCB6OYnaHRG3pVQtMywS7u0KhGiwNiEsvcIEnLpzpC5hC5UgZErQwaMZXcRb1_Zz265uXXviUx-QFteSUR1a-jDFemVy11fSwvuRsErWW6zoBT8x2oF/s1600/IMG_8125.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KAEn9k6CtF0BaF5spn8Gwf7pozCB6OYnaHRG3pVQtMywS7u0KhGiwNiEsvcIEnLpzpC5hC5UgZErQwaMZXcRb1_Zz265uXXviUx-QFteSUR1a-jDFemVy11fSwvuRsErWW6zoBT8x2oF/s320/IMG_8125.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406790170223822562" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-30769920197000157712009-11-19T11:17:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:15:37.009-08:00"I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out; and I thought how it is worse, perhaps, to be locked in." Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb5rwfimIJQ6KOo4oNq9d-kE6FYo3khMAMxFgg0ZnwUZFdO88IzMvBqyzD63yOP9xlfOSaMmxl-WiAW2zPjVyFWFRYyfQ4x8R0Zhh1be7pNigjKvYV2gPmrv0skCGzefxCpxlkOX_XK3b/s1600/IMG_8218.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb5rwfimIJQ6KOo4oNq9d-kE6FYo3khMAMxFgg0ZnwUZFdO88IzMvBqyzD63yOP9xlfOSaMmxl-WiAW2zPjVyFWFRYyfQ4x8R0Zhh1be7pNigjKvYV2gPmrv0skCGzefxCpxlkOX_XK3b/s320/IMG_8218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405919478964307506" /></a><br />This is such a heart-breaking story that, I hope, through our collective donations we can make hopeful.<div><br /></div><div>This is Alise. She is living in a household where she is being sexually abused by her 16 year old brother. The situation has become unbearable and her mother turned to Olinda and Reencontro to see if they could help. </div><div><br /></div><div>Collectively, they decided the best solution was to get Alise out of the home and into boarding school. It costs $300 per year for the next five years to send her. </div><div><br /></div><div>$1500 to save this girl from this horrible situation.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I met with Alise she was an incredibly shy 10 year old. She did tell me her favorite subject in school was math. And, she lit up when Olinda explained to her that I was visiting from America. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was so sad to see her mother in so much pain about a household situation that she simply cannot control. And it was truly heart-breaking to witness a little girl who was so clearly damaged without access to therapy to deal all of the emotional scars.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I first sat down with Alise I was worried about how she would do being away from her mother and her baby sister. She sort of clung to her mother as we were talking. This sweet soul, who is afraid of the world because of what she has been through, might get swallowed up away from home. But I quickly concluded that, while it might be scary and intimidating for her to be away at boarding school, she clearly should not suffer this abuse anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you all for your donations because truly you are making this happen for Alise.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-24519277556324896002009-11-18T21:07:00.001-08:002009-11-18T22:15:40.771-08:00"For most of history, Anonymous was a woman" - Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T7WUAny-eXfXhc075GkbDO_FMJ4O2nstDwiJ55eGydIcbjvKbJzD13huTNTXzl0PRH1y2Q5UTkm1CkEas1uXYGWflCYBCEZX0dtOb215bMFL1pR5U9xgJQ_96F2gYAECaEBM-FplHuve/s1600/IMG_8168.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T7WUAny-eXfXhc075GkbDO_FMJ4O2nstDwiJ55eGydIcbjvKbJzD13huTNTXzl0PRH1y2Q5UTkm1CkEas1uXYGWflCYBCEZX0dtOb215bMFL1pR5U9xgJQ_96F2gYAECaEBM-FplHuve/s320/IMG_8168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405692672324979922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOikA-9QRxRNb-_C-5ajn1MnzbwOvb4pSpRM-SHI26t1zuYmuqTzzEKoyYUNkYp00kWKiNJSRC9cRKbD-ySSOuT58YKBWivewP86CN57M0vCJSWwwt1odJsSNH-c4ITI9GgbTqDx5WdsE/s1600/IMG_8149.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOikA-9QRxRNb-_C-5ajn1MnzbwOvb4pSpRM-SHI26t1zuYmuqTzzEKoyYUNkYp00kWKiNJSRC9cRKbD-ySSOuT58YKBWivewP86CN57M0vCJSWwwt1odJsSNH-c4ITI9GgbTqDx5WdsE/s320/IMG_8149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405692663235511234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55xl9FTIJnixpET2pxZAfgOcY7euBdK5F3bVr8muUhIgAF5GGUXnuS-y1jHLwJDRHD71CVSZc_5OMVqMjyMHb1-xoldngh88tznsAYWNdyLAevdhmcHjJ6QfBQJbhh8c_MF8pl2z6K4AY/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55xl9FTIJnixpET2pxZAfgOcY7euBdK5F3bVr8muUhIgAF5GGUXnuS-y1jHLwJDRHD71CVSZc_5OMVqMjyMHb1-xoldngh88tznsAYWNdyLAevdhmcHjJ6QfBQJbhh8c_MF8pl2z6K4AY/s320/IMG_8165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405689417038632482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tO8TahgNs5z3mBcSODTmewZpc7l175rbZMg-5sgIvaywweASUsxQjWeO50mh38TbGNasv7ybCxRBZfdPYTiUWI3OZmlDuX9jGTqhXhODap537vIUQHsu78y1y2Md2UK7Y6t_wlJptQXi/s1600/IMG_8158.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tO8TahgNs5z3mBcSODTmewZpc7l175rbZMg-5sgIvaywweASUsxQjWeO50mh38TbGNasv7ybCxRBZfdPYTiUWI3OZmlDuX9jGTqhXhODap537vIUQHsu78y1y2Md2UK7Y6t_wlJptQXi/s320/IMG_8158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405688151164646386" /></a><br />This woman is anonymous. <div><br /></div><div>Other than the wonderful organization, Reencontro, which is providing what help they can, there is nobody taking responsibility for the tragedy that befell her and her family.</div><div><br /></div><div>She was the victim of a sort of freak accident. A weapons factory exploded from the heat and devastated everyone in its wake. Her baby, who was strapped to her, was blown off her back. She sustained very serious and extremely painful injuries to her leg. Her baby survived but suffered injuries to her brain that will impact her ability for normal mental growth.</div><div><br /></div><div>I asked if the government provided any assistance to this woman and her family. Clearly that would make sense given the nature of the tragic incident. Unfortunately, she was not given any support and she had no means for legal recourse. I was baffled by this. How can the government not give anything to this family and all of the victims of that tragedy? Shouldn't they be held accountable in some way, given that it was a government warehouse? The answer was simply "no".</div><div><br /></div><div>She is raising her three children in extreme poverty without the ability to earn income for her family. Her injuries are still quite serious. She showed me her damaged leg and it looked so painful and seriously infected. (I took a picture of it but honestly the picture is so graphic and upsetting that I can't post it.) Medical care for her is very difficult to come by and out of the question financially. Her husband died of AIDS so there is nobody to provide them with an income.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only hope they have is that they are part of the Reencontro family and get some basic necessities. Also, Reencontro has built them a new home which they will soon move into. As I observed, their current home was not fit for living in. It had one very small room that had a bed which they all shared (there are 3 children) and next to that a tiny hole with a pot on it that served as the kitchen. I thought how unsafe it was to have this open flame right next to where they sleep.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the mother was telling us her story, she broke down in tears several times. She told us that she can't even walk in her neighborhood because when people see her they turn away knowing that she is there to beg for food. It was so hard to hear her tell us her daily struggles knowing that there was little I could say to give her hope. In fact, there was nothing I could say. That was the most difficult realization I have had. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>We stand, as it were, on the shore, and see multitudes of our fellow beings struggling in the water, stretching forth their arms, sinking, drowning, and we are powerless to assist them. (Felix Adler)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>While I feel very inspired by the work we are doing and also by the generous donations that I am able to give to these individuals and organizations I am meeting with, there are moments when the situation becomes overwhelming and the challenges feel nearly impossible to overcome. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 57px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-71088840735860121912009-11-18T19:51:00.000-08:002009-11-18T20:46:39.265-08:00"What justice would there be to take this life?" - A Lesson Before Dying<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexhOKG-TqPJVFvYD0_9A7aV-OVSFRTg6YWCfR5iD1TAXqwsCZPBDIhizjqfg2wIqQJFMLGTGafv9bD1MbYavtkMzszSsoTyc9EKv3pd1AF1XpF7MxP3dY5rI9AtSZlyF01gGapLdU0iaw/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexhOKG-TqPJVFvYD0_9A7aV-OVSFRTg6YWCfR5iD1TAXqwsCZPBDIhizjqfg2wIqQJFMLGTGafv9bD1MbYavtkMzszSsoTyc9EKv3pd1AF1XpF7MxP3dY5rI9AtSZlyF01gGapLdU0iaw/s320/IMG_8108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405668038412395762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnz_kBuz6JuVaRWu_RYi_0V60OSybaGn0mD5GbDfPH2aMWebEgAwwlOvUH2fGCCkSWD240rFzpHpMZmNDqWIxF488J4pFhDMB6pfqpLWC22Rn_18cPw4AmwmSMJOx1whqQ3Euazzks_a5/s1600/IMG_8109.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnz_kBuz6JuVaRWu_RYi_0V60OSybaGn0mD5GbDfPH2aMWebEgAwwlOvUH2fGCCkSWD240rFzpHpMZmNDqWIxF488J4pFhDMB6pfqpLWC22Rn_18cPw4AmwmSMJOx1whqQ3Euazzks_a5/s320/IMG_8109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405666725942524386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTyxtlMbISbxiPOONWLtNnKdayvAVTLjojSW2OCGhNhd5AOfAbmEjtFe5QJQxIq04PzgRMCC-Z90_Ya7q1BGyAVSoQJqpqjJ_VVsOd44itvxvUQ-xm7YD2zYn5wTKcyPYR9eVckuwjQ00/s1600/IMG_8115.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTyxtlMbISbxiPOONWLtNnKdayvAVTLjojSW2OCGhNhd5AOfAbmEjtFe5QJQxIq04PzgRMCC-Z90_Ya7q1BGyAVSoQJqpqjJ_VVsOd44itvxvUQ-xm7YD2zYn5wTKcyPYR9eVckuwjQ00/s320/IMG_8115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405664649345263618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIZWab0tvpTEIMxV4kDUffQxxi7DkMCgLwZpSIoruYjxlc2ySAgRrDamX7lPpxoEOH57-p4DnDbtnqVaOnLbPVoikKKToJ9YCN2oLMKw5KCoYex7cMx60e59Ex0oFttHhaKpvdLdvEqXN/s1600/IMG_2095.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIZWab0tvpTEIMxV4kDUffQxxi7DkMCgLwZpSIoruYjxlc2ySAgRrDamX7lPpxoEOH57-p4DnDbtnqVaOnLbPVoikKKToJ9YCN2oLMKw5KCoYex7cMx60e59Ex0oFttHhaKpvdLdvEqXN/s320/IMG_2095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405663288699355842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr4VYKLBHLslBV_HjcLAqD3PDOwGmHfw3kvz9zuOTfapfR7bZlsxZxPviRjqbg1U0JgLl8CawGYKpjEIMeb8PyJ413n2Tga0kInzefMtPnEEe_6xYwwYsP2oirlX5ps1X7uUXSJ06db_h/s1600/IMG_8127.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr4VYKLBHLslBV_HjcLAqD3PDOwGmHfw3kvz9zuOTfapfR7bZlsxZxPviRjqbg1U0JgLl8CawGYKpjEIMeb8PyJ413n2Tga0kInzefMtPnEEe_6xYwwYsP2oirlX5ps1X7uUXSJ06db_h/s320/IMG_8127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405661694862669458" /></a><br />I fell in love with this family and particularly this little boy.<div><br /></div><div>When we walked up to their house, he was the smiling face who greeted us. His little jeans were falling off and I realized it was because they were on backwards. But no matter to him, he was a little sweet angel who loved to be hugged. Sadly, he is inflicted with the AIDS virus and tragically so is his baby brother. