Yes, We Actually Do Need You

This week we farewelled another one of our volunteers – Paul.

I ‘met’ Paul on Facebook, he’s a Kenyan and was keen to come and assist our work out at Osiligi. Paul was waiting to get into university and thought nothing about helping us out.

None of our volunteers nor interns get paid to work with us, everyone has to find their own finances to cover their living costs. It’s a big ask but that’s how we do it. Sure, when they are out at the farm they get food and a room but they are expected to put in the same hours as our paid staff. From time to time they may get transport money, or if a staff member is going out there we give them a ride. Some weeks though they have to pay for themselves to get back home to Nairobi.

Paul has been an amazing young man. I think he takes after his mother (whom I am yet to meet). Paul has two younger siblings but his mother has put them all through school, by herself. She not only works incredibly hard but has a tremendous amount of faith. Here is her oldest son now doing another university course and she has committed to assisting him through it.

That’s what I find incredible here. Families will do all that they can to put their children through school. Paul and his mother are not waiting for money to come from Heaven, they are doing their best in the face of adversity. The unemployment rate in Kenya is well over 50%, a huge challenge.

Paul & Sharon, some of our volunteers

Paul decided that the best use of his time was to volunteer with an organisation who needed his help. Paul took it on himself to teach photography and video, carrying on the work that had been started by another. However, he did so much more than this. Paul would be there at 7am for devotions, he would be helping in the classroom in the mornings and then with the students in the afternoon working with them in the shamba (garden). He didn’t stop there. Paul would also be teaching self defence during the sport break before supper.

Paul is a real trooper and we have been so privileged to have him on our team. He even came into the office today for staff devotions one more time. Now, in his short spare time, he will be putting together a video documentary on our work.

We have some of the best staff in the world, but we also appreciate our volunteers as well. Some come for a few months, others a few weeks. Now, we have a gap from Paul, Mercy, Millicient, Esther and Maartja who have been with us this year. Each has left a great impression on our young people.

Why not consider joining the Afri-Lift team as a volunteer or intern? You won’t get paid in cash, but you will in thanks, appreciation and the lifelong friendships you will make.

We keep asking for a move of God, but God is waiting for us to move – Mark Kelsey.

Helped Someone Lately?

Yesterday, the world celebrated ten years of World Humanitarian Day.  It is a day set aside to recognise those who face danger and adversity in order to help others. It was designated by the General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

 This bring me to my question, when did you last help someone?

Before you tell me how busy you have been or how the world is facing an economic crisis, I request you just hear me out.

By someone here I mean a complete stranger or someone who is not in your own circle of friends and family. I have come to the realization that you don’t have to be a Mother Teresa or the next Bill Gates to help someone out. You can be yourself and still make a difference.

As I write this article I am reminded of my dear mother who taught us this priceless lesson just way she has lived her life. We grew up in the slopes of Nyambene hills, central part of Kenya, in a small town called Meru. This little town has made it to the headlines of this country for various reasons such as it popular growth of a certain plant called Miraa (Khat) and also its great rich culture heritage of the Ameru Traditions practices such as circumcision

Back to my story, when we moved to Meru quite a while back my mother met a certain old lady in the market. I don’t quite know how they met but as the story goes my mother’s heart was touched by this old stranger. Maybe it was because this old lady was so old at that time that the thought that she had to compete with other young ladies in the market to sell her vegetables was quite absurd to my mother. Maybe it was also because that this old lady had no living family and lived all alone.

old toothless woman

Mother decided to bring her home that day and she introduced us to Gacheri that’s her name). For the next couple of months Gacheri would always come home and we would bless her with food and some clothes. She in return would help out in my mother’s kitchen garden and her flower garden. 

I smile as I remember Gacheri’s toothless grin and also the fact that she insisted on teaching us Meru Traditional songs. I must confess that at that time my sister and I were not as fond of Gacheri as our mother. Sometimes we felt she was more of a bother than a blessing. I remember joking once that we already had a granny and to add another was insane (I was 10 years old). To my shock and horror I received such a heavy beating from mother that day that every time I think of it I wince out in pain.

“Joy I want to you to understand that you should always help those around you. You may never know, they in return will take care of your children when you are gone (dead)”, my mother told me.

My attitude changed that very day and I started treating Gacheri with more respect and love. I was always the first to open the door every time she came home and I would faithfully pour her a glass of water. It was during this time that I understood what my mother had seen in Gacheri…..a human being just like me.The Scriptures constantly emphasizes on our role to help out those in need around us. 

Hebrews 13: 16 states that ‘ we should not neglect to do good and to share what we have for such sacrifices are pleasing to God’. (Emphasis mine)

I can’t recall what exactly happened to Gacheri since I moved away but what I know is that having her around was one of the best moments of growing up.

There is always a blessing and joy when you help people around you. Helping out doesn't require a big fat cheque but what is in your hands and heart. 

So look around you now………is there someone you can help today?

This is Lucy

Lucy is an integral part of the work of Afri-Lift. Not only does she do an incredible job in overseeing all things financial, she is an all round wonderful person.

 

I can write this blog on a Monday afternoon because the craziness of a Monday morning has passed. First we start with staff devotions which normally goes for an hour. Lucy, along with her admin sidekick – Joy, makes sure there is coffee, tea and hot chocolates for everyone. This morning there were 8 of us today but there can be up to 12 people.

After devotions there’s team meetings but for Lucy everyone needs money for that weeks’ projects. There’s transport for our volunteers out to the farm, purchases for our office and cars to be registered. Lucy also has the complicated task of managing the needs of our training facility at Osiligi. With each new intake of students there’s blankets, toothbrushes, gumboots, extra food to buy and she manages it all.

