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Humbled by my African experience

Thursday, 21 January 2010

Before the trip I was a bit apprehensive, not knowing what to expect but also excited about what lay ahead. We were briefed by UNICEF Ireland in Dublin about the places and programmes we would be visiting in Kenya and also on the poverty and difficult living conditions we would encounter. But from the moment we arrived in the bustling city of Nairobi I knew this trip would make a huge impression on all of us. I knew very little about Kenya beforehand. The East African country has a population of almost 40 million people, with the most densely populated areas being the capital Nairobi, the central fertile belt and provinces to the west. Around half of the population is under 18 years and almost nine million children need support. There are an estimated 2.6 million children orphaned as a result of AIDS, cholera and malnutrition. There are an estimated two million children not attending school and UNICEF with the co-operation of the government has started ‘The Cash Transfer Programme’ whereby households caring for orphaned or vulnerable children get a benefit of 1,500 shillings (e12) a month to help support them. We visited one family who benefited from the programme where the head was a 17-year-old boy called Jackson. He was looking after his two sisters aged 14 and nine. His younger brother had died just five weeks previously of AIDS. They had also lost both their parents to the same disease. Jackson receives the benefit with the condition that he attends school. He also teaches football to younger children to earn some extra income. Then we took a flight to Kisumu, which is a town on the shores of Lake Victoria in West Kenya and is now probably best known as the birthplace of Barack Obama’s father. Here we visited two communities who had received funding to provide a well and sanitation. UNICEF also has engineers there locating water and the community is involved in all aspects of the project. We were really moved by the warmth of the welcome we received, with people singing and dancing their hearts out. It was so humbling. They were so grateful and so proud of what they had achieved with the help of UNICEF. It would mean they would have access to clean water and the latrine would help eliminate cholera and other water borne diseases. My personal experience of the trip was overwhelming. It was a real privilege to be representing UNICEF Ireland and Topaz and all the customers who give so generously to us on a daily basis. Without them these communities would not receive the support they need and it was an honour to witness the results of our efforts. The people I met were gracious, humble and very grateful. I will never forget the experience, the people or the great welcome we received.