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Dear East African,
Executive Director's Message
On Thursday, October 2nd, 2003, the EAC had its first
elections in Takaungu, Kenya for the leaders of the
EAC-Takaungu Center Committee. Specifically,
elections for President, Secretary and Treasurer were
held. Surprisingly, with a 40-member committee that is
close to being half men and half women, all three
positions were taken by women!
The Secretary is Christine Mwachibua. She is the wife
Agricultural Officer, Bonafice Mwanzala, who I have
worked with in the past. I think she is going to be
wonderful. She is from the Kayanda region of the
Takaungu sub-Location. The Treasurer is Rukia
Suleiman Salim. She is a housewife with five children
who are all school age. Her husband runs a duka
(small shop) in Takaungu Village. She lives in the
Kanyumbuni region of the Takaungu sub-Location. And
lastly, the President is Madame Margaret Fondo. She is
a teacher at the Takaungu Primary School and is a ton
of fun to be around. When I first met Margaret she
was the President of a local women's group. She lives
here in Takaungu Village. All three women speak
English, Swahili AND Giriama. They are all well
educated, open-minded, honest, hard-working and
dedicated to community service.
The three women and myself will be having meetings
every Monday from 3pm-5pm. We will meet at my
house here in Takaungu until the Center is complete,
after which, we will regularly meet there. I am thrilled
to get the chance to work with such amazing women
on this project. Today, the other volunteers and I are
going to try our hand at baking pies with President
Margaret. There is nothing like bonding over Thelma's
Impossible Coconut Pie. Suzanne Jeneby - EAC
Executive Director
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What's Happening in Takaungu? |
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In my last newsletter article I wrote about the building
of a roof for a new classroom in Vuma, one of the
villages in the Takaungu Sub-location. Since that time
I have been involved in building the main structure for
the East African Center. It is located on a piece of
property that is central to all of the villages of
Takaungu, almost in the exact center. What fortune
for us that this piece of land fell into our hands.
Accessiblity of resources is one of the major issues
facing people here. At least everyone will have equal
access to the Center.The
building, which is almost finished, is a simple design. We
have designed an 800 sq ft
building consisting of two offices, a classroom and a
library. The Offices are compact, but will meet the
needs of the director and assistant. The classroom is
where we will hold our education programs and much of
the training. Other times people will meet in the shade
of the cashew nut trees. The final room of the building
is the home of the public health library. In the front to
the building is a small porch, which will have benches.
The design looked simple on paper, but then we had to
dig the trenches for the foundation, interior walls and
the porch. Brian and Jenn, who were here as
volunteers from June through September, and I
spent many hours with our mikos (shovels), pangas
(machetes) and jembes (industrial strength hoes)
digging many cubic yards of dirt. I am grateful that we
had many volunteers who came to help us dig--
otherwise, we might still be at it. Once the dirt was
moved, and bags of cement, stones, blocks, and a
truckload of sand were delivered, the work could begin
in
earnest. If you recall from my description a couple of
months ago, shopping for building supplies is not easy
here. This time it
only took a couple of weeks. We hired the same fundi
(construction worker) that we had for Vuma. From
working with him on that
job, we knew he was a good worker and could do both
cement and wood work.
The fundi was the only paid member of the crew. For
the rest of the people who came, often 20 a day, we
provided a simple lunch of ugali and maharagwe. It was
energy giving and appreciated by everyone. The
people who came knew that the work they were doing
was to help them in the future. Some people came and
worked for a couple of hours, others were there every
day, all day. I'm not sure what we would have
done without them. Once the work was started it went
quickly. I was pleased to see the walls rising out of the
ground. Simultaneously to the main building going up,
we also built a small mud hut for a kitchen and
watchman's rest area. To be able to watch
these two different local construction-techniques was a
great learning experience.
As of this writing, the building is almost complete. The
walls are finished and the roof is on. Now all we need is
to finish cementing the floors and plastering the walls.
We also need to get the doors and windows in place.
It is going to be exciting to see the finished product.
This week we are giving the workers a few days of rest
and then next week we will attack the project again to
see it through completion. The cement has been
ordered and will be here soon. The door and window
design has been choosen and they should be arriving
before long. As for me, I need to get out the jembe
and miko again. If you noticed, in my building
description there is no plan for a toilet. Anyone want to
help me
dig a latrine pit and build an outhouse? - Mike
McCarty, EAC Director and Volunteer
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Volunteers in Takaungu |
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On my first full day in Takaungu, I visited the
community center being erected through the combined
efforts of the EAC and the community members. I was
floored at the sight of it and at the pride and
ownership I immediately noticed in the community
members working at the site. After meeting the men
who were raising the heavy coral blocks and plastering
them together with cement to create the beautiful
new building I let them get back to work and enjoyed
sitting with the women and children who crowded
around the site. The women cook lunch each day for
those who work on the building (the EAC pays for
cooking supplies for those
participating in the construction). Children were
plentiful and after eating a lunch of ugali and beans I
was completely content to watch the children play.
