On our way home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can I say. This has been yet another outstanding trip with wonderful hard working friends. In our 2 weeks Matt and Barry have built a playground, a dog compound and a chicken run - plus all the other millions of jobs that have come their way. They are outstanding in their work and have been a great asset for our girls - thank you so so much Matt and Barry - your hard work has brought smiles to our lovely girls

 

Linda Kim and Jane - what a team you are. We have reached the front line people in delivering first class training in Emotional First Aid and Understanding Sexual Abuse. The way you all pulled together is humbling and you are the most brilliant therapeutic team!!! Linda your humour love and respect with our staff at Rafiki Mwema helped them to understand the importance of their job and to give them the confidence to carry it forward. Kim and Jane you will live in the hearts of the children and staff forever

 

During this trip we have cried buckets and laughed for hours. The girls at RM arrive with us with the trauma of what has happened to them etched into their very souls and yet with love, respect and care from the staff and girls alike they are able to relax and feel safe. Our girls respond to the therapeutic environment and blossom in the individual 1:1 support they are given.

 

We have had three new girls arrive while we have been at RM and no two girls respond the same. One of our newest girls, Susan, arrived with her hair shaven and covered in sores. She seemed very mistrustful of course and a little aggressive. She lives with her grandmother and had been raped by a stranger on the way to her grandmothers work. Her grandmother was unsure of how to keep her safe as the perpetrator is still at large so she was sent to the remand centre for her care and protection. She came to us soon after. She is a small child and yet has been raped and then rehomed twice. No wonder she was scared and mistrustful. She has been with us a week and we are seeing a huge change in her already. She is experiencing a respectful and safe home with carers who respect and honour her. Her wounds are deep but she is slowly beginning to heal.

 

We have been lucky enough to have safely received many visitors at Rafiki Mwema this past 2 weeks and the message is the same from everyone. You can feel the love as you drive through the gates. I really hope and pray we can be successful in our fundraising to keep this house going forever. It is so sad when it all comes down to money but that is the truth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play Kenya were asked to visit an orphanage where a family of 5 children had been taken. These children had been locked in a cupboard all their short lives. They were in a terrible emotional and physical state. Within the hierarchy of the siblings the middle child had been the scapegoat for everyone and was heartbreaking to see. The mother had called her names as well as beating and abusing her and her brothers and sisters. I have never seen such a tragic case of neglect. Play Kenya realised that the therapeutic work needed to be done through the carers they are beginning to trust. We have devised a plan and Anisha will support them to deliver this. I look forward to revisiting in May when I return.

 

We had an amazing day at the women's prison where we took bras knickers and sanitary products - but I think the best gift was that of laughter - although it was actually AT me they were laughing!!!! I cannot dance and yet they insisted so all I could do was to shake my booty and die of shame!!!!! A brilliant afternoon. However we really need to be supporting the prison to have a separate mother and child unit as the children are not safe at times and they need our support

 

 

 

Of course I have had Lucy and Sophie over to stay - it almost feels like they ARE Rafiki girls

 

So much love and laughter - so much hard hard work! I think we were putting in 18 hour days most days and we are all exhausted!!! I would work even harder if I could as I totally believe in the work we are doing and I can see the difference we are making. Please please please continue to support us and make the lives of some of the most abused children just a little more bearable.

 

Asante sana xxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Saturday 30th February 2012 - or even 25th February!!!!!

 

 

So much is happening here and time is just flying by!! We have finished our Emotioal First Aid training and we now have 24 trained EFA staff. They all met up as a big group and are arranging some amazing stuff! They are so proud and excited to be out there supporting our young people. I can't tell you how much difference this training will make to so many lives. They are asking us to training all over Kenya so more children and families can benefit. Again I am humbled by the enthusiasm here.

 

 

Matt and Barry (with help from the watchman who stays all day helping them) are doing a great job! The hammock is so popular - the girls love it as does Max! They have extended the PK the guard dogs run, they are nearly done with building a play house and swings - I can't believe how much they have managed to do.

 

We had a visit from a baby centre yesterday and as a result we are going on Monday to meet a family of 5 children who have experienced such horrific abuse in their short lives. I am hoping there is something we as Play Kenya can do to help them.

