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AWA OF KENYA VOLUNTEER
SERVICES
Write-up by Past Volunteer Services
Coordinator, Lucy
When I retired after 35 years teaching primary school in
Nairobi, it didn't take long to find a wonderful opportunity
to continue educating young people. I became a member of AWA
in May 2000 and was invited immediately to take up the post of
Volunteer Services Coordinator, which kept me very busy for
three years.
In addition, I joined the members already volunteering at
St. Euphrasia's Centre in South B. One of my responsibilities
as Coordinator was to develop new volunteer projects and I
selected Lavington Church Community Services and the
Integrated Unit for the Visually Impaired at Kilimani Primary
School on Argwings Kodhek Road. Over the years a series of
enthusiastic and creative volunteers have taken part in these
endeavours.
I have also overseen numerous collections
of clothing, baby items, toys, books, etc. and distributed
them to an assortment of worthy organizations. Some of my
other duties have included arranging sales of crafts produced
by Dandora Young Ladies as well as St. Euphrasia's.
Every Wednesday 5 ladies spend an hour and a quarter
teaching English to the students of St. Euphrasia's. Their
main course involves dressmaking and other types of needlework
and crafts, leading after two years to a diploma.
These girls come from the nearby slums and are in
great need of positive guidance so that they can overcome
their difficult circumstances. They often sing and dance for
us to show their appreciation. In recent months they have
begun cookery and baking lessons and this is where AWA members
can be of additional assistance.
Several years ago AWA purchased a keyboard for the blind
and low vision children at Kilimani, who range from 3 to 12
years in age. Music has been a joy for them and we have
volunteers teaching individuals piano as well as doing group
singing, dance and other non-musical activities.
Many
more volunteers would be welcome there. Volunteering not only
brings immeasurable personal rewards to the volunteers and
those they help, but also enhances the image and standing of
the AWA. Apart from teaching and mentoring, from time to time
various needs arise which AWA has been able to meet, ranging
from buying a pullover for a blind girl to subsidising the
neediest St. Euphrasia students' fees.
Over the past two years AWA of Kenya has sent willing and
devoted volunteers to help distribute food fortnightly to
almost one hundred elderly people in Limuru. This project is
ably managed by Kenyan Pat Dixon. The Limuru Feeding Project
is now expanding to help the many orphaned grandchildren of
these elderly people, providing food; shelter and
schooling.
At the start of our new AWA year, we would like every
member to get involved in one of the following ways:
1)
Teach English Wednesday mornings or Cookery and Baking on
Monday mornings at St. Euphrasia's Centre for teenage girls in
South B
2) Offer free transport for the annual outing on
or around October 11th for the 30 girls and staff
3)
Help plan the outing
4) Sign up to make 5 packed lunches
for the outing
5) Identify new projects for AWA volunteers
6) Donate clothing, toys, children's books, toiletries,
etc. to be distributed to worthy institutions before
Christmas. Bring your donations to coffee mornings and general
meetings.
7) Help with wrapping and distribution of
donated items.
SPECIAL THANKS to Satwant Kaur for her
most generous donation of KShs 20,000 to the school fees fund
for blind high school student, Eunice Akinyi. And to Jean and
Michael Fox for the computer donated to St. Euphrasia's.
I have no doubt whatsoever that each of our members
can find one or more of the services listed above which suits
her and I am looking forward to hearing from you all in the
next week or two!
Lucy
St Euphrasia Outing
On June 23rd 2007, Jyoti
Shah and I met the very excited St Euphrasia girls outside the
church to begin our adventure for the day! To say they were
excited is an understatement; both Jyoti and I were bombarded
and nearly knocked over from all the hugs!! After much merriment
we set off to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, at
Nairobi
National
Park, which was the first stop on
this adventure.
While we were waiting to go in to see the “babies”, we
had a visit from the last baby rhino who lived in the
orphanage!
