tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22734535855106116622024-03-14T06:27:06.704-07:00Mother Madrigal Speaks OutIrreverent, Opinionated, Eternally Optimistic, Mother M Talks about Kenya, Politics, God, Americans and growing older (Not necessarily in that order)Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-18805621538966912822013-07-12T10:17:00.000-07:002013-07-12T10:36:14.899-07:00Single is better than GoodSo I'm moving to D.C in a few weeks. They don't know what's going to hit them. It was a very easy <br />
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decision for me. I was on a beach in South Carolina by myself and it dawned on me that it was time to sell my home. I called my friend who's a real estate agent and he said fine, let's get it on the market.<br />
<br />
What? On the market now? I was thinking more like fall, but he assured me now was the time. One week later, one small open house, 5 bids over ask and the house was sold. Ok now time to get a new one. Down to D.C the following weekend, find the place wrap it up I'll take it. Done.<br />
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But the deal is when I called my friends I found out that in their lives this couldn't happen. Each one of them would LOVE to sell their home and move into a swanky condo but their husbands want to stay in the homes. A couple of my friends despair of ever being able to leave the burbs. And see, all this time I've been single and thinking gosh I suck at relationships, it's now not so bad at all. I don't suck at relationships because they have all been my friends for 40 years. I just didn't pick the right guy to marry and now I'm totally grateful I'm not saddled with a man.<br />
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As a matter of fact being single is better than Good, it's great. It's freedom, it's starting again when I want, it's freedom.<br />
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Keep the faith y'allMother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-4826928957803701202012-10-30T10:40:00.000-07:002012-10-30T10:40:39.654-07:00One Toe Over the Line Sweet Jesus<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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One Toe Over the Line Sweet Jesus<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s a saying we use for folks who don’t want to commit to
something. The I’m sort of in, but if I’m wrong, I wasn’t really. Today’s Op-Ed
by Richard Cohen in the Washington Post (see link below) was exquisite. The gist
of it is that Obama doesn’t seem to care about anything but getting re-elected.
I can’t agree more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The comparison he uses is Bobby and Jack Kennedy, but mostly
Bobby. I was a young girl back then and ardently supported Kennedy. They were
the dream, and as a bomb throwing liberal Democrat, with a student’s idealism,
their caring for the poor, the black, the less educated struck me with a
passion to change the world that has stayed with me for 50 years. I wanted to be better because they challenged
me to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Obama spoke at the DNC convention back in 2004,and
again in 2008 I felt the same surge of joy that here was a leader I would
follow into hell and back. Here was my fallen hero. I was no dewy-eyed college
student by then, I was middle aged and yet that same stirring came back. “Yes
We Can”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Over these past four years it’s more like “I’m not sure if
we can”. Or “Maybe if everyone agrees we can.” Or “Maybe I don’t care if we
can”. And so I could not campaign for Obama as I did in 2008. I will not go to
his inauguration if he wins. I will vote for him, because his not caring is
better than Romney’s. But he’s got to get that toe on the other side to get my
belief back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-obama-the-president-who-seems-not-to-care/2012/10/29/a52246a0-21e2-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
And to give the photographer of the photo above credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.123rf.com/photo_13876624_middle-of-the-road-with-conflicting-opposing-signs-as-green-yes-and-red-no-demonstration-placards-on.html" href="http://www.123rf.com/photo_13876624_middle-of-the-road-with-conflicting-opposing-signs-as-green-yes-and-red-no-demonstration-placards-on.html" style="color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo</a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-40541884936694901262012-10-26T15:00:00.000-07:002012-10-26T15:00:32.255-07:00A Turning Point
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX10aWud_S2DcOHJ5HHBSn2KQMs-4Ybm70zArW0I3GX2P5DZ2jwUenbzjm0cvOTI7F9m7BSIL9MCW-rK-DwZa5MfwxxLUy4y354Mi2TPMzIx_qsZ-xBvhrqBre-xrWIL04lj4QRftwAAE/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX10aWud_S2DcOHJ5HHBSn2KQMs-4Ybm70zArW0I3GX2P5DZ2jwUenbzjm0cvOTI7F9m7BSIL9MCW-rK-DwZa5MfwxxLUy4y354Mi2TPMzIx_qsZ-xBvhrqBre-xrWIL04lj4QRftwAAE/s320/me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Francis, my driver says, "you must go far to find what is near." Sometimes decisions are like that. Sometimes you can't know what to do, until you put yourself through a turning point and have faith you'll come through it. </div>
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I knew I wouldn’t be going back. It weighed heavily on my
mind as I readied for this last trip. I wasn’t positive, but with the strikes
and the grenades and the problems I had last year, I just didn’t think I could
keep doing it. And I had no idea how things would work out if I didn’t keep
going. That’s where faith fits in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3dAoqyJ0_dNxGWVLfqgHTYU2BB3MwWjJ5FVN1JCd_yHMkfbUkFBxjNth1JGjYSUN3SQYR0hBNZ0jFjZ2p1cjzQRIpaobjcpH6yq4IfVQep0H8rQRVjZjoQRWTJscHukPf1Fb6cWzdPQ/s1600/me5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3dAoqyJ0_dNxGWVLfqgHTYU2BB3MwWjJ5FVN1JCd_yHMkfbUkFBxjNth1JGjYSUN3SQYR0hBNZ0jFjZ2p1cjzQRIpaobjcpH6yq4IfVQep0H8rQRVjZjoQRWTJscHukPf1Fb6cWzdPQ/s320/me5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everyone in Kenya was glad I was back. They wanted to see if
I could walk, if I tired easily, and frankly would I come back. (Last year I
got chased by a man with a machete and wound up with a broken leg that went
unset for 3 days). It’s no easy feat to go back again when you’re 65 after
that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I knew the teachers were on strike, I knew the doctors were
on strike. I knew that I couldn’t get hurt or sick. What I didn’t know was the
way for the work I do over there. I fully believe that God put me in Africa to
teach me both patience and surrender. I can assure you that if I got any of
either of those in my birth package, I only got the sample size. Both would be needed to get through this trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the weeks unfolded, however, I saw how the community
organizers were really changing the attitudes of the people. And I saw that not
only did I not need to be physically present when we brought a new school on
board, but it was better if my little muzungu (white girl) face didn’t show up.