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I walked in their home, I saw in one room a very sickly woman lying in bed under a mosquito net. This is their mother and she, too, is dying of AIDS. (Their father has already died.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The ten year daughter has emerged as the primary care-giver to the children. She was so beyond her years and but for her diminutive size, I would not have known she was only 10. She doted on her two younger brothers; she does the cooking and the duties of the household that her mother can no longer provide. There are five kids total - four boys and one girl.</div><div><br /></div><div>The house that they were previously living in fell down in inclement weather. It was a reed hut and ultimately could not survive the elements. The 16 year old son, who was not home today, built this new home "brick by brick". He would gather a tiny bit of material here and there and eventually, on his own and without any help or formal training, built this structure. Even before I heard that, I was struck by how relatively big their house was. The rooms were nice sized and around back they had a little kitchen area and a detached latrine (which is rare.) I am so sorry I did not meet this boy who heroically and despite so many odds provided his family much needed shelter. It was like he had no other option but to do it. So he did.</div><div><br /></div><div>Visiting so many homes today, I heard so many tragic stories about these children who are being orphaned by the AIDS virus. But this family seemed to be the poster child for this community and continent being ravished by poverty and AIDS.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a lump in my throat all day. And, particularly when I was standing with Christine, the 10 year old, with her baby brother strapped to her back. I stood next to them gently rubbing the baby's back and so wishing I had something to say to give them hope. The only hope I could give them was to not break down and cry. It took every ounce of my being not to. But I did not want show them how upset I was for that might make them feel hopeless. I wanted to give them a smiling face and comfort to try and provide them some hope in that gesture. </div><div><br /></div><div>I happened to read "A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines this past weekend. It's as though there was a reason I happened to pick that book before I arrived in Maputo and specifically before I was brought to this family. As I stood while the group of Reencontro women gathered around the mother's bed and sang a song of prayer, I was reminded of that novel. A sense of injustice permeates the novel. I was struck by the moral and social injustice of this horrible disease which is breaking up families and leaving children without parents. Children raising children. There is no justice here.</div><div><br /></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-9126749109430847212009-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:002009-11-18T13:43:29.665-08:00"You cannot find peace by avoiding life." Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG4gb1mzvDxU2d6InFWsabGDoK62VpCNC7Dzj27meCIukGO1k9dozTFLEvVE6Vr9uxvthT1NM0Ym5qsAFRRqbjL4pxwIgN3JBVZ9qRh6AOr2jGrF8AoosadjGQSoJJT4XnGMX1VTwvGo7/s1600/IMG_8017.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG4gb1mzvDxU2d6InFWsabGDoK62VpCNC7Dzj27meCIukGO1k9dozTFLEvVE6Vr9uxvthT1NM0Ym5qsAFRRqbjL4pxwIgN3JBVZ9qRh6AOr2jGrF8AoosadjGQSoJJT4XnGMX1VTwvGo7/s320/IMG_8017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405554920372004658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQiXJcWSI_m86AmL6kYkbtdgBQE_mhFfRzBV49NLB6RKmSOcQdTPeBsXwvgkBzOACAI-XEkJV8zxRWU4vOqaAB_uWcVWbm_poSmuHTXnfYMvabsXQr76dmsCTgI0fHcA8lr2ATwzPt2cE/s1600/IMG_8031.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQiXJcWSI_m86AmL6kYkbtdgBQE_mhFfRzBV49NLB6RKmSOcQdTPeBsXwvgkBzOACAI-XEkJV8zxRWU4vOqaAB_uWcVWbm_poSmuHTXnfYMvabsXQr76dmsCTgI0fHcA8lr2ATwzPt2cE/s320/IMG_8031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405552740397320674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkznXOuhQrsK7pLXnQ0Gs0ShtVMD2BDnwETyKN2tHNsL5TYWKBp44Lkxc50nHJkpZ3v_96qIIp17xyktKviprAz48NjZHB5KiweD1WdvgEDT9zsg-r8jCvqRXt8lRuNV4KvB7EyqxlOjK/s1600/IMG_8035.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkznXOuhQrsK7pLXnQ0Gs0ShtVMD2BDnwETyKN2tHNsL5TYWKBp44Lkxc50nHJkpZ3v_96qIIp17xyktKviprAz48NjZHB5KiweD1WdvgEDT9zsg-r8jCvqRXt8lRuNV4KvB7EyqxlOjK/s320/IMG_8035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405548212956020402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDKsyWYU4mhssqvPTQOk03vfVZOIqMGY7pZdvcyeNYyDVZmdHm8dzuQEtYdcAqwKdscLBRTV7yXqwLNGIxQCdOQjpi5hzIJmuvr-arh4qgEpXkqy4bl-A4ZgzvV6dmK1uTT81felCFeZZ/s1600/IMG_8036.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDKsyWYU4mhssqvPTQOk03vfVZOIqMGY7pZdvcyeNYyDVZmdHm8dzuQEtYdcAqwKdscLBRTV7yXqwLNGIxQCdOQjpi5hzIJmuvr-arh4qgEpXkqy4bl-A4ZgzvV6dmK1uTT81felCFeZZ/s320/IMG_8036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405545562887964834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pbtfWHHVzM-1vqiAzDAxlM5Qtphu42BncuFDsWkdf6b9YFg6OlJQPT7_cAVNkm3oXEjacb51M7KnPhfx9ybX5Wd7IwRXJWRreHzIpCCEkdKyME9KzPfe3fui0xPNVkivFzVFSyg7QjN8/s1600/IMG_8062.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pbtfWHHVzM-1vqiAzDAxlM5Qtphu42BncuFDsWkdf6b9YFg6OlJQPT7_cAVNkm3oXEjacb51M7KnPhfx9ybX5Wd7IwRXJWRreHzIpCCEkdKyME9KzPfe3fui0xPNVkivFzVFSyg7QjN8/s320/IMG_8062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405540618343567058" /></a><br />Olinda is a saint.<div><br /></div><div>Truly. </div><div><br /></div><div>That expression, "a saint", is used often to lovingly describe persons we admire or who go out of their way for us in our daily life. A nice moniker for a nice person. ("That starbucks barista is a saint! She totally gave me a venti when I ordered a grande!") </div><div><br /></div><div>But, Olinda really is a saint. I don't know how else to describe her. I have truly never met someone so giving and generous and selfless in my life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Olinda started an organization called Reencontro in Maputo, Mozambique. The name means "coming together" and its mission is to care and provide for the thousands of children who have been orphaned by AIDS. They are funded 100% by donations and AMF is a wonderfully supportive partner. Reencontro gives community-based support to over 7,000 children. They work very directly with the community and the families. They conduct house visits, provide food, ensure schooling, make sure those children or caregivers who are infected with AIDS get treatment, provide vocational training, provide social services (imagine the psychological damage of losing one parent let alone both), and many other things. For an average family of five, it takes about $100 per month to sustain them at the very basic level.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>I spent today visiting with some of the beneficiaries of the program as well as spending a lot of time with the Reecontro staff talking about the challenges and struggles in wrapping their arms around a crisis that is devastating this continent.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Reencontro is dealing with a crisis that is beyond adequate words. </div><div><br /></div><div> From the book "Half the Sky":</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">One of the greatest moral and policy failures of the last 30 years is the indifferenece that allowed AIDS to spread around the globe. That indifference arose in part from the sanctimony of the moralizers. In 1983, Patrick Buchanan declared, “The poor homosexuals – they have declared war against nature, and now nature is exacting an awful retribution.” In retrospect, the grossest immorality of the 1980s took place not in San Francisco bathhouses, but in the corridors of power where self-righteous leaders displayed callous indifference to the spread of the disease.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div>Now think about this: can you imagine an entire generation wiped away? Well, it's happening in Mozambique and across this continent. It struck me so clearly today when I met with so many of these orphans. They were either running their households on their own (at age 14 or 15 or younger) or they were under the care of a grandparent (who, in every case today, was inflicted with AIDS.) That means that basically anyone in their 30s is dead. Imagine basically everyone you know who is a parent with small children in the US wiped away just like that. (In the rare instance that I did meet a mother (I did not meet one father - they have all died of AIDS), she was inflicted with AIDS.)</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div>So, on the one hand, there is an entire generation of people that basically doesn't exist anymore. Then, on the other hand, there is an entire generation of children who are growing up without parents. How will this impact society as a whole in five to ten years? The psychological damage to these children is incalculable at this point. The whole thing is mind-numbing to think about.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. (Mother Teresa)</i></div><div><br /></div></div><div>My mission here is both inspiring and devastating to me. Over the course of a few days, I am conducting several home visits and after they are completed, I will present the family most needy a gift from our donations. Making that determination will be heart-breaking and challenging. I met with about six families today and, truly, they all have heart-breaking stories. I will share some of those stories in the blogs that follow. </div><div><br /></div><div>A final note about Olinda. As we were conducting our first home visit, there were a couple of other children hanging around. I saw Olinda checking the eyes of the little girl (maybe 2 years old) and she said that this little sweet girl was sick - anemic. After our official home visit, Olinda had the older sister of the sick little girt take us all to their home. When we got there, we saw that they were living in shambles (although all the homes are basically in shambles...they live in what I would loosely describe as "shanty towns." No water, no electricity, dirt roads.). There were four siblings and the oldest had a baby girl of her own (the father of the baby died of AIDS). They were living without their parents who both died of AIDS. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, just like that, this desperate family of siblings was part of the Reencontro family. We loaded up a few of the children in the back of our truck and had them come back with us to the center to get a bag of food and supplies for the family. </div><div><br /></div><div>When we were driving back Olinda said to me: "I am not able to see a baby starving." It was a simple statement and maybe one that sounds obvious. Who wouldn't have that sentiment? But one needs to consider that she is not talking theoretically. I witnessed firsthand her outpouring of generosity. She was very sure that the universe presented that sickly child to her as we were conducting our visit with the other family. She felt that my visit today led her to this child. Olinda does not avoid any life that is presented to her. Truly, truly inspiring. And, I hope that it gives her peace because she is tireless when it comes to these thousands of children.