Needless to say there was much screaming and running
away, and that was by the rhino! I had to explain to
the girls that the animals would all be very scared so we all
had to remain very quiet during the whole visit. The girls were
overwhelmed when they saw the baby elephant’s for the first
time. It is hard
to imagine that these girls live in Kenya and have never seen any
of the animals that we take for granted when we go on safari
or even drive to Mombasa. They were afraid to
touch the elephant or stroke them, but after a bit of cajoling
they all touched them and thought it was wonderful. The whole visit was a
great success.
We then took the girls to the
Capital Centre to have lunch. Again it was a big
“learning curve” for us as well as the girls! We hadn’t realised or
even thought that the girls had never been waited on. When they were given
the menu to choose what food they would like they were a bit
overwhelmed and unsure what they could order. Once Jyoti and I
explained they could have whatever they wanted they seemed to
enjoy the experience of being waited on and having their
“chicken, chips and coke”, which is what nearly all of them
ordered.
Finally, went upstairs to see the
film we had booked for them, called “Mr Bean”. It was a great film
for them as it was both funny, and very visual. I have to say at this
point that hearing the girls laughing and giggling was the
greatest sound I have ever heard.
When we had to say good-bye at the
end of the day we were again bombarded with hugs and
kisses. I
know the girls all enjoyed their day, but equally it was my
most wonderful day here in Kenya and a day I
will always remember.
I would like to thank Avis Car
Hire, who kindly provided us with the 52 seater bus for the
day, to Fox Cinema’s for giving us such a great discount on
the film, to Renate Lotay who also joined us as a chaperone at
the Orphanage (she got out of her sick bed to attend!), to
Jyoti Shah who chaperoned with me for the day and watched the
movie for a second time and last but not least to all the AWA
members because if we did not exist and raise funds, we would
not be able to organise these wonderful eye opening
experiences for these girls. The girls have written
essay’s about their day and experience, the top 10 have been
given a ticket to attend another movie of their choice on a
Tuesday, because that will include a drink and popcorn or a
hotdog. Below are
some excerpts from the girls essays, but if you would like to
read more I have written them and sent them to Jolene to post
on the website along with lots of photos from the day. I have given all the
essays to Barbara Petty, should anyone like to read all of
them.
“Linet Kemurto” – A day I won’t
forget in my life!”
“In fact this orphaned young elephants were being
treated better than the treatment some of us want to
get”. “In
conclusion I would like to thank American Women Association
for their efforts to see that we were entertained by all means
possible besides pursuing our course, it’s my humble prayer
that God will shower them with lot of blessings and our
college as a whole.
Thanks and God Bless
you”.
“Peninah Nduku Peter” - “I couldn’t believe my
thought that I saw them covered with blankets and I touched
with my hands and played with them. The elephants were
playing football, others took bottles of milk.” “. We went to Uchumi
hotel near Mombasa road where we had a
delicious lunch.
I couldn’t believe that I took lunch of three hundred
and sixty five shillings…” “… thank you to the AWA Women for
taking us for a trip.
Coming back with the comfortable bus we all had shining
faces and story telling about the day.” “I always pray and
willing for my future life that I may be able to take myself
to such a place and also other after working hard and getting
a job.”
Gladys Ndinda Lucas – “Each and
every day is a learning day, some events that take place in
our life make our life enjoyable. By doing so we will
grow spiritually, socially, physically and intellectually.” “
Our lunch at Uchumi was delicious, it was very encouraging to
have our lunch with civilised and people of high-class. I hope in future to
take my family to such a hotel.” “Then we went to see a
film, it was about Mr Bean, surely it was very funny. It made me laugh which
is good in one’s life.
Mr Bean made me learn that we should try to be creative
and use our creativity to earn our living honestly. Lastly, I would like
to thank our sponsors for the trip. Their sacrifice in
terms of time, efforts and finance made our trip possible and
enjoyable. May
God bless them!”
Sharon
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