The Twelfth One.

The Eleventh One.

So you’re going to Kenya, eh?

Located in the East of the African continent, Kenya borders the Indian Ocean, Somalia and Tanzania, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. It is approximately the size of the state of Texas with its highest elevation point being Mt. Kenya standing at 5,199 meters. With a life expectancy of 45 years, Kenya is home to a population of 32,000,000 people. To put this in perspective, it contains roughly the same sized population as Canada. Of those 15 years of age and older, the literacy rate is 85%, however the population percentage infected with AIDS is pushing 7%.

Although Kenya has only recently gained their independence from Britain, the land of Kenya has been occupied for millions of years. Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore present-day Kenya.

Today, Kenya is classified as a developing, yet emerging nation with the highest GDP in East and Central Africa. Nairobi is the largest industrial centre, producing mainly processed food, beer, soaps, textiles and chemicals. Based on information read and pictures, I can only assume Nairobi will relate similarly to our capital of Toronto, here in Ontario.

http://kenyanview.com/nairobi.html
City of Nairobi

http://www.mnmkenyasafaris.com/excursions.html
City of Nairobi

Agriculture is exceptionally important as well, as it employs around 80% of the country’s population and is responsible for 50% of their GDP ("Nairobi", 2011). Kenya’s main exports include maize, coffee, tea, beans and fruit. In addition, tourism has recently replaced coffee as the country’s largest foreign exchange earner. Tourists travel the globe to witness Kenya’s well-known game parks, climb Mt. Kenya and visit the city of Mombasa along the coastline.

So if these are the facts we are hearing, why are we seeing this?

The rooftops of Korogocho, one of Africa’s many densely populated slums.

Photo courtesy of Eric Brown/Hewlett Foundation.

http://www.hewlett.org/newsroom/getting-down-the-facts-to-reduce-poverty-in-kenya

In 1948 the colonial government published a master plan for Nairobi, based largely on the British system. Unfortunately, the plan did not take into account the excessive population growth, creating a strain on the city’s infrastructure. The adjusted plan developed in 1973 quotes the governments determination for the country as stated “This desire is made all the more acute by colonial history during most of which Africans were second class citizens in their own country and were provided with fewer social services at standards far below those of expatriates (Keane, 2005).”

Although the government gave the National Housing Corporation a dominant role in providing affording housing, the escalating population was far too vast for this initiative. Kenya's average urban demand for new homes is around 150,000 units, whereas supply is nearer 25,000 (Keane, 2005). Due to poor planning for an ever-increasing population, around 60% of Kenya’s population currently reside in slums along the outskirts of the city. Experts suggest that with only 120 planners to deal with its problems, and without a nationwide commitment from all parties, the next 20 years.

Along with 2 million other people, these slums will be my new summer home.

Keane, J. "Kenya's slum problem stirs urgent effort." Planning. 1648 (2005): 16. 

"Nairobi." Kenya. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://kenyanview.com/nairobi.html>.

The Tenth One.

Why a sustainable organization? Why are we not following in the footsteps of countless individuals who have established organizations of their own to fulfill a need or assist with a problem in the community?

Every organization and placement each of the Beyond Borders students will be placed in this summer is self-sustaining.  Why? As students, we will eventually have to revoke our labor when we leave to return home. After leaving, the organization would have to continue its work without the help of us students. Because of this we will be assisting each organization with their programs that have been established and will continue on for years after we leave. (This is not to say we are not needed or appreciated!)

While briefly discussing this is class, I was reminded of the book I am currently reading, Three Cups of Tea. This novel, based on a true story shares the experiences of mountain climber Greg Mortenson and his experience of building schools in an impoverished community in Pakistan. Having funded and built these schools then traveled home, does this mean that Greg’s schools are unsustainable? Where do the teachers come from? How are they educated? How are more and more books, paper, pencils etc. continuously supplied?

Even if an individual were to fund a program or volunteering somewhere that wasn’t sustainable and was unable to operate without them there, does this make it bad?  I feel like maybe some of these questions align with that of Nicole’s from pervious blogs regarding “volunteerism”. Here comes the economic side of me…

How does one maximize their volunteering to produce the largest amount of output? While volunteering abroad will we be truly maximizing our resources even if the organization is able to sustain itself with out us? Would be not be put to better use where our work and help is essential?

These are all things I have been analyzing lately.

On somewhat of a side note, while looking into sustainable organizations I came across a fantastic program in Toronto called “The Stop”. Although the video focuses mainly on how the growth, preparation and eating of food has the power to bring communities together, this organization does much more then that. Although I have not had the opportunity to attend The Working Centre in Waterloo, I have a feeling it is very similar to the program developed here in Toronto. The Stop provides frontline services to our community, including a drop in, food bank, community action program, bake ovens and markets, community cooking, community advocacy, sustainable food systems network and urban agriculture.

http://vimeo.com/20247365
(This video is really well done! - different then the one below)

My favourite line in this video is that food stimulates conversation “once you start talking about food you start talking about other things like your problem with your land lord, or your addiction… it’s all connected”. This organization is self-sustainable as those that utilize the services also give back by volunteering their time to The Stop in other ways. 

The Ninth One.

Disclaimer: this is a blog about periods, tampons and other fun stuff!

(I almost feel awkward thinking about any males that might decide to read this)

I’ve been told by a few people so far to bring “sanitary napkins” with me to Kenya when I travel as the selection there will be limited and difficult to find. This was a bit of a let down as this then becomes one more thing taking up space in my ‘small enough as it is’ bag. I just figured I’d have to suck it up and deal with it, it’s a necessity right?

Never once did I think to consider… what do girls in Kenya use?

My mind went absolutely blank when this thought developed. If females living in the slums of Nairobi are unable to even buy enough food to survive, how on earth would they be able to afford such simple things we take for granted like pads and tampons?

The coordinator of Education for Life (EFL) in Kariobanji, George recently sent an email to myself and the 3 other Beyond Borders students traveling to Kenya with information regarding things needed at the organization. Sports equipment, musical instruments and… underwear and sanitary napkins!

After researching this further I discovered that adolescent girls in developing countries miss up to 50 days of school each year because their families can't afford to buy them sanitary pads. I assume this would have a significant economic and educational impact on the millions of women unable to attend school because of this.

However, along with this great problem, come many viable suggestions and solutions. In various parts of Africa, Asia and Central America, local organic materials are being used to make inexpensive environmentally friendly sanitary pads to sell locally.  Women are able to create their own businesses and earn money through the production of this well-needed product.  In many cases, the fibers from Banana stems, which are typically easily accessible, are used as the main production ingredient.

http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2010/10/29/making-sanitary-pads-from-banana-tree-fibers-to-help-women-solve-a-significant-problem-in-developing-countries/

Another suggestion that a past Beyond Borders student has recommended is to sew pads with fabric so that they can be reused. With a print out of the pattern, we will be able to bring samples to Kenya with us and hopefully start up a program to create reusable pads. A great thing about these is that after you’re finished with them they can easily be composted and used for fertilizer.

http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/clothpads.html

It’s amazing how even across the world, women still deal with the same problems and situations.