AVIF Volunteers in Kenya

Rastas and beads

2011-08-01T14:31:00.000Z

Photojournalist and volunteer Anu is currently in the idyllic community of Uhundha, on the shores of Lake Victoria, western Kenya, far far away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. Before she left the metropolis, however, she met with many other travelers, one of whom introduced her to the Shiriki organisation.Her wonderful blog describes the visit. I've already contacted Ras Githaka to ask

Diary of a volunteer

2011-05-25T18:45:00.000Z

I have met two English guys on stay in Fiji. They said to me that they taught the small children in Africa. I got so interesting in and one year after I decide to do it. It was not so easy to find some organization to go with. Almost all organizations take some fees. I think that is so crazy. I want to help with children in Africa and I must pay for it?! Fortunately I found the small organization

When you tuck yourself into bed tonight ....

2011-05-23T15:19:00.000Z

.. take a moment - not for guilt - but just to consider whether you can make a difference to someone.I've often thought how unfair it is to support one family and not the other but we have a special link with Christine and her family, the cook at the Tumaini Academy, set up by Canadian Amanda Flanagan. Christine is sole carer to her own 3 children and 4 orphaned grandchildren. She lost her

Texting water to Enkito

2011-05-11T10:39:00.000Z

"Farmers are struggling after one of the hottest and driest months recorded have left entire crops parched and failed". This is NORTH YORKSHIRE, near Wetherby.Thousands of miles away in Enkito, Amboseli, SW Kenya, the ground is always parched. When the rains finally do arrive the ground soaks up as much as it can and then surface water washes away most of the remaining fertile topsoil, leaving

Collaboration fun and results

2011-04-14T16:27:00.002Z

Our latest volunteer, Wayne, has arrived safe and is settling in with Michael in Naivasha after a brief stay in Nairobi last Friday night to watch the team Michael coaches win at the city stadium, beating the top of the Premier League 2-0 !! After an incredible trip through the stunning southern Rift valley near Mai Mahiu town, Wayne will be visiting with youth in Gilgil presenting the equipment

Recycling plastics - empowering youth

2011-03-26T20:29:00.001Z

I just got news via Facebook from Justin Sekiguchi of Up with Hope of the successful negotiations they've made with the Staken Recycling Company in Nairobi. Staken, a kenyan company, are actually collecting Justin's teams' hard-laboured collections of discarded plastics and turning them into coat hangers.This is particularly brilliant for us because we're trying to complete a business plan along

Sustainability = Empowerment

2011-03-13T19:40:00.000Z

What do you get when you stick volunteers into a Kenyan community school project ..... Family Fun Day !!!!I won't reiterate Stacey's own words but a few key words for you :Well project, HUGE success, prepared poems, baby class singing their ABC's , frog jump race, wheelbarrow race .... and the inevitable Teachers race = Volunteering with AVIF.This was all organised by the volunteers to fund the

Tis the season for giving - not wasting

2010-12-02T12:53:00.000Z

I'm in conversation with the fabulously-powerful combination of good looks, intelligence and world vision;Anthony Anderson. "Living the dichotomy of the fashion world and sustainable living", Anthony does what he says while sharing the experience of his move from "an ethical vegan diet to raw food via a desire to lose weight for his modeling career", which spans Hugo Boss, Macy′s, Tommy Hilfiger,

Let it snow - let it snow - let it snowwwww

2010-12-02T12:51:00.002Z

Its such a pleasure, especially in this arctic weather, to work online.No commute - no cost - flexible timescales - but mainly because I work with so many fabulous people.Carolyn Adams is one of them.Yesterday morning Carolyn was on the phone to the British High Commission, diplomatically screaming at Nairobi's bureaucracy, namely the Attorney General's department. I'd like to mention that the

Christmas come early

2010-11-10T17:14:00.002Z

Another amazing day .. not only did it stop raining in the UK and the sun shone brightly, but my daughter got confirmation of the arrival of her white Blackberry Bold ... the bad news is that my son has to wait another week for the arrival of Assassins Creed 3 Brotherhood ...... ridiculous western materialistic crap aside .... the REAL point of this blog is the results our Norwegian

Maasai at TED (almost)

2010-11-07T21:28:00.000Z

Petr, one of our Czech volunteers from the Summer has managed to upload hundreds of his photos to both Flickr and Facebook to pass on just how amazing the month was he spent at the village of Enkito, Amboseli National Park, alongside fellow volunteers, Shiv and Emma. This is one of Petr's photos of Narakiramart looking at this actual photo! She's smiling now but was actually scared of the

I love my job - volunteering just works

2010-10-10T16:29:00.000Z

.. I just received some fantastic news from the folks at NABUUR and the Friends of Arrow Web Hospital. Carolyn has managed to secure the remaining funding to ship the vital medical equipment to Kenya. Funds were offered by COCO, a children’s charity founded by Olympic athlete Steve Cram, who support children throughout the developing world. (Carolyn sharing a joke with some of the ladies at