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What is the meaning of life? That was all - a simple question; one that tended to close in on one with years, the great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark; here was one. ("To the Lighthouse", Virginia Woolf)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Today, I witnessed a miracle. It's really as simple as that. Olinda, a saint, struck a match unexpectedly in the dark and saved this family.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:31.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-599833604785083032009-11-16T03:02:00.000-08:002009-11-16T18:42:16.337-08:00“When you consider things like the stars, our affairs don’t seem to matter very much do they?” – Virginia Woolf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVQcVzOETL0o6IwWQ4NCT4zvebqwKiwL_febmAdFjZkDcpxzqT4Kno3rYj909jSeX-Bl6QILcgriBHypnxhP7l9D8G6kbLKvFP9C7PKJtDLZtcSU4iNxhrUJIPwwi6WuZor6OuES42owq/s1600/IMG_7996.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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It served as a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n antidote to the experience getting here.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The driver, Moses (the irony of our journey eastward and crossing the Nile to get to Jinja was not lost on me but felt a little "on the nose" for this blog!), who picked me up from Kampala to take me to Jinja said the drive would take 30 minutes.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(It took 2 hours.)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was interesting to see and kind of experience a typical Saturday with all of the bustle of the Ugandan communities we drove through.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There were tons of shops and homes and factories right on the main road that we were driving on (we were on the same road the entire route – I would call it a “highway” but it was really just a road and sometimes a dirt road.)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There was so much activity and so many children, likely because it was a Saturday.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I was struck that I had not really seen so many children during the day just sort of milling about and hanging around.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The communities were poor and struggling but there was an energy and purpose that was really fascinating to watch.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we got to Jinja and turned down the one lane dirt road to get to The Haven, we started to drive through a very poor village.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was the first time I saw a very young boy (a toddler at most) whose stomach was bloated from hunger.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I remember seeing those commercials for “Save the Children” or whatever (“for the price of a cup of coffee a day…”) when I was growing up in Wisconsin and being so confused thinking that the babies bellies seemed so big and full.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then it was explained to me that that was a clear indication of starvation.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After about a mile or so of driving down this bumpy and winding dirt road, we arrived at (the aptly named) The Haven.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So there I was at truly one of the most stunning places I had been to in Africa.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The views and bungalows and atmosphere were so warm and cozy.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They immediately served me a delicious lunch and a cold Tusker on the outdoor terrace of the main lodge and I settled in comfortably. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, while I really enjoyed it and felt very fortunate for so many obvious reasons, I was definitely not numb to the journey that got me there.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-69911183985200032852009-11-16T01:15:00.000-08:002009-11-16T09:50:06.925-08:00“What a lark! What a plunge!”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXwEUii-A51wIhuJKn2PytvxN0iXgRqCQAPzfD_FdfI04ix9RWvAuFWnnvWFV2klNactouUfgp1ibx5Jh7ih5Q3JiCHsCAFe6Tk27186znrgDVkcGVHAqtAtQXBLJMJrNjasGQ6XN6ko6/s1600/IMG_7643.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXwEUii-A51wIhuJKn2PytvxN0iXgRqCQAPzfD_FdfI04ix9RWvAuFWnnvWFV2klNactouUfgp1ibx5Jh7ih5Q3JiCHsCAFe6Tk27186znrgDVkcGVHAqtAtQXBLJMJrNjasGQ6XN6ko6/s320/IMG_7643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404715753886064162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLti9uqBJm-PxpXAtA7rDTi0yi9sYgi6kRGYHU1iBY2VhKu3dFw9p8O9mrSMW4vfMNNyB8viBS9oKIndk3W1UDaZlRQm9om9XMcF6qaCIvHq7oBaWuUZRSjMIWWT1u0_EsQwf9JY2lG-n0/s320/IMG_2014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404631438312027634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNJA04XzA-AJvAh_o9hLw_J1_erdS8cBuuWEQbzTzM2LQojxQdKdOnmwN1CV0tvzHp77nEpf7D2B2F-jKbttN0x8boJLApmPRuJiDUeN1fj2hlndbZrPFAzdHlk9Ys5QwufCWgP1l-rpu/s1600/IMG_1970.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNJA04XzA-AJvAh_o9hLw_J1_erdS8cBuuWEQbzTzM2LQojxQdKdOnmwN1CV0tvzHp77nEpf7D2B2F-jKbttN0x8boJLApmPRuJiDUeN1fj2hlndbZrPFAzdHlk9Ys5QwufCWgP1l-rpu/s320/IMG_1970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404631435871204434" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That whimsical line from Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway sums up precisely the adventure Elisa and I went on when we travelled to the Governor’s Camp in Masai Mara to go on safari.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was truly an unforgettable experience.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We were in such proximity to the animals that when they were sleeping we could actually hear them breathe.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was extraordinary.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It really started this emerging love affair I’m having with this continent.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The adventure began at the regional airport in Nairobi.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have heard and have used the expression “third world airport” sarcastically in the past to describe, say, Burbank airport.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ummmm…that airport is luxurious and expansive compared to the Wilson Airport in Nairobi.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We were ridiculously early for our flight (Sorry Elisa.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My fault.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My penchant for being early to airports is an illness.).</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So we sat in a tiny café in what I will loosely describe as “the terminal” while we waited for our flight.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The nerves began once we looked out the window at the tiny planes and thought if only this café served vodka….</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Finally, we boarded the plane and were told we were going to be the third stop.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The flight was bumpy and terrifying.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(I know we are wimps but still.)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our first stop was about 40 minutes away and then each subsequent stop was going to be about 10 minutes.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We landed at the first stop on the dirt runway which was sort of amusing (“Hey!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We landed on a dirt road!”)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But the panic started to set in on the next leg when it started to rain.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hard.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How the hell do you land a plane in mud?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We landed safely by what I can only describe as a miracle (and, I’m sure, our pilot would describe as a</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tuesday).</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We had to wait at that location on the ground for about 25 minutes for the now torrential downpour to stop.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Finally, we were back in the air and 5 minutes later we arrived at the Governor’s Camp.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’m sure we were ashen and had terror in our eyes from the flight.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We immediately went and got red wine and settled in and saw the post-rain sky which calmed everything because it was simply breathe-taking.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">All of the safari rides (there were 3 a day) were amazing.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Truly.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Each time we thought it might be a little repetitive there was something new to see that surprised us.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oliver was our private guide on all of the rides and he was amazing.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So friendly and funny and focused on us seeing every animal in the kingdom.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We would casually say “we haven’t seen an elephant yet” and somehow the next thing you know we were staring at an enormous backside of an elephant and her offspring.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was like Ollie willed it to happen or something. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Perhaps the most fascinating, unsettling and exciting time on safari was when our truck broke down in the middle of the Masai Mara.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You could look for miles and truly only see land and animals.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Help did not seem really in sight.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That would have been unsettling enough but we happened to be stalled not 10 feet away from a lion king eating his kill (water buffalo, if you’re curious.)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’m not exaggerating.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was insane.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At first we were terrified but Oliver assured us that the lion was only interested in his meal.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, it turned out, that was completely the case.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So while Oliver radioed for another jeep and we waited, we had the best front row seat ever.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I think I took 300 pictures of him in the 20 minutes we were stalled.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The lion, not Oliver.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Over the course of 3 days we saw all sorts of wildlife – elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, gazelles, water buffaloes, chimps, hyenas, zebras, etc.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was unreal. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The most adorable moment was when we happened upon a group of young lions lounging and sleeping on a small mound.