Hotel Marina Kisumu

We had been tipped off by Customs officials in the Serengeti that the gate we had chosen to exit would put our exit route to the border through an unsafe region. The Masai were fighting with their neighbouring tribe which was enough of an incentive for us to use a more Southern Gate. This meant an extra 145 Kms on Serengeti roads, tackling oncoming safari vehicles and serious ...

... A lot of groups attended (though not quite as many as we’d hoped for) and we held a small auction of produce as well as asking for small donations. The saving scheme was officially launched with the first 20 shilling payments being collected and each group nominated a representative to gather the money and report each week. Crispin is going to visit the scheme on a monthly basis to make sure it is running properly and that the money is being used to give ...

... other ways to make some sort of impact alongside it. We have plenty of opportunities to share our ideas with the community and hopefully will leave having learnt and taught something at least.

One of the things we have been doing is holding a discussion each evening on suggested topics. The topic on one night was domestic violence (as female empowerment is a theme of the project here) and it provided a fascinating if somewhat disturbing insight to ...

... br>The main aspect of our work here is meant to be setting up a microfinance scheme that the income generating activities can exist alongside. We held our first meeting for the microfinance on Wednesday and that turned out to be as disastrous as the income generating. The Samanga group had managed to raise 100,000 shillings through saving and a harambee (literally meaning a coming together of people, a harambee is used as a fundraising event in African communities for various ...

... stand out somewhat and tend to attract attention. Nevertheless, we were left standing on the side of a dusty road in the blazing heat until 2pm waiting for the director of the KVDA to turn up and pay for our transport. Throughout the time we were accompanied by a group of alcoholics and glue-sniffers who wouldn't leave. I've been here long enough to understand that not everything gets done on time in Africa but today really was beyond a joke ...

... local payment so in effect it felt free. Brilliant.

Driving back through the park we passed more rhino, seeing about 15 all up and most of them within a few metres. Also buffalo, giraffe, impala, carlos the jackel and a few other big looking animals which I don't know the name of.

Seeing some of my favourite words at the entrance gate, 'curio shop', Suze and I rushed off to investigate. Suze coming out empty handed but me getting suckered into buying postcards and some ...

... there so my best pics and camera were not taken. When we questione dthe wiater, he said 2 women and a man sat down at the table behind us and looked at menus then said they were going shopping and would be back to eat later. The waiter and Daniel(our team leader) searched the mall right next to us but couldn't find the guilty party. I lost $350, my passport, journal, ball cap and other small items, mastercard ...

... small living room, kitchen with a gas stove, bathroom with indoor plumbing, and 2 bedrooms. It is quite comfortable. I cook my myself breakfast and dinner and sometimes lunch. I can have lunch with teachers and students but that usually consists of ugali and boiled cabbage or rice and beans. ometimes I join them and other times I choode to cook a more " Canadian" lunch at my flat. The flat is a 2 minute walk to the school so its easy to go back and forth.

... that reaches out to boys who mostly have either run away from their homes or been kicked out by families who could no longer care for them or no longer wanted them. Understandably, some of the boys are quite rough, but the Warns invite them to come on various days to bathe, wash clothes, eat a meal or two, receive a bit of academic instruction, play games, and learn ...

Ain't nothin' like a long-ass bush-taxi ride to clear the mind.... had to head out at dawn, & make 3 or 4 changes of cars (half impromptu). The up-siide is that most Africans automatically think that white people have money... or at least clout of some kind... so I got ...