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!