Tanzania and Zanzibar

First the long drive to Tanzania, it took us almost 13 hours to get the platform TCDC, the visa control went well and we were on our way. The Danish place was so nice and we were happy about the food, it was well made and tasted good. The first day we had a session with Steven about do and don´t s and the history of TCDC, it was nice to hear how he had been here from the beginning and how it all started and why it was named Danish. The TCDC had restaurant, gym, tennis, basket, small Masaai market, benches, small shop and lot of places to sit and relax.

We went out to meet the DWS, which is a German organization who helps youth, women and the human rights. It was nice to hear about their work and debate about different topics like abortion and young girls in schools. We also were guest of honor at the local youth group in their opening of their new hall donated by some rich men from the organization, it was fun to watch their theater and learn more about their goals. But sadly it was all in Swahili and we are not that strong Swahili yet.

The next days we had more sessions with Steven and we visited his coffee farm, it was nice.

We also went out to party and celebrate Marie from our group and it was a really nice evening and everybody had fun dancing and having a nice dinner and drinks.

After that we flew to Dar es salaam and took the ferry to Zanzibar for our vacation. The weather was really hot and nice, we found the resort called Mwana house, were we stayed to 3 nights, it was really wonderful, nice bedroom and so close the beach with beach bars. We went out on some boat trips with swimming and snorkeling. So fun and very beautiful, the food was also the best we have had so far and specially the seafood was good.

Then we drove to Stonetown which was more like a modern city but because of the Ramadan it was very quiet and almost everything was closed or only open a couple of hours during the day, so nothing wild.  We went to the market and into town every day and went to prison island to see the giant turtles and the old prison for the slaves. Then we had a lot of relaxing at the pool.

When it was time to head back we had one night in Dar es Salaam. We had lunch at a big tower which had a fancy restaurant on the top floor in 21 floor, very nice and the whole floor inside were we sat and ate could spin around so you could get the full 360-degree view. After that we went to the market, and went out for some good sushi, then the next day we flew to Nairobi with a pitstop on Zanzibar.

In Nairobi we went for dinner and a movie. On Sunday we went to the world’s second biggest market, but the girls and me went home after only 40 minutes there, because we drove a lot of attention and there were a lot of young boys sniffing glue and males with mental problems all of them were following us, touching and pointing at us, it was really uncomfortable and we felt so awkward placed between them so we went back to Junction mall and went shopping there. I found a lot of stuff and good things, we ate lunch and went back to the platform to get picked up in safari cars and picked the rest up at the market and went home to Nanyuki, and the last etape of the skills weeks with the Kenyan participants.

Blood donornation and Children home

Blood donornation in Nanyuki 

We are standing in Nanyuki town with the group from GCC and the Kenyan participates from skills week. We Here the big organization called Red Cross have set up a tent so people can come in voluntarily to be blood donor, the place where the tent is set up is right near the big road so people can see it and they have a car that is driving around town to get out the message and make people aware of the Red Cross work.

When we came we had prepared some questions, our focus was the donors, we asked different people and took some videos. Most of the people wanted to help because they know how important it is to help others and many people have cancer and need the blood. One of the donors said that this was his third time giving blood and the reason he gave the blood at first time was because his sister was sick and he wanted to help her.
Many of the people heard about the blood donornation through other people but also some from the internet. The Red Cross also made very aware of this event through internet, flyers, people and the car driving around in town with a big speaker to let people know about it.

It was really amazing to see it and learn about how blood donating works here in Kenya and how they make people aware of it. In Denmark the hospitals have their own building just for blood donation, and it also seems more clean and in order. When I looked around here I could see it was clean, but I was not impressed by the cleanness. I still wanted to help and give blood, but unfortunately we have been giving vaccinations and malaria so we could not participate in the donation even though I really wanted to help. But the day was really exiting and I learned a lot and got a whole new experience of different handling of blood donation.

 

 

One more day for childrens home and safehouse

We left early this morning and went through the dol dol road to the childrens home which also took girls in who had been married or pregnant in a early age, some girls down to the age of 10. When we arrived the founder and headchef came to greet us, then they gave us a tour around the place and told us about it and answered our questions, then we met up with all the girls and they gave us a sweet great with dance and singing. It was really nice and they were so sweet. Then after talking some time, we had interaction time so each one of us got a small group of girls to talk to, it was so nice and they were really interested in how Denmark works and how things were different from Kenya, after talking some time with the girls we joined the bigger group and sat down. The girls really liked our hair and wanted to braid it, so we sat in a circle and got our hair braided. Then it was time for lunch, they girls were so sweet and wanted to hold hands and liked to follow us around. Then after lunch we took a lot of pictures and got to interact with them more.

