The Colors, Shapes and Needs of Kenya

November 29, 2012 · by Jenny S.W. Lee · in Awareness, Communities and Communication, Hope and Symbolism, Invention and Environmental Consumption, Lifestyles, Voice and Dialogue

What to do?

Pelicans and Pink Flamingos in Narok

Volunteering at the Watoto Wa Baraka (WWB) / ‘Children of Blessing’ (in Swahili) orphanage in Makuyu housing over 30 youths; work included developing social and in-class activities with the children to cultivate individual growth and strength; planting trees to be used for commerce; preparation of meals for the staff and children; and field work — walking hours in remote areas to visit ill patients, then monitoring their health and providing aid to their conditions. View video here.

Chris is one of the children at the Watoto Wa Baraka orphanage whom I have had the pleasure of meeting and sponsoring. He has kept me informed about his activities and progress in school through written letters and drawings. Like other sponsored children, he felt greater security, cared for, and hopeful for his future.

Fieldwork in Makuyu. The girl standing on the right suffers from an unknown mental condition. Wrong medication? The child in orange sitting has AIDS and an open wound on his head and toe; his mother has died and father also has AIDS yet continues to work to support the family.

Maasai villagers and their mud hut homes in Nkoilale (view image below)

Visiting a primary school of girls in a local Maasai village in Nkoilale. View video here. Fellow women volunteers and I had the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the attentive students and briefly share our own individual paths to our professional careers (pictures of us talking are not shown).

In support of the global water crisis effort and awareness, I participated with the non-profit organization, Well Aware, in the successful drilling of a well for a Maasai village in rural Namanga, Kenya. My photographs documenting the event were exhibited at the Nordic Hall, Scandinavian Living Center in Newton, Massachusetts.

Having this new development in water resource allows children to travel less far to retrieve water and thus spending more time in school. New community projects will also be built around the water well to improve the area’s infrastructure.