We headed back into Nairobi on Tuesday for two important and every interesting meetings. First, we met with a representative from the Salvation Army. As I mentioned in my posting about Joytown, the Salvation Army is the organization that started Joytown but has since distanced itself from the school and the result has been some of the conditions you can see in the slide show and in this posting as I’ve added a few more. The government took over the running of the facility which has left the school in a state of deterioration from a facilities and pedagogical perspective. It more resembles an ‘institution’ for disabled children than it does a ‘school’ and place of learning. The photos attached are of some children hanging around outside, sitting in a makeshift wheel chair made with a plastic deck chair, playing out at recess atop garbage on the school yard, and me with the Joytown Secondary School Headboy (prefect) Stephen. The meeting with the Salvation Army was about them severing ties with the facility entirely and the possibility of Bethany taking over.
As mentioned in the last Bethany post, every square inch of space and bed is utilized at Bethany at Kijabe Hospital. I will clarify the various options that are being considered in more detail in another posting later this week. However, Joytown presents an opportunity to provide medical assistance for these children who are currently at Joytown, another possible location for a rehabilitation centre for Bethany once surgeries are completed with an educational component. More importantly, there is a feeling that not only is there a need to get involved, but perhaps a higher calling as well. Our visit the other day was part of working out the details. The meeting with the Salvation Army was more pragmatic regarding ownership, investment, etc.
We then met with the US Assistant Ambassador to Kenya. This was a fascinating meeting because we learned a lot about American policy in relation to Eastern Africa. Moreover, we talked about the refugee camps in Darfur and Sudan. He was part of a project that involved interviewing all of the refugees at these camps about their experiences and documenting them for the United States government and for the United Nations. Some of the stories, as you can imagine, were eye opening.
We discussed US Aid programs and the grants that are available and how to process them for some of the projects I have mentioned in my postings. From the hospital in Mombasa to the doctor willing to run a satellite Bethany clinic in Madagascar (which he couldn’t actually talk about because he could only talk about Kenya specifically), to Joytown, the possibilities of grants through the US Aid program would obviously help with the stable funding of these potential projects and his opinions and information was very interesting.
We discussed diplomatic life as an American living in Nairobi. Security is always a main focus and despite the fact that the US compound, Embassy, and dignitaries always have to be protected, that life is good for him and his family. With a 5 year old and 3 year old, there is a lot to do in Kenya, good international schools, and an interesting look at international politics from an African perspective. He is here for another two years and then will be sent off to another posting at another region in the world. He would like to stay in Africa, but as a part of the foreign service, the US government requires diplomats to serve in at least two different regions around the world. Though they are settled and happy in Kenya at the moment, they will have to pick up and move to somewhere else in the world for another diplomatic posting. As exciting as that sounds, I recognize how difficult that must be on family and friends to have to move every few years.
The subject of the recent tourist warning against travel to Kenya came up. The recent piracy issues of ships being hijacked in the Indian Ocean and taken up to Somalia has caused the Embassy to issue the warning. An interesting piece of information about that recent tanker being taken is that, according to the Assistant Ambassador, the tanker was holding 25% of the entire production of oil for a day from Saudi Arabia! That must be a large tanker. These issues seem to continue to come up here. As I have heard from the Assistant Ambassador today though and from many others since I’ve been here, as long as peace can be maintained across the continent, progress will continue to be made. The only thing we can do is pray, be hopeful, and continue to do what we can to support, encourage, and assist.
As mentioned in the last Bethany post, every square inch of space and bed is utilized at Bethany at Kijabe Hospital. I will clarify the various options that are being considered in more detail in another posting later this week. However, Joytown presents an opportunity to provide medical assistance for these children who are currently at Joytown, another possible location for a rehabilitation centre for Bethany once surgeries are completed with an educational component. More importantly, there is a feeling that not only is there a need to get involved, but perhaps a higher calling as well. Our visit the other day was part of working out the details. The meeting with the Salvation Army was more pragmatic regarding ownership, investment, etc.
We then met with the US Assistant Ambassador to Kenya. This was a fascinating meeting because we learned a lot about American policy in relation to Eastern Africa. Moreover, we talked about the refugee camps in Darfur and Sudan. He was part of a project that involved interviewing all of the refugees at these camps about their experiences and documenting them for the United States government and for the United Nations. Some of the stories, as you can imagine, were eye opening.
We discussed US Aid programs and the grants that are available and how to process them for some of the projects I have mentioned in my postings. From the hospital in Mombasa to the doctor willing to run a satellite Bethany clinic in Madagascar (which he couldn’t actually talk about because he could only talk about Kenya specifically), to Joytown, the possibilities of grants through the US Aid program would obviously help with the stable funding of these potential projects and his opinions and information was very interesting.
We discussed diplomatic life as an American living in Nairobi. Security is always a main focus and despite the fact that the US compound, Embassy, and dignitaries always have to be protected, that life is good for him and his family. With a 5 year old and 3 year old, there is a lot to do in Kenya, good international schools, and an interesting look at international politics from an African perspective. He is here for another two years and then will be sent off to another posting at another region in the world. He would like to stay in Africa, but as a part of the foreign service, the US government requires diplomats to serve in at least two different regions around the world. Though they are settled and happy in Kenya at the moment, they will have to pick up and move to somewhere else in the world for another diplomatic posting. As exciting as that sounds, I recognize how difficult that must be on family and friends to have to move every few years.
The subject of the recent tourist warning against travel to Kenya came up. The recent piracy issues of ships being hijacked in the Indian Ocean and taken up to Somalia has caused the Embassy to issue the warning. An interesting piece of information about that recent tanker being taken is that, according to the Assistant Ambassador, the tanker was holding 25% of the entire production of oil for a day from Saudi Arabia! That must be a large tanker. These issues seem to continue to come up here. As I have heard from the Assistant Ambassador today though and from many others since I’ve been here, as long as peace can be maintained across the continent, progress will continue to be made. The only thing we can do is pray, be hopeful, and continue to do what we can to support, encourage, and assist.
2 comments:
Hi Mr.Browne,
Just wanted to let you know how much we're enjoying your blogs - your description of the 2 different facilities was very powerful and moving. It sounds like we might have an incredible opportunity to help Bethany expand into Joytown - what a challenge that would be! Count us in! God bless you in your travels.
We really like reading about your stories/ journies Mr. Browne, keep well and keep posting. Wishing you safe travels every you go.
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