 

I also found out more about fostering which is one of our next projects

 

I can't tell you just how wonderful and welcoming Rafiki Mwema is. The love and care that oozes out of the very walls in so amazing. The girls are a family and they are loving and respectful in such an accepting way. We had a new girl arrive from the children's remand centre this evening and they took her in to our family and showed her care and respect. I am busting with pride for this project. I am so grateful for all the support we are given and will do everything to keep it continuing in the way it is operating now. We have some wonderful wonderful staff.

 

Today is a big day - I am off to visit MIA - I can't wait to see the kids. We are also going into town to buy a washing machine!!!!! Can you imagine hand washing for 12 girls everyday!!!

 

I had a call today from the Rotary Club in Nakuru and I am going to meet with them on Tuesday - maybe something will come from that.

 

I dont think i could have laughed more this trip! In fact i need to stop laughing and sleep more!!!!

 

Well off to work - I can hear the girls singing!!! Great start to the day. I'm going to try and get the photos on here or our Facebook page today

 

Will blog soon

 

 

Wednesday 22nd February

Well - where on earth do I start! The Kenya Krew arrived at Heathrow and all responded to my stress about being late and were there in plenty of time. 5 of us had been out together two and a half years ago (Matt Kim Jane and Linda) but Barry is new to our group (although is Kim brother) - not quite sure if he knew what he was signing up to!!!

 

Between us we had twenty bags - most of them big laundry bags - classy!!!! Just checking in them in was a stress for me - I can't relax until all the donated stuff is on the plane! But the gang did well and nothing was left behind! We had a pretty good flight - apart from being last to board!! Folks that know me will know that is unheard on - I try and board the day before!!! Arriving in Nairobi is always like coming home to me - I love the smell!!! Collecting all our bags was not such fun - in fact others thought we had everything - and nearly left minus 2 bags!!! Of course at customs they wanted to find an excuse to charge us duty - they hadn't reconed on Super Jane who had already blogged 4 bags on her Manchester flight (she was allowed 1!!!!) - we staggered through with our 20 bags plus hand luggage and computers and loaded into our TWO vans!!!!!!

 

After a lovely night in Nairobi we did a quick trip to the elephant sanctuary before arriving at Rafiki Mwema. Even typing this makes me emotional. I am so proud of Anisha and the staff - our house is beyond amazing. the love and respect that fills the house is humbling. The girls are at different stages of adjusting to their new life but there is such a sense of family - I am

so lucky to be part of the heart beat of repair for these young ladies.

 

We unpacked our bags much to the shock and amazement of the girls and staff - people have been so generous - I can't get my head round the wonderful stuff that has been donated. I will try and get photos up soon.

 

I am sad to report the return of strange noises in the roof which resulted in me qualifying for the 100 meters at the Olympics this summer - boy - can fear make me run!!!!

 

Since being here we have been busy busy busy- we are in the middle of delivering Emotional First Aid training to 12 front line workers who engage on a daily basis with abused and neglect children, street boys and women prisoners and their children. Humbling humbling humbling! I truly feel so fortunate to be part of this.

 

I am stealing a few minutes at lunch break so will blog more later!

 

 

 

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Sorry for not blogging while I was over in Kenya - I had a few 'technical problems' that may or may not relate to my blonde hair! Anyway here are some details of my first trip to Rafiki Mwema!

 

I spent the first night in Nairobi and was picked up by a friend the following day - that is always a relief as the driving in Kenya is erratic to say the least! so to have a relaxed 2.5 hours was like a holiday in itself - thanks!

 

This is the first time I have been to our newest project - a therapeutic home for girls who have been sexually abused. Our girls are all under 13 and come to us straight from the police when the alligation is made. They have very different rules about child protection in Kenya and the children are taken to the children's juvinille prison if they are deemed at risk - very different and very traumatic for the girls. The girls will stay with us for up to a year while we support them through the court system, we offer not just individual therapy but also they live in a therapeutic enviroment to help them come to terms with the horrors of what has happened. We will then support the girls and their families as they go back to the community. If they are unable to return home we will help find either a long term foster home or a place in a good orphanage for them.

