MOYO on site in Africa

Barbara Messner
26. February 2024
Allgemein
783

On 16 February, we, Barbara Messner and Alexandra Ebner, board members of MOYO, set off on our trip to Africa. In addition to a few gifts for the girls (coloured pencils, writing materials, toiletries), we also brought a portion of curiosity with us – after all, it had been four years since our last visit (due to the coronavirus).

After a warm welcome from Sophie E. Kibuywa, Director of the local partner Kimilili Integrated Development Education Program (KIDEP), the extensive programme for the visit was presented. In a welcome meeting, we evaluated the status quo of the project and discussed current and future challenges and opportunities to provide the girls with an education.

We then went out into the villages to visit some of the schools. The first on the programme was Chelekei Secondary School. Here MOYO sponsors a girl called Karen. After words of praise from the headmaster, Karen’s class was visited and the girl was warmly welcomed. Hundreds of children’s eyes followed us, as many of them had never seen white people before.

The situation was similar at Nakalira Primary School, where MOYO is providing 5 girls with an education. The picture we saw was the same everywhere:

Also at Mukuyuni Primary School MOYO supports 4 girls:

It is obvious that everything is lacking: children run around in tattered school uniforms (these are compulsory for school attendance in Kenya) and only a few have shoes on. The classrooms are sparsely furnished – a child is lucky if they can get hold of a wooden bench, otherwise they have to learn on the floor. The hygiene standards are appalling: water is scarce or unavailable and has to be drawn from a borehole. There are often only 3 outside toilets (outhouses) available for 600 pupils, which they then have to go to barefoot. Children are sent to school in the morning without food because their parents have no money for breakfast. Lunch is also often unaffordable (the day school lasts until 5pm due to the British system), which is only rice/corn porridge and a few beans. So the children have no choice but to spend the whole day at school hungry.

And yet the children are happy to be able to attend school. There is singing and laughter everywhere.

The head teachers of the schools seemed very committed to making the best of the limited financial resources – often turning a blind eye and teaching children without school uniforms or school fees so that they don’t end up on the streets. School staff often offer schoolchildren without parents a roof over their heads. Helping and looking out for each other seems to be the motto here. It is rare to experience so much warmth.

The Andersen Vocational Training Centre was also visited – older pupils are trained here in various professions such as cooks, seamstresses and technicians. This in-depth training makes it easier for them to start a career and gives them the opportunity to start their own business in the future and provide for themselves/their family. Of course, the arrival of the “Muzungus” (white people in Swahili) was the highlight of the year here too – everyone wanted photos and to shake hands with us.

Of course, a visit to the villages was also a must in order to get an impression of everyday life in Kenya. We visited the homes of Lusaria and Veronica, who live together with their grandmother in a mud hut. Both girls were able to receive an education thanks to donations from MOYO.

We were particularly touched by the welcome we received in Cheptonon, a remote village in the Mt Elgon region. Here we were welcomed by singing women, showered with gifts and even baptised with Swahili names. They expressed their gratitude that MOYO had enabled 2 girls from the village to receive an education.

We could tell you about hundreds more experiences and fates that have touched us deeply. Reports on these will follow or be part of various MOYO events.

Many thanks to all donors to our sponsor, the state of Tyrol

Asante Sana, our local partner, for their hospitality.