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They were snuggling and so affectionate with one another.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was really hard to imagine in that moment that they are the most feared and vicious beasts in the animal kingdom.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we were driven back to the airstrip for our flight back to Nairobi, it was hilarious to see several (and, I mean several) lions napping on the runway.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Just hanging out while we drove up to the tiny plane.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Burbank airport, this is not. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Elisa summed up the experience best: it was like we were back in Los Angeles - we were the paparazzi stalking the celebrities of the jungle.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Hey lion, over here…”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;font-size:24.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;font-size:24.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwh3eiSbiStzAueZbSOasdK2sAJLy4n8oyjNIsupGb1IdUflUopeuUuqbTuYG9B30LxlvDIeyTpweMSR3j8Kw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-6726950938857920662009-11-16T00:40:00.000-08:002009-11-16T01:01:04.577-08:00“If we don’t tell our stories, no one else will.” -Maisha Film Lab Participant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMWulZRT_voaxtxazGVominORVqj_lfjyQ0eI7_oZhoLvePyqCilSNkJNM-a3__BUS5upXoInHvQ_RnixbZbz4D37bZPEjnQs8_rxyRFyHuQvecoS6dAMg2IqNjUELy70VmWHy2NmedZK/s1600/IMG_7767.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMWulZRT_voaxtxazGVominORVqj_lfjyQ0eI7_oZhoLvePyqCilSNkJNM-a3__BUS5upXoInHvQ_RnixbZbz4D37bZPEjnQs8_rxyRFyHuQvecoS6dAMg2IqNjUELy70VmWHy2NmedZK/s320/IMG_7767.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404623617559091170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjPbWeaYdQfOlSmgpByzHee7QpfzkMlUXLL3UxiSB0y42LfIn6NRWcEiVz_ymloaTE3Z6-fZqmvNUUcvGQBfKdXGe4E_H4e1CXbxtWUbFaTAb8EQUPu_sIEwSPmcPR4BCdGxzCgAOXVtx/s1600/IMG_7765.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjPbWeaYdQfOlSmgpByzHee7QpfzkMlUXLL3UxiSB0y42LfIn6NRWcEiVz_ymloaTE3Z6-fZqmvNUUcvGQBfKdXGe4E_H4e1CXbxtWUbFaTAb8EQUPu_sIEwSPmcPR4BCdGxzCgAOXVtx/s320/IMG_7765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404623612669322018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjeyCqkuz8ppIso7tyLNFZ28mraPtI5X883y_ZA8MGrc6GwIxgjRAj-Dhp_2VrlXlcE47IxJpQ298RCFHAUZQc0n-NIlxMvw1EmGkYwrX7AhqQjFGZyAZmFuXj2zlSDh5QVGW3cWARuy0/s1600/IMG_7762.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjeyCqkuz8ppIso7tyLNFZ28mraPtI5X883y_ZA8MGrc6GwIxgjRAj-Dhp_2VrlXlcE47IxJpQ298RCFHAUZQc0n-NIlxMvw1EmGkYwrX7AhqQjFGZyAZmFuXj2zlSDh5QVGW3cWARuy0/s320/IMG_7762.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404623603830244610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nDT0KrwpWlYereRbPuoxShXeb-DpwQWhXhQy_HcWGTUBlRfSCYk4-VJlUGWqn5YgyEsp5VmH1gvJ-kxFZ66mO_R1YzH4p-YFEIJrUj45wAfR1iPv88WXKibIGrloIVNetwFANbg1L01z/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nDT0KrwpWlYereRbPuoxShXeb-DpwQWhXhQy_HcWGTUBlRfSCYk4-VJlUGWqn5YgyEsp5VmH1gvJ-kxFZ66mO_R1YzH4p-YFEIJrUj45wAfR1iPv88WXKibIGrloIVNetwFANbg1L01z/s320/IMG_2088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404623598785490098" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Didot, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:17px;">Last week, Elisa Roth and I spent two days with a group of young, up and coming film and television writers, directors and producers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We volunteered to teach a two-day television workshop for the Maisha Film Lab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Elisa and I used to work together at NBC/Universal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I oversaw drama programming at the network and Elisa was my counterpart overseeing drama at the studio.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p>When the head of the Maisha Film Lab program met with us for lunch the day before, she “warned” us about the students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She said that culturally in Uganda people are polite but also very shy and reticent and almost aloof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She also said that they wouldn’t be familiar with American television shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Her advice was that we should approach the workshop on a very basic level. </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">We nodded and smiled and when she left, we panicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were planning an interactive workshop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We built our entire curriculum with the understanding that they would have a <i>basic</i> understanding of the most popular American television shows so, by way of explanation, we could discuss narrative structure and differences in genre and production models!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were screwed. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">So naturally, we immediately settled into the hotel bar, ordered a couple of cold Tuskers, and got to work to rethink our approach for the next two days. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Interestingly, her advice couldn’t have been further from the truth. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">When we arrived the first morning, we walked into a room full of people who were grateful and enthusiastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While they have had access to studying feature and short film and documentaries with the Maisha Film Lab, there had never been a TV workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Television production is exploding in Africa but there really isn’t vocational training in place for them to turn to to learn even the basics of the medium, the narrative form or the production model. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">To start the day, we had everyone go around the room and individually introduce themselves (it was our clever ploy to get them talking from the get-go).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were not prepared, given our meeting the day before, for how verbose and excited they would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They were eager to learn so much and were very specific about their expectations (How do I write a comedy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What is the structure of a drama?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do we market a television show?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What is the financial and production model of series television?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They also were really versed in American television and super familiar with many shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was, of course, pleased that “Lipstick Jungle” even came up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">The comment that I was most interested in was from a young man who said he wanted to “blow up the Western domination and bring local Ugandan stories to his country.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">It made me think about a layover I had in a Kenyan airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was sitting in a coffee shop and looked up at the television. “Seventh Heaven” was on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That show wasn’t even entertaining in the US!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Clearly, the need for locally produced content was urgent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But true. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">So we got to work over the next two days to really dive in and download as much as we could fit in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our “basic” class became a master’s class almost instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The students were eager to learn and were very quick studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">We screened some shows that both Elisa and I had worked on over the years (“Arrested Development”, “House” and “Heroes”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also showed the pilot of “Friends”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was a little hesitant to show “Arrested Development” as it was a show that was considered a little ahead of its time when it was launched on Fox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It never garnered a huge audience and a lot of the prognosticators concluded that it was “too quirky” or “too indie” to have a wide appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I figured that this purely “American” show might not “translate”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, it was so much fun to screen it and hear them laughing the entire show: from the very opening when Lucille Bluth says that she wants to set herself on fire, to the ending on George Michael’s face when he’s told he will be sharing a room with his cousin whom he has instantly fallen in love with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">The word “Maisha” means “zest for life”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It really does perfectly describe the students and their spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are so eager to tell their stories and really are just craving the education and the resources to be able to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of the participants said “we have issues to deal with that people need to address.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They want to tell their stories locally but bridge them globally. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Having spent time in the poor and remote villages in Kenya prior to this workshop, I was so moved by that sentiment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These young people want to entertain and educate and, most importantly, inspire to make a difference on their continent through the arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Often when a community is in flux, it is the artists who emerge as the evangelists for change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Virginia Woolf wrote (you didn’t think I wouldn’t include Virginia Woolf, did you?):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I feel that by writing I am doing what is far more necessary than anything else.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">On the agenda, we had slotted in for the second afternoon “The Future of Television and the Impact of Technology”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We decided that the “future of television”, as we know it, really is sort of irrelevant here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are no studios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are no networks to sell to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are no agents/managers protecting their interests and intellectual property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are no guilds providing benefits and collective bargaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We really are fortunate in our entertainment world in the states, despite the struggles we often like to claim we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My eyes were opened indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Perspective is a powerful thing. