After a very long journey of 8 hours inside a kenian bus, over kenians road (🤢), I arrived at Mbita, a little town of Homa bay county where Mr.George, the leader of the project picked me and shew me a warm hostel where I slept for the night.
today, i was arrived at my final destination: mfangano island. i took the water bus from mbita where i slept yesterday night. i must admit that hostels looked me very basics but when i was arrived on the island, i discovered the real poverty. i think you can't imagine in if you have never lived in those conditions. no batheroom, composting toilet, no wifi (of course not), a few connexion, no bed clothes, no machines to wash cook instruments or clothes, no oven, we eat with our hands, wash us in the lake , ... just a simply natural life with primary needs. however, even if it's completely new for me i feel so priviladged compared to the majority of the population here. indeed, when i went done to the water bus, the first thing which hurted me was the poverty. i could't imagine that . 3 kenyans helped me to take our staffs (Mr.George a very kind and altruist man which will host me during my volunteering have also brought provisions from mbita). the older, looking so weak, with a tore shirt took my very heavy suitcase and put it on his head! i felt so confused ...
then, Mr George shew me their home, where live also his wife, Dorsila and his son named james. he told me the history of st james community orphans school. it was so emotional... i totally admire him, he lost his parents when he was a child, lived in hardly conditions, slept on the ground, eat just when fishes were brought at home, unless just water was the dinner. here, on the island, only 30 % are able to eat 3 meals every day, the other just can eat what they find. moreover, there is another big problem on the island: the HIV. it reaches 30% off the population and too much people die because of it, as in particular Mr.George's parents... in consequences, many children become orphans and can't go to school (in kenya, you need to pay your books, your uniform, your classes to have school education). the project built by Mr. George have 2 programs: one takes place in school and the other one in an hospital where many persons come because of hiv. in fact, the both programs are linked and Mr.George lived all that suffering and this is why i admire him, for his courage and determination. he told me his own childhood with a lt of emotions in his eyes and i will try to help him the most that i can when i will come back.
Apart to this poverty, i must say that Mfangano is a beautiful, peaceful and so natural place, it looks like paradise ! the victoria lake seems to the sea, fruits are just above our head and there is no pollution! (nairobi was terrible in opposition). here, people just walk bringing usually foods and heavy things on their head (i tried but it was very difficult!😂) or ride a motobike to go outside. about that, i tested for the first time motobike behind a kenyan 🤩!!
my first day here was a little bit disturbing, i need to accustome myself with this new way of life and with this new population wich looks me with big and surpised eyes everytime, wherever i go. some people takes me as a "prey" so i'm not comfortable with that...
but for my high pleasure, yesterday afternoon, i met 2 little girls, so cute and surpised to see a "white" here. they came to me with their biggest smile. it was difficult to communicate with them because they speak more luo than english but we succeed to exchange few words. they call Nevela and Joy and i put Nevela on my knees to take a pciture. then i bring some elastics to show them how to make a wristband and they liked it . she absolutly wanted to show me their home so i came with them and met their mother with her baby, babu, so cute too!!
at the evening, I went down with Dorsila to the village to make maize flour, there is just one grinder for all the village... after stress grew up highly because she , wanted to show me how she prepares the dinner so she put just in front of me hearts and offal and cut them for cook. i was so afraid , I never ate that kind of food... but, after had explained my fear , she understood very well and reassured me. so we have a very very warm evening and i laughed a lot with james who made fun with my very bad english!🤦
today, it is saturday, a christian day in kenya so everybody come to the church. Normally, i will be able to undertake my volunteering on monday!!
I enjoy this week-en to discover, thanks to the children, the island, wash myself in the lake, play with James (I tried to learn him how to play diabolo and solitarian
