I precariously step from rock to rock, trying to avoid the flow of raw sewage seemingly everywhere. A place most wouldn’t dream of going, but amongst the horrid smells and visually painful sights around you is a hidden gem. The New Beginnings Education Centre. Build.Create.Kenya’s In-country director, Justus Munyoki, is a powerhouse figure in the…
Tag: support Kenya
being back at St. Winners
I always have a sense of trepidation when returning to a previous project that I’ve been involved with in Kenya. You never know if the work you did was sustained throughout your absence for a year by the school itself, or perhaps theft or vandalism destroyed your hard work. Last year Build.Create.Kenya’s first humanitarian trip…
"making melodies with my hands"
I remember the day as clearly as this morning….the van door opened and my friend Kevin hopped onto the slum streets of Nairobi, my Ipod mini I gave him in his hand as he left us for two years to a service mission to Ghana. June 2012. Two years past, and Build.Create.Kenya continued to build…
Zach’s arm
We were a few days into our 2014 Build.Create.Kenya expedition when we found ourselves taking the team to Ken’s home. It was exciting for those of us that were here last year to see the fruits of Sena’s labor. We couldn’t wait to see the girls that Ken supports, his beautiful family, and to enjoy some…
the Vessel of Hope roof project
As the six of us first arrived to the Vessel of Hope school in Kayole, we were brimming with energy to get started. P and I introduce the new team to Grace, the head master, and Sam our Fundi ( head contractor), who points us up to the roof of the school so we can…
Isaac & the harmonicas
Build.Create.Kenya not only recognizes and supports the need for education in the slums of Nairobi, but we also feel strongly about the importance of a well rounded child. One way BCK wants to help with that is by introducing music into the schools as a way for the kids to explore other interests and have…
Mkuru Kwa Ruben
When BCK first visited this place, I mistakenly called the area Dandora. The industrial slum area of Nairobi is actually referred to as Mkuru Kwa Ruben. The feeling though has not really changed since we first saw it in 2012, it’s overwhelmingly eye opening, sad and full of desperation. For safety’s sake and out of…
Mukundi
Jimmy was just a boy when I first met him in 2009. Shy and working on improving his English, he approached my side, held my hand, and asked me my name. When I told him, he gave me some small bracelets to take home. ” for your Mum”….. Jimmy and I in 2009 Each year…
final thoughts on BCK’s last day in Kenya on the project….
When I think back to our final day on the St. Winner’s 2013 school project in the slums of Nairobi, it’s the faces of the little ones I see. Faces that haven’t seen a group of white people in such close proximity to themselves. As the days pass by though, we become closer as we…
the simple additions we added to St. Winners
As part of Build.Create. Kenya’s 2013 St. Winners project, we really wanted to beautify the school. Limited funds though meant we needed to get creative with the supplies and money we had, and I was so proud of the ideas we came up with as a team for the schools. Who doesn’t enjoy flowers and…
Justus
Justus is BCK’s in-country Kenyan Director, and is a vital part of our new NGO. He is very involved in his community, working with all kinds of various organizations for the betterment of his people. He also has started a school called New Beginnings, which we first visited in June 2012. Where he finds the time, energy, and…
how nothing is wasted in Kenya
As BCK was cutting wood boards for the library shelves at St. Winners school, inevitably their were scraps leftover. As I was walking the dark hallway and observing the classrooms of children, I noticed that the floor was covered with little coats and backpacks. A rare moment of brilliance occurred to me. Why not use the…