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Because the television industry, as we know it, does not really exist in Uganda, it was really thrilling to watch this community on the ground floor brainstorm about ways to make it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We spent the second afternoon having a really active, passionate, and productive conversation about the challenges, obstacles and ultimately the opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It made me think about how when I started in television the systems were obviously already in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, they had been for over 50 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">There were definitely some in the room who were overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We tried to encourage them to try and move from this “culture of no” to a culture that believes it can happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I was reminded of an essay about the arts I read that Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote which included:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Didot;font-size:18.0pt;">If you recognize in yourself some such decisive taste, there is no room for hesitation: follow your bent.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">This is a community who basically needs to start a revolution to get it off the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What was so inspiring was that most weren’t the least bit daunted by that fact. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">The sense of community was so strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They all want to help each other and they know as individuals they just can’t do it alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was so refreshing to experience that when I have become so used to the vitriol in the comments on different entertainment trade blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s like we have become a community in Hollywood and New York that kinda hate each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, kinda root for people to fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Truly, it was inspiring to be with these young people. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">There is a spirit of independence and pride that I am finding throughout Africa that moves me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These are people who don’t want handouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sorry for the cliché but it works:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they don’t want the fish, they want to be taught to fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are a resilient community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It seems clear that the biggest issue facing all of Africa is a lack of resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whether it’s in the poorest villages where the basic necessities to survive are lacking; or in the orphanages that are housing children whose parents died of AIDS and they have no home or family; or even in the community of young television writers/producers/directors and filmmakers in Kampala who are lacking equipment and money and an infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p>But, instead of being defeatist, Elisa and I saw this group literally band together and decide that today they start the revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-3078044224819062252009-11-10T04:29:00.000-08:002009-11-19T18:41:14.006-08:00"To let oneself be carried on passively is unthinkable."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFunAYROgzTyqHaV6aVqpAykJF5SzA1Ww4TiYWg-TILULu8cwhG0_AHb-lFecqgR_68XkDStiXUkh19ykA0Btk0pkGUzXJ7TFVYqHF0ghchypLwJ802A4gF_5LA0-vj1iBTrlU-KPO7en/s1600-h/IMG_6757.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" 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alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402454941874338562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EyaOYSg-MM-uc6hKcKN6dHo58xzwOqUdH8rDcNlS5ykGsaQ8fEqtxOMjqz6aMiUcP1nGMVGwbhrWuXKsaYUGHDkI5sfTVm74faEo5whBY9iPt1wLU8Z-zYCXCMM_FdTVS80qtaClFh0p/s1600-h/IMG_6724.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EyaOYSg-MM-uc6hKcKN6dHo58xzwOqUdH8rDcNlS5ykGsaQ8fEqtxOMjqz6aMiUcP1nGMVGwbhrWuXKsaYUGHDkI5sfTVm74faEo5whBY9iPt1wLU8Z-zYCXCMM_FdTVS80qtaClFh0p/s320/IMG_6724.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402454650630811234" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:17px;">All across Africa, in small and remote villages, women are banding together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are banding together as emotional support systems but also as entrepreneurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A lot of these women are unmarried (their husbands died (usually of AIDS) or abandoned them; or, they were never married).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If they are married, they are emerging as the sole breadwinners for their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not only caring for their immediate family but usually several other extended family members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When they are sole breadwinners, they tend to suffer less from physical abuse from their husbands or others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As barbaric as it sounds, it is still seemingly culturally acceptable for men to physically, emotionally or sexually abuse women.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">How it works:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>basically, the women pool their money together to start small businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They serve as their own bank – lending money to individual members when in need and charging a modest interest which all goes back into the collective fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They elect a chairwoman, a secretary, and a treasurer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are completely organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What is truly amazing is that these women were never formally educated and have never left their villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They don’t have any “real world” business experience and yet are totally impressive in their savvy and intuitive business acumen and approach.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;">As the book “Half the Sky” concludes:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;font-size:12.0pt;">Microfinance has done more to bolster the status of women, and to protect them from abuse, than any laws could accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Capitalism, it turns out, can achieve what charity and good intentions sometimes cannot.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I was fortunate to meet with two of these groups and provide them with much needed help on the spot.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><b>“Rabbit Ladies”</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">The first group was in the remote village of Thare in Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s a group of 50 women called “The Christian Women’s Love Group”.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Their leader is Alice Wanjiru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We met at her house with four of the other members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Alice was completely impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She spoke English (which is highly unusual in these remote villages.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of her sons was at university and the other in secondary school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Her husband died and she has been living on her own without means to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There aren’t life insurance policies or saving accounts to fall back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">She decided that she needed to be proactive - that life was happening and she needed to figure out a solution for survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She started this collective with a business plan to breed rabbits to sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They started with 3 rabbits and now have 70.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When they have 300 they can bring them to market and start selling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">This “Rabbit Lady” program, which they came up with, is really impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The start-up costs are modest and, unlike cows, the reproduction rate for rabbits is quite high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, at market rabbits yield a fairly good profit margin.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">When she was showing me the cages, I noticed that they were in rough shape and almost at capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I asked Alice about storage for the additional rabbits they were planning on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She said she was worried because the rabbits were reproducing very quickly and they needed a new and bigger cage for growth and for security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A new cage would cost $150 and they didn’t yet have the funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I offered to use some of the money we raised to buy them the cage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She was overwhelmed with gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It would have taken this collective of women at least a year to save up $150 for the new cage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, in that time, they may have lost some of the rabbits due to overcrowding in the cramped cages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I think about one trip to Whole Foods or Target on any given day in Los Angeles where I can easily spend $150.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was so gratifying to be able to use some of the funds we raised to literally impact an ENTIRE VILLAGE by this one simple gesture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was so easy and yet so important to the sustainability of this community of women. