Happy Labour Day To The Kiwis

The word ‘labour’ seems to have many negative connotations about it:

• -       Difficult or arduous work
• -       Giving birth
• -       In contrast to management, those who are ‘the people’

It all started in 1840 when a New Zealand carpenter called Samuel fought for the right of an 8 hour working day. Before that employers could demand that their staff work crazy hours without compensation for overtime.

Samuel Duncan Parnell

Since then, around the world people have kept demanding their work rights. These include maternity leave, overtime, safe working conditions and holidays.

Unfortunately not everyone has been able to achieve these well deserved standards.

At Afri-Lift we work with the most underprivileged young people in Nairobi. Even though they finish school and get some training, getting a job is a real challenge. We have seen many young people who have been given on-the-job training but never paid. We've also seen them work without contracts, days off or any form of payment for months on end. The reason they continue working is that they live in hope of getting paid and full time employment.

The Bible states that working is good for us. Ecclesiastes mentions several times about people enjoying the fruit of their labour. There is great satisfaction in performing a job and getting paid for it. Mentally, socially and physically employment is good for you.

Last week we had the privilege of helping a young man get ready for a job interview. We gave him a mock interview and put him through the ropes of how things may go. By the end of the two hour session he walked away with more confidence and had a plan on how he was going to achieve getting further interviews. Next year we are planning on doing this on a larger scale for young people who are job hunting.

So while the rest of the world is working, New Zealanders will be enjoying a day off celebrating Labour Day. We wish our Kiwi friends a splendid day and thank them for being the spearhead for the rest of the world in this area.

Please remember to keep praying for the young people of Kenya. While the unemployment rate is said to be 43%, in reality, if you are living in a slum that figure is doubled. However, we are believing God for an even brighter future for our young people.

Please pray and believe with us.

How Washing Hands Saves Lives

Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, has a potential of becoming Africa’s next potential business hub. As you walk or drive around the highways one can easily notice the increasing number of billboards advertising different household products and services. This by far (in theory of course) goes to show that Kenyans have a higher purchasing power.

Nairobi City

One of the best advertising billboards I have seen in the city is by Lifebouy. Lifebouy is a hand washing soap that has been in Kenya for many years now. What stood out for me from this particular advertisement is the face of a four year old boy with a huge smile on his face. The boy is just about to blow candles on his birthday cake. Below the boy is a phrase that I always strikes me…..Help Brian turn 5 next year.

Global Hand Washing Day is celebrated across the world on October 15^th every year. On this day the very act of washing hands is emphasized across the world. The day was originally created for the children and schools but can be celebrated by anyone promoting hand washing with soap. Washing hands with soap and water can save hundreds of lives.

 According to  UNICEF(United Nations Children’s Fund), the child mortality rates released last year stated that over 2000 children under five die each year from diarrhea cases .Of these the vast majority – or about 1,800 children per day – die from diarrhea diseases due to a lack of safe water, sanitation and basic hygiene. This has gone to prove how important it is to wash ones hands with soap and water.

Hand washing with soap has proven to be the most cost effective way of preventing diarrhea related deaths and diseases. The presence of soap minimizes the bacteria load in ones hands.

If the water and soap are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% of alcohol. Alcohol based sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs in some situations.

What’s the right way of washing hands?

1. Wet your hands with clean running water  and apply soap
2. Rub your hands together and make lather and scrub them well. Scrub the back of your hands, between fingers and under your nails.
3. Continue rubbing for at least 20 seconds. You can “Happy Birthday” song twice from begging to the end to act as a timer.
4. Rinse your hands well under the running water
5. Dry  your hands with clean towel or air dry them

   

   Ways to effectively wash hands

I came across  some interesting facts from a Michigan State University Study that out of 3,749 people that use the public restrooms, 33%  did not use soap when washing their hands and 10% did not wash their hands at all. Only 5% washed their hands long enough to kill the germs.

The study also revealed that

§  Fifteen percent of men didn’t wash their hands at all, compared with 7 percent of women. When they did wash their hands, only 50 percent of men used soap, compared with 78 percent of women.

§  People were less likely to wash their hands if the sink was dirty.

§  Hand washing was more prevalent earlier in the day. Borchgrevink said this suggests people who were out at night for a meal or drinks were in a relaxed mode and hand washing became less important.

§  People were more likely to wash their hands if a sign encouraging them to do so was present.

Now we understand how important it is to wash our hands. It not only protects us but also those around us. As we mark Global Hand washing Day on October 15^th I suggest that you mark it by …….washing your hands.

I have posted a link below that will inspire you to wash your hands. Its about an Indian father that celebrates once his son turns five. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLlRAxVKajA

Happy Teacher's Day

 This week we celebrate World Teachers Day (WTD). WTD is a natural extension of UNESCO's all year round work of promoting teachers, ensuring that this profession, so vital to the healthy functioning of society, is itself "healthy".  Teachers are a normative indicator of social health.

I admire the teachers we have here in Kenya. Most of them work with very little resources in the classroom, long hours and the pay is not always regular. Some classes have over 100 students without electricity or enough desks. I’ve heard of cases where a student saves for a textbook only to have it taken by the teacher because they don’t even have a copy.

 

A crowded classroom

A few weeks ago I was chatting with one of our boarding school students. He told me how they have to get up at 3.45am and their day went through until 10pm each night. There was very little time for extracurricular activities even on a Sunday.

This is in sharp contrast to what our students at the Osiligi Training Centre have on offer. Students are assessed when they enter the two year program to see where they are academically. It is a goal that all students sit the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) before they leave the program. Here in Kenya an employer will always ask what certificates they have so completing the KCPE makes them more employable. Class sizes vary from 4 to 10 students.

Classes are held from 8.30am until 1pm, when the lunch bell rings. Students are split up into their academic levels and the classes are rotated over a 45 minute class. The staff at Osiligi is responsible for teaching classes as well as mentoring the students, assisting in agriculture and running the evening programs. Considering their day starts at 6am our teachers are dedicated to their calling right throughout the day.

Some students at Osiligi Training Centre

Teachers should not be underestimated in the role that they play in the life of a student. How many of us have been inspired by an excellent teacher or been crushed by their harsh words? I remember my senior school teacher telling me that we would all fail our national maths exam – I think most of us did because of the words she spoke.

Our teachers at Osiligi see their most important role is to inspire the young men to do better in life.

A good teacher will live a lifelong positive impression on their students. We are blessed because we can pray with our students, enjoy life with them and then graduate them into the next step of their life. They have small classes, resources, get paid each month and actually like their jobs!

We salute the teaching staff at Osiligi for the excellent job they do. This year we have 3 students sitting the KCPE in November and we look forward to sharing with you their results.