It sent a mixed message, since white people are always associated with donors
not empowerment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I left my beloved Kenya, not knowing when or if I would be
back. I didn’t say goodbye to my partners over there. I hadn’t told my board
yet and they needed to know my decision first.And maybe I couldn't say goodbye because I didn't want it to be goodbye. I felt sad, glad, scared, love,
and accomplishment as I boarded the plane. The work will go on. And Kenya will always be a heart home whether
I return or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-61714608417929636362012-10-23T10:37:00.002-07:002012-10-23T15:43:22.390-07:00Homework<br />
Why Do I Blog?<br />
<br />
ABout 5 years ago, I joined a dating/over 50 site called Eons. I saw people blogging and thought, given my experiences in Africa that I might have something unusual to contribute so I began this blog called Mother Madrigal Speaks Out. (And if you haven't read Tales from the City by Armistand Maupin you might not understand who Mother Madrigal is, but I bear an amazing resemblence to her)I found that I quickly had a lot of followers which gave me the push to continue<br />
<br />
Eons collapsed, but one of the editors encouraged me to continue and so I did for fun. Until I learned how important it could be to the organization I run. Then the focus changed from my rather personal ramblings to what we were doing in Kenya. Blogging might get us more followers and thus more donors.<br />
<br />
Now I blog to get the word out on One Village at a Time. While I try to keep the blog personal, there are things I don't express on the blog anymore because it does represent the organization. I'm not sorry it's not personal. I can use twitter if I want to post political ideas or aging ideas. And hopefully when I am done with this blogging course, more people will follow, they will learn more about what we do, and frankly more about what is happening in Africa, a continent that Americans are woefully ignorant about.<br />
<br />
Who are my Peeps?<br />
<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/easter%20peeps/coffee_stranger/easter-peeps.jpg?o=7" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket Image Hosting" border="0" src="http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz210/coffee_stranger/th_easter-peeps.jpg" /></a><br />
1. My peeps are people I am trying to educate about the plight of girls and women in poverty stricken areas of the world. Particularly East Africa<br />
2. My peeps are young people who donate and are passionate about what we do<br />
3. My peeps are big donors/foundations who see what we are doing and want to help. I have found that Great Non-Profits and Global Giving were hooked through my twitter and blog posts. And I want more of them.<br />
4. My peeps are those who need to know I am alive, so sometimes the posts are up there to let the folks back home know that I am still here.<br />
5. My peeps are the people in Africa who need information and links to help them with the work they are doing in the areas of empowering women and girls.<br />
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Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-60620545386074325242012-10-16T10:12:00.003-07:002012-10-18T11:19:36.164-07:00I Won't Need This Gun AnymoreHe was only 17 and a very brave boy at that. It was the early 90's and he dared to come out in High School long before it was acceptable. His father threw him out of the house and he was living with an aunt. I was his therapist.<br />
<br />
He was totally despondent and called to tell me he was going to kill himself. He couldn't take the name calling or the rejection. I asked him to come to my home in Boston, which, back then, was located at ground zero for gay men. I told him he could kill himself after he visited me. He said he would come.<br />
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That evening the guys came home from work. It was a soft spring night and sitting on the stoop is what we did. The men came up to say hi, as was the custom and I introduced the young man to Dan the doctor, his partner Tim the teacher. He met Terry the banker and Richard the lawyer and on and on.<br />
<br />
As it got dark the boy got out his back pack and fumbled in it. He took something out. He said to me," I knew I could grow up to be a man, but I didn't know I could grow up to be a<i><b> gay</b></i> man." And with that he handed me the gun and said he wouldn't need it anymore.Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-62601897897727744762012-10-16T07:46:00.002-07:002012-10-18T11:09:14.674-07:00My Kenya is Gone<br />
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Laughing, arm in arm, walking safely on the streets was once the way I knew my heart home. Now blown up children, terror, night blackness, no place safe, my Kenya is gone.Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-22354598706616115972012-03-12T09:13:00.002-07:002012-03-12T09:13:05.513-07:00Harambee Sat, 5/12 5-9P<a href="http://twitpic.com/8vfdgu" title="Harambee Great food, Amazing Entertainment from Award Winning... on Twitpic"><img alt="Harambee Great food, Amazing Entertainment from Award Winning... on Twitpic" height="150" src="http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/8vfdgu.jpg" width="150" /></a>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-86539718914358633332012-02-20T09:40:00.000-08:002012-02-20T09:40:05.938-08:00What is 65?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>438</o:Words> <o:Characters>2501</o:Characters> <o:Company>ONE VILLAGE</o:Company> <o:Lines>20</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2934</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t think turning 65 would bother me, but it has made me pause. I know now that most of my time has been used. I’m ok with that. I have been talking to a few people about how One Village at a Time got started. I pulled out a video that I put together several years ago. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I look at myself, listen to my words and it seems decades ago. I hear my American voice and I know that the people didn’t understand my nasal accent and me. I see that I was the one doing the work and being lady bountiful. I am almost embarrassed that the people in the film had to be the kindergarten where I first learned how to work in Africa. I hope I did more good than harm. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s only been 10 years since I started, but what a journey it has been. Learning patience, accepting the vicissitudes of everyday life over there, keeping hope up when you’re about to fall off the cliff. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first program was in Siaya. I remember I was so proud that we were feeding, clothing and paying school fees for 18 kids for $4000. How naïve I was. We do that now for little more than $100. I had to learn to get better partners, and that you need to pay people over there. Otherwise the money they get is just too tempting to take a piece of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sometimes they do even if you do pay them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fled that fiasco when I found that the woman who was supposed to be running the program took all the money. Thank heavens for an understanding board.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The second program got better. We went into schools. I counted on a community organizer to help the program go. It was supposed to be cost sharing, but we never got accurate accounts, and they never made any progress. See, I was still seen as Lady Bountiful with unlimited funds. They had no impetus to change. Oh and that leader, he left for Mombasa and never told me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But today, when I spoke to Monica in Kigali, I knew we were there. Our program is crisp and clean. I am the woman behind the curtain. No longer do the villagers see me as anything more than a curious white girl. Our team in the field is tough and organized. I found out that when the team went to one school and the parents had not put in their contribution, the team packed up and left. Yesssss. Monica went on to tell me of the changes in the team, all of them good.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We work together, she and I. We are on the same wavelength. We share the same vision. Get these communities up and running and self-sustaining as fast as possible. We laugh over the schools we thought would do poorly are now succeeding. We commiserate over a dishonest worker Monica had to fire. We lay plans for the future<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have come such a long way from the skinny woman I see in that old film. I speak Kenyan English, I don’t fall for the pity party, I continue to love and be blessed by what I do. I know 65 is a number, but it is a number I’ve thought about all my life as an ending and for me, I’m still in the middle of something. So I hope there’s no ending any time soon</span><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-29923558764382841562012-01-05T07:04:00.000-08:002012-01-05T07:04:49.295-08:00Vigilante Justice for TeachersFrom time to time people ask me about the schools in Kenya. They wonder mostly about things like computers and assume that because the schools we work in are so poor the kids probably don't learn much. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I, frankly, find that the kids know more in more languages than our kids of the same age do.<br />
<br />
In November the National Exams take place for 8th graders. These are the most important exams the kids will take until they graduate secondary school. They are called the KPCE's and the marks will be the ticket to a good school, a national school, or not. Parents, who often don't have much to do with the schools until the exams, worry greatly about the exams and the results can be tragic to say the least.<br />