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p><b> “Kagenyo Women Group”</b></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">The second group of women I met with was in a remote village in Ngungugu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>18 of the 25 members attended our meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">While these women were as impressively organized as Alice’s group, with a management team in place etc, they had not yet started a business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They had a lot of good ideas and plans but they were saving what little money they had per month and it was not enough yet to get started with any one of these plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">We had a lengthy meeting (in Swahili – thank goodness for Patrick’s translation!) about their struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Patrick and I conspired on a solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While Patrick is a successful businessman in Nairobi, he was raised in this remote village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His family still owns land in the village and on his plot of land he has an abandoned chicken coop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Patrick donated the chicken coop to these women and through the money raised we were able to donate money to buy about 20 chickens to get them started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Again, it was so gratifying to be able to be so actionable with our donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">I am convinced that on-the-ground and immediate results are what is desperately needed in these villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is not “hand-out” charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Interestingly, the visit to the “Rabbit Ladies” was completely last minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were on our way to our school project and decided to make a quick detour to check-in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so glad we did as the visit was truly life-changing (for all of us.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">Clearly, these women are not passive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are doing their part to organize and form groups to come up with solutions and business plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In both instances, we provided them the, by our standards, modest resources to get started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But now they have the ability to be self-sufficient, grow and, most importantly, to have hope.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;">(Thank you Virginia Woolf for providing the opening inspirational quote for all of these entries so far except one.)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-font-style:italicfont-family:Arial;font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-52950494976791792352009-11-06T15:25:00.001-08:002009-11-06T23:09:53.169-08:00"Cow Lady" Program<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThNjLnnff0zsnblwVi9hSFqim2e2eeJ-x0ZEIhTj66Nc6-XkvP2WqSXaGFKZdkWD9ochqULFZV8gUjvCOAzfvZVxwrxPNm4zuYzjzsq4w1X3oStDRSYHzbCN7TLQM3UwXXbJt5wRTW4v0/s1600-h/IMG_6700.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThNjLnnff0zsnblwVi9hSFqim2e2eeJ-x0ZEIhTj66Nc6-XkvP2WqSXaGFKZdkWD9ochqULFZV8gUjvCOAzfvZVxwrxPNm4zuYzjzsq4w1X3oStDRSYHzbCN7TLQM3UwXXbJt5wRTW4v0/s320/IMG_6700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401138307486056130" /></a>The next door neighbor to Wanjiku.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDCc5kvI7ak722GsW_USQWcl210bdTgU2cWHH43tZo94Ea_WW2HG0sN70UnBWdS8hfVEHBZ262ZbtkFDqisst6vUl7GVjfTposkTZLbpA3ZWv2fg1xvQehUXJi6_oz8X8WGmlL3Hfwl1c/s1600-h/IMG_6692.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDCc5kvI7ak722GsW_USQWcl210bdTgU2cWHH43tZo94Ea_WW2HG0sN70UnBWdS8hfVEHBZ262ZbtkFDqisst6vUl7GVjfTposkTZLbpA3ZWv2fg1xvQehUXJi6_oz8X8WGmlL3Hfwl1c/s320/IMG_6692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401138299913490402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sgA1eEXC-GuyFH22TenC3R8psOtdSli9BQ_M3ZEasQQG_BsPkiPVUAV92e0tOeV6eiiIAdRkv0VwhT42RN3VJRHXCqIsjrxNgNotaS0sw-YXhPws-KKxBaDoKkopkdZCQHW2pkWc6Y5r/s1600-h/IMG_6680.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sgA1eEXC-GuyFH22TenC3R8psOtdSli9BQ_M3ZEasQQG_BsPkiPVUAV92e0tOeV6eiiIAdRkv0VwhT42RN3VJRHXCqIsjrxNgNotaS0sw-YXhPws-KKxBaDoKkopkdZCQHW2pkWc6Y5r/s320/IMG_6680.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401138294551776834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcH4w2F_zayQHAzEiT8YFFpgE0MquMCf44Dbn3hJAaTRrr5nscfHEPc6PDydv51eeEQvYsLGKqZGd8WaqGyM3SB_gOCzBYFwci80DArTmJb0fY_AwesNE5jic0CtmTXTLqrM7-QBGRVNn/s1600-h/IMG_6666.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcH4w2F_zayQHAzEiT8YFFpgE0MquMCf44Dbn3hJAaTRrr5nscfHEPc6PDydv51eeEQvYsLGKqZGd8WaqGyM3SB_gOCzBYFwci80DArTmJb0fY_AwesNE5jic0CtmTXTLqrM7-QBGRVNn/s320/IMG_6666.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401138290124939522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfeP758AinyWW5r7ELPWs7uuefiZWTKd-bbWig_H75dz4azv3Nz1ipghofSNVgq7o5iF7VU_Kp-QQD3Sx3YHAucV4umO0tFUoEWNAYjGSr2O64cYx9YTANXVAgcZVEIfHOke49iS7juvb/s1600-h/IMG_6663.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfeP758AinyWW5r7ELPWs7uuefiZWTKd-bbWig_H75dz4azv3Nz1ipghofSNVgq7o5iF7VU_Kp-QQD3Sx3YHAucV4umO0tFUoEWNAYjGSr2O64cYx9YTANXVAgcZVEIfHOke49iS7juvb/s320/IMG_6663.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401138287602578002" /></a><br /></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-18084527392283706812009-11-06T09:35:00.000-08:002009-11-06T23:07:43.910-08:00“Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit.” Eli Khamarov<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71W3aUUeZ_ulS2CDucmiuFt4x8tTMbrJY5pAbXJy-6sssPIbwXTTE6OfUwUdzwQzN6bcCOhiYMkyxxN5oRuNMwgQRSOHLE6rSgTt4FfxmVs5mtu6g2PzEymeorxebk9AoGPLFqUSJXSW3/s1600-h/IMG_6668.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71W3aUUeZ_ulS2CDucmiuFt4x8tTMbrJY5pAbXJy-6sssPIbwXTTE6OfUwUdzwQzN6bcCOhiYMkyxxN5oRuNMwgQRSOHLE6rSgTt4FfxmVs5mtu6g2PzEymeorxebk9AoGPLFqUSJXSW3/s320/IMG_6668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401050776098008738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdlbOdJAecA_OAZdSg_SEr6vpeXkIKFF89rb-gb1tpQLibSlg_Ha7QJZA0oHLprdaBh0g6vhJYXO9vCvXeFBNI44lAptLsMRtUDzieEsnotoGR2sdgcA2zKn3tYVS87Zlzq1fZfHgc1UL/s1600-h/IMG_6676.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdlbOdJAecA_OAZdSg_SEr6vpeXkIKFF89rb-gb1tpQLibSlg_Ha7QJZA0oHLprdaBh0g6vhJYXO9vCvXeFBNI44lAptLsMRtUDzieEsnotoGR2sdgcA2zKn3tYVS87Zlzq1fZfHgc1UL/s320/IMG_6676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401050767417757954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UNTME_2SrjrFKRqhonFiLqrPAQr0kGYmAk7X5xzZu8Ev_MmAL6Enohosk6BlbAkxELmUCGawiJU4zBby5h6y6yYlzkX06eaFkyVUpsNPU6HSi9jxPlFCMx98g1qtXvGetjl7qZkM8_7L/s1600-h/IMG_6681.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UNTME_2SrjrFKRqhonFiLqrPAQr0kGYmAk7X5xzZu8Ev_MmAL6Enohosk6BlbAkxELmUCGawiJU4zBby5h6y6yYlzkX06eaFkyVUpsNPU6HSi9jxPlFCMx98g1qtXvGetjl7qZkM8_7L/s320/IMG_6681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401050763733180930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIllMK-tYJXI5XBHfFYH7WEjZLnK_7TuZ-1QG4Q9SpBEmGu7_VP1Xak34P4N_nn82vYAH7uGaP2xQxbo6nXQcVimu0Fr-cyYd2eNnjAGxY6m359WQ5srhcdChq4wYpLw5u4HK4i684m5mW/s1600-h/IMG_6690.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIllMK-tYJXI5XBHfFYH7WEjZLnK_7TuZ-1QG4Q9SpBEmGu7_VP1Xak34P4N_nn82vYAH7uGaP2xQxbo6nXQcVimu0Fr-cyYd2eNnjAGxY6m359WQ5srhcdChq4wYpLw5u4HK4i684m5mW/s320/IMG_6690.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401050759674653682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhE_itGyIw2Eh1dYq8BPlEz9lF2xFkrDiO8Ajha3lb4-sxD1ivs_p0w_nQSUTi_bczhimj8eFLJKDEC49gkPFgzofe7-NFBmyWE9oOCJQN_26xgACTVGCeJfEUwrO8z8qVe7rG9xHX0zv/s1600-h/IMG_6691.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhE_itGyIw2Eh1dYq8BPlEz9lF2xFkrDiO8Ajha3lb4-sxD1ivs_p0w_nQSUTi_bczhimj8eFLJKDEC49gkPFgzofe7-NFBmyWE9oOCJQN_26xgACTVGCeJfEUwrO8z8qVe7rG9xHX0zv/s320/IMG_6691.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401050752283726210" /></a><br />Over the course of spending two days in the impoverished villages outside of Thika, Kenya, I had the chance to meet with individual women and a couple of women's groups who are all part of various micoloan/microcredit programs. After reading so much about these programs, it was so helpful to experience this firsthand and be able to specifically help using the money we raised.<div><br /></div><div>This is Wanjiku. She lives in the remote village of Ngungugu in Kenya. She is a beneficiary of a microloan program AMF started aptly dubbed "The Cow Ladies."</div><div><br /></div><div>The program is simple in concept and brilliant in potential. Basically, a woman is given a cow to have for income (she can sell the milk in the market) as well as provide for her own needs for her family. The only stipulation is that the first calf is "paid forward" and given away to another woman in the village. The program is one that is sustainable and self-perpetuating. And, hopefully over time transforms a village.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Wanjiku, this cow brings in about $3 a day. (In a village where earning a $1 a day is the norm.) She has done quite well with the program. She was able to add this addition to her home which she uses as a living room. In the main structure, she lives with her mother and two children.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her cow produced a bull. So, on the one hand, she does not need to give it away, bulls aren't desirable as they do not really provide income for the family. She will end up selling the bull (for about $100) and try again for a calf. It costs about $6 to inseminate a cow and they can do this about every 1-2 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, while the program provides her with some sense of security, she suffers from painful health problems. She is seeking medical treatment for her "mangled" feet. I honestly don't know how she was able to walk. But she did. It looked incredibly painful and challenging.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, then again, her entire life has been incredibly painful and challenging.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wanjiku has never married. Her first child was a product of rape. As was her second child. Her prospects of marriage, given her handicap, are zero.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a woman who has suffered in every way imaginable (from living in extreme, desolate poverty to rape.) And, yet, she didn't once mention her health problems (or the lack of proper health care to treat it.) She didn't seek pity about her tragic backstory (which Patrick told me after our visit.) She was simply very proud to speak about her cow and the financial details and her independence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her only regret was that she had nothing to offer us for visiting. That truly broke my heart. She wanted to give to us! Incredible.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we were leaving she walked us up the hill to the roadside. I was walking behind her and was so moved by what seemed to me, Wanjiku almost miraculously walking up the hill. Honestly, it looked like she was floating.</div><div><br /></div><div>This "cow lady" program is incredible because it is providing hope and an ability to survive. Without it, I honestly can't imagine how she would.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I love this quote by Eli Khamarov. And, if anyone is the poster child for that sentiment it's Wanjiku. All of these women are just trying to survive against every possible odd. They didn't ask for this life. They don't somehow deserve this life. And, yet, they are serving time for a crime they did not commit.