Some of the stories we heard were heartbreaking, about the girls who had to give birth no matter what because abortion is illegal, then if the small girl does not want the baby they will take care of it. Also if the girl is married underage they will confront the husband and family and give her a home and safety, and they take the husband to trail and get him arrested. They work well with the police and hospital so they girls who come in get a good treatment and care.

I was really glad to know that this place existed and I hope they can help a lot more, but I know it will need more money and supplies. The experience of these kind of places gives me warmth, but still goosebumps, because of the husbands and families who let their young daughters get married. It makes me happy though that there are people here who saves them and protect them.

So everyone who reads this I hope you will help me help them and maybe save girl and give her a day more in life without fear or injustices.

 

Thank you

Kathrine Lauridsen

 

 

Nairobi and Mombasa- Ups and Downs

The first days at Nairobi was very different from what we have been used to, lots of traffic and chaos, not like in the typical big town, but more unorganized. The new platform was also pretty different, it was small and only had one normal toilet with combined bath, and then two outdoor squat toilets, the food was almost the best thing. We had a mall 8 minutes away on foot, it was very big and had a cinema so we went one day to watch the new Tomb raider, very nice mall, with everything. The program in Nairobi was very interesting and we made a lot of new friends and experiences.

Kibera

Kibera is Africas biggest slum and inside lives almost 1.2 million people in a small place. On the second day we went out in small groups to better get to understand the people, I felt little insecure at first, but after the first day it was no big deal, the people are very friendly and welcome. It is amazing to see people so happy and proud even though they live in poverty and know no better. We went to visit a kindergarten/school, the people were so friendly and welcome us inside so we could interview them, the principal was there so we asked about the school and how it all started. It was so cool to hear about they want to educate people so more children can learn and maybe go for a education and seek a better life outside Kibera.

Refugees and LGBTIQ+

We had a lot about the refugees and their challenges and how the whole system works about being a refugees or asylum seeker, we had Ray out to tell us about it, she came from one of the camps were they have the refugees and she told us the challenges they face in both ways.

The next day we met three guys from the LBGT who told us their stories and how hard it is to be gay or lesbian in a country that does not accept it, either because of religion or social accept. It was very hard to hear about how they get beat up and live in fear, but they still keep fighting for those who can´t stand up and speak for themselves. I think they are amazing and they were really friendly. Even though they were crying and you could feel their struggles and fears, you could still feel the fighting spirit and passion about this topic was so strong and the whole meeting with them were amazing and so interesting.

The weekend

In Friday we talk about the SDG´s and how to solve them in the future.

Then of course we had to go to town, we drank a lot at this Brew Bistro, but it was funny to visit it. Then we went to the bar called The Alchemist, they have very good space and big dancefloor. Then we went home and got ready to go to Mombasa

Mombasa

I was feeling really bad this morning because a stomach infection, so the travel to Mombasa was not funny, first I was sick in the bus then we had to go through a lot of security were I almost forgot my bag with passport, money and ticket, then we had to run to the train and got in, but the train was just packed! It had no aircondition, no open windows, screaming kids and lots of sweats, not funny when you are really sick, so I had to throw up in the toilet, then we finally after about 6 hours came to Mombasa, then we drove to the hostel, but they were so unprofessional and had a drunk weird man harassing us, so we moved as quickly as we could. Then we booked apartments at Sunrise hotel, it is so nice and looks familiar to the apartments in Gran Canaria, very nice with a pool and 3 minutes to the beach. So far we have met with some more activists and learned more about the LBGTIQ+ here in Mombasa, today we learned about womens rights and had a lot of fun. Here we also have a mall very close and enjoy it here very much with all this good things, since in Nairobi we only and misfortunes and bad things happened to us. I really look forward to the long free weekend, were we have this big apartment with our own pool!

The long weekend we spent in the pool or going out to grab dinner, we got home late Friday so we grabbed some pizza and took a tuk tuk home. The reason we came home late, was because the nice villa we booked through Airbib aka. John, we went to it, but suddenly they tell us that this John had not payed them, so we got kicked out so we had to arrange something so we booked back at Sunrise and got home so late because of traffic and all the confusing planning, so yeah John had tricked us and took our money, but we now got them back.

Saturday we went to the old town after a lovely breakfast at our favorite place. I got ice coffee, plain crossaint and a bagel with salmon, cream cheese, avocado, dild and this sweet and sour red cabbage, so so so good! The best breakfast I ever had on this whole trip.