Afri-Lift has a high standard of financial integrity. Not only do we have Lucy doing a fantastic job we also have internal and external auditors. We aim to represent our donors money in the best way possible.

Many number crunchers don’t have a social personality. One of Lucy’s fine characteristics is that she is a real people person. Her whole aim is to serve the greater vision of Afri-Lift and sees her role as integral to that.

Often when one is working in an office for a development ministry such as Afri-Lift it can be challenging as you don’t get to see the faces of the young people we work with. This is why a couple of times a month we insist our admin staff get out of the office and go and work for a day with one of our ministry streams. It could mean taking a food parcel to a needy family in Kibera, making a school visit with one of our social workers, attending the street project or traveling out to Osiligi. Lucy has taught our students on budgeting and even though the boys are much taller than her, they respect her knowledge and generous spirit.

In this coming year Lucy wishes to pursue her dream of entering a degree. Here is a young girl who was orphaned, travels 90 minutes to work each way and is now looking at going flatting for the first time in her life.

Lucy is a great example of someone who has discovered her faith in Christ and how He is involved in her life daily.

Afri-Lift is very blessed to have Lucy as part of our team and when you come to visit she will make you the best coffee on the planet!

Youth and Technology In Africa

A lot has been said on the continent of Africa. As I write this article, Thabo Mbeki’s speech on I am African comes to mind when I think of the good things that have been said about said about Africa.

For many years now, Africa has been known for its rich culture heritage, its vast wildlife, famous people like Nelson Mandela, Ellen Johnson Sir leaf(the first black woman president in the world) and Wangari Maathai (first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize). It has also been known for things such as such as poverty, drought, civil wars, sickness and corrupt governments.

Kenya, a country in Africa, has also been known for many things. It has appeared on many headlines around the world due to its abundance of rare and amazing wildlife, fast runners in marathons held in different countries, its rich African culture and also the mobile money also known as M-PESA. However, not much has been said of its technology.

Young people  using mobile phones

Technology is the ability to accomplish a task especially using technical processes, methods or knowledge. Here in Kenya we have various types of technology to accomplish numerous tasks around us. The presence of technology in Kenya has made life a bit easier.

It is interesting to note that back here in Kenya it is the young people who have embraced technology and the changes it brings to life. They have easily adapted to it and hence life has become much easier to deal with. They have been called the ‘dot.com’ or the ‘microwave’ generation where every task that they do takes as little time as possible. However the older generation has been rigid to accept the changes that come with the new technology

If you happen to walk down the streets of Nairobi today, you will notice most of the young people on their earphones listening to their IPods or MP3 players as they walk and others busy on their phones probably on the social networks as they take photos to update each other. When they go home at night, some will switch on their digital TV to catch up with whatever they fancy viewing and others will probably be on their laptops finishing up on their assignment or work.

“I am going to the movies”, my friend said to me the other day. “This time I am going for the 3D one”, he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Yes we also have movie theatres here in 3D amongst many other things.

The church in Kenya has not been left behind in identify with its youth. My home church has embraced technology especially during the youth services. The overhead projector that displays lyrics, announcements and also the bible verses make the whole process easier. We have everything from state-of the-art lights to a great sound system that make going to church enjoyable and you leave the place feeling blessed.

Youth Church in Kenya

What about you? How has the youth in your country been transformed by technology?

Youth and Technology in Kenya

A lot has been said on the continent of Africa. As I write this article, Thabo Mbeki’s speech on I am African comes to mind when I think of the good things that have been said about said about Africa. However, Oscar Wilde’s remark breaks my heart when he said that the only good thing about Africa is HIV.

For many years now, Africa has been known for its rich culture heritage, its vast wildlife, famous people like Nelson Mandela, Ellen Johnson Sir leaf(the first black woman president in the world) and Wangari Maathai (first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize). It has also been known for things such as such as poverty, drought, civil wars, sickness and corrupt governments.

Kenya, a country in Africa, has also been known for many things. It has appeared on many headlines around the world due to its abundance of rare and amazing wildlife, fast runners in marathons held in different countries, its rich African culture and also the mobile money also known as M-PESA. However, not much has been said of its technology.

Young people have embraced technology

Technology is the ability to accomplish a task especially using technical processes, methods or knowledge. Here in Kenya we have various types of technology to accomplish numerous tasks around us. The presence of technology in Kenya has made life a bit easier.

It is interesting to note that back here in Kenya it is the young people who have embraced technology and the changes it brings to life. They have easily adapted to it and hence life has become much easier to deal with. They have been called the ‘dot.com’ or the ‘microwave’ generation where every task that they do takes as little time as possible. However the older generation has been rigid to accept the changes that come with the new technology.

If you happen to walk down the streets of Nairobi today, you will notice most of the young people on their earphones listening to their IPods or MP3 players as they walk and others busy on their phones probably on the social networks as they take photos to update each other. When they go home at night, some will switch on their digital TV to catch up with whatever they fancy viewing and others will probably be on their laptops finishing up on their assignment or work.

“I am going to the movies”, my friend said to me the other day. “This time I am going for the 3D one”, he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Yes we also have movie theaters here in 3D among many other things.

Young people in church

The church in Kenya has not been left behind in identify with its youth. My home church has embraced technology especially during the youth services. The overhead projector that displays lyrics, announcements and also the bible verses make the whole process easier. We have everything from state-of the-art lights to a great sound system that make going to church enjoyable and you leave the place feeling blessed.

What about you? How has the youth in your country been transformed by technology?