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-4682888653932427212009-11-06T08:02:00.000-08:002009-11-06T09:00:51.712-08:00Ngungugu Primary School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHA6KD6pEPIT8h9oTV_7Hbx2msSsp8VSUHBYrQHUJSkUqCCEwokG2AsxXX-PgTDqz6xo5BDjZO61Ah3K5mU28dz9KL_DlNhPCYoG6MFHFmyi17MFo5WKV4Jw8PZHmTdxAVThZ4yJesKh2/s1600-h/IMG_6648.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHA6KD6pEPIT8h9oTV_7Hbx2msSsp8VSUHBYrQHUJSkUqCCEwokG2AsxXX-PgTDqz6xo5BDjZO61Ah3K5mU28dz9KL_DlNhPCYoG6MFHFmyi17MFo5WKV4Jw8PZHmTdxAVThZ4yJesKh2/s320/IMG_6648.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401028600271102706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwviPbI6IfdbjjXLDFmoAr5vyyEHU62fsYfc-oaKuMAPnq0NW7XrqeYu2yPl1cxeTobnZQIFKTTwGCmIwBB7tgnCJXY8H2hJnoq_kdfDcYUgJuCb9Rr9KbiHBeBdl_UO-SJPIPzpyVsap/s1600-h/IMG_6661.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzqq0x3sWPJCimleP1jfS_JuqX_VpSC7WvHkHK99nGzzJINOCsrY_VDb925XtWx2VmAEu4y6QzxhFNRIKlamd7Pi9WX2KD-Ls2GbxyAq1NNMO7zEJg6jlmtHp2aEZPn2MLfEb3EyAyZET/s320/IMG_6602.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401028581462230130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUdnvpnvunPczt6vWRQKFz0SekKd_-INRF-uv1Iz8r6CxyJcNlbuVsD_mG4_DvnHVgO51h5hrVQcCtn0C_QeBDmy219IQyPhLQ7dhp2vzrkaBns4cKGnRnKN8zT9t5y-FRBKAcjPyTHzs/s1600-h/IMG_6599.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUdnvpnvunPczt6vWRQKFz0SekKd_-INRF-uv1Iz8r6CxyJcNlbuVsD_mG4_DvnHVgO51h5hrVQcCtn0C_QeBDmy219IQyPhLQ7dhp2vzrkaBns4cKGnRnKN8zT9t5y-FRBKAcjPyTHzs/s320/IMG_6599.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401024442419861938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPMCWjwk3yggla2OglBPSlMkb3YaKbFsz4_VW22nMY5Ee1r4vdYLYx-_qNrxTG3H0cclRp-hZYSVCVpoZ1gVvSoVyibwyKyqqXcPD41mauplLhnO12vBhGG5rV7X8a1kokTLsQrVbfByT/s1600-h/IMG_6584.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPMCWjwk3yggla2OglBPSlMkb3YaKbFsz4_VW22nMY5Ee1r4vdYLYx-_qNrxTG3H0cclRp-hZYSVCVpoZ1gVvSoVyibwyKyqqXcPD41mauplLhnO12vBhGG5rV7X8a1kokTLsQrVbfByT/s320/IMG_6584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401024440053784658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP61vTtWA8H6Zjmyau765AKFy84ftFQdopT7mfl-pIw4gCU4AbvPzBnq9GTYMnrSie17UFzGiU3GLNV06rI70IHNygaTQE_FV96jLv9m2S4E_KXBsitXqiuwSyfTSnlRRjLs5gHx9arL0/s1600-h/IMG_6575.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP61vTtWA8H6Zjmyau765AKFy84ftFQdopT7mfl-pIw4gCU4AbvPzBnq9GTYMnrSie17UFzGiU3GLNV06rI70IHNygaTQE_FV96jLv9m2S4E_KXBsitXqiuwSyfTSnlRRjLs5gHx9arL0/s320/IMG_6575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401024434871687202" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP61vTtWA8H6Zjmyau765AKFy84ftFQdopT7mfl-pIw4gCU4AbvPzBnq9GTYMnrSie17UFzGiU3GLNV06rI70IHNygaTQE_FV96jLv9m2S4E_KXBsitXqiuwSyfTSnlRRjLs5gHx9arL0/s1600-h/IMG_6575.JPG"></a>Kitchen</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7Kk9QhD6oQ5YXJZaHBY2PE9TeqFuzGfuVrTeE63ORKTziWjJPPmv7T6I6QyQGCTjRpvWJYOSTHZ7whMPt8OFLB6j3iDJgL-bLcHRRf9ZOxbmZDq02PDvNiFJ73dl30zottoPArmSxbdW/s1600-h/IMG_6572.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7Kk9QhD6oQ5YXJZaHBY2PE9TeqFuzGfuVrTeE63ORKTziWjJPPmv7T6I6QyQGCTjRpvWJYOSTHZ7whMPt8OFLB6j3iDJgL-bLcHRRf9ZOxbmZDq02PDvNiFJ73dl30zottoPArmSxbdW/s320/IMG_6572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401024429877814194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCn3wl_8Vms2ci9FlRt7H39VxIjBWhOl_VlEU3HHWj5YbwFBHHgBSkAS-sU3BRycx450Eb3nAwmw0T7fnVA7zzLY87MW0lJaSNI2czqKWd5zAXuB0RIEB8AQ64OqVxHxIeRr0CKQTrFvM/s1600-h/IMG_6567.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCn3wl_8Vms2ci9FlRt7H39VxIjBWhOl_VlEU3HHWj5YbwFBHHgBSkAS-sU3BRycx450Eb3nAwmw0T7fnVA7zzLY87MW0lJaSNI2czqKWd5zAXuB0RIEB8AQ64OqVxHxIeRr0CKQTrFvM/s320/IMG_6567.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401024427600878098" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCn3wl_8Vms2ci9FlRt7H39VxIjBWhOl_VlEU3HHWj5YbwFBHHgBSkAS-sU3BRycx450Eb3nAwmw0T7fnVA7zzLY87MW0lJaSNI2czqKWd5zAXuB0RIEB8AQ64OqVxHxIeRr0CKQTrFvM/s1600-h/IMG_6567.JPG"></a>Principal's office</div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-66656493252769312892009-11-06T06:51:00.000-08:002009-11-19T18:40:35.656-08:00"On the outskirts of every agony sits some observant fellow who points."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARSbDMn0cNPnugtOr3sEFZZF7huLy_04unRlDTu4h9LeB3VlSn32Ug9Mr1gbBmIsKhDG_1kootqPpuUMY6PIih7driQgnmEurA8zu3DiNF_WzvPwrfc0kJ3j9STXkj3zAIuBYO99fHNgQ/s1600-h/IMG_6562.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARSbDMn0cNPnugtOr3sEFZZF7huLy_04unRlDTu4h9LeB3VlSn32Ug9Mr1gbBmIsKhDG_1kootqPpuUMY6PIih7driQgnmEurA8zu3DiNF_WzvPwrfc0kJ3j9STXkj3zAIuBYO99fHNgQ/s320/IMG_6562.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401021131095081394" /></a><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQhA_U4RbDD_IoXR66RtYTxzL5HS4fLxkdNaNfIcypW9OQpH4c8k4107Nqq7oKjVe58YgnKzyafp2Nj-FxKoqzJy6I8br6UGETfpsfcCTab2rCWrUiD27kR758RVTkaXZRT8Urd1zR1Ja/s320/IMG_6635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401015556826917426" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLOgQzNncUMOD5mjk5C4fwuh0DuS21JXPQAr6U6wxRWtD7J2uGejdsaG9W0OPcqrhl4bZyuCfbT9ukm9xzzjpe1QvC3TXwQpmxh4OWDFX6QZOheXhbJjsTqYpbiSOsE1cpdkbM-lsLqzD/s1600-h/IMG_6587.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLOgQzNncUMOD5mjk5C4fwuh0DuS21JXPQAr6U6wxRWtD7J2uGejdsaG9W0OPcqrhl4bZyuCfbT9ukm9xzzjpe1QvC3TXwQpmxh4OWDFX6QZOheXhbJjsTqYpbiSOsE1cpdkbM-lsLqzD/s320/IMG_6587.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401019959475545986" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQlCrFqVD_CTjPZCq1U57veXFOzbgBmZwhnncGplsRSdt9syEBdX7iLlg-MRRTRgKg_YSfp6UQs-FTH_TKdzFsi4VMHJ5WgZdKwsH_bpZdwHYt4UQEldovfzm2VNO4Duc6PditXpDkQvp/s1600-h/IMG_6789.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQlCrFqVD_CTjPZCq1U57veXFOzbgBmZwhnncGplsRSdt9syEBdX7iLlg-MRRTRgKg_YSfp6UQs-FTH_TKdzFsi4VMHJ5WgZdKwsH_bpZdwHYt4UQEldovfzm2VNO4Duc6PditXpDkQvp/s320/IMG_6789.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401016311318072882" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88ZyaqXeAZ0KyvY8nK2e-_Vb5C13ddWwtQYDBAsp2bYy68SiMAFPB1MVYDIqs8D3G4rktERdsomnNkpo1UrWeOrEVktAtqcMn-mwOibbMNMlg3jgwyX1DQFvJ313asoSPt1W2QtZ6YPes/s320/IMG_6579.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401015539652131538" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwPPgxgFjkqQ2WoUOkM2qP_j125tWLO6nOJOJbxnSMR_YWnsvTiDkoPT99zpnljVQxQIU961z69T5XFkLOMnZW-LBPsEeASEafXvvnh0uqfS00a_GPJhagYK4jYvvWfXPhgrDsikGlyRg/s320/IMG_6794.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401016319370617378" /><br />This is Patrick. He has almost single-handedly transformed Ngungugu and its primary school. For Patrick, it’s personal. He grew up in this village and sees the cycle of poverty and is determined to do something about it. Through sheer will and determination he completed his schooling and went on to university and started a very successful construction business in Nairobi. <div><br /></div><div>Being in the village today, it is almost unfathomable to me how he was able to overcome this extreme poverty. His family could not afford to send him to secondary school and he begged the head master to allow him to go. Begged. <div><br /></div><div>He told me today that he always had a penchant for helping others. His mother had a small shop in the village when he was growing up. He remembered when he was 10 years old he stole a bag of beans from his mother's store. He gave that bag to an elderly woman in his village who was caring for all of her children and grandchildren on her own. For 10 year old Patrick, that just wasn't right and he needed to do something about it. (And, he decided to ignore the risks involved in stealing from his mother!)<br /><br />When we arrived at the school Thursday the upper class students were celebrating the last day of class. They had completed 8th grade and were “graduating” from primary school. The next step for them is to take exams and try and get into secondary school. For most of these students, this celebration today will be the last time they are in the classroom. While numbers are improving (a few years ago only 1 student went on to secondary school and this year they think maybe 5 or 6 will), they are still grim. The unfortunate reality is most of these families cannot afford to send their children to high school, even if they pass their exams.<br /><br />(By the way, it was unusual to see food in the classroom as typically these children eat once a day in the evening. That is the one meal that sustains them throughout the next day. They wake up without a meal and they don't have a meal at lunch. All the while in school.)<br /><br />The students offered us bowls of food. I felt so guilty eating their food knowing that the other students not in 8th grade were starving, but Patrick said it would be insulting to not to accept it. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of the students were so gracious and generous and excited. They loved seeing pictures of themselves (the genius of the immediate gratification of a digital camera!) They have such hope in their eyes and yet for most of these children poverty is the beginning and end of the road for them. Tragic.</div><div><br /></div><div>The money we raised is going toward new desks for the Class 1 students (these are the youngest students in the school.) The desks that they currently have are too tall. They are forced to stand all the day so they can reach their desks to write.<br /><br />It was so incredible and gratifying to be able to visit this school with a very specific project that we were able to implement using some of the money raised.<br /><br />This school has benefited greatly from AMF and the work that Patrick has done. Some of the other projects completed are:<br /><br />-Putting a roof on the school. It is unthinkable to me that up until recently there was not a roof on the school. Especially given the downpour we experienced last night.<br /><br />-Putting in window panes. Previously there were only holes in the wall.<br /><br />-Adding a girl’s bathroom. It was not entirely clear to me what the girls did prior to this.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As we were leaving, I was struck by the boy standing on the other side of the fence not in uniform. I asked the principal about the boy. She told me he broke his arm two weeks ago and his parents pulled him out of school to heal. They can't afford medical care and it's too painful for him to be in school. When Patrick heard that he immediately went into action to make sure the boy would be able to go to a clinic on Monday.</div><div><br /></div><div>In an otherwise hopeless and desperate situation, I was so incredibly inspired by Patrick. He indeed is the fellow who points.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-57604989514096788992009-11-04T10:14:00.000-08:002009-11-19T18:39:57.249-08:00"The beauty of the world...has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder."<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL7inH5tTCOr03hVdEFLs16KlZM_4n28_YL5JOphxJCnU-ql5NVYRfPAxC7WUPNKOwsnVEwrib6FSJfjOz4C4apdYsIQ9BA_ySVxXQr6IUk4jwFlQ5iPmgtDY3Sdf53iQ7a_Y2HeNVRFK/s320/IMG_6517.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400330931837259906" /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzA7Ts2luhtDwtU1byib3Sf68e_OAa9HndVUCu0C-4_3K9nH8DdWAi2LEEQYQ37Z1Sn1TrncwPkH933FUItj4MLV6Rq1e3CUjQH5kctsFE1QTrppVxyL3iKNuT051zN2WT5QIGzOu7Sg8/s1600-h/IMG_6456.