Specifically, we currently have need for (basic) accounting services, a volunteer in charge of communication within the US, volunteers interested in helping to man booths and do presentations, and board members that are capable of creating and implementing fundraising plans.

If you have a passion for international development, and/or skills in non-profit / NGO management, please contact Suzanne Jeneby. She will be in the US during February and March and will be organizing a planning meeting for new volunteers during that time. Her email address is sjeneby@eastafricancenter.org

On Monday, January 3rd, Vutakaka Centre opened for its second year of operation. The Centre has been bustling with people ever since. On the morning of the 3rd, the day was kicked off with swarms of little ones coming for their first day of school. Just like last year, we had several students unable to cope with the stress of entering school. There were plenty of biters, kickers, runners and screamers. I was holding a little girl who literally did not stop crying for one and a half hours!

This year we are offering two nursery classes (kindergarten) and one first grade class. Our initial goal was to limit our classes to 25 students each. We are now at 30 and still have to turn parents away. I am now receiving calls on my mobile phone and knocks on my door late at night from desperate parents. We want to limit our class sizes to ensure high quality education. However, there are just so many students that want to come to Vutakaka that we are having a difficult time turning them away. Without a doubt, Vutakaka Centre needs more classrooms.

In addition to the school, Vutakaka is starting off the year by offering the sewing club, farmer's field school, after school tutoring, Bridges to Understanding (a technology for youth program), and adult education.

The best moment I have experienced so far this new year was yesterday. I was walking home from the Centre down the hot and dusty mile-and-a-half-long dirt road to my house when I was passing many children with their little exercise books, with the most serious looks on their faces, practically running in the direction of the Centre. After about 30 of these children passed (all between about 4-8 years of age), I asked one little girl in a very pretty, slightly tattered dress where she was going. With her little brother, not more than 3 years of age dragging along behind, she looked up at me with the sweetest look and said "Vutakaka Madame. Na enda tuition." (She was going to Vutakaka for our free after-school tutoring program). I saw so much enthusiasm in her. She couldn't have been more than 6. I started to tear and told her that she better hurry then. I don't know if Vutakaka is truly making a difference in her studies, but at least she has a place to go now that re-affirms to her every day that she is important and that her education is fundamental to her growth as a human being. To every one of you who has helped make it possible for this little girl to have a safe, and free, place to get help with her education, I sincerely thank you.

Well, here I really am: Africa. From the minute I came here (last Friday) I just kept smiling. Everything is different, but I am immediately feeling at home. The people are so nice! They keep saying 'jambo' (hello), 'habari' (how are you?) and 'karibu', and you keep responding 'jambo', 'nzuri' (good) and 'asante' (thank you). A hundred times a day.

The house in the Shamba, where I'm staying, is very nice. There are three huts (and one more will be ready soon), a kitchen with running water and a stove, a shower (cold water is so nice in this heat) and a real African toilet (a hole in the ground), but with a cute, blue toilet paper roll holder. At night it is so dark that you can see millions of stars. I am seeing stars that I didn't even know existed. Beautiful!

The EAC's school, the Vutakaka Center, has two nursery classes and one first grade. One of my tasks here will be to help with one of the nursery classes. The kids are so cute! And they really want to learn everything. Besides, to them, learning English from a real 'mzungu' (like they call white people) is really cool!

I will also have my own class in the after school tutoring program. These kids are older and can speak English a little bit, so I can teach them math and English. In short: I am in paradise and I will be staying here for three whole months! I just will love it.