Some Good News from Kenya

Ok, so caucuses are in one hour. That means I still have time to post another dispatch from the Charmer Travelblog: East Africa 2000. I just want everyone to know that even with the current tragic unrest in Kenya, the quiet heros still outnumber the angry mobsters. We checked on our dear seminary neighbors, the Obagas, who were just in Nairobi for their daughter's wedding. They are OK. Here's a picture of Margaret Obaga, who graced my very first blog dispatch. She is one of the many people who saved Bob's life last year. And really, all of us, bringing porridge and chai to me and Mom Speirs, because it's hard to eat when you're in a long, slow panic. She's now a Ph.D. student.

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A poster in the lobby says “Chapa Kazi. Sio Mkeo Chapa Kazi..” Work hard, but don’t work on your wife. The characature is of a man chasing his wife with an ax. KAACR, LWR's partner, is very pleased to be in a new office. It’s a pleasant place -- with donated furniture from the French embassy, which has a heart for KAACR’s work – right smack in the middle of one of Nairobi’s sprawling slums. Their mission is to further the welfare and rights of children.

I wondered what exactly are ‘child’s rights?’ Coming from the states, this was not immediately apparent to me. I later found out that what they are referring to are some pretty basic things: food, clothing, education, protection, health.

KAACR started in 1989 with a $20,000 grant from LWR. “We didn’t even have a bank account,” said Joy, the CEO. LWR literally helped KAACR find a bank and start an account and assisted them in developing a strategic plan to help the children of Nairobi. “LWR is not just a donor, but a partner.” Here are some ideas of what “capacity building” can do for an organization and more importantly, the beneficiaries:

· Demystifying the constitution (deeply involved with the constitution, especially with issues relating to children)
· Gathered data on effects of debt on Kenyan children (I wanted to ask more about this, but didn’t have the chance and wondered if Robin Walter did when she visited.)
· Watches legislation in the parliament, for example, refugee children are not included in refugee legislation. KAACR watches legislation closely and tries to make an intervention before it gets to the floor to ensure that children’s rights have been considered.
· Teaches parents: Poverty isn’t an excuse for abuse.
· Translates the UN rights of the child to daily life of slum children
· 1999 was KAACR’s 10th anniversary – over 1000 children came to the celebration
· teaches children how to help each other – from simply mending each others’ clothes, to creating “protection rings” to rescue each other from violence.
· One program: “Child Rights Clubs” -- now has 40 clubs formed with a total of 1,000 members. Oldest club is 7 years. Many of the clubs are in the slums. (I would later visit two clubs.)
· Works on issues specific to the girl child: early marriage, keeping in school, teaching respect
· Trains social workers, police officers and lay counselor on how to be sensitive with children

LWR colleagues offer congratulations on the wonderful development of the organization. LWR is all about relationships. We are not just a “donor” – we are intimately involved with the people and programs we support. They want to tell us about their progress. Like a beautiful marriage, we work together to support similar values. KAACR CEO, Joy, said, “LWR helped us to walk, crawl and everything else.”

LWR colleagues suggest that LWR might support a project that would train KAACR in fundraising, donor relations and strategic planning. Their eyes brighten. Really. It seems like a novel idea. “We would really appreciate that kind of training,” several KAACR staff say. The relationship is deepened.

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With love, T