The old town had lots of shops and a very Muslim influenced atmosphere to it, the streets were small and cramped, but so cosy and lively. Then we met up with the others in the group and ate dinner and of course we went out drinking and dancing the whole night.
Sunday we went back again to see more of the old town and had lunch there. Then after we found some dinner later and went home again.

Monday we were 8 going to snorkeling, we got picked up in bus and drove for almost 4 hours, then came to Wasini Dolphins. We went out in a boat with a lot other people, but on the way the boat stopped for 3 times because of the motor was broken. Almost everybody got seasick because of the waves. Then we went out to see the dolphins, it was very funny and exciting. After some time it was time to dive in and snorkeling. It was so amazing to see all the different fish and the corals, they looked so beautiful and stunning. It was like a whole new world and we went out pretty deep, they had all kinds of fish, starfish, different corals and sea urchin with spikes.

After lunch at a very beautiful place we went back and drove the long way home, we stopped at Dominos and grabbed a pizza to go, then home to pack for the 10-11 hour long trip home to Nanyuki.

The trip home went fine, up at 4 am and then to the trainstation in rain, then the train to Nairobi 6 hours and then picked up and then to Nanyuki platform took about 4-5 hours. Now we are back home and looking forward to the few days and then skills week with the Kenyans.
After that it is Tanzania then week off and two weeks left of this amazing journey a long way from home!

 

 

See you next time Kathrine

Weekend with fun and Experiences

Sunday was so relaxing, no stress and just strolling around having fun, it was only me and a girl from the group left, because the others were sweating on MT. Kenya. So I did some work on my dairy, blog and then just relaxed and spend the whole day in the movieroom watching movies and youtube. At lunch we made danish pancakes and the girls from Daraja made homemade fries 🙂 it was so so good and was stuffed after. Then back to movies and eating dinner at Daraja with the girls from the school. After watching some movies and power off, I went to bed since I was going to the one day trip to MT.Kenya.

Got picked up at 7 am, and then picked up my guide Nanyuki, then came the long 4 hours drive to the other side of the moutain to meet the others. The walk up was very hard and I got bit my horseflies all the time , but I made it pretty far. Because of my asthma it was very hard in the thin air, but my guide was so sweet to let me rest and we took the time I needed to be able to breath. After 2-2,5 hours we took a long break and then suddenly we could hear the others not far away, after some time we could see the first guys, it was so nice to see them again. They really looked tired and some was in pain because of the hills and so, but Im really proud of them, specially after I heard what they went trough, but everybody got down. Then came the long drive back, and our driver hit a dog! The feeling of the dog rolling down under the car was so horrible, but it survied but was hurt, and the driver didn´t care, they don´t have the same vision on dogs like we do. Then we stopped at KFC to eat dinner, so hungry and it was just perfect dinner.  When we got home we went to bed right after. Then the schoolegan again, we were going to make workshops with Youth hub from Nanyuki, we were going to teach about birth control and STD´s. It was really fun and it went good, then after we went to town and shopped for more clothes, I feel more and more safe in the city by time, but now we are going to Nairobi and that is supposed to be ten times worse so I don´t know if im ready for that, but hopefulley it is going to go well and I really look forward to Mombasa and see more of Africa, I can´t wait.

see you next time in Nairobi and Mombasa!

Sweetwaters Safari

Safari all alone 

The morning began with a quick breakfast just some yougurt and then off with me alone to get picked up by my own driver and guide, then we went and met with Eliud to pay for the safari, horseback riding and mt.Kenya. Then we drove to the safari park, very exciting.  We began with the game and drove around to find the animals. We saw both giraf, elephants, chimpanses, zebras, wildboars, impalas, gazelles, rhinos, and lots of other animals both big and small. It was really amazing, they view was just breathtaking, and the only thing you could hear was the wind and the birds singing.
When we approach the animals they didn’t care so we could get really close and when I mean close, I mean that 10-12 meters from a giant rhino mom and her child! Now that is really close. But with the first elephant we got so close it did grunt at us for getting too close, but nothing happend, that’s what you get when the driver does something a little naughty and drives out where you are not allowed to, but well as I said nothing happened, so it was okay.

