Michelle Ohana (a volunteer from the US) and the fabulous new mural she recently completed at Vutakaka Center. Thanks Michelle!

Most children in Kenya haven’t seen a kite nor know what it is. Yet the Kenya coast has great kite weather with a constant breeze blowing in off the tropical Indian Ocean. Our mission at the Vutakaka School was to introduce 80+ Pre K, KG & Standard (Grade) 1 kids to the wonderful experience of kites using as few materials as possible since resources are limited in this little fishing village.

A basic sled kite pattern was available on the internet and modified. All we needed was copy machine paper, tape, string and a little creativity. Students in the SD 1 where taught the process first. They were very excited to be making an individual project since few lessons are hands-on here in Kenya. They folded, cut, decorated and tied strings on their kites. Next the SD 1 students were paired with the KG students for their first “Buddy” activity. The students where very helpful and encouraging towards their partners. When the first two classes where done, the KG class paired with the Pre-K class. Since the Pre-K class includes students as young as 2.5 years, the KG students did most of the work and everyone had a good time helping decorate.

With the kites successfully prepared, we were off for a field trip to the beach. We packed the little ones in the van with about 4 to a seat. The older students walked with 2 teachers and 5 volunteers. After a 30 minute walk, down a long, red, dirt road woven between the coconut and mango trees, we reached the white sands and aqua waves of the Indian Ocean. The weather was perfect with blue sky, billowing clouds and a strong breeze. Some of the dozen staff and volunteers quickly had purchased kites in the air. The students were quick to follow and enthusiastically ran the length of the sand with their masterpieces in tow. The squeals could be heard all around and often it was the teachers who were in amazement of how these small creations floated so effortlessly in the breeze.

As the exhaustion began to set in, the crashing waves at sands edge beckoning the children to come play. Many quickly stripped off their uniforms to play tag with the waves. Others laid in the warm waves and were rocked to and fro by the surf. With everyone thoroughly exhausted, wet and sandy, it was time to gather for fresh coconut cookies. What a special treat after a busy day of play. Mission accomplished. -- Lynn Armstrong

Get yourself a Takaungu "Jane Bag" and/or "Jane Bag Briefcase" today. The Jane Bag is $25.00 and the Jane Bag Briefcase is $30.00 We have stocks in the US right now! (The "Jane Bag Briefcase" is on the left).

To place your order email Takaungu@eastafricancenter.org.

Hamjambo! Suzanne asked me to write a few paragraphs about how it is to be a doctor-in-spe in Takaungu. Let me start by telling you that there are 10,000 people living in the 4 villages that make Takaungu and that there is NO doctor. So, I feel a little overwhelmed when I go out to see ill people here. A lot of people show up, mostly women with at least one and mostly more of their children. All of them with their specific problems and complaints, serious or not, recent or a few years old. The nursery teacher from the Vutakaka-school is my translator, so language is not a problem.

A lot of the women have vague complaints about dizziness and headaches that have been going on for years. A lot of them are stress-related. Some have gynaecologic problems, and a lot of them need glasses. The small children often suffer from lack of protein and have swollen stomachs. The older kids have a lot of upper respiratory tract infections and skin diseases like ringworm and scabies.

Another big problem here is malaria, although you can never be sure about that diagnosis, because no blood samples are taken. People go to the dispensary for malaria medication, but may be suffering from food poisoning or infectious diarrhea. Those are consequences of the lack of hygiene.

Very few people here know their HIV/AIDS status. I talked about it, but the only answer I get is that everybody dies and that HIV/AIDS just makes you die sooner. So you see, there is a big need for a mentality change, not only about HIV/AIDS, but also about hygiene and nutrition.

Almost everybody in Takaungu eats only ugali (something cake-like made of only flour and water). Ugali doesn’t support the body’s nutritional demands. This problem is even bigger for children once mothers stop breastfeeding them. Although a lot of people have cows and goats, nobody drinks the milk, it’s just being sold.

When I read this all over, I notice that it sounds negative, but in fact I feel very optimistic. People really want to learn about health care, malaria prevention and family planning. I feel respected here even though I sometimes get frustrated because of the lack of material, medication and light when it’s already half past six and getting dark. But I think a lot will change for the better with the coming of the health clinic. And once a good example here is set, I’m sure the rest of the village(s) will follow soon after. Katrien Adriaenssens

The EAC is a remarkable grassroots development organization offering real opportunities for positive change in the lives of hundreds of people, each and every day. In order to keep the organization continually running in good order, we are in need of ongoing volunteer support, both in and out of Kenya.

If you are interested in volunteering in Kenya, visit www.comekuona.org. Come Kuona is a separate organization, based in Kenya, that recruits and guides volunteers through the entire volunteer experience of working with us at Vutakaka Center in Takaungu, Kenya. We always need more volunteers to help us run the Center. If you have any questions about the program, please email volunteer@comekuona.org.

Moreover, if you have a passion for international development, and/or skills in non-profit / NGO management, and can't get to Kenya but would still like to volunteer, please contact Theresa Wilson at twilson@eastafricancenter.org. We would be happy to list you as one of our "on-call" volunteers in the US. (This means we would contact you if we need extra assistance for specific events or special tasks)