I first visited Jovial school and headmaster George last year while witnessing some of the worst slum living conditions in my life. I wrote about that experience here. As we brought our BCK team back to Jovial for a similar experience, I find with the passing of time and being more comfortable with the daily…
Tag: Africa
Reunited…
I first met Jane in 2009 while working at her school, Unity Centre. You seem to find one or two kids that you connect with deeply while serving the Kenyan people. Jane’s sweet voice, humble spirit, and determination to have a better life for her and her family touched my soul. I hadn’t seen Jane…
it happened….Build.Create.Kenya 2013!
I’ve been home for two weeks now, and in between jet lag, mounds of work, and a general re-customization to life back in USA, I’m ready to start sharing my experiences while in Kenya this year. The team this year consisted of five team members, and four team leaders. I dubbed us “Small but…
Winnie
I hear the argument all the time about how social media is ruining everything, but I find that in many instances, social media is a wonderful tool. Today for example, just checking in with Facebook, and I see a picture, a very familiar picture, one that I took while in Kenya last year with Build.Create.Kenya. We…
Bubbles
Sometimes, most often times, it is the simple things that are the most rewarding.Like blowing bubbles. If you can step outside yourself, your daily activities, to stop and listenyou may be surprised by what you hear. Let yourself go, inhibitions fly out the windowand perhaps your true nature will shine through. Take the time…
Are these the days of miracle and wonder?
As the the Holiday weekend begins, many people think about those less fortunate. I recall the day Build.Create.Kenya went to Gate Hill. We were looking for schools to support, future projects to work on. What we found that day on the school rooftop were signs of abuse and neglect, hope seemed to have abandoned…
Sky Angel
I remember all of the schools BCK visited last summer, but Sky Angel has a special place in my heart.It was the little school that we were able to help bring a real, immediate change. We loved everything about this little place, from the energetic and loving teachers to the adorable primary students.That evening at…
back to Little Giants
I first wrote about Little Giants almost one year ago, in reference to my overcoming the Qur’an incident. No such adventures this time around, but I was able to witness a miracle of a much more humble nature. One man’s dream becoming a reality. Last year, my friend George started the primary school, Little Giants,…
diamonds on the soles of their shoes
As I stepped out of our matatu ( van), and onto the dirt courtyard, I see a line of children in uniform before me standing in military style. “They are practicing scouting!” I excitedly think to myself. Simple extra curriculum programs such as scouting, theater, sports and dance may be easily taken for granted…
rear view mirror
The experiences of going to Kenya take time for me to fully grasp. When I feel ready to share, I use a rear view internal mirror to look back upon my time spent there. Build.Create.Kenya’s first days were spent visiting as many non formal school’s as possible in the slums of Nairobi, learning as much as…
Impact
I don’t remember Charles from when I first went to Kenya in 2009, but I guess he remembered me. About a week before I left to go back in 2010, I received a random e-mail from him, asking if I could bring him a basketball. No problem, I thought to myself. I had plenty that people…
the Blue Post Hotel
I can’t recall why we decided to drive to Thika, about 45 minutes outside of Nairobi, but the four of us did. It could have been weekday or weekend, as days seem to blend together while in Kenya. What I can recall was the discovery of the Blue Post Hotel. Started in 1908 as a…