<br />
This year a couple of young girls committed suicide because of their marks, and today I read that a headmaster killed himself because of the poor showing of the children in his school.<br />
But instead of my describing it, here's the article from the Nation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div id="articlemeta" style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">By Nation Team Newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com<br style="font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Posted Wednesday, January 4 2012 at 22:00</div><div id="article_summmary" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 6px;"><div class="newstype" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/766/data/85/-/148af6az/-/ico_file.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 2px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">IN SUMMARY</div><div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One headteacher commits suicide and others have been assaulted and run out of school as angry parents vent their anger over poor examination results</li>
<li style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Parents protesting against their children’s poor performance in last year’s exam take out their anger on school heads, roughing them up and locking them out of institutions</li>
</ul></div></div><div id="article_text" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A headteacher committed suicide and scores of others were roughed up by irate parents protesting against poor results in last year’s KCPE examination.</div></div><div style="background-color: #ededed; float: left; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><div class="wide_google_ads" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ins style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline-table; font-size: 16px; height: 280px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 336px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: block; font-size: 16px; height: 280px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 336px;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="280" hspace="0" id="aswift_1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_1" scrolling="no" style="font-size: 16px; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="336"></iframe></ins></ins></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One school head was badly injured, another was dragged out of his office and warned never to set foot in the school.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Six others were locked out of their offices by angry parents as the new school term started.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a number of schools across the country, headteachers just went into hiding, fearing attacks from parents after their schools performed poorly, raising serious questions about the safety of teachers and school administrators.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Results cancelled</strong></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Police in Narok County confirmed that the headteacher of Kalyet Primary School in Mulot Division, Mr Geoffrey Kiplang’at Sigei, had taken his life after the school’s results were cancelled by the Kenya National Examinations Council over irregularities.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mr Sigei’s body was found by relatives in a tea plantation in Bureti District on Tuesday.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Before he committed suicide, the headteacher had gone into hiding after learning that all his 38 candidates had failed to obtain their results since their English and Kiswahili scores were cancelled, said Bureti police boss Smollets Munyianzi.</div></div><div style="background-color: #efefef; float: left; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><div style="background-color: #efefef; float: right; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; 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</ul></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He initially sought refuge at a relative’s home and then said he was going to visit a friend on New Year’s day, never to be seen alive again, according to the police boss.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The family started looking for the teacher from the time he left the relative’s home until Tuesday, when his brother, Mr Joseph Sigei, reported the matter to Litein Police Station.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“His wife called relatives wondering why the teacher was not communicating to them. It was then that the family started searching for the teacher, only for his mother to find his body in the tea bushes,” said Mr Munyianzi.</div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The body was taken to Kapkatet District Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.</div></div></div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-77066476142082319052011-12-20T09:03:00.000-08:002011-12-20T09:03:14.752-08:00Lemony Snickets<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The blogosphere did indeed go blank from Mama OVAAT for a few weeks. It in no way should reflect the success of the trip. Frankly I’m over the moon over how we are doing. That Sunday, Monica and I went to church and then sat under the trees by Lake Victoria and talked about the way forward. It was a delicious day of friendship and love between 2 kindred spirits who “dream dreams” as Bobby Kennedy would say.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Monday dawned bright and beautiful for our ride back across the Rift. Francis and I drove to KMET for one last visit and thus ensued the “Series of Unfortunate Events”.<a _mce_href="http://onevillageatatime.org/2011/12/20/lemony-snickets/feet-2/" href="http://onevillageatatime.org/2011/12/20/lemony-snickets/feet-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-1679"><img _mce_src="http://onevillageatatime.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/feet1-300x224.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1679" height="224" src="http://onevillageatatime.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/feet1-300x224.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right;" title="feet" width="300" /></a><br />
Yes fans, I managed to break my leg on the last day, and of course there was no adequate medical care. My fabulous Medical Rescue Card got me nothing and there were no working x-ray machines at Nairobi Hospital. Which was probably ok since I doubt they had a tech anyway.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Determined to get on that plane, we got to the airport, I got a wheel chair and thus began the long, long ride home. 2.5 days travel with an unset broken leg is a bit of a challenge, but I did get home, get it set, and still wound up in the hospital with the creepy crawlies. Then a fall down my stairs a week later got me 16 stitches in my head. That’s what I mean by a series of unfortunate events.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Ok, but here’s the deal. What we are doing in Kenya defies the odds. We are going to run this program for under $30,000. I so want people to know that with the right partners and working with communities to own their programs you can change attitudes and lives. (Y’all know how I feel about the big guys. ) And I can’t wait to get back there.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And the second deal is not to be afraid. Do what your heartsong is. I am 65 years old and I love my work over there. Despite “the series of unfortunate events” I wouldn’t give up one single second of life over there and here. And I wish that more people stepped out of the fear of not being a success, or of getting hurt, or of the unknown, or what people might think and go for it. As my grandmother used to say, “Life is short, eat dessert first”. So go for it with everything you’ve got and believe you can. You’re neither too young or too old, it’s your time. Now get up and do it.</div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-1162530769594441302011-12-17T09:01:00.000-08:002011-12-17T09:01:11.822-08:00Even My Dirt is Covered in Dirt<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">15 November 2011<br />
I So Dirty My Dirt is Covered in Dirt<br />
Yeah and I’m a crispy critter too. So much for SPF 30, there’s no fighting the Kenyan sun. You only have to be out in it 15 minutes to fry, so I will be a dermatological dream again.<br />
I am constantly telling my clients that they must surrender ego, that it is always up to the universe to make things happen. Old ego and I had a real smack down today. We were supposed to get to Malanga at 11A, then it was changed to noon, but we didn’t get there until 2P. That made me crazy since I, of course, was on time. But it turns out the KMET van broke down, Monica didn’t really know her way and wasn’t traveling with us and well it’s Kenya. By the tie we got there folks had been sitting waiting since 8A. And to make things worse the headteacher, Maloba, had told the new school we would be there by 11A. So we were pissing people off all over the place. We had to apologize at Malanga, then we had to split up so some of us could go and placate the new schools while the others worked out the exit plan at Malanga. Suffice it to say ego did not like where this was heading. Ego likes things organized, ego anticipates problems and leaves time for them, and ego was really snarky.<br />
I went to the new school ,Nangina. By that time it was 3P and they had been waiting 6 hours. I felt terrible and apologized as best I could but they were still not having it.<br />
So I got Francis to go to the car and get a bag of sweets that I always carry for the kids. In this case I needed to sweeten the mood of the parents and passed out the lollipops. I had to make a joke of it and they seemed a bit better.<br />
But you know you’re in trouble when there are no speeches and few introductions. And the dancing girls were no where to be seen. The KMET team was first up and gave their schpiele for the first 30 minutes. We covered micro-finance, nutrition and partnership. We were missing a lot of the team cuz they were back at Malanga.<br />
And then it was Mama OVAAT time. And something miraculous happened, it wasn’t’ about me anymore. It was about them. It was about building a team, a partnership. It was about telling them how much I believed in them and that with a little push they could make it on their own. I asked them if they would join our team, team Nangina and they said YES!! And then the old cheerleader or preacher in me broke out and I got them chanting yes we can and passed out faith bracelets to everyone of them so they could identify as members of the team and they were united and it was glorious and it was all about God not that dirty little ego. It was truly amazing grace.<br />
We broke for a quick lunch (which I always avoid). I’ve gotten so good at it I take out my diabetic kit and prick my finger at the table, then shake my head and say sorry the number is not right for me to eat that. (trust me I don’t care whether it’s 80 or 180 it’s “never right”). So after a few handfuls of rice I want to see the children. The children breathe life back into me as surely as water lifts a marathon runner. Maybe it is runner’s high.<br />
We finished at 5P and went to the lovely Blue York. Dinner and review of the day followed by no internet and very little electricity. No matter, since I’m so dirty I’m totally ok with washing with cold water. I didn’t have a choice really,<br />
What always continues to amaze me is the teamwork that happens with the KMET crew. As I reflect on the day, and I see how they work as a team, reflect on the good and the bad and plan the next day I know I am with a group of remarkable people. Everyone is equal and respected and while sometimes it is not the most efficient process, their staff is dedicated, inventive, and a delight to work with.<br />
So I end the night in grace and for that I am grateful. I’ll post this when I can.<br />
Keep the faith y’all</div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-7053945443235399332011-12-17T08:49:00.001-08:002011-12-17T08:49:59.987-08:00The Rift<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">13 November 2011</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Today we drive the Great Rift Valley. I don’t remember when exactly I started driving the Rift instead of flying. Probably when I smartened up and realized that a. it was much cheaper and b. it brings me to my heart home as I travel the different climes that are the Rift. First we hit a crest and look down on the long fertile valley, then we pass through miles of tea and coffee plantations, and then into the orange roads that signal the small towns teeming with people, farm animals roaming the streets and mounds and mounds of produce. Potatoes stacked in pyramids, onions, tomatoes. As we move further on we get to the villagers carrying great stalks of banannas and finally pineapples. Poverty abounds, naked children playing in the dirt, tall regal women with huge loads of sticks or water in jerry cans atop their heads, and everyone is walking by the side of the road.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Once in a while we see a private car like our own. But mostly it is the lorries and crazy matatu drivers (these are Toyota fans which are supposed to seat 9 but are often crammed with as many as 20 in them). The matatus are usually the culprits in the horrendous vehicle deaths that run rampant on the roads. A couple of weeks ago 25 people were killed because a Matatu tried to outrun a lorry and didn’t make it. I used to drive in those when I first started here; but even I gave up as they were so incredibly dangerous. Sometimes you see a boda boda (bike carrying someone for money). Life can be very cheap here and it is taken for granted that road deaths occur regularly. I don’t ride boda bodas either.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I am anxious to get going. Francis shall be here fairly soon given the traffic and what he has to attend to at home. I will film some of the Rift and post it for you.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a _mce_href="http://onevillageatatime.org/2011/11/13/the-rift-valley/rift-3/" href="http://onevillageatatime.org/2011/11/13/the-rift-valley/rift-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-1639">rift</a> click to see the film</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I have officially been spooked by the security. I have checked out and had 3 bags. I left my black briefcase on the couch in the lobby while I went to the loo. It was scooped up immediately. Then,I got questioned by the guard as to whether it was mine. And since Francis is late, I decided to go to the ATM to get some cash. Again, I was questioned by 2 guards about my walkabout. And then another at the bank and then I was frisked to get back into the hotel. Yeah, who says they’re not worried?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Catch you in Kisumu</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">It was a glorious though bumpy ride to Kisumu. I have attached some un-edited film of our ride. We go from the very arid rift where the Masaii tend their cattle to the vast tea plantations in the valley and along the way meet some interesting fauna.</div><div><br />
</div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-2126327438079538282011-11-30T12:06:00.000-08:002011-11-30T12:06:14.195-08:00How Things Work..or Not<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>494</o:Words> <o:Characters>2816</o:Characters> <o:Company>ONE VILLAGE</o:Company> <o:Lines>23</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3304</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">11 November 2011<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have entered into the amorphous part of travel. I have no idea what time it is. By my calculations I have been traveling for over 24 hours, but I still have a 13-hour flight to Kenya. Security is tight here in Amsterdam with a second screening. The strange thing about my traveling is that I enter into this zone of peace, which carries me through to the end. I have audio books and kindle and movies of my own and so however long it takes is fine. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I know I am on my way home to Kenya because the faces are so different sitting here at the airport. Now I see the faces of Kenya, I see the Kikuyu, the luo and the luya. I actually can pick out the facial differences of most of the tribes now and know Somalis from Ethiopians from Eritreans. A Somali drove me to the airport and we had a cool conversation about El Shabbab. He is from Southern Somalia and I think he daren’t say that he supports El Shabbab, but he wasn’t putting them down either. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It looks to be an interesting trip this time.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Because I am white and don’t belong to any tribe, people from all tribes tell me stuff they would never say aloud with other tribes. So I shall be interested to hear what people’s take is on El Shabbab. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">More later when I land in Nairobi. I am looking forward to the warm moist air and the night sky. It is the short rains right now, but hopefully they will have passed for the day and I shall be able to look out onto the endless spectrum of stars that dot the horizon and the moon radiates above.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">12 November 2011<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s the little things that now make me laugh. Americans would really be upset if their phone number changed every 6 months or so. Once I landed I had to tank up my Kenya phone. Because I use it every 6 months or so, and can’t tank it up in the U.S, it means that I have a new sim card often. Which means I must call everyone and give him or her my new number. Which means that I have to buy extra cards so that I can call my friends and contacts here. It’s just part of how it works here.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I got in late, as usual and the lines for customs were long and ponderous. But again, it’s just part of the deal. Folks who were tweaking didn’t get anywhere and I figure waiting in the visa line beats waiting for luggage and getting crushed in the mix. Since my suitcases are all hand painted by me, I know no one is going to take them. And since they both weighed in over the weight limit, most folks can’t even ick them up.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was great to see Francis waiting, and his son John who has grown exponentially since I saw him last. Francis says things have quieted down here in Nairobi, so we’re going to the Westlands to Masaii market today. I hate shopping and quibbling with the vendors, so I like to get it over as soon as possible. I swear Francis is my Kenyan husband and understands me well. We have our routine down pat and I’m glad we both slip into our easy friendship so quickly.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ok, I’m hoping to post this now, since I’m in one of the better hotels and they ostensibly have Internet. It wasn’t working last night and there were some pretty angry muzungus. It’s going to be a long trip for them if they get upset about not having Internet. What are they going to do when there’s no power or water?? Oh, no they won’t be staying in those places. