A Police Scandal, the Stigma of Twins, and Another Blog to Read!

2011 has barely begun and I am already overwhelmed by the news and developments emerging from Kenya. I learn something new every time I put together one of these blogs, and I hope that you do too.

Last week Kenyans were shocked when a video of police officers executing three men on a busy Nairobi street emerged. The video brings to stark light the ongoing problem of extrajudicial executions and abuses committed by the Kenyan police. For more information, read this detailed report by Human Rights Watch (which I wrote about in a previous blog) about police abuse in Kenya.

Launched last year, the Map Kibera Project aims to create the first map of one of the world’s largest slums. Local residents have been trained and equipped with GPS devices to survey the twelve “villages” that comprise Kibera. The project’s staff hopes that the map will be a powerful tool for residents to learn more about the health, security, education, and water/sanitation facilities available in their community.

While generally considered a blessing in Western cultures, the birth of twins is regarded as unlucky among certain African tribes, including some in Kenya. Women who bear twins are subject to scorn and stigma. Read the story of Gladys, who has given birth to 6 sets of twins and was abandoned by her husband and family as a result.

The healthcare of animals might seem frivolous in light of Kenya’s many public health challenges, but agricultural experts say that access to better medicines for livestock is crucial to reducing poverty. Read more about the launch of 150 veterinary supply stores throughout Kenya.

Finally, I hope that you will spend some time at the Mashada website, which is one of Kenya’s most popular blog spots and online discussion forums. I do not agree with all of the commentary, but it’s a great forum to learn more about the voices and opinions of Kenyans on current issues, many of which I’ve discussed in this blog.

The Value of Sponsorship

One of our parents, whose daughter was sponsored through Uweza and recently completed Class 8 in primary school wrote to thank us for the support. We were so touched by it that we wanted to share:

"I am glad to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to you in person for the good support and achievements that you have made me experience since you stepped into our lives as a family. The face of our lives has greatly changed and the hopes of my daughter that she had, had been according to how you supported her fully. She was very low when she joined Standard 8 but because of your support, she managed to score to the standard of a provincial school. It was not easy and exams were not friendly to them [Class 8 students] and even the government was very keen on their results since they are the first class for the free primary education.

Thank you so, so much and may God bless you abundantly, I must congratulate you because my daughter's hopes have rested in you. Sometimes parents let their kids down, not because they want to but because they can't makes ends meet. It could have been very difficult for me since what they [my children] want, joining Form One [high school] is like an dream for me, which might have lead my daughter to just go and ask a neighbor to teach her how to mend dresses. But because you are there, she now has great hopes for joining Form One."

Due to the educational costs that he has saved through the sponsorship, this parent who runs a business repairing shoes, has been able to repair his home, purchase a bed for his children, provide regular meals, and support the education of his five other children, who all excel in school.

We have recently added many new students to our sponsorship program. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please visit www.uweza.org/sponsorship for more information and to get started.

Cyrus Update

We have written in the past about Cyrus, an 18 year old from Kibera who went blind after consuming methylated spirit in 2008 when he was 16. Cyrus has made tremendous strides in his recovery in the past two years. Although he will permanently remain unable to see, he has adapted well to every day life and has high hopes of attending university and becoming a lawyer.

He is currently sponsored through Uweza and attending the Thika School for the Blind (pictured below), located about 45 minutes outside of Nairobi. He will finish Class 8 this year, graduate primary school and move on to a high school. He will be able to continue on to high school if his grades are high enough and can complete his studies in braille.

We went to visit Cyrus at his boarding school last Saturday and found him in good spirits and doing well. The school contains a computer learning center with over 30 computers where children are taught how to use computers with a visual impairment. All of the teachers were very complimentary of Cyrus, his performance in school, and his good nature. He is able to navigate the curved pathways of the school without his walking cane and has memorized every curve in the path and knows exactly where each building is at at all times.

Although it is extremely tragic for Cyrus to have lost his sight at such a young age, we are proud of him for making the best of the situation and grateful to everyone who has supported him.






Related posts:
Taking Cyrus to School - September 2009
Request for Assistance - October 2008

Kenya and Kibera Current Issues Series: A New Year Begins

Happy 2011, everyone! I’m looking forward to another year of blogging, and, more importantly, of supporting Uweza.

When in Kenya, I always admire the traditional emphasis on family and treating elders with respect. In this brief radio clip from the BBC, two children and their grandparents are interviewed about who cares for the elderly in Kenya. The avowed devotion of the children is heartwarming, but their grandfather’s remark about the contemporary “disintegration” of the traditional family structure is worth noting.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a major challenge to public health in Kenya. The recent arrest and detention of two tuberculosis-stricken men, for the crime of not taking their medication, has sparked a debate about the intersection of public health and human rights. Does the greater national imperative of eliminating TB in Kenya take precedence over the individual rights of certain citizens? Read more here.

In a previous blog, I wrote about the announcement by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the six main suspects in the post-election violence of 2007. One Kenyan activist has written an impassioned plea that following the ICC announcements, Kenya “needs a mirror,” in order to move forward and avoid future violence. His is a perspective worth reading more about here.

In the aftermath of the post-election violence, some Kenyans are turning to a seemingly unlikely activity—yoga—to recover from the trauma they have experienced. This video clip shows how yoga can be a powerful tool for peace-building among the tribes of Kenya.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently called for the arrest of those engaging in homosexuality in Kenya. In this video, the director of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya discusses the impact of this statement on the gay and lesbian community.

And, finally, on a more uplifting note: Kenya’s own Daddy Owen was the Winner of MTV Africa Award 2010 for Best Anglophone Artist. Enjoy the video for his song “Tobina” here:

2010 Thank You Video!

At the end of every year, we create a summary video to thank our supporters and give a better idea of how funds were spent over the course of the year.

Watch the new 2010 video here and thank you so much for your continued support!!



(2009 video)
(2008 video)