Then at 10 am I booked a game with on horseback, so we drove out to the stables and met the guide, then I was told to fill out a paper about myself and my ridingskills, like how long have you been riding, how often, kind of horse, owned your own and what kind of styles have I done, that was very fun to fill out because I have never thought about how much I can acutally do with horses, after that I found a helmet and met my horse named Njema 12 years old, he was very sweet and I was told that he was the best at dressage and showjumping. My guide named Samson said he could tell the moment I sat on him he could tell I was an experienced rider, he could tell from how I sat in the saddle and held the reins, he was impressed and that made me happy so he didn’t think I lied by telling how good I was. We then went out in the bush and we even began to trot together side by side, it was just amazing and all around us the zebras and impalas were running around us, just the feeling of freedom was the best. Trotting together and enjoying the sun and view of the free animals. After some information about the different spices we went further into the bush and walk around near the fence, we saw different insects and zebras following us and running behind us. We red around some more until we met the pack of rhinos, I was supposed to ride uo near them so Samson could take som photos with me on a horse very close the a pack of white rhinos, it was very nerve wrecking, but I did it and the pictures on my camera were perfect, the feeling of sitting on this calm horse so near a giant white rhino was just breathtaking, I did not even dare to breath. On the way back I told him it would so cool to galop and he said we could do it, so we went for to long galop over the bush and in circles, it was very funny even though their galop was very short so it was a little difficult to sit well in the galop, but it was still so funny to try and then we went back. After the ride we took some pictures and I went to lunch with my driver. Just got some fried chicken, fries, free cola and an icecofffee, it was heaven!

After lunch we went to see the chimpanzees and hippos, but the hippos were hiding, but on the way we got to see a big pack of elephants and that was nice again you get so close to them even the babies because the mothers know you are not a threat to them so they allow you to get pretty near. After a lot of driving I joked about when the driver gets tired I could take over for him, and he thought I meant it so for around 20 minuts he let me drive. That was just so funny to drive around in a land cruiser and see the animals and try to drive through the mud and water.
Then we finally got to the gate and we switched and drove back to Daraja, then I told about my trip and we made dinner, watched Jurrasic World and went to bed.

Im spending sunday doing this blog, dairy, gym, making pancakes, washing clothes and relax until im going tomorow to MT. Kenya to meet the others guys and then we will return home together and relax.

Best day ever!
Kathrine

 

Visit at children’s home Simama in Nanyuki

The day with happiness and sadness  

The morning started with a really good breakfast: hardboiled eggs, toast, tea and watermelon. Then we had some briefing about today, what we were going to do and who to interview and practice our skills in interview people. The choices were: british army, the slum in Nanyuki and the different children’s home. I choose the children’s home the post wellknowned called Simama. We got then picked up at the global platform, and drove to the town. When we arrived at Simama there was a young man  walking in front of the gate with a machete to protect, that gave us a bit of fright but also a vision about how serious this place is and the situation  those children live in or have been. We were then welcomed by the most amazing and sweet Kenyan mama Hania, who was going to show us around and who we could ask.
After being showed around we sat in some counches and started our little interview, which was more of a cosy conversation. I could feel already from the beginning that I could not hold back my tears, the stories were to powerful in both good and bad ways. There was this girl, whose mother had killed her other child the sister and when she got arrested she threaded to find the last girl and kill her too when she gets out, it was so scary to hear, how can a mother kill her child and then wants to kill the last one too? We also heard about all the children who is being sexually harassed and abused in the local hotels, how the rich people just park near the hotel, go the park just across the street and pick up a child to spend the night with, they do it this way because the child only cost between 30-50 KSH and a real prostitute cost about 1000 KSH. That is so gross and unreal, but in happens just before my nose, it makes my heart break and my stomach to turn around, I get so sick thinking of all the child abuses, but I can’t save them, I just can’t no matter how much I want to.
Hania also told us about, when she asked a girl what her dream was, she answered that she wanted car so she could run over her mother with it! And the sister wished for the same thing. Hania  said that you can’t say something like that, but they were deadserious, that was scary. To me my mother means everything and I would die if that would save her, so how is it possible for to small children to say something so criminal and disturbing?

I started crying, when more sad and real stories were told. They said it was fine and Hania told me she used to cry all the time in the beginning, but that you learn to be strong and distance yourself. What is important for these children is they need to have hopes and dreams, that is the best thing you can ever give them, give them hope for a better future and it will succeed if they believe and fight for it.
Martin was a living true example of that, he was left by his mom at the age of 2 or 3 years old, then he lived with his grandma, but he was a trouble kid and then he would rather be at the street, so he lived like that for 7-8 years living of trash and selling stuff. That is how he survived and made a lot friends to stay alive and make a network in the town. He has been in Mombasa on foot and even been in court a lot of times, but in the end they don’t care about him and in jail he just escaped by running through the fence. Then he came to Simama and now he is one of the best in class and love to have English, I think he wanted to study medicine, but he told us he had a lot of dreams and wanted to do a lot stuff.