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Catch you later y’all<o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-17634572395367886782011-11-12T01:57:00.000-08:002011-11-12T01:57:14.351-08:00The Flamingo Has Landed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yGKdjgwZVkUjinfrYewgPCPmAGR7exGQXS-dT7OoFBzlXDWiOWMQVygb6L5pF4TzQvsr6QCondtlgH6kBBOZFuHSNf1hojamqWRkJo4-SpoOxZ3_5PyiOXdt5Rc9MdVVXRfWSAFGeps/s1600/flamingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yGKdjgwZVkUjinfrYewgPCPmAGR7exGQXS-dT7OoFBzlXDWiOWMQVygb6L5pF4TzQvsr6QCondtlgH6kBBOZFuHSNf1hojamqWRkJo4-SpoOxZ3_5PyiOXdt5Rc9MdVVXRfWSAFGeps/s320/flamingo.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>494</o:Words> <o:Characters>2817</o:Characters> <o:Company>ONE VILLAGE</o:Company> <o:Lines>23</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3305</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">11 November 2011<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have entered into the amorphous part of travel. I have no idea what time it is. By my calculations I have been traveling for over 24 hours, but I still have a 13-hour flight to Kenya. Security is tight here in Amsterdam with a second screening. The strange thing about my traveling is that I enter into this zone of peace, which carries me through to the end. I have audio books and kindle and movies of my own and so however long it takes is fine. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I know I am on my way home to Kenya because the faces are so different sitting here at the airport. Now I see the faces of Kenya, I see the Kikuyu, the luo and the luya. I actually can pick out the facial differences of most of the tribes now and know Somalis from Ethiopians from Eritreans. A Somali drove me to the airport and we had a cool conversation about El Shabbab. He is from Southern Somalia and I think he daren’t say that he supports El Shabbab, but he wasn’t putting them down either. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It looks to be an interesting trip this time.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Because I am white and don’t belong to any tribe, people from all tribes tell me stuff they would never say aloud with other tribes. So I shall be interested to hear what people’s take is on El Shabbab. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">More later when I land in Nairobi. I am looking forward to the warm moist air and the night sky. It is the short rains right now, but hopefully they will have passed for the day and I shall be able to look out onto the endless spectrum of stars that dot the horizon and the moon radiates above.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">12 November 2011<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s the little things that now make me laugh. Americans would really be upset if their phone number changed every 6 months or so. Once I landed I had to tank up my Kenya phone. Because I use it every 6 months or so, and can’t tank it up in the U.S, it means that I have a new sim card often. Which means I must call everyone and give him or her my new number. Which means that I have to buy extra cards so that I can call my friends and contacts here. It’s just part of how it works here.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I got in late, as usual and the lines for customs were long and ponderous. But again, it’s just part of the deal. Folks who were tweaking didn’t get anywhere and I figure waiting in the visa line beats waiting for luggage and getting crushed in the mix. Since my suitcases are all hand painted by me, I know no one is going to take them. And since they both weighed in over the weight limit, most folks can’t even ick them up.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was great to see Francis waiting, and his son John who has grown exponentially since I saw him last. Francis says things have quieted down here in Nairobi, so we’re going to the Westlands to Masaii market today. I hate shopping and quibbling with the vendors, so I like to get it over as soon as possible. I swear Francis is my Kenyan husband and understands me well. We have our routine down pat and I’m glad we both slip into our easy friendship so quickly.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ok, I’m hoping to post this now, since I’m in one of the better hotels and they ostensibly have Internet. It wasn’t working last night and there were some pretty angry muzungus. It’s going to be a long trip for them if they get upset about not having Internet. What are they going to do when there’s no power or water?? Oh, no they won’t be staying in those places. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Catch you later y’all<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-83174403468571390342011-11-08T12:41:00.000-08:002011-11-08T12:41:19.692-08:00At Least The Cow Isn't Pissed<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>336</o:Words> <o:Characters>1916</o:Characters> <o:Company>ONE VILLAGE</o:Company> <o:Lines>15</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2248</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">8 November 2011<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Is it really almost 10 years since my first time in Siaya?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine! (the Kenyans say this word with such emphasis it loses a bit in the translation). I went to Kenya that first time on complete faith and trust that my guardian angels and God would watch over me. I had met 2 ministers in Addis Ababa and was flying back to Africa to meet them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One lived just outside Nairobi, and the other lived in Siaya. I knew nothing of either place, but Siaya was really out there. I flew into the tiny airport in Kisumu and was met by Mama Daniel and her brother, Ben.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea where I would be staying or what I would actually learn, but so like a freshman in college, I was up for it.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The history of Siaya is contained in the blogs of long ago. I am in awe that people had enough faith in me stateside that they raised the money, developed One Village at a Time into a non-profit and never knew how little I knew. It was, as they say, the Beta project. It ended very very badly. People in Siaya were pissed and so were my brother and sister-in-law whose daughters had gone over to get caught up in my debacle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t pretty.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, now I know the importance of so many things including good partners on the ground. I know how things work in Kenya (as much as anyone can). Our program has developed into something truly remarkable. We have gone from a rag tag feeding station in Siaya feeding 26 kids for $4000 to feeding 2000 kids for 6 months for the same price. And we are improving their lives and their parents lives. It’s a real macro approach.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Nambale is graduating 2 schools, a new one will enter to partner with the one we took in last year. And I am going back to Siaya. Funny how things work. Monica had asked me to work in her home village and of course I said yes. Then she told me it was Siaya. I must admit I blanched, and I am hoping they don’t string me up when I come back into town. I’m thinking that if I’m riding with Monica and Francis it will be ok.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga73xeBcf0eIbo9LMvGxniBnSeUXyR7GrulotTHIWR09yTjyVFS6MYXtvsHe6V2Ax8o3_MKP1ZniDHn8myIFhSeMwXDPVburXY79Zr_AL2fpx08TNZOLDJ8of_UqVihUyOfhgF-th_JU/s1600/cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga73xeBcf0eIbo9LMvGxniBnSeUXyR7GrulotTHIWR09yTjyVFS6MYXtvsHe6V2Ax8o3_MKP1ZniDHn8myIFhSeMwXDPVburXY79Zr_AL2fpx08TNZOLDJ8of_UqVihUyOfhgF-th_JU/s320/cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So come with me now dear readers as we travel back to where I began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to be a really cool journey and I promise to tell all the truth, not just some of it. And in the end, hopefully, you will know me and why I do what I do.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Keep the Faith Y’all.<o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-7835300234712123152011-11-05T08:12:00.000-07:002011-11-05T08:12:34.765-07:00Back To Where We Began<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">I am readying to return to Kenya Thursday. I look at our blue sky here, but I can already see the vastness and beauty of the African sky. I am longing to see my sister Monica and hug her. I think of driving with Francis and of the many journeys we have shared during this 9 year adventure. He has taught me a lot and I pray I have taught him some things too.<br />
I am going back to the Village where I began 10 years ago. Without going into too many details, one could politely call it our beta program.<br />
It was my learning place; it was where I knew that Africa would always own a piece of my heart and I would always have to return to touch that place. It was a place of humiliation and disgrace.<br />
So now I begin again there. I am wiser now. I am accompanied by Monica and her team. I am glad I get the chance to do it right this time.<br />
So this begins my journal for you and the Board. I must finish packing my suitcases. Funny how 100lbs fills up so quickly. Again I shall have to choose what is more important. And again I shall cover my bounty with condoms and candy. I am going home again.</div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0Boston, MA, USA42.3584308 -71.059773242.2719608 -71.28060219999999 42.4449008 -70.8389442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-7930070226612686122011-06-01T06:43:00.000-07:002011-06-01T06:43:42.588-07:00She's BAAAACK!Haven't been here folks for a while. This is where I'm supposed to put opinions not related to One Village. I opened up the Washington Post and got blasted by the woman I love to hate, Sarah Palin. Seems she's playing games with the media, and I just hope that the public doesn't fall for her shenanigans.<br />
