2015 Trip – 30 July

Lizzie Nicholson

Today has been quite varied: this morning we visited the Giraffe Sanctuary where I actually got the opportunity to feed a giraffe with my mouth! It was hilarious and I can tell people that I have kissed a giraffe. Haha why not? However, this afternoon we visited Kibera. The government has allowed for the first time us to enter the slum. I was intrigued yet apprehensive about this at the same time. As we pulled up we entered St Secilia School which was a collection of slum buildings with desks inside. There was no yard and to get to the classrooms y0ou had to walk through a maze of open corridors. However, this seems to be a noticeable trend among the schools here, the children were probably the nicest, politest, and in some respects especially where English in concerned, the brightest. For the first time for the whole trip I was left speechless. Who has heard of a school with an open sewer running outside (which some of our group stepped in…) with no electric lights but instead square shape holes cut into the ceiling. Although, seeing the school on the outskirt was only the beginning. Two pupils, Elvin and Millicent, showed us to their homes. The smell of the whole place was revolting but as we got lead further and further into the maze of corrugated buildings, it became unbearable. Most people have a road separating them from their neighbors, yet these people have a sewer. I truly don’t understand why the world has to be so unfair and why people who have the power to change it aren’t. It is as if this place is just a mistake people are willing to ignore. Even now I can still smell it on my clothes. Lisa asked me if it was what I expected it to be like and I answered yes but I hoped it wouldn’t be like that. I don’t think it was the realization that upset me, it was the disappointment for the fact it is that bad. For the first time the bus journey home was silent. I love you all so much and I will see you very shortly! Xxxxx

 

Helen Roberts

Today we have had a whirlwind of a day. First we took a trip to a giraffe Sanctuary where I got to actually got to kiss a giraffe. It’s okay it’s saliva is antiseptic so no diseases. That was amazing and I’m so glad I got to be so close to a giraffe. What we went to next was the complete and utter opposite of the giraffe sanctuary. We took a trip though the ‘rich’ part of Nairobi passing big companies, expensive houses and even a polo arena to get to the slum of Kibera. It was shocking to think that such an expensive place cold be a few minutes away from one of the poorest places in the city. The smell was horrible and you could smell it coming down the road next to it. When we got off we had to walk on rubbish to the school over a stream which I’m pretty sure was not water to the school. i was shocked to see the state of the school I thought the others were bad this school was made of corrugated metal and mud walls. We walked around the school and I was shocked by the state of the classes and how small the amount of pupils there was. They were all so happy to be there so. What shocked me though was the form two secondary school children. They were talking to us about how they wanted to be a mzungus (a white person) because they would have a better life and a better education which is what they want the most out of everything. After we visited the school we were allowed to walk around the slum. This was a once in a lifetime experience because it was life changing. Never in my life have I been so cramped and uncomfortable being in a ‘neighborhood’. We were following two students who both lived in the slum and we went to each house. They were very similar, cramped and untidy. I was told that 7 people lived in each house and there was not enough room to fit all of my duty group in. this experience was very gut wrenching and it made me want to do as much as I could to help these children get out the situation. I think that what st scilia school is doing is greater they are teaching these children all they need to be able to get out of the situations they are in. hope everyone is good at home can’t wait to see everyone just going to get ready for our fancy meal out now lots of love xxx

 

Abi Pentney

To start off my day I snogged a giraffe (who was a girl) and got some great photos at the giraffe sanctuary. Afterwards, we went to a school on the outskirts of the Kibera slum and it was so upsetting to see the conditions they had to learn in! It was ridiculous; the toilets had maggots in and absolutely reeked and the classrooms where miniscule. We then were paired with students who lived in the slum and we visited their “homes.” Joyce lived in a room about the size of our utility room with 4 other family members. When we came out it was overwhelming to see all of the kids outside the school so innocent, playing amongst the sewers and mud. There was no difference between these children and a group of children in primary school at home. It made me realize that we can do small things such as giving £180 a year and it can truly change someone’s life forever. The children at the school were so happy to be given maize and beans and they were even happier to be given a pencil. We are just about to go to the safari hotel for our meal and acrobatics show- I’ve tried to look respectable. I can’t believe we’re flying home tomorrow but I’m excited to see you all. Love you lots, have a safe journey home from Majorca x

 

Josef Ramsay

Today we started of the day by going to the giraffe sanctuary which was good because we got to go head level with them and feed them or even kiss them! That was a good experience however the best part of the day was going to St Secelia and the slums. It was a real eye opener to go there and see how much they appreciate it even though it is horrendous. The schools was not very good at all but the kids and teachers were amazing and they were so appreciative of what had brought for them. After we went round and mingled with the kids we got taking to one of the kids homes in the slums and it really was shocking how disgusting and vile it was around there and when we finally arrived there I was shocked to see where she lived, there was 5 of them in a room smaller than our little bedroom. It was really heart breaking to see that the conditions they live in but it was amazing to see how happy they were about going to school. it was a great day but now we are going of for the last meal! I love you all and see you soon x

 