What a reminder that money doesn't bring happiness!
There were no tantrums over one child stealing
another's toy; instead, the air was filled with happy
sounds of laughter. A large pile of sand that will be
used in the building served as a sandbox for the
youngest children, while several of the older ones had
cut circles out of the soles of old flip-flop sandals and
attached them to sticks which they maneuvered
around as toy cars. There was even a homemade
soccer ball made by balling plastic bags together and
tying them tightly with twine. There were trees to
hang on and things to throw at one another-so much
fun, so many smiles and games.
Now, nearly a month after that orientation to
Takaungu, I am still so full of respect for the
community, which has so warmly welcomed the EAC
and me. I continue to learn and to witness marvelous
acts of kindness and compassion and unity. While in
actuality these gestures are relatively small, they are
grandiose in comparison to what I've grown
accustomed to in America. Here, it seems, the power
of unity is understood to a much fuller extent. It is
not uncommon to see a woman wearing full Muslim
covering walking and talking to a Christian woman
wearing much less. Unity is even more obvious at the
two community meetings I have been here to witness.
40-60 people from throughout the sub-location come
together to listen respectfully and discuss openly how
to best create a governing body for the community
center. Men and women alike share opinions, ideas
and criticisms as planning for this community
committee continues. People are concerned with
taking care of their community and feel a responsibility
for it so much so that great lengths are being taken to
ensure the community center and community
committee's success.
If only my high school government teacher could see
me now, for I am learning the true meaning of
democracy! It was discussed at the last meeting how
voting for the chairperson, secretary and treasurer
should take place. After much discussion in which the
pros and cons for several methods were discussed, as
well as the issue of illiteracy, it was concluded that in
two week's time committee members will cast written
ballots for each of the three positions. Megan, Mike
and I, the three EAC volunteers, will be available to
assist community members who have difficulty reading
the ballots, as we are impartial. So on October 2 think
of us here in Takaungu, Kenya and the democratic
forum that will be taking place!
Each evening I look forward to the following day as I
know it will be new and exciting. Though the scenery
here is unbelievable, it is the actions and words of
people that have left a lasting impression on me. I
wish each and everyone of you reading this were able
to see through my eyes and feel through my skin the
beauty that is Africa. I hope that one day soon you
will have the opportunity to visit Kenya and know the
peace that I feel here. - Sarah Kaufmann-Fink, EAC-
Takaungu Volunteer --Volunteers make the EAC
possible. If you are interested
in volunteering, please email
suzanne@swiftmombasa.com.
Read letters from past volunteers »
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The EAC Appreciates..... |
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Though I really want to list you by name, I will refrain.
Let me just say, thank you to everyone who has
donated wish list items, school supplies and money to
the EAC over the last month. We have really needed
your assistance, especially during this time of
construction. Thank you for being there for us. You are
making this project happen. Your generosity is
acknowledged and deeply, deeply appreciated.
The EAC truly appreciates those of you who have
helped Baraka. As many of you know, EAC donors made
it possible for this little boy to have reconstructive
surgery on his clubfeet. Baraka is now home from the
hospital. He now walks. Thank you. His before and
after pictures are included.
More about the EAC »
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Wish List |
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We have two children's computer CD-ROMs here that
tell a
story, then the children get an opportunity, at the
end, to answer questions about what they saw and
heard. It is a great interactive tool for the children to
improve their literacy and learn some basic computer
skills. Many children have come to our house to play
with the CDs and they absolutely love them. If you
have any of these that maybe your own child has
grown out of, or you just don't use anymore, can you
please contact Summer Starr at 206-271-9557 or
sstarr@eastafricancenter.org.
Along one wall of the resource center, we will have a
few laptops set up for use by the community. These
laptops on a table will make up a "Tech Corner". We
would like to add to this "Corner" some Teach Yourself
to Type CDs. We don't know of any specific training
program, but we know that such programs exist. So, if
you happen to have any sort of training cds for
learning how to type, please contact Summer Starr at
206-271-9557 or sstarr@eastafricancenter.org.
Also, for this "Tech Corner," we would like a few
Microsoft Office basic how-to books. If you happen to
have any books on learning Microsoft Word, Excel,
Power Point, etc., that are just collecting dust, please
send them our way. Actually, our Seattle office will
send them our way - again 206-271-9557 or
sstarr@eastafricancenter.org.
We need travel power converters having 220 V input.
Any questions about this, contact Mike McCarty at
mcrt@aol.com.
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