Safari ya Rwanda
In the flight from Nairobi were people of different classes heading to Rwanda. Among them being Alphonce Okuku and Karl Baker heading to bring hope in Banda village. Her Excellency the President of Liberia was in the same plane heading to Rwanda for the Women Conference.
The arrival in Rwanda- Kigali Airport was a great honor for me. We had a warm reception by both Simon and Levi (Country Director). The people of Rwanda are so environmentally concerned that I had to remove the plastic bag covering the printer to be dumped at the airport. “ Hakuna takataka!” I wondered.
On the long way to Nyungwe forest, is smooth tarmacked road. In most places along the road, people were engaged in at least some activities—no idle men around. Unfortunately there were some children not in school and refugees walking around to get food from the UNCHR camps. Whenever we slowed down the children would shout “chupa”( bottle)
Banda Village is down at one edge of Nyungwe forest. From the main road in a 4WD vehicle it takes close to 2 hours down the road. Within the attractive fauna and flora of the forest are many curves to make before the destination. On arrival, Banda Village emerged as a significant place that needs hope. The people in Banda Village are very welcoming as well as busy in their shambas. Banda village is much smaller than Kolunga beach, it can successfully operate on the same model as Kageno Kenya. The people are amazing since they working as a community!!.
On the first day, we had an informal meeting with the community showing us the land set aside for Kageno’s activities. The community members are expecting to get work once Kageno start her building activities and therefore they want to see the breaking of the ground happening immediately. It is unfortunate for most people in Banda that Kageno is waiting to do her paper work right! “ When are you starting the buildings?” most people asked. Switching to my usual smile proved advantageous to those who could not afford communicating to me, but given the conditions in Banda Village, children remained a viable alternative to communicate to. The children of Banda are holding my hands with big smiles. The only word I said is “MURAKOSE”.
By building the kageno community center, health clinic and nursery school, there will be a dramatic change in the socio-economic development of Banda. Secondly, a shortage of road has become increasingly severe in the villagers as most people have to carry heavy luggage up-the steeply hills for more than two hours to reach the main road. Finally, there has been a steady increase by environmental concerns to address the problem of domestic waste disposal.
Since our arrival in Rwanda, no single day has been wasted. We have had several meetings including:-
a) Consultative meetings with the area chief and mayor.
b) Seeking permission from the Ministry of Health/ Ministry of education and Ministry of infrastructures.
c) Consultative meetings with possible future partners of the Kageno Rwanda e.g. WCS, PIH, FHI, Orphans of Rwanda, USAID and ORTPN
d) Working on bank account
e) Consultative meeting with community leaders of Banda Village.
Most of the meetings we have had so far are informative!!
I am really motivated to spend more days here in Rwanda…. Levi Ngilimana (Country Director) has told me that he wants to learn English and understand more about Kageno from me. I want to work closely with Levi to learn from him as well.
The man from Lake Victoria( Alphonce Okuku) will give you more information about Rwanda soon!!!
“MURAKOSE”- Thank you.
Alphonce Okuku
Kageno Kenya Trust
Country Director
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I believe an issue that I would like to share this week is the visit by Anna-Marie ( Anna - Marie is a volunteer visiting Kageno ). At first I was apprehensive about her topic especially when she told us that her plan was to talk to the beach people about the Jaboya issue as I feared a backlash from the community. I had discussions with friends about whether this Jaboya or sex for fish issue is a recent phenomenon or it has always been there in the community and what has brought about the escalation of this issue if in fact it has always been there, is it poverty, HIV/AIDS, the changing society from a more traditional to a western type of life or a combination of all these issues but I digress. I had never actually seen this (jaboya) take place being as I thought it was something which happened openly. I was present when Anna-Marie did an interview with the women weavers and I learnt a lot about this issue. It is true that for some of our women weavers before Kageno this issue was very present in their lives, and it affected them emotionally, health wise but perhaps most of all psychologically. It was an education listening to them talk about how fish ruled their lives and that this was the only option left to them if they wanted to feed their families and the humiliation that they endured especially in seasons when the fish was low and the fishermen would get them to line up and pick the women who would get that days catch. You would have to see them talking to understand the weary resignation on their faces when they were asked how came they did not take a stand at that time against this issue. I have stayed with these women for close to four months and this was the first time I understood how truly Kageno is really a place of hope for them. Now they have a choice and a way to make a living that is positive, and looking at them right now I am happy for this chance to participate in their lives.
Debrah Oweggi
Kageno General Manager
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