"An alternative world is possible."

I'd like to include a quote which I included as the last passage of my final paper for the Kenya program. What Shivji says is true, "An alternative world IS possible."


Let's make it happen!

“We have to choose sides: the side of those who are struggling for a better world and against those who want to maintain the existing one. We simply cannot be neutral . . . It is struggling for an alternative world, a better world, which has changed the past and will continue to change the present for a better future. We, the activists . . . must continue to fight for a better world.
An alternative world is possible.”

- Issa G. Shivji, Reflections on NGOs in Tanzania: What We Are, What We Are Not, and What We Ought to Be

Home

Back home now and the contrast between Nairobi and home in the US is stark. Definite culture shock flying into Amsterdam, Minneapolis and finally Seattle. Things aren't better here, but it is striking how much more organized, green, clean, perhaps modern is the right word, things seem here - and in a way I never paid much attention to before.

Feeling thankful for the experiences I have had in Kenya and looking forward to incorporating them into daily life from now forward.

I'm including below one of my favorite Prof. Ngugi quotes. He sent this to our class in an email before the program departed for Kenya this summer:

I can only join you on the mat you are lying on and stare up at the stars in the sky with you and wonder if the stellar constellation above is cryptic spelling for “hope.”

- Prof. Joel Ngugi

With confidence, I can say I do believe the stars spell "hope" for us all. Without that, we are lost. As long as humanity persists, we will always have hope, faith and courage to move forward, to work for human rights, to pursue our passions and convictions, to care for our friends and family, and perhaps most importantly: to envision a more just, peaceful, humanitarian world ~~

Welcome home, classmates and program staff. To friends and family in the US: can't wait to see you!

Wrapping Up ~

This will be one of my final posts as our program in Nairobi is wrapping up! We submitted our final papers yesterday and had a final program meeting and farewell dinner last night. It was nice to spend time thanking our site supervisors and coworkers at our various internships.
I think we all feel good about the program and everything that we have learned and experienced.
I feel very grateful for this experience and again want to THANK Professor Ngugi, our program staff, my fellow classmates, friends and family at home and the community of Jennifer Caldwell who helped make this opportunity possible for me.

It will take me months, maybe years to process all that I have learned, witnessed and experienced here in Kenya. I can't even express how much I appreciate this experience and how much it has changed me as a person. Now the obligation of what I will do with and apply this experience and learning rests with me. I hope for strength and guidance in these endeavors ~~~

I close with a quote:

if you're going to be passionate about something, be passionate about learning.
if you're going to fight something, fight for those in need.
if you're going to question something, question authority.
if you're going to lose something, lose your inhibitions.
if you're going to gain something, gain respect and confidence.
and if you're going to hate something, hate the false idea that you are not capable of your dreams.

- daniel golston

Human Rights Project - Presentation

Yesterday we presented our final human rights project to Professor Ngugi and three representatives from Loitokitok Village, where we conducted our research.
The presentation was about our suggested "Learning Resource Center." (Again, these are humble recommendations and observations only, with the focus being on leadership and impetus from the local village.) The center would include a "home environment," draw on community resources, and collaborate with local "community-based organizations." It would in theory include a library, health center, and counseling and mentorship program. We emphasized that it is the community's project, but that we are standing by to assist with grants, fundraising, and connections as desired and appropriate.
The presentation was a big success - both our professor and the community members were very pleased. We feel this is the beginning of a long partnership, and it is very exciting!
Above, I have attached photos from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC grounds, where I have been interning). The 2nd photo is from a poster in the KHRC lobby (if you are interested in expansion on this topic, I am happy to share my finally paper with you).
With kindest regards and warm wishes from Kenya!

Final Days in Nairobi ~ ~

This is our last week in Nairobi. My classmates and I are spending our time drafting our final human rights project report, writing final papers and preparing for presentations on both the human rights project in Loitokitok and about our respective internship sites. The human rights project itself is a great learning experience as we are seeing hands-on the challenges and complexities of approaching human rights work ethically, and also the challenge of working together in a large group of 15 passionate individuals, each with their own perspectives and ideas. It is, however, overall a positive experience and we are looking forward to presenting our findings to representatives from Loitokitok Village and DEB Primary School, where we engaged in the research and human rights work.

We will have a final farewell dinner this coming Friday with the entire program staff, their families, and our site supervisors.

Things are going quite well, and this has been a tremendous learning experience. My classmates are amazing, our professor is exceptional and the program design continues to amaze.

Quote ~

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are younot to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Future ~

"The future is no place to place your better days."
– Dave Matthews, Cry Freedom

Have a great weekend ~~

Human Rights Project

Our human rights project has begun taking shape. We will be focusing on the following areas:
- Dorm
- Resource Center
- Resources (local, us)
- How to (proposal writing etc., access to funds and other NGOs, etc., HRs language)

We were assigned a "human rights project" and in turn conducted research to determine what might be an appropriate response to the community's stated need of a new or renovated girl's dorm.

Based on our research and interviews, we also feel that a resource center with career, academic, pleasure and other reading as well as counseling services, first aid and computer lab services would be beneficial. While we are not in a position to fund such a project, we plan to work with the local community to fundraise, IF they see these projects as priorities for them.