I've been wondering why she offends me so much. Could it be her stance on abortion, gay rights, the budget, environmental conservation, gun control. Yeah all of these piss me off, but the deal is I didn't like Nixon, or Bush or Regan, but they never stirred up the ire that she does. And that's because she's dumb as hair, and the thought of her even contemplating the presidency makes my blood run cold. How she got to be governor of a state is bad enough, but I am hoping the Peter Principle will be in effect and she will have risen to the top political office she will ever attain.<br />
If you haven't read "Game Change" about the 08 elections it is certainly worth perusing. It was a game changer for me. I got to really respect Hillary which was not in my repertoire before and to really see just how truly uninformed and stupid Sarah is. Oh please folks, join me in prayer that Sarah's bus falls off a cliff and when she comes up for air she will have been struck dumb (meaning not able to speak not i.q. wise)<br />
And that's it for today.<br />
Keep the faith y'allMother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-58379780133864151442011-04-18T13:42:00.000-07:002011-04-18T13:42:36.691-07:00A Journey to Self-hood,” One Village at a Time”<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">Children purposely burned to death in a church, my hair matted with red clay for days, no place to go pee until 6P, no electricity, no water for showers, malaria, dysentery as part of my every day life. These were not things anyone would have thought I could endure much less treasure it.<br />
When I was young, back in the 50’s, I thought that the poverty line people spoke of was about $60,000. My middle school was featured in a Time Magazine cover called “Suburbia’s Coddled Kids.” We were white, we were rich and we were totally isolated from the world.<br />
When my marriage ended when I was 41, I finally grew up. And I stepped into the world.<br />
I have had many lives since then, but nothing compares to what happened when I was 55. That was when I went to Africa and saw the poverty and the horror this white girl just wasn’t prepared for. More than that I saw whole villages lost to the decimation of AIDS. At first the whole scene in Addis Ababa was overwhelming, but somehow I had to something. I knew it would be a small thing; no one could take on what was happening in Africa in 2002. But I would try.<br />
I returned to Africa 3 months after my first trip. I had packed 2 large suitcases with supplies I thought they needed, and knowing no one but the 2 ministers who had asked me to come to their villages, flew off into the unknown. People ask me if I was scared and I can honestly say, no not at all. It just seemed like the right thing to do.<br />
In the second village I went to, I was taken to the hovels that the people lived in. I saw children bringing up children, death and dying everywhere. And I asked the question to the pastor “What do we do first”, and she said, “Feed our children”.<br />
Feed our children, something so simple. While the world was singing to “We Are the World”, children were dying from starvation in Kenya. Drought and famine ran rampant across the more civilized countries in Africa. This was not Darfur; this was Kenya, home of “Out of Africa”. They had a democracy, Nairobi was a great city and people would rave about the safaris they had gone on.<br />
No one, however, saw the real Kenya I saw. I was the only muzungu (white) I saw on the trip. I went where tourists never go, and I saw what tourists never see. After 3 weeks of traveling the dirt roads, talking to people, praying with them, and seeing bulging tummies on the children, I knew something had to be done.<br />
That’s how One Village at a Time got started. I returned home and found one donor who was willing to commit $4000 for a year to feed the children. While I had sat on many charitable boards, I had never been an Executive Director. I surely knew nothing about forming a 501c3. But I’m a quick learner and within six months I had a board of directors, a mission statement and the beginnings of the organization.<br />
We began by feeding children in a feeding station. Children would run miles to the station to get their lunch, often the only meal they got. I was so proud we were feeding 30 children for a year for $4000. I thought that was amazing. I was wrong and the first project was a disaster. Seems in Africa you can feed kids for a lot less and the person running the program was pocketing much of the money. Totally shamed I had to go to the Board and tell them.<br />
While I was surely born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I was not even given the sample size of patience, and I was pretty despondent about the endeavor. But people here in Boston believed in me, and I hate to quit anything. With the understanding of a new Board of directors and their guidance, I finally found my way and ultimately the way forward for One Village. We found partners on the ground who had done what we wanted to do.<br />
KMET was an answer to our prayers. They did community organization, they did micro-finance (we finally understood if we didn’t help the parents make money they would never become self-sustaining) and the ED of the program was like a long lost sister.<br />
We are now a well-oiled machine. We do what big business can’t do. We leave. We can go into a community, get them involved in the feeding program, teach them micro-finance, and get them up and going in 2 years. We feed 3000 kids; 500 parents and teachers are getting loans, girls are learning about their bodies and we do it for $25,000 a year. And frankly, we couldn’t handle more than $100,000 per year.<br />
I want to keep One Village small and effective. I want us to go out of business. Yes I volunteer my time, and yes I am glad for it. I am glad for all the young, enthusiastic people who help raise the money, build the website, keep the books. Anyone who helps us, or gives money to us knows exactly what it pays for. I am glad for that as well. I want everyone to feel like they are a raindrop, and together we will clean up this mess.<br />
And who am I for this experience? I am woman of great patience now. Things happen, as they should in their time. I am a woman of great faith, both in what I am doing and in the people with whom I work. I am a woman of gratitude for each minute on this planet and for this work I get to do. I am a woman of understanding and acceptance. I live with the world and the wonderful tapestry of people that populate it. I am never more alive as when I am in Kenya. One Village at a Time has not changed my life it has made my life.</div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-53122303621130804132011-03-26T07:57:00.000-07:002011-03-26T07:57:30.137-07:00Cuts For Cutting Are Good<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gVtKmoOgwHLIzTzQbtCOQwKO6urltPb97WPNqesYmOuv_K62xeTtPqClKRG7Yz4N70-zF7UA6HZzsCRB19ad2c6sld2P-yNQD669-YwH5oiQ_QQf_O59esXR_kT16oAN2hJTuuSMY3M/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gVtKmoOgwHLIzTzQbtCOQwKO6urltPb97WPNqesYmOuv_K62xeTtPqClKRG7Yz4N70-zF7UA6HZzsCRB19ad2c6sld2P-yNQD669-YwH5oiQ_QQf_O59esXR_kT16oAN2hJTuuSMY3M/s320/girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Female castration is one of the most grisly events I have ever seen. I watched as a 2-year-old child, screaming at the top of her lungs was held by her mother, while the Mzee cut the clitoris and labia off. I couldn’t believe a mother could do this, but culturally it has been done for hundreds of years.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Kenya outlawed this practice, however tribes continue to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bungoma is a town not far from where One Village works. In today’s paper I read that circumcision by 3 of the tribes is getting too costly. It seems for a full ceremony, including the killing of 2 bulls a family must pay 52,000ksh. That would send a child to secondary school for 4 years. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It seems that while the threat of AIDS is one reason they may slow it down, the real reason is that it’s too costly. While I wish it were because the girls are mutilated, I am well aware that changing customs anywhere in the world is not something that happens over night. So I guess I’m glad the cost of female castration has gone up enough that the Sabaot are considering stopping the tradition.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To read the full story here is the link: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/Circumcision+proud+tradition+faces+the+cut++/-/1070/1133200/-/13vnqqbz/-/index.html</div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-13819901154447773742011-03-05T09:45:00.000-08:002011-03-05T09:47:28.807-08:00We Are Family<div class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jmJjD33eKDU" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are Family</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I guess I’m showing my age. I had had a great day of working on One Village and was coming home from the grocery store. All I could hear in my head was Sister Sledge singing “We are Family”, Ah the Disco Years. I realized yesterday, after a hectic week of working with so many people on One Village activities that that is what we are. We are family.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I started OVAAT back in 2002 we were far from that. I was OVAAT and the burden was pretty great. I would lie awake nights wondering if I could find donors to carry on supporting the few children we were feeding. I did the fundraising, tried to get the word out and did a terrible job of making a website. Board members came and went, there were hurt feelings, petty squabbles and board members shied away from actually getting their feet wet.