Hello,

Another update from another meaningful day. On Tuesday, Emily and I went to voulenteer at an orphanage here in Kisumu. We spent almost the whole day with the babies and kids. This is a home where a lot of abandon kids are being taken care of. The youngest we met was 1 month old.

It is kind of hard to believe that some are willing to give their babies away, but for many that is the only option to give them a life or even survive themselves. At this orphange the kids are really good taken care of, and we will say it is very well driven. They do not lack as much as the majority of kenyan people. This was quite nice to see. That there is places which actually provide more then the basic needs. The kids at this place live the life we want for the kids in Norway, more or less. I think it is great that an organization like this actually exist and have the resources they need.

Emily and I visited all departments, and the one that made most impression was the department of special needs. After working at Teksleaasen and Hauanskogen (a home for disabled kids and adults) you kinda have a different understanding of their needs. You know how complicated it can be in Norway, and then see it it here in a third world country is quite different. It was nice in a strange way.

Hello,
Another update from yesterday. We went to the super poor areas about 2 hours from Kisumu. I thought we have seen poverty before, but this was worse. This was pure sadness.
We started at a nursing school. They were 3 classes with ca 50 kids in one class, and in 2 of the classes they didnt have chairs nor desks, so the kids had to sit on the floor and write their letters in the sand. They used sticks and soda corks for math and counting. Most of the kids go to school without breakfast and lunch and only get dinner if they are lucky. Many of them have worms that live in their headbuttom, and this is very contaniois. They also have jiggers (Google that). It was sad and a lot to take in. You just want to take them all home and give them a better life. But to see their faces when we brought school supplies and toys was magic. They loved it. And they got as much as a few children in Norway get for Christmas, but they were 150 had to share that. Also the fact that they got some food from us, and know that might be the only thing they eat that day. We visited the village around the school and they live in mud cottages, with no electricity. It is impossible to imagine such simplicity way of living before you actually see it. And when you see it it's hard to understand it's someone's reality.

Hello!
Another update from another interesting day.
We had our street kids blessing bag event this Sunday which we had been preparing for a long time. It was with mixed feelings and a lot of emotions, bittersweet to watch this. Approximately 200 street boys came, yes there was none girls. They all got one t-shirt, a tooth brush, a tooth past, and a soap each. As well as a full meal with a soda bottle and water. The expressions and faces and happiness in their faces you can't put a price tag on. It was so much love and happiness. As well as seeing them in such a happy mood it is was quite hard to see them so dirty and with their glue bottles and with lack of everything. The smallest guy was about 7. Everyday all of them struggles to make it through the day and do not know if they will do. However they just fight and they don't give up. If I asked them "how are you?", they smiled and said I'm fine!
It was a lot to take in, seeing boys aged 10 high on glue is sad. You feeling stupid standing there so privilegde and do not understand why people get so different lives. Just beacuse we are born in different countries. It is a lot to take in.
However we know that ca 200 boys got full tummies and would make it through at least a few other days - But again I will go to bed and remeber those faces and cant forget their life. I have to do more.

God Morning!

The impressions are many here in Kisumu. It is a lot to take in and it is quite bittersweet. The past days have been super busy. On Sunday we did all the shopping of food for the street kids that we will feed later on today. I went with a girl called Shila to the local market to get everything we needed. It was very intresting to walk with her and see how she did shopping. But it was quite hard in 34 degrees. We drove a tuk-tuk back and forth which was an experince in itself. By shopping at the local market we could pay a fraction of what we do in Norway! It took us almost the whole day to shop. In the afternoon we preapred 200 blessing bags for the street kids, which consisted of a soap, toothbrush and toothpaste and a t-shirt. I cant wait for Sunday to come so we can help the street kids. At night Emily flew in to join me on the trip. Im so happy that she is here!

Yesterday we had an activity day for the girls at Familia. We spent the Whole day with them. First we had a coloring session. Where They helped us create a poster to the blessing bag event. And then we gave them all swimming suits and took them swimming in a pool at the hotel in the city. They were so happy!! I was in the water for hours with them and teached them swimming. We were singing and playing for hours. We also took them for lunch in the local market and eat pila. So much happiness. It mean so much for me to see them so happy. They appriciated those little things so much.

In the evening we went to a birthday party! Which was very nice.