New experiences and progress made

2010-10-01T20:23:00.002Z

After a wonderful Summer I'm definitely enjoying the colours of [Fall] Autumn and watching the little waterfall return in our local woods from the incessant rain UK is getting right now. It's good also that volunteers are still travelling Kenya to volunteer during their spare time. Mona (a Winter/Spring 2010 volunteer) had only just emailed me about her plans to help the Volunteer Centre

What a day

2010-10-01T20:22:00.001Z

Today started out with me thinking .. "its going to be one of those days" :( .. wasps nests, dogs barking, pandemonium .. and then I sat down and opened my Inbox. Wow. The Force is strong in today's emails! Firstly I'd like to thank those involved in offering us a "Better Net Award" from The UnLtd Millennium Awards Scheme which will help toward "Safeguarding" costs in the preparation of our

Another summer over .. unless you want to go to Kenya NOW??

2010-09-09T21:50:00.002Z

The volunteers have sadly all left their communities now though both the villagers and the volunteers will have no doubt left huge impressions on each. Its never an easy time, especially for the children, to say Goodbye, but the great thing is memories, experiences learnt and of course THE PHOTOS ....... Emma's fabulous album from Amboseli is here on FaceBook and I'll pass on more as they get

Mercy Home gets some creative geekness

2010-08-22T13:52:00.000Z

Jehovah Nissi Mercy Childrens Centre, lovingly known as "Mercy Home" was AVIF's first project back in 2006. It was found by volunteers and has been visited every year since then and the results are phenomenal. Building work, increase in farming land, results of girls entering university, grade scores .. all fairly amazing when you consider these girls have either lost their parents or

Culture shock in Nakuru

2010-08-15T19:56:00.000Z

Photos have been uploaded from the volunteers assisting LLK in Nakuru currently. We were all very grateful for the peaceful referendum period around August 4 but unfortunately the common problems with money and jealousy (due to poverty) have cropped up again. Its very commonplace for some Kenyans to attempt to "rip us off", mainly due to the blatant lack of money they have compared to us.

Bringing water to Enkito's children

2010-08-14T17:44:00.000Z

I've been chatting with Jeff of Staff of Hope, the Raleigh, NC funded drill team in Kenya.Jeff is currently in Oloitoktok deep in true one-road country to the right of Amboseli National Park and about 90km east of Enkito.In the next week the hydrogeological survey and environmental studies will be completed to determine how deep to drill the well for the village. We are busy fundraising for this

is simplifying inter

2010-08-13T15:33:00.001Z

is simplifying international banking transfer procedures to pay the US to pay Kenya to bring water to a maasai manyatta .. Doing it MY way! via hellotxt Posted via email from alisonlowndes's posterous

Security Advisory on Referendum in Kenya

2010-07-27T22:00:00.001Z

Download now or preview on posterous Security Advisory- Referendum Campaigns 2010.pdf (119 KB) In addition to the attached Advice from Safaricom, AVIF wishes you to be fully informed about the situation and to take extra precaution during these times. Please follow this additional advice: Do not attend any rallies. Please refrain from political debates

From boys to men

2010-07-15T18:31:00.001Z

We've finally received news on the results of donations for Pius and Norbert. Simon and co. kindly donated funds after the unfortunate fire at Pius' school, Ukwala Secondary School, claimed all his belongings. He now has 2 new sets of uniform, new shoes, bedding, another mattress, bag and some extra pocket money. Pius will be sitting his fourth form KCSE exams next year. Norbert Oile, also

Ben's band "Reason"

2010-07-15T15:51:00.002Z

Presenting "Reason" ... Download now or listen on posterousReason_Beat_1.mp3 (5521 KB) Jacob Bowerman & Lawrence Beeling on Bass, Richard Ellis & Oliver Bowerman on guitar, Matt on vocals and my own Ben Lowndes on drums! "Beat" is their first and original track written and composed by the boys age 12-13 from Yr 7 Nidderdale High School. Recorded by Rich Huxley AKA

Branching out into the Amazon

2010-07-09T15:50:00.001Z

AVIF are taking a bold new step into environmental and arts volunteering, joining forces with a deprived riberinho (river people) community in the Brazilian Amazon. Working with world-renowned composer and cellist, Diego Carneiro, founder of AmazonArt, we need volunteer teachers with a love for the arts; musical or simply creative, to help teach in an incredible, small but inspiring school in

Love it when a plan comes together!

2010-07-08T20:36:00.001Z

I've just heard from Carolyn, working with ArrowWeb Hospital in Kayole, Nairobi that fundraising is progressing amazingly. Fundraising for hospital equipment to be shipped over, donated by Aid to Hospitals Worldwide is almost complete but this is just in time for news of a new purpose built hospital which will allow a continual improvement in the quality and scope of services provided to the

is with Ben and the

2010-07-07T17:48:00.001Z

is with Ben and the Brazilian Ensemble in concert with http://htxt.it/XQiV via hellotxt Posted via email from alisonlowndes's posterous