The Simama was founded by an American called Matt, he wanted to make a place where street kids could get food and a roof over their head, he wanted to give them a chance, a lot of the street kids are very very bright, so when they start in the classes they are already a long way educated than the other students. Then most of the time we just talked about how the children were doing and how they work. It was so inspiring and made at lot of impression on me, how they work and the very scary difference between my life and childhood and theirs, so heartbreaking but still amazing of their courage and their believe in life.

Then we had lunch at the usually place, and walked to Cedar Mall to get the groceries for the cultural night and also my food for the whole weekend. I got a lot of good stuff and after we grabbed an icecoffee and went home. Made pancakes for 3 hours and ate the dinner the Kenyans had made and we laughed, sang, danced and just had fun while eating. So funny to sing the daish song: “Alle sømænd er glade for piger” it went okay, as long as the Kenyans had fun, then it was their turn to show traditionally Mombasa and Lou dance, so exciting.
All in all an amazing evening and a fun and inspiring day through in and out.

Kathrine out 🙂

 

The little interview

Interview with Abdia 

We talked with Abdia 20 years old, who used to go to Daraja Academy and gratuated last year. We wanted to ask her about the school and how her every day is like.
Abdia wants to study finans and she even got accepted to go the school to study.

we asked how the whole girls school started, it all began when an american came here and wanted to help, but he didn¨t know how. Then after he came back with his wife they met a guy in the airport, who told them about this facility with americans boys that was about to shut down, and the founder took the chance and made his dream come true and then Daraja was starting.
Daraja is a place were they live like one big family, they call the older for aunt or grandma to be polite, they don’t use cook or staff names. That also means that it does not matter which tribe you are from, since in here all are equal to each other.  Whenever the girls to get in fights they solve themself, but they have mentors to help them with whatever they may need.

The schedule consists of a lot of lesson and selfstudy they call study hall, were they do homework or whatever the teachers tell them to do. They have some tea breaks, lunch and dinner all together.

In Daraja they have a special class or lesson called the wish class, which stands for women, integrity, strength and hope. The class is to learn the girls about womens rights and what they do in certain situations.
An example is that if a girl get pregant she is not allow to go to the school, because the child is more important. If they get pregant by rape, they can get the child removed, but they have to report it as rape and that’s what they learn about to handle.

The view on school is very different here from in Denmark. They are lucky if they get allow to the school, but in Denmark we see it as some dirty work, of couse not all, but when you are down here you really realise how good we have it in Denmark, specially our school and health system.
I have always believed that education is the way forward and the key to a better life or making a change in the world. Here it seems like they have the same opinion, you need a education to know what is happening in the world and how can I make my own life better? It means a lot to be well educated,  a lot of conflicts in this county could have been stopped or even not started, if only people knew more about each other and human rights. So instead of fighting, we should all help each other and make solutions and instead of using violence.

Fight for love and the humans.

 

 

A long way from home

Where to begin?

I would never had thought it would this special to travel out in a group of young people, all with the same purpose: to experince the amazing Africa or more specific Kenya and Tanzania.
I knew it would be a whole different world to me, no more the typical picture of the poor Africa, but with my own eyes, I would get to see what is behind the facade and know the truth.

The group started in Copenhagen, not knowing a single person, only their names and hometown. The welcoming feeling was amazing, even though you were shy. they days were spent on preparing for our long trip.

When the day finally came, it was too unrealistic for us to understand, that now is was the time to go, the goodbyes are never fun, but I did not cry, it was close, but everybody knew it was more like see you in 3 months and not a goodbye.
The first plane was giant with two decks, I have never tried that before, so that was pretty awsome. We stayed in Dubai for one night and had a amazing breakfast buffet, then jumped on the plane.

Then came the 5 hours drive to the Daraja Academy, not funny, it was a total bumby ride together with a fear for our lives, when they overtakes the cars. We arrived in total dark and had dinner, then came the sleepinghalls with giant spiders and bugs OMG, they are at the freaking size of my hand! In the end I had to kill one and then to sleep, but the first night was not funny, felt a little odd, because this is the first time I will be away from home for such a long time.

Then the next day took the other and soon the first week was over, we did so many exiting things like visiting tribes and talk to the locals. Went to the down to dance and drink and at saturday they have a big market down in Nanyuki, got a T shirt and skirt.

In week 2 we had excusion almost every day and that was very nice. The culture difference is really clear, but we get a hang of it bit by bit.

Then one last trip to down and dance before the kenyan participans came.

See you til next time 🙂

 

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton