Some Great Information

I received an email from a couple just returning from volunteering in Kitui. I can't tell you how excited I am to read of their experiences and advice. It was great information! I'll share excerpts below. I am also hoping to hear final word on the sale of the condo - hoping to close on Monday the 27th but, as always, there are a few glitches.

Here are some lines from the email:

"We had a great time in Kitui. Don’t worry if you get there and think you won’t be able to stick the basic conditions for 6 months, I arrived and decided I would challenge myself to do 1 month and then I was heading back to Nairobi! After a few days I felt completely at home and really enjoyed life there. We would both go back tomorrow.

Visits to Nairobi - You can get to Nairobi for a break away from the village whenever you decide to really as long as you organise a lift down there a week or so in advance with Nicholas, the project manager.

Water - When we were there we drank bottled water all the time and just used the standpipe water for washing. ( A drop of Dettol or similar in your washing water is a good idea just to kill any nasties!) We went through a 10 litre bottle of water every 2 days, but that was for two of us and that was when the weather was at its hottest. It wasn’t as hot when we left so we were changing the big water bottle every 3 days. Take as much water up there with you as you can physically fit in the truck because you can only buy it when you get a ride into Kitui town and as I said that isn’t guaranteed. The standpipe water up there has a very high salt content and we found it to be completely unpalatable, as did every other volunteer I know! The big water bottles when empty are also in big demand by the villagers as containers. As we left, the village was due to be connected to mains water which in theory should be drinkable, but I would still go prepared with bottled initially.

Phone - There is reception for cell phones in the Village so it won’t be a problem phoning your mum. You can also take your phone and charge it up at the administration block when you need to.

Work - I understand if you feel you might like a different experience to education which is exactly how I felt. However, it was my skills and experience in education which were very definitely needed and so that is what I did and I absolutely loved every minute of it. My role was as co-ordinator, not teaching, as kamba- speaking teachers are employed to teach. We met up with Sister Mary in England last week as she is over here at the moment on a visit and she tells me that they are about to double the number of classes at school as from September. I know they will desperately need a good organiser at school, and to me Ed you sound just the ticket! When the staff at school knew that you were coming to the village they became very excited at the thought of you being involved at school. We had just reached a point where we had nicely arranged all the current library books on new shelving we had the carpenter make, and 4,000 more were on their way over from America! One thing I hoped to establish before I left and didn’t have time to, was to put in place a proper library loan system where the children could borrow a book to take to their homes. (They absolutely love books but need training in the use and care of them.) The library was then going to be rehoused in the newly completed administration building that Jim built and which was only completed a few days before we left so there will be TONS of help needed at school. Have I done a good job selling it to you?! I hope so, it’s a wonderful place. To have such close contact with the children every day ( and Nyumbani is all about the children at the end of the day) is what the volunteers who worked on the farm etc. all said they wished they could have had more of. Jim and I loved the school and I make no apologies for giving you the hard sell, as it is very close to our hearts! The staff were lovely too, we had such good times together. Other types of work are general building and working on the farm in the main. Nicholas the project manager will advise you of any other projects they have in mind.

Stuff to Bring - Definitely a powerful flashlight and batteries, preferably back -up flashlights as well as you inevitably end up loaning them out to people. The quality of batteries you buy in Kitui is not great and they are expensive so either take them with you or buy them in Nakumat in Karen. Wind- up torches are really useful as the battery thing doesn’t matter then. It goes dark at around 6.30 to 7pm and it is DARK! We took candles and matches too which we found really helpful, you can get these in Karen. A mosquito net and anti -malarials of course as it is a malarial area. The food is plentiful but gets monotonous. We were never hungry and didn’t find it a problem, but we had taken some standby packet-pasta dishes, porridge oats and instant noodles etc. Chocolate and all kinds of goodies are available at the supermarket in Kitui should you get desperate! Breakfast tended to be just a slice of bread and margarine. If you want things like jam and peanut butter they are available in Kitui but you have to buy them yourself as thay are not provided in the guest house. Very milky tea is provided but not coffee so you’d need to take your own coffee and maybe tea bags. Fruit is available on the market in Kitui but again you have to buy it yourself if you want it. Shower is pour cold water over your head from a bucket, we bought our own plastic pouring jug and bucket in Nakumat and I am glad we did as buckets aren’t provided but come in very useful for all kinds of things, as do a couple of plastic washing up bowls. You are only supplied with one plastic bowl for washing. I’d take a few plastic clothes pegs and a length of clothes line. Also a pen knife and a knife for spreading eg peanut butter as you can’t find them anywhere in Kitui. A cup and plate and bowl is useful too. We bought a ccoking pot on the market which we found useful. Journal to record the amazing experiences you will have!

Clothes - It gets very hot so light cool clothes for the day plus a sweatshirt for night if it gets chilly or the mossies start to bite. The red dust gets everywhere so your whites won’t stay white for long! Hat essential. Gloves may be helpful if you are working on the farm. Comprehensive first aid kit including Cypro, and I’d recommend tea-tree oil as its great for fungal infections like ringworm, worked a treat for me. Toilet paper not provided, can buy in Kitui. Basically, everything is available in Nakumat, Karen which I wish I had known beforehand.

Critters! - There are snakes in Kitui which they don’t usually tell people about till they get there, but there are also snakes in Nairobi! It just means you ALWAYS need to use a flashlight at night as this is when they emerge and its not advisable to go walking through bush, stay to the paths. Scorpions are there, mainly encountered on the farm (but not in school!!). That’s about it for critters. There are lots of funny looking cricket spider things on the walls but they are completely harmless and quite cute.

Safari - You are advised to take a break maybe once a month, usually go down to Nairobi for the weekend. We did a trip to Masai Mara and Nakuru right at the end with them. Cheaper tented version which is quite basic but we loved Masai Mara, not sure I’d bother with Nakuru again.

You are going to have an amazing experience Ed. Enjoy every moment of it, it will go so quickly. The people in the village are so welcoming and friendly and the kids just great. Good luck with your final preparations Ed, it’s a busy old time isn’t it! Best wishes, Jean and Jim