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Something happened in 2006. The stars aligned, the work took on a different scope, and the family began to coalesce. Soon we had folks who wanted to raise money, who wanted to work on the website, who wanted to get more sponsors. The Board became a group of amazing people who came together gladly. And I guess, to be perfectly honest, I let go of OVAAT and shared it with everyone. Everyone’s opinion counted and ideas flourished and people not only worked on the Board but also became friends.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is 2011. We are on our fourth Harames. We have a research committee, a fundraising committee, a marketing group, a website group but most important of all is how everyone cares about each other. When Alyssa didn’t make the fundraising meeting because of a sick child, I got lots of messages asking how her son was. When I wanted our new web designer to be able to come up here from Kentucky with her husband, one of the guys working on the website offered to pay for the husband’s ticket.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are more than friends now, we are a family and One Village at a Time is our child. We want the very best for this special being. We want to see it grow and develop and reach towards the sky. We want to protect it and make sure that if we are not here that the next generation will follow up and care for it. We do this freely with no pay except the incredible experience of watching OVAAT grow up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As for me, when I spoke to the Board last week, I cried. What I had hoped for and dreamed about these 9 years was a reality. We’re there. We have a successful model we can roll out across Africa, and I knew it was because we are family. And I am so very, very grateful .In my mind now, Harambee isn’t just a fundraiser; it’s a family reunion.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Get on board people, it’s a great family and all are welcome!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-19944483725904002282011-02-28T21:04:00.000-08:002011-02-28T21:04:11.068-08:00A Few of My Favorite Things<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">While sitting in the dentist chair waiting for my mouth to numb up, my dentist asked about how things were going in Kenya. We often have delightful conversations, with me drooling or slurping, about books and the difficulties of medicine over there. He’s not much of a fiction reader, but I did get him to read the “Poisonwood Bible”</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Barbara Kingsolver). However the conversation turned to things that we needed in the field. Namely sphygmometers and speculums. These are two of my favorite things right now. So Dr. D starts telling me that I can get them cheap on ebay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoqrhsq6bFHOrUIhC99hXaAHGmVXmUnQ6BdqjoL9NaZjs_mL3xTTKnhtJ2oHDjIDbISdJ5avxL5Q2I0Js2OkFV6pR-A5Yrt6uR6dpwKD9iSaLbccSOp5OZIVDjZSz5S03-5cx8RBmC4o/s1600/speculum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoqrhsq6bFHOrUIhC99hXaAHGmVXmUnQ6BdqjoL9NaZjs_mL3xTTKnhtJ2oHDjIDbISdJ5avxL5Q2I0Js2OkFV6pR-A5Yrt6uR6dpwKD9iSaLbccSOp5OZIVDjZSz5S03-5cx8RBmC4o/s320/speculum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Before I know it, after he’s drilled a hole in the bone of my upper jaw, we’re taking x-rays and surfing the net. He gets right down to business and sure enough you can get sphygmomanometers for a song on eBay.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">want to know the rest of the story...go to www.onevillageatatime.org/blog</div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-64903927928748089722011-02-12T07:52:00.000-08:002011-02-12T07:52:25.985-08:00Bearing Witness<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I have no catchy title for this. I have no cool photos. This is just something you need to know about, and it’s neither pretty nor unusual in poverty stricken countries. When I started One Village back in 2002, I saw some pretty gruesome medical conditions and visited several “clinics”. A matatu hit a child while I was standing by, and she died in my arms for lack of an emergency vehicle. It had never dawned on me back then, that whole areas of countries would have no emergency transport and that whoever had a car often got called upon as the transport.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This entry needed it’s own special spot and I wasn’t prepared to write it till I had let it all settle within me. Monica had asked me to go with her to the provincial hospital to visit one of the community workers who was in hospital. How bad could that be, after all it’s the provincial hospital? As bad as the open-air clinics were in Siaya, nothing prepared me for this. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">want to know more? www.onevillageatatime.org/blog</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-18543709852285404132011-02-10T06:51:00.000-08:002011-02-10T06:51:08.850-08:00Daniel<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I want to do this story justice, but like all of my experiences in Africa, I shall never be able to give you the true essence of the man, or of my admiration and love for him.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I first met Daniel 9 years ago. Shy and subdued, there was a veiled passion for knowledge that simmered below the surface. He was the eldest of 4; his mother was the first minister I worked with in Kenya. Daniel was in college in Uganda, but it was a struggle. His father had left the family for a new wife, but would come home from time to time demanding money and support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An abusive, alcoholic, Daniel would watch what his father would do to his mother and try his best to protect everyone.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">want to read the rest? go to www.onevillageatatime.org/blog. It's well worth the trip over</div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-62662137912147958522011-02-03T21:37:00.000-08:002011-02-03T21:37:37.346-08:00Where My Heart Lives<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">3 February 2011</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0hcTq9rTyoCZp2SJdHSTssSKWIg51HP6NnjJZDvtE7WwR8j8pvcQ8NxMkrGoyDefDDFnzZ7uALQOuwasCCrTSRY9v3ZNOqg6369N6FSXwa6uDzVTdRcDYAiKvJLesQqB8IFjDu_-G8s/s1600/cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0hcTq9rTyoCZp2SJdHSTssSKWIg51HP6NnjJZDvtE7WwR8j8pvcQ8NxMkrGoyDefDDFnzZ7uALQOuwasCCrTSRY9v3ZNOqg6369N6FSXwa6uDzVTdRcDYAiKvJLesQqB8IFjDu_-G8s/s320/cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sometimes people retell a joke and it goes flat. Then they say, “you had to be there”. I will try my best to bring you here, but I suspect I may fall flat. To be here in Nambale is to be at the heart of the real Africa. Many dream of Africa, but it is the Meryl Streep Africa. Or they live their lives planning the big Safari. They are picked up in big vans and escorted to the game reserves. They make a stop at a “real local artist shop” where everything is sanitized. And they go on their way satisfied that they have been to Africa. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZH1qYG9Eg5WSxi5cRBuL1NLaq6l6LP664Nrv3L0sXmjuWHhc8EbrG7_819VfTgBmrlwSu1SSjaxf5EgVpCPRSQJ822Jk-2_wjpnFEHHTGsJ6lmAyO-AXez0vx0GAwQc3mNj9LNxajn4/s1600/the+welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZH1qYG9Eg5WSxi5cRBuL1NLaq6l6LP664Nrv3L0sXmjuWHhc8EbrG7_819VfTgBmrlwSu1SSjaxf5EgVpCPRSQJ822Jk-2_wjpnFEHHTGsJ6lmAyO-AXez0vx0GAwQc3mNj9LNxajn4/s320/the+welcome.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">My Africa is loud and dusty. My Africa is unpredictable and far from comfortable much of the time. It is lack of electricity and cold showers in Busia, and swerving not to hit a pig running across the road. It is hot and dirty and beautiful beyond description. The most important part of my Africa is the people. If you will not dare to get dirty or go in a foul smelling latrine, you will never meet them. But if you are willing their heart and spirit will amaze you. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today we journeyed to our first stop, Malanga Primary. This is the home of the Iron Lady, a woman who has taken the idea of micro-finance to an entirely new level. A woman who, when she couldn’t get the men to pay back their loans got a debt collector to see that they did. Her name is Benta and later you can see her on film. It is the home of hundreds of children dressed in green uniforms lining up to sing and welcome me home. It is parents who want to reach for the stars and have just begun to believe maybe they can.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The team from KMET is beyond words. I have never seen such teamwork, such incredible respect for one another and such passion for what they are doing. Yet, they are never satisfied with their day until they debrief and figure out how it could have gone better. Monica is their lioness who encourages the parents to own the program. She talks to them like a stern mother. Then it’s my turn to talk about their growing up and how they can achieve that. I’m a bit softer, but still pretty tough. Malanga has till the end of this year to be on their feet. Giant, gentle Asuke, with a smile as big as the stars in an African sky, takes care of microfinance and in Malanga there is a 100% repayment. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN021fXh2sopZGngmJI1-qBfT6tNTpEXI6n9aM5BEQfGDBxkBKLTsIRtZ05Nr8EPs3WN9YV7zSmoJu6pIHMDeRyKasQx6m4J0W56nP2FzRXWPMJjesb9TiKX1g7o-dnUxJDcTdc3qaUw/s1600/pads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN021fXh2sopZGngmJI1-qBfT6tNTpEXI6n9aM5BEQfGDBxkBKLTsIRtZ05Nr8EPs3WN9YV7zSmoJu6pIHMDeRyKasQx6m4J0W56nP2FzRXWPMJjesb9TiKX1g7o-dnUxJDcTdc3qaUw/s320/pads.