Finals

We only have 10 days left here! We are all busy writing our final papers and preparing our final human rights project. The human rights project is a recommended "resource center" for the students at DEB Primary School. We are also offering to partner with the local community to write grants, apply for funding, gain access to additional resources, etc. BUT from my perspective, any change has to be initiated and led from the local community. The human rights project itself has been a tremendous learning experience and all of us are very grateful. We present our final product to the Chair of the Board and School Director this coming Tuesday.
Wishing each of you peace and happiness. I look forward to reconnecting with friends and family from home very soon. Much love from Kenya!

Safari Photos

Masai Mara was magnificent - truly a magical place. Photos above!

Masai Mara

Our group is headed to Masai Mara for 3 days, back on Tuesday.
I promise to post photos and an update soon!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

A Little Inspiration

what you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. it will decide what gets you out of bed in the mornings, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you. fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

- pedro arrupe

Masai Mara

This weekend our group is headed to Masai Mara.
After a peaceful referendum, people here are overjoyed. It looks like the new consitution will be voted in. At the moment 65% of the votes are pointing to YES!
Our group is working intently on our human rights project. We are coalescing all of the various interviews and research we completed in Loitokitok and will then work out what action we might take. It is looking as though issues such as food security, safety, and access to resources and information might take precedence over the boarding school. But, it is too early to predict the outcome of uor human rights project. In my opinion, the process here is just as important as the outcome because one of the main foci of this course is on approaching human rights in an ethical, thoughtful manner. Therefore, it is less important to rush into a "solution" and more important to proceed ethically and thoughtfully, all the while focused on what may be an effective, viable, sustainable outcome that does benefit and further the human rights of the local community. This must be done in strong partnership, or accompaniment, and not "imposed" by us as outsiders! That is what I appreciate most about this project - the opportunity to learn in a hands-on manner all of the development and human rights theory I have been studying for the past 2 years.
Have a great end of the week. I will post photos of the safari upon our return.

Referendum Calm and Peaceful

Today's referendum proved to be calm and peaceful, free of violence and unrest. While the results are as of yet unclear, the process itself seems to have been a success. I just want to reassure family and friends of the situation here, as the media has portrayed stories of heightened tension and possible unrest.

We are all doing great! In fact, I am so excited for the people of Kenya as the new constitution affords them much greater rights, freedoms, and accountability of their government. While of course the document is not perfect, it is a positive step forward.

Referendum Day

PHOTOS:

Above, I have included some photos from around where we live. You can see the contrast of our pool with the tall walls and barbed wire enclosing us in our apartment buildings vs. the outside environment. It is an interesting paradox to live in, and being more restricted in terms of mobility makes you appreciate the freedom and access at home.

REFERENDUM DAY:

Today is quiet. We are not allowed to leave our apartment compound due to the referendum taking place. (While all indications point to a very peaceful process, the University of Washington is cautious about such matters and thus have imposed these restrictions.)

I talked to the security guard this morning about his perspective on the constitutional vote. He was so excited to vote! I saw 2 other Kenyans as well around our complex and they were absolutely enthused to cast their vote! The polls are marking voters pinky fingers with indelible purple ink so that they may not vote more than once.

I have been watching the news as well and it appears to be a peaceful and orderly process. The referendum was on the front page of the New York Times yesterday. It is truly a monumental event for Kenya – as I mentioned, my coworker at Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) feels it is more important even than independence from Britain in 1963!

So today is a quiet day for us. I am mainly catching up on schoolwork. Tomorrow hopefully we will know the results of the election (but the outcome may be delayed as it often takes time to tally the votes and due to long travel distances, sometimes the voting process here can take days). If the outcome is a YES for the new constitution, my colleagues at KHRC plan to celebrate! KHRC was deeply involved with the drafting of the new constitution, as has been a top supporter of the legislature.
I will write more soon when there is news!

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Upcoming Referendum

Hi all! How are you?

Things here in Kenya are great. This coming week is a very important one as on Wednesday, August 4th, and likely on the 5th as well (because often voting here takes more than one day due to long travel times, lines, the time it takes to tally the votes, etc.) are the dates of the referendum which will decided whether the NEW proposed constitution of Kenya is enacted or not. It is quite contentious actually, with heated debates in both the YES and NO camps.

We had a speaker in class last week about the proposed constitution. She really helped us to understand the main issues revolving around the constitution. At the core of the debate are land rights and the influence and jurisdiction of Khadis courts (Muslim courts) and abortion (which is illegal in Kenya.) Interestingly, the new constitution also cuts down on the % of the Kenyan government budget allocated for development – from 30% to 10%. This is probably the biggest drawback of the new constitution, because it would then potentially increase Kenya’s reliance on outside aid.

So this coming week will be one day of KHRC internship, class on Tuesday and then due to the referendum on Wed. and Th. My classmates and I are planning to spend the time beginning our final papers for this course. Friday we have class, on a very interesting topic – the role of human rights and “are human rights part of the problem” – in other words, discussing human rights from a critical perspective. Saturday is free, then on Sunday we head to MASAI MARAA for the SAFARI weekend! I literally cannot wait to see lions, giraffes and elephants in the wild. It may be too much for me!

I hope you are all happy, peaceful and doing well. I send all my love from Kenya!