I do not even know where to start. It is a lot of impressions to take in. I have only been her for a day but yet so many stories to tell.
I landed in Narobi wednesday night and I was picked up by a chaffeur and taken to our Airbnb. I met Julie and Dawm and Lottie which I am going to spend the next weeks with. I couldnt see much since it was so dark outside, but when we woke up the next morning and went outside the apt, it was slum next door. Next to high fences and security guards it was people walking without shoes and was living in hand made homes. It was wierd. When we drove to the AirPort it was people walking all over the roads, a whole family on a motor bike, some where doing laundry on the streets, others where eating and preparing for a new day. Such a different life than ours.

We boarded the flight and landed in Kisumu couple of hours after. We drove directy to a coffee place to have a small meeting. At the coffee place we met John. John is one of the caretakers at Familia, the home for abused and "homeless" girls where I will spend a lot of time. Familia is the girl project Julie started to give girls here an opportunity to create a life for themselves. All this girls are coming from very sad and difficult backgrounds. John was telling us about his background and it was very touching.

"When my parents died when I was little, me and my sisters were left to ourselves more or less. I had 3 older sisters, the oldest one got married away by my family to a 78 years old man who already had 3 other wifes and that was HIV positive. She hated the life but she was forced into it. She manages to escape but had to live on the street as a prostitute to feed herself the following years. She died eventually. The same happened to my second oldest sister too. My third sister also turned out HIV positive, but she were able to give birth to a healthy baby. This girl is now living at Familia. My sister couldn't take care of her, and even tho she is still alive HIV have attacked here brain. That's why it's is so important for me to be here and help the girls and my niece. I want to make sure we create a life for them they deserve"

It wasn't only Johns story's I heard. But several of the girls stories, that we are supposed to meet later on this day. I was so shocked by the stories I have heard. None of these girls choose their life, they are forced and born into it. And I am sitting here thinking how lucky I am just because I am born in Norway. In another life we might have each other lives. I am just sitting there thinking I want to do whatever I can do help these people, these girls, as many as we can.

We also had to plan for the blessing bag event that we are doing Sunday. We are having an event for street kids, so they can come have a hot meal and get a blessing bag. The blessing bags consist of: tooth brushes, soap, a clean t-shirt etc. Nessacities that we take for granted. A hotel donated many of their employees to cook the food we needed that day. We are hoping to feed 200-250 street kids. So there is a lot of logistics and buying to plan for the 2 following days. We met up with the hotel and the chef and the manager er confirmed everything for Sunday. After the meeting we headed to lunch.

We had lunch in the middle of the local market where all locals eat. We had ugaly, which is a typical Kenyan food, it reminds me of mashed potatoes with less taste. Then some fish and kale salad. We eat with our hands, like the kenyan people do.

In the afternoon we did some food shopping at the market, and the impressions driving around were huge. There is poverty and slum next to nicer houses. You kinda just have to see it to understand it.

We were supposed to meet the girls on their house after they came from school so we drove up there. They live like a 20 min drive from town. There is no proper road so it was quite a bumby ride to Get there.We were supposed to live in Patricia's house. The girls neighbors. She live in a nicer house in the area. Its quite strange to see people living next to each other on such different levels. Some Barly have clothes to wear and some has a lot. We had to be very careful and could not walk around alone.

It was amazing to meet the girls. They all came dressed up in their uniforms. I havent seen bigger smiles then They got in a long time. It is a special feeling to know their background story and at the same time see them so happy to meet us. It is a lot to take in.

Patricia invited all of us for dinner - and we brought some extra guests too. So She basically invited 25 extra people for dinner additional to her own family which consisted of kids, grand-childrens and some friends. This is nothing like Norway where "we only have space for 8". We had a very lovely Kenyan meal.

At 8pm I was dead. But somehow my body was a little restless. The impressions throughout the day is a lot to take in. At the same time I am so thankful for this oppertunity. It really gives me a perspective on life in Norway and life in general. I can't to spend more time here and start out our projects.

Hello Everyone! 

The past month I have been running a Facebook fundraisng for all my projects in Kenya! I must say I am so thankful for everyone that have contributed and raised money This will make such a big difference for what we can do for the kids and the people in Kisumu. On Facebook we collected a total of $ 1352 which equals 10586 NOK! This is amazing! I have also had some amazing friends send me bitcoins which equals 1300 NOK. So again thank you so so much. I will post here on the blog and on Facebook where all the money will be spent and what it will be used for, so you can see that it actually make a change. We did this together. 

Again, I am so blessed and happy to have met so many nice and good people. YOU GUYS ROCK! 

I am about to pack my last things in New York now, it's been some intense but good days here. Heading for Amsterdam - Narobi - Kisumu! Let's gooo!