Joe Garrens

Today was definitely an emotional day. This morning it started off on a high as we visited the Giraffe Sanctuary which was absolutely brilliant as we had the opportunity to get right in the faces of the giraffes as well as learning some really interesting facts about them. When we got to see the giraffes we were allowed to feed them, one of the ways is by putting food in your mouth and getting them to eat it from your mouth, so in a nut shell I got a giant sloppy lick from a giraffe this morning. Once we had finished visiting the sanctuary we headed for St. Secilia School in Kibera. It was by far the most desperate school that we had visited, the conditions were just awful, there is no other way to describe them. Before we went in we had to carry maize into the school as a gift but it was not an easy task at all, many people ended up in the sewer water but we eventually got the job done. Seeing the smile on the faces if the students after we performed and gave out supplies made it all worthwhile. After this was when it got really emotional, as two of the students took us to their home within Kibera slum. It was just terrible, the smell, the waste, the sewage, everything was just too much. When we were in the slum you couldn’t help but feel guilty as you have so much back at home yet these people have nothing. 7 people living in a tiny room! You have never seen anything like it. It didn’t really hit me until I was back on the truck and had time to reflect while people where coming back. The only thing that I kept thinking off is the fact that although these people had nothing, although the conditions that they are living in are horrible, they still managed to have a massive smile on their face and able to have so much fun with what they have it was so admirable. I kept comparing it to England as these people don’t complain and get on with their life enjoying the opportunity to get educated, yet some people in England do not appreciate the opportunity that they have to get educated and complain at the most stupidest of things like getting their phone taken off them in class or shouting at teachers because they can’t get their own way. It just made me mad, but I’m okay now and looking forward to tonight. Tomorrow is the day we fly back, I can’t wait to see you all so much. Not long now! Love and miss you all!!

 

Josh Cooper

We woke up at 7 today and ate breakfast almost immediately after waking up, so that we could head over to the sanctuary. Our time at the Giraffe Sanctuary was amazing. We were able to look face to face at a Giraffe and feed it. I was also able to kiss the giraffe twice, along with others in the group. It was a good laugh and a real high of the trip. We then headed off once again. This time, we were heading towards Kibera. It was a very big eye opener indeed. We visited St Secilia School, which is situated in the slum. It was very saddening to see the state of the school and the hygiene of the younger children especially. I was very surprised to find that all of the Form 2 secondary school children were of a very good background and didn’t live in the slum. After the school, my group visited one of the student’s home, which was fairly central in the slum. The stench was awful. Also, as I and three other people carried bags of Maize into the school, I was pushed into the sewer, and had dirty water and mud up my leg and in my shoe. It was a highly emotional experience that really made me think about how lucky we all are. Tonight we are going out for a meal and are watching a special show, which

I’m very excited about. Almost time to head home now. See you all soon x        

 

Lorna Davison

So today we went to the Kibera slum where St Secilia School is. In the school some of the classrooms were tiny, in one there was fourteen children and they were in this dark humid room all day. A few of us then went into a class of form 3 pupils and they were giving us maths questions etc etc and were quite impressed by what we knew! It was nice to spend time with the older pupils because their English is much better so you can actually have a normal conversation with them. Then we went into the slum (the school is on the outskirts) and oh my god. Literally, there was so much rubbish everywhere and it was smelly but it was strange to see the pupils walk through it even though I know that it’s normal for them, it was the same as me walking from mum’s house to dad’s house. It was mad to see how different our two “normals” were because they had a high street place which minus the rubbish wouldn’t have been that bad. The rods were made of mud and no, it didn’t smell the best but I’m sure that would have got better if the rubbish wasn’t there. However, even though that was like shocking, obviously, that wasn’t what struck me as strange. What did strike me as strange were the similarities between two completely different worlds. Like people were walking around with a phone in their hand, obviously it wasn’t an iPhone or anything but I hadn’t prepared myself for the chance of there being similarities but I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought of that. Like there were a few chip shops on the high street, a fruit and veg shop and a sweet shop. It was strange to see that even though their world is so different to ours we have still established like similar things. You could tell that there were little friendship groups of people. I can’t really explain what I mean because it’s a bit confusing in my head too but I tried. Also, over the trip one thing that I have noticed that they have a lot here and that I think we don’t have much of is a proper sense of community. For example, we were at the maasai market and one women didn’t have change and the others helped her out and it was the same at Arusha, like the people seemed so much more happy to help each other out a bit. Whereas in England I would be nervous to ask a neighbor for a cup if sugar. And in the slum the people that were showing us round seemed to know everyone and they were chatting and laughing and smiling with everyone. Anyway, I think I need a night in my own bed, see you soon! Xxx

 

Jake Hardy

I don’t really know how to explain what we witnessed today. We went to the Kibera Slums and visited St Secilia. It was an amazing experience and can’t really explain it in words but in two days time we can talk about it. In addition we also snogged giraffes but got pied 3 times. It was a little weird putting its pellets in my mouth and trying to lure the giraffes near my mouth. Now going to the all you can eat meal which is making me think a lot more due to the difference from today. Talking about change from one road to another we saw people playing polo in mansions and then to the slums Kibera. See you in two days.

 

Jordan Mace

Today was the toughest experience emotionally for me as we went to the Kibera slum. When we arrived at the slum we first went to Saint Secilla School to hand over pens and pencils to them and other things to help the school. We went into one of the classes and talked to the children and they were all my age or over. They showed me the type of math’s questions they do and I could surprisingly do them. However, after that came the emotional part as 2 of the children took us through the slum to where they stay. They have 7 people in one little house put they actually had a TV which surprised me. Put as we walked to the houses the smell was horrendous and the living conditions were absolutely shocking. I kept my tears in for so long as we were walking through the slums seeing how happy the children actually were in the slum. As soon as we went out the slums I couldn’t hold my tears in anymore. I just couldn’t believe how people can live like that and in England we complain over the stupidest little things whereas they are running around playing and laughing in the worst living conditions. I expected the slum to be bad but I never thought it would be worse than I expected which it was and this really did make me think about how lucky I seriously am. Anyways, we are going to the hotel now to have our last meal in Africa. I love and miss you all at home and I can’t wait to see you all on Saturday morning. Bye see you soon xxx