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzA7Ts2luhtDwtU1byib3Sf68e_OAa9HndVUCu0C-4_3K9nH8DdWAi2LEEQYQ37Z1Sn1TrncwPkH933FUItj4MLV6Rq1e3CUjQH5kctsFE1QTrppVxyL3iKNuT051zN2WT5QIGzOu7Sg8/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400330468616114818" /></a><br /><br /><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0PrYJgC-eNo5Ph-lT62x25CmT9t_9Fd1RAJTy_aL8pIRWsK5S5SOnhz5wQnGcPVFJdbdAC-xYlXo2YCa_hAfG3cSX4LxiNRbbGZ5wxsfKxdC3fljG6Yz78lH-FSos06_Dx2MqA7CGgs0/s320/IMG_6448.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400330453998935202" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeRR2O5IQtcAP429dj11PYBqRTkzuLWKtDE5j-gJuBXkqSlO4BdmNnO26wPx2QIS3GHq7xsVN450ufxpWjoA5etX-oLG5kRyaYXixsBGsEy9rrzKY0omFq3PnSS5t0WIjb6bnOPgjuZ3-/s320/IMG_6435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400500067368971458" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMJfIr9K-5GjRvIs3AXSH_e1rFCO-xzIDcT7846uTCLp4ltzbzxDnwS5Y1oyMyIHhfroP1tj-rj7athFdL-TAD9sbVftm6ZHPtpMVFjg29vEagIFi7UMatsxMsOq9ZBslbwa_0_4tpWs1/s1600-h/IMG_6439.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMJfIr9K-5GjRvIs3AXSH_e1rFCO-xzIDcT7846uTCLp4ltzbzxDnwS5Y1oyMyIHhfroP1tj-rj7athFdL-TAD9sbVftm6ZHPtpMVFjg29vEagIFi7UMatsxMsOq9ZBslbwa_0_4tpWs1/s320/IMG_6439.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400330447486268338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3VbbcXD4IDvKsSi86vX09XZXtPhJ8uA4Yckm9PYcasPwkGdfn4IGdhRc3JeijFbNo_m-9Au6OPHdSE7OTPdc2YKfRrMW_aP3L0GLwo429wXzVfE8ix-GDMQgf4BjGTLy6yRCSri3vx1_/s1600-h/IMG_6428.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3VbbcXD4IDvKsSi86vX09XZXtPhJ8uA4Yckm9PYcasPwkGdfn4IGdhRc3JeijFbNo_m-9Au6OPHdSE7OTPdc2YKfRrMW_aP3L0GLwo429wXzVfE8ix-GDMQgf4BjGTLy6yRCSri3vx1_/s320/IMG_6428.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400330445049391666" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It is possible I just quoted Virginia Woolf. Again. (Sorry.)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I did think it was a fitting quote on Day 2 of my African sojourn. Malena thought it would be a good idea to have a day of acclimation before I ventured to the Thika village on Thursday and Friday. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">(Have I told you about Malena? Malena Ruth is the body, mind and spirit behind the African Millennium Foundation. Truly an inspiration. She's been and will continue to be my guru and mentor throughout this experience.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">But back to Ms. Woolf. Today I had a day of laughter, so to speak.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Patrick, my contact in Nairobi, picked me up at my hotel for our day excursion. He was amused by my clutching of the passenger seat handle while he raced through the streets of Nairobi in his Land Cruiser. (I thought I was being subtle.) Driving in Nairobi is definitely an extreme sport and one that I am surely not qualified for. And, when we weren't racing through the streets we were stopped in "cow traffic" waiting for herds of cows to walk idly by.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">That said, today I truly experienced Africa in all of its breath-taking beauty and wildlife. The Nairobi Safari Walk was the perfect way to spend my first full day here. Almost cliche really. I was surrounded by like-minded tourists and young shiny-faced and eager African tour guides. It was thrilling to see these amazing amimals up close and hear the bits of trivia from our knowledgeable guide. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">-It takes two hours to boil an ostrich egg!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">-Giraffes live up to 28 years!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">-Cheetahs don't need to drink water - their prey provides them all the moisture they need!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">But I found this fact the most interesting and most relevant:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">-The male lion (The King) sleeps 16 hours a day. The female lion goes and hunts for the food. She brings back the meal and the King eats first, followed by the cubs. Then, if there is remaining food, she eats.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It reminded me of something I read in "Half the Sky": </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Some of the most wretched suffering is caused not just by low incomes, but also by unwise spending – by men. It is not uncommon to stumble across a mother mourning a child who has just died of malaria for want of a $5 mosquito net and then find the child’s father at a bar, where he spends $5 a week. Several studies suggest that when women gain control over spending, less family money is devoted to instant gratification and more for education and starting small businesses. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I have yet to see first hand the impact of the microcredit programs in Africa but I can already intuit and understand how these microcredit programs are literally changing and transforming these struggling villages. Transferring the balance of power is probably overstating it. But certainly, allowing women to be enterprisers and entrepreneurs with such minimal start up costs is genius. And is why the man, Muhummad Yunus, who conceived and first implemented this program, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in Bangladesh.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I will be visiting a handful of villages this month and will be able to tell you firsthand how these microcredit/microloan programs are working and changing the lives of many. And, how the money we raised is going to add women to these programs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">As a proud American, I love seeing capitalism working and thriving. Giving these women a tiny bit of money to start a small business and seeing them thrive and save and contribute to the community is one of the things I'm most looking forward to seeing and helping with </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">individually.</span></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Kofi Annan said it best in 2006: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It is impossible to realize our goals while discriminating against half the human race. As study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So today was one of laughter with Patrick and the wild animals in the luxury of the Nairobi Safari Walk; and, the two glasses of South African red wine I enjoyed at the hotel while writing this.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tomorrow, I see the other edge.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></i></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607171357341496881.post-11386767254562855542009-11-03T12:12:00.000-08:002009-11-04T18:16:37.538-08:00A Room of One's Own<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Apologies upfront for what is becoming a sort of obsession I'm having with Virigina Woolf. And while that may drip with a sort of pseudo-pretension, go with me on this for a minute.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I was preparing for this month long African sojourn, I happened to re-read "A Room of One's Own". It got me thinking about the plight of women in Africa. While it's true that Woolf was writing about the literary pursuits of privileged women, there is something incredibly moving to me about the simplicity of that sentiment. Taking some liberty with her thesis, it struck me that the impoverished people of Africa, especially the girls and women who have been so marginalized culturally, have very little opportunity to break out of the cycle of extreme poverty. They don't have the basic supplies of food, shelter and, with the AIDs epidemic, the familial structures to survive. Taken literally, they don't have a room of their own. Without a "room", there is no hope. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am moved and inspired by an African proverb (that was quoted in the wonderful book by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wundunn called "Half the Sky"): </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>You educate a boy, and you're educating an individual. You educate a girl, and you're educating an entire village.</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Which brings me to the projects I will be working on this week:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The first will be working on AMF's school project at Ngungugu Primary. We are going to be making over one classroom and will conduct some home visits of the students to encourage attendance and try and motivate and help where we find families and kids who are unable to attend. (A lot of the children are left to stay at home to work or they can't afford the very minimal cost of attendance. We are going to try and encourage school participation because, at the very least, the school can provide the one meal a day most of these kids will have. Also, it is customary that families only send the boys to school and we are going to try and increase attendance for girls.) I am going to try and take before and after pictures at the school to give you an idea of the impact of the make over.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the biggest issues facing Africa today is the education of girls. As Lawrence Summers wrote when he was the chief economist of the World Bank:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Investment in girls' education may well be the highest-return investment available in the developing world. The question is not whether countries can afford this investment, but whether countries can afford not to educate girls.</i><br /><br />The second project I will be working with 25 of the women who have received loans through the Microcredit Program established through AMF. I will conduct in-depth interviews to gather statistics about their living conditions, current incomes, generation activities, monthly budgets, needs of families, etc. This will help in refining the program and focus on where the program is effective and where we need to make adjustments.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In "A Room of One's Own" Virginia Woolf writes: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man, at twice its natural size.</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am so interested to see up close and on the ground the impact and workings of these microcredit programs which are transforming villages across Africa and other developing countries. They are exclusively for women who for centuries were not able to own land or have bank accounts, etc. These incredible programs are helping to finally bring commerce and a sense of security and livelihood for so many women.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And, finally, my favorite quote from "A Room of One's Own":</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have often enjoyed that quote as it relates to my life - just this past weekend I dined very well in NYC at The Waverly Inn, Balthazar, and Telepan. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But I'm certain this quote will take on a much different meaning to me this week when "dining well" is something that is relative, to say the least, in the extremely impoverished village of Thika. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420528335285373667noreply@blogger.com0