A Snapshot of Your Donations at Work

Laying the foundation for new latrines at Oimeru Primary School.

OFDC pays a women’s co-op to sew our school uniforms.  Not only do children benefit from the new uniforms, but the mamas earn a living so they can afford to send their children to school.

A new water tank at Nkinye Primary School.  As you can see below, these children are very excited about having clean, easily accessible water.

Please click here to read a letter of appreciation from Evans Tajeu Yenko, Head Teacher at Ololoiboti Primary School, thanking OFDC donors for the desperately needed 12 new latrines.

Seasons Greetings & Happy Holidays!

Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays from all of us at OFDC. If you’re running out of gift ideas, please consider those less fortunate with a gift in your friend or family member’s name. Asante sana (thank you) and best wishes in 2012!

 

The Mara

We were driving through the Maasai Mara, the Mara to locals, just after visiting Ole Nkuya Elementary.  We came upon a cement structure.  I asked our host Patrick what it was.  He said it was a public toilet facility the Swiss Government had put in.  My dad and I started laughing, thinking it was a joke. Patrick was not kidding.  Here we are in the middle of the African bush where people may not even have access to clean water, but a public toilet seemed like the most viable option for the community?

I thought about how symbolic this public toilet was.  It was a symbol of what foreigners think Kenyans need.  I have no doubt that the person whose idea it was to build the toilet had good intentions.  Like so much foreign aid to Kenya, it is usually not determined by a person going to Kenya and asking the locals what they need.  Rather, a person or group decides, most likely from a Western perspective, what would be good for the Kenyan people.  The children at Ole Kuya up the road, did not did have a water well or clean toilets for themselves, but I imagine the Swiss Government did not take that into account.

Of course, this entry is not meant to insult the Swiss Government.  It is only meant to provide an example of the common way of thinking by outside organizations.  That is why I was so impressed with the work OFDC does, especially in such remote areas.  As an organization, a point is made to visit the projects that are supported by OFDC.  When a donation is made, there is a great sense of accountability to ensure that money goes where the donor intended it to go.  This is something that made me very proud as a representative of OFDC in Kenya.

Unfortunately, I did not take a photo of that infamous public toilet, but I did take a picture of the students at Ole Kuya.  The children that were so far removed from a city and genuinely frightened by the appearance of our white skin, yet so welcoming and grateful.  That is what I wanted to remember leaving this area.  That surreal feeling of being somewhere and doing something bigger than myself.  There are few times in life when this is achieved.  That is what I always want to remember about Kenya.

Whitney

OFDC Trip 2011

While driving to Limanet Elementary outside of Narok, I quickly realized that this trip was going to be unlike any other experience I have had traveling. The desolate, yet beautiful landscape was exactly how I pictured Africa to be. Only it was far more amazing. It also wasn’t humid and blistering hot, like I had envisioned, rather the temperature was perfect. It was surprisingly chilly in the morning and the sun was a welcome addition.

When we got to Limanet, the reception we received was heartwarming and overwhelming at the same time. I had never seen so many children so excited and genuinely happy to see us. I immediately felt undeserving of this new fame that would soon become a familiar feeling at other school visits within the next two weeks.

We visited all of the classrooms and walked around the school grounds. Although modest, I couldn’t help but thinking that it seemed like a nice environment for children. This idea was encouraged when I saw the latrines built by OFDC. They seemed to complete the facilities the school had to offer. As we spoke with the Head Teacher, she explained to us that the latrines had made a huge difference to their school, especially for the very young children whose classroom was very far from the other classrooms and the previous latrines. They would have to go so far, that accidents often occurred because they could not make it in time. With the new centrally-located toilets, it was much more convenient.

We also visited some classrooms to see the desks that OFDC had provided. It is hard to imagine how useful a desk can be to a child until you see how far some of these students have to walk just to get to school. We were told that some students would walk up to eight kilometers a day to attend classes. To have a desk provided meant that they had a place to store their schoolbooks to ensure they would have them the next day. It also meant they did not have to carry them between home and school.

Limanet set the tone for my whole trip. Although, it wasn’t as poor or rural as some of the other schools, an important notion was realized. These children are really no different than American children. 4-year-olds still have accidents when they cannot make it to the restroom quickly enough and toilets are essential. A desk is wanted to provide a safe haven for books, supplies, and a comfortable place to sit. Finally, the idea that children will be happy when provided the basic tools that allow them to be happy and remain children as long as they can, especially in a culture where often they are forced to grow up to too quickly.

-Whitney

Kenyan Drought Eroding Educational Gains

According to the United Nations, the Horn of Africa is facing the worst drought in over 60 years and there is no likelihood of improvement until 2012.  Food prices have risen substantially in the region, pushing already poor households over the edge.  High food prices not only leave children with empty bellies, but also cause a dramatic decrease in school attendance, especially for girls.  Most parents are unwilling or unable to pay school fees, for many have lost their livestock and childhood education is not deemed a high priority.  As a result, many young girls are being forced into early marriage to ease the burden on their families.

Due to your continued support, OFDC is able to prevent young girls from entering into early marriage by providing them school sponsorship.  As you can see from the picture below, the girls living in this Safe House (a place where girls can go to escape child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM)) are so happy to be here and be sponsored in school with your donation ~ Asante Sana (Thank You)!

In Kenya the new school year starts in January, please consider giving the gift of education by sponsoring a child in school.

5000+ malaria nets donated and counting

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), malaria kills a child somewhere in the world every 30 seconds.  Ninety percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa, where malaria accounts for about one in five of all childhood deaths.  Sleeping under insecticide treated nets can reduce overall child mortality by 20 percent.  Due to the generous support of our donors, OFDC has provided over 5,000 treated nets (2-3 children sleep under one net) so that children can sleep protected from malaria carrying mosquitoes.  Below are recent photos from OFDC’s net distribution in both Narumoro and Olkirorit.

For more information about the cause, impact, treatment, and prevention of malaria please go to:

http://www.unicef.org/health/index_malaria.html

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/impact.html

The Perfect Graduation Gift

Having a hard time deciding what to buy that special graduate? OFDC has the perfect gift. Not only will these one of a kind pieces brighten up any room, but with each purchase you will touch the lives of women and children living in rural Kenya. These original, banana skin and paper art collages depict traditional life of the Maasai tribe. Your donation in honor of the graduate will go towards mosquito nets, education, clean water & sanitation for children, and microcredit & training for women.

4″ x 16″ – 1 for a $50 donation, 2 for a $90 donation

For More Info: Please call Giles at (801) 596-0326 or send him an email at saninji@yahoo.com

Asante sana (thank you),

All of us at OFDC