 

When I arrived we already had 2 little girls, Jostine 5 and Leah 6. I think they were a bit shocked to see a white person walk into their home. I need to remember that some of our children come from the villages and will never have seen a white person. Our 2 little angels are beautiful and appear to be making the adjustment to living with us. When Jostine arrived she told one of our carers that she would stay one night and then go home! So much is out of their control now. We also have a little girl staying with us who is 4 years old - her story is so so so sad and we are happy to be helping her for a short time. Welcome to Rafiki Mwema Michelle. (Michelle may be THE most challanging 4 year old I have ever met - I love a challange!) We have a NO SMAKING and NO SHOUTING rule at Rafiki so I am teaching the staff a totally different way of being with the children and putting consequences in place without aggression - big stuff that goes against how Kenyans deal with troubled children - a huge learning curve!!!!

 

The house is wonderful and I want to say a huge thank you to Anisha for bringing my dream to life and to Asaneth, Lucy and Gtonga for working so hard alongside Anisha in getting it livable and smart so quickly!!! THANK YOU!!!! It looks bigger and better in real life - and the feeling when you walk in is fantastic - it feels like home

 

I brought 3 huge bags of clothes and electrical goods so unpacking was great fun - a lovely feeling to see our cupboards begin to fill - we need girls clothes (especially hoodies and jumpers at the moment and slippers!!) I love that the cupboards were sorted and then Anisha and her OCD came along and rearranged them!!!!!

 

I can't explain just what it felt like at night to tuck up those little angels, knowing that they were safe from harm. They were a bit shy at first but after a week they feel like family - well they are!

 

My biggest problem with being at RM was the night 'visitors"! I am famous for my fear of bugs and creatures so when I kept saying there was something in my cupboard I understand our staff thought it funny - but every night I heard scratching and squeeking from the top cupboard - it wasn't until the last night that Lynette (night staff) heard it and confirmed what I had known all week - we had rats in the cupboard!!! I have ordered cats and pest control in!!!! Horrid!!!!!!!!!

 

While I was there my lovely Lucy and her little sister Sophie, came to stay for a few days from Mission In Action - that was lovely!! They stayed in my room and to wake up to Sophie and Lucy pressing their faces against in the morning was like winning the lottery (although if you are listening I would STILL like a lottery win too!!!!)

 

On New Years Eve we received our 4th young girl, Naomi, who is 11. She was abused by a family 'freind' and came to us very very traumatised. She is still quiet and has formed a strong connection to Anisha. We will monitor her very carefully and ensure we help her to settle well before addressing the horrors that have happened.

 

I was sadly not well while I was over there and needed to see a doctor. I met him on a street corner where he told me I had an infection and needed medication - he wrote the perscription on the back of an envelope, told me to take it to the chemist - and drove off!!! I love Kenya!!!!

 

I owe Anisha big time for making me drink 'Flu Tea'!!! This lovely drink is made of garlic, ginger, lemon, honey and tea - if I tell you there is not one ingrediant I like from that list - it was beyond disgusting!!!!!!! It did help but I wait to 'help' Anisha if she ever gets sick!!

 

Most of my time was spent training and teaching the staff our new approach, so I didn't go out much. However I did get to meet Linda and Doug from Nyota orphanage - what great people they are - with a huge vision. Play Kenya are honoured to be supporting the 40+ children in their care - and look forward to a long relationship with them.

 

I also met up with the Provinsial Children's Officer for The Rift Valley (he came for tea) and we are looking at introducing a child witness protection programme for the courts in Nakuru - just a small project to keep me busy!!! I have already met with members of the paedophile unit of the police in London since I came home - so fingers crossed we can make it happen!!!!

 

My trip went too quickly - I am greatly missing the girls and staff - welcome to Lynette and Maria who have joined us and our wonderful watchman (who was so excited to get new wellies!!!). We are having a kennel and run built for a guard dog and work is happeneing in the volunteer accomodation before our first guests arrive in February - NOT TRUE - we have already had some wonderful Australian women stay at the house and they are back again soon!