Personal experiences
Making A Difference in Kenya
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I’m Matt, I’m a 19 year old student from Salisbury in the south of England and I decided after spending much of my gap year around friends, family and in very privileged environments (the French alps in a ski resort!) that I should head out to experience something very different.
I decided to go to Kenya, because I’d heard a lot about other parts of Africa and I wanted to see for myself the way of life, the culture, the safari and of course the people! I was not disappointed, sitting on the Kenya airways plane I was immediately thrown into the culture, with the music and pictures being shown, I read the magazine, saw some amazing things and my excitement grew! Arriving in Nairobi, I had to take an internal flight, unfortunately I was by myself but I managed to latch onto a group of other volunteers from Realgap who were very helpful and we chatted for a little while, then we all went our different ways upon boarding the aircraft.
I was sat next to a very grumpy Kenyan; there was also a very tired girl in the corner (who turned out to be Stella the star behind this whole website!) I got off the aircraft after the short hop and was amazed to be hit with the heat! I initially thought it was the engines from the plane, I was certainly wrong in my assumption! I’d certainly arrived in Kenya now! Leaving the airport after the madness of trying to find my bag, I was immediately faced with a sea of people shouting and asking if I wanted a taxi or my bag carried for me. I found Geoffrey the taxi driver and my initial worry of being the only volunteer was banished when I saw on the sign “Grandsons 3 people” I asked him how had sent him got the right answer so waited with him until Stella and Rachel arrived! We then jumped into the taxi and the madness started!! Beeping, people everywhere, everyone trying to sell you something, people dragging huge carts full of containers (they have water in them.) people weaving in and out of the traffic driving along the pavement, just true and un interrupted madness that would cause chaos in the UK! This kind of chaos though is unorganised but it works so well in Kenya and in every African country! It’s awesome though, you’ll get used to it and grow to love it too I promise that much.
Next came my first ever matatu ride, quite possibly the maddest experience of your life, but it becomes very normal very quickly. I grew to love them so much! The drivers are often mad and just drive where ever takes their fancy, whether that be road, by the side of the road, the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic! It’s all an amazing experience but none of them will compare to the first time you meet the boys at grandson’s, who have so far not even been mentioned to my shame!
The first time I ever met the boys at grandsons I was greeted with a sea of faces smiles hugs, punches who knows what else, it was merely so surreal to see all these young faces running at you! We sat around with the boys chatting and we got to know the boys, the stories they told me of the streets really did pull at my heart strings, they told me of the pain, the suffering, the glue, the drugs, prostitution. It was very hard for me to hear and even through all of this the boys have such high expectations and aims it really is the most inspiring thing in the world. These boys have nothing but they aim for so much and it really does put a lot of things into perspective.
However it’s not just the boys who are inspirational, Abdul (teacher. not photocopy!) that will make sense to those who have been, is truly the most genuine and honest man you will ever come across, he has 2 camels called Charlie brown and the name of the other escapes me, but they live on Bamburi beach, it’s an experience going on them. In fact it’s an experience going down the beach anyway! With beach boys, the stall sellers and the beautiful sea and sand, just watch out for the odd sea urchin.... as well as Abdul there is grace the secretary she is fantastic and so enthusiastic wanting the boys to do so well and always there for a good chat! Finally but certainly not last, Sister Annett, she is fantastic and very friendly always welcoming the volunteers with a smile and enthusiasm! The boys are lucky to have these three people and I’m sure that they will feel lucky to have any volunteers who do come along. Going to the centre every day really did mean a lot to me, the boys were always there with enthusiasm for work, to get themselves to different places, the journeys we made around the country whether that be down to wasini island or even the hair raising experience of heading into the centre of Mombasa, I can easily say that Kenya changed me beyond all recognition, in terms of my confidence and in terms of what I know I can and can’t do, it really showed me who I was and I encourage any volunteers who are intending to do something life changing to consider this because it really will change your life, the boys hit a note only they know they can hit with us, they have so much confidence and are willing to do almost anything to get where they want to get to.
Whilst I was in Kenya I also had the opportunity to go to Tanzania ( Denise and myself) it was a rather hectic experience, but I would say it was definitely worth it! Although it was the smoothest of journey’s, unfortunately we had the wrong tickets bought for us, so we ended up in Tanga Tanzania, rather than Moshi Tanzania, they are around 13 hours (600km) apart..... so yes that was interesting, going the longest possible way round to get to Holili where the school was, definitely worth it. The school we taught at was so different to grandsons, the children were so polite I felt a bit overwhelmed the first couple of times that we went into the classes the children all stood up and welcomed us, they were very different from the grandsons boys but even still I think my heart will always be with them!
This is only a short introduction if you like but hopefully you can see the passion which Is behind the whole project, also the amount which an experience like this will change you for the good, I can only advise you to go as someone who has changed forever because of the experience. It’s not just the boys that make it a good place though it’s also the volunteers who come because everyone around you 99% of the time will have the same views and values you have so everyone really does get on so well. Also the nights out are great fun, I’m sure the other volunteers will have shown you matwapa creek, legends, bahnoff and good old tembo! Have loads of fun at all these places the dancing’s good, the drinks are good and you get to meet some other volunteers from some of the other companies around! Lambada is good too.
Thanks for reading this short little extract I hope that it ignites in you the excitement which was ignited in me bringing back the memories of Kenya, if you decide to go have loads of fun, have no regrets, do everything, try everything at least once and eat all the food it’s all good.
Matt Stockwell
July 2009
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