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Girls Getting their Pads</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">While we are in front of the parents, another part of the team is working with the children. Ken is in charge of nutrition and statistics for the children. He weighs and measures all the children from kindergarten through 4<sup>th</sup> grade. Sam is deworming all the children, for it does no good to feed the worms instead of the children. Beatrice is working on community-based health care and 2 girls who have graduated from the KMET program are now teaching the 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> grade girls about their periods and the reusable sanitary towels. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSR8EhYcFtegnW8zZa6IdfsXoRLWLiB-XInnUICvwQuwMyIvyeffXHhsdUfRyKFACYKvyTWU0eacsgOCKsEOJCYQxvztUFa6D5L76Q-9FLqWpa_zyBFOnB-wW1aoUGUKin2U9K-dA56M/s1600/deworming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSR8EhYcFtegnW8zZa6IdfsXoRLWLiB-XInnUICvwQuwMyIvyeffXHhsdUfRyKFACYKvyTWU0eacsgOCKsEOJCYQxvztUFa6D5L76Q-9FLqWpa_zyBFOnB-wW1aoUGUKin2U9K-dA56M/s320/deworming.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Deworming the Children</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Efficient, gentle, thoughtful, passionate, ingenious, the KMET team is all of that and I am so honored that we can partner with them. Sam noted we needed to de-worm earlier in the morning, Ken was trying to figure out how to follow the children better, Beatrice talked about more meetings with the parents to sensitize them, and on and on. And all of this took about 2 ½ hours. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowsjUvUEHiAe3DN4r7g-uKyTCrLbL89MCcsl5jPqZUOmmuHpqD4YY2r15puDjdZT8yP5c8s7YstyG3xYnYVZ8os5DfEZaZGlO9ovPpDT7xsb0atrRr3iKUNl2tA-XomFqjXH23J276gE/s1600/the+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowsjUvUEHiAe3DN4r7g-uKyTCrLbL89MCcsl5jPqZUOmmuHpqD4YY2r15puDjdZT8yP5c8s7YstyG3xYnYVZ8os5DfEZaZGlO9ovPpDT7xsb0atrRr3iKUNl2tA-XomFqjXH23J276gE/s320/the+boy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monica Congratulation the Young Boy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">At the end of the visit, the headmaster brought before us a boy. Both his parents were dead and he had no place to live. It turns out, though that he scored second highest in the secondary exams and was offered a spot at a National school. Unfortunately he could not take that seat since he had no possible way of paying the fees. The teachers had taken up a collection and I knew what was coming next. He needed 6000ksh ($80) to cover his fees. And yes they asked me for the rest. However I have been so inculcated into the KMET way of doing things I adjured to Monica. She asked the parents to give (Harambee is a joyful party to raise money for the needy) and I told the parents we would match them dollar for dollar. The parents somehow raised 7000ksh, and we matched them and a bit more so that his entire year is covered. What is most important in my Africa is this simple gesture of people who are so poor they don’t know where the next meal is coming from, but they rose to the challenge and gave all they had.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOLpi4VXscqUmFEiGYJCsCRTRvVW7Alpu1iBRUXA_Jhg6iLYGrmCX8xizPjaY8rACXNRPKsI003GZeCAuSnDeV2G5N0J3ATUkB8uU_tHd9RUMGfdSQGkTWGTIxnEf-2SWFl8ZxqZvGO0/s1600/micro2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOLpi4VXscqUmFEiGYJCsCRTRvVW7Alpu1iBRUXA_Jhg6iLYGrmCX8xizPjaY8rACXNRPKsI003GZeCAuSnDeV2G5N0J3ATUkB8uU_tHd9RUMGfdSQGkTWGTIxnEf-2SWFl8ZxqZvGO0/s320/micro2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Shops From the Micro Finance</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">They don’t work at the fancy shops and hotels. The pretty much have never left Nambale. Their shops are tiny corrugated tin boxes with a few supplies, or a dress shop with treadle sewing machines, but their successes are all the sweeter because they got a loan, and made it work. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At Manyole the parents had been waiting under the Kenyan sun since early in the morning. Hard to fathom this kind of commitment, but they wanted to say thank you to Mama OVAAT who had supported them. So despite the heat, the dust, the lack of water and the sheer boredom of sitting, there they were singing and clapping as we arrived. The hugs I got from some of the elderly women were so deep and wide and heartfelt that I was a bit overcome. I’m always a bit embarrassed by all this show of appreciation, since frankly 1. I don’t really think I do much and 2. For me anything that happens is always by the grace of God. I never want to forget that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The rest of the day is a bit of a blur. I have been working for 14 hours now and the sun is tough on this muzungu skin. I couldn’t be happier. It’s another day where life is good, yeah again. It’s just all-good.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2273453585510611662.post-52341976087720346112011-02-01T11:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T12:12:32.029-08:00Save a Life Please!<div class="MsoNormal">1 February 2011</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESJEC3Hwsa34nj0GkrZbRRE6l6I5iRXngVT8HlzdwUMPZhNhSUS7nN-knImYayJZTmG12eDl8j75HLXfPdOsF4GPboDRsQITa0A55qLMTvPg6SxbmIlmDX-ragGXqDyyb6W-hW1d-7JY/s1600/mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESJEC3Hwsa34nj0GkrZbRRE6l6I5iRXngVT8HlzdwUMPZhNhSUS7nN-knImYayJZTmG12eDl8j75HLXfPdOsF4GPboDRsQITa0A55qLMTvPg6SxbmIlmDX-ragGXqDyyb6W-hW1d-7JY/s320/mama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like old times</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I love children. It has been a while since I have worked with little ones. The babies at KMET were a delight. It was very difficult for them to tolerate a white face. At 9 months they don’t notice but by 16 months (right on time for stranger danger) they let out a howl. It didn’t matter a bit to me. I knew I could get them playing and interested.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There is no teaching for early childhood education. The 2 women who watch the little ones while the mothers (all young girls) continue their education at the center, have no training. So this morning this crazy muzungu with her bucket of tricks arrives. (It was really a giant tub for water play). Quickly it was filled up and pans and spoons and cups were put in and blammo they were hooked. The tiniest ones got their own pots, but the 2 yr olds circled around and played until they were worn out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAjoyUGaXV7g2MIdWkkhLcrAC8raqgzYxDQ-FvR2-o4YNMeYWPWLiQ8DLio39sf8R3lnGOMqsFUtdAPg6ESk5sj_ofWscKUX7_Pm3svwoWUatwdzUMVAN9OlsddjaA1GtqORoLLPBAO8/s1600/kids4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAjoyUGaXV7g2MIdWkkhLcrAC8raqgzYxDQ-FvR2-o4YNMeYWPWLiQ8DLio39sf8R3lnGOMqsFUtdAPg6ESk5sj_ofWscKUX7_Pm3svwoWUatwdzUMVAN9OlsddjaA1GtqORoLLPBAO8/s320/kids4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">There’s a really sharp little one named Audrey who clearly should be the leader in the classroom. That girl figured out how to pour from one cup to another, how to help another kid fill up his and then when I handed her a puzzle she kept at it till she got it right. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tPdh3xeDEaPr93-7NWkx-n5tPigSxtG0hkFJ5JXIdF_Dm-MExfz1FanNGdEz5Akh18I4j7149Yt7VIVGch7CfgPOZ1zEjm5Dw1QMRdtrT5MCnR3AJ0tMRevswsU72wjqLq4NmOltjvg/s1600/the+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tPdh3xeDEaPr93-7NWkx-n5tPigSxtG0hkFJ5JXIdF_Dm-MExfz1FanNGdEz5Akh18I4j7149Yt7VIVGch7CfgPOZ1zEjm5Dw1QMRdtrT5MCnR3AJ0tMRevswsU72wjqLq4NmOltjvg/s320/the+one.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey the Dynamo</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The best part of this was teaching the teachers what to look for, how to develop creativity, and their realizing that creativity leads to better decisions and problem solving. Their eyes were aglow as they began to see things in the kids they didn’t know were there. They were hungry for more and more information. Zones for the classroom, what to do with a sand table, reading to the children before nap, they are delighted to do it and feel they are accomplishing something. How I wish I could stay for weeks and teach this to the ECD classes (Early Childhood Development). If only I didn’t have to work to pay for the OVAAT thing, I would be here for months at a time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the afternoon Monica and I visited the provincial hospital. It’s a death hole. People lie on filthy beds with I.V’s dripping from re-used bottles. There are no sheets on the beds and there are 10 people in a room. Flies buzz about and family members must take care of the sick. You cannot imagine it, and I could not photograph it for you. But in this great big world, with all we have this is wrong. It’s just wrong. And then I had to remind myself I was only a raindrop. I couldn’t take on all the different problems I would have liked to solve. I guess I have to leave some for someone else.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But truly people you need to donate to us to help KMET. Buy a tee shirt or just send us $10. Every penny is used for the programs. I get no salary and the Board works for free too. And so much can be done with so little. So let’s get going. Give what you can and save a life.<br />
<b>www.onevillageatatime.org. You can hit the donate button or go to Tiny Revolutionary to buy one of these tee shirts.</b></div>Mother Madrigalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08472461662669012213noreply@blogger.com0