June 21, 2011
More Kibera Slum
These are amusing signage in Kibera. Ghetto Ambulance? I never saw an ambulance in Kenya.
The second day in Kibera was spent on home visits. The WEEP ladies split into two groups and Team Kenya split as well.
Lillian, Beatrice and Jane of WEEP escorted myself, Wendy, Melissa and Dave through Kibera into an area known as Makina. Throughout our mile plus walk through the slums, the WEEP ladies managed us by blocking us from view as much as possible, walking interference and throwing threatening glares at certain people. Despite their care, a would-be thief attempted to steal Melissa's handbag. Lillian stepped in between them and pushed the guy off. He ran off screaming at us and then the mob stared him down. The WEEP ladies did something that was so interesting - they surrounded us completely and said "show no tears. We will not resume walking until there are no tears. Melissa you must not show fear."
I was arguing with God during my walk. The poverty, the young men drunk or with bottles of glue stuck on their lips, the stench............and the stares! Rich Americans walking through their slums! What was I doing there? Did the residents think we were there because we had pity on them? That we felt better ourselves by being there? Or did they think we actually wanted to help? Why were the able-bodied young men idle? Where were the women - at work? Of all the men we saw, how many were HIV+ and hadn't been tested? The first thing I thought when I saw the idle men - wasted manpower.
The walk was intense. The trash mounds got bigger, the terrain rougher and the streets turned into unmarked paths. We finally arrived at Zakina's "home" after ducking through broken fences. She was born a Muslim. Her husband died of AIDS and his family kicked her and her sons out of the house and family. She was labeled a murderer. She returned to her mother's family's "home", where she lives now. She became very ill and got tested. She is HIV+. Her sons are clean. Her blood counts were so low, she was near death last year. Jane heard of Zakina and started making twice daily visits. She brought her meds and food. She bathed her, comforted her, nursed her back to health. Today Zakina's blood count is nearly back to normal. She is reminded of her previous life every time the Muslim call to prayer is heard - she lives near the mosque. Zakina is on a waiting list to be accepted into the WEEP Program. In the meantime, she is grateful to Jane and WEEP.
These are amusing signage in Kibera. Ghetto Ambulance? I never saw an ambulance in Kenya.
The second day in Kibera was spent on home visits. The WEEP ladies split into two groups and Team Kenya split as well.
Lillian, Beatrice and Jane of WEEP escorted myself, Wendy, Melissa and Dave through Kibera into an area known as Makina. Throughout our mile plus walk through the slums, the WEEP ladies managed us by blocking us from view as much as possible, walking interference and throwing threatening glares at certain people. Despite their care, a would-be thief attempted to steal Melissa's handbag. Lillian stepped in between them and pushed the guy off. He ran off screaming at us and then the mob stared him down. The WEEP ladies did something that was so interesting - they surrounded us completely and said "show no tears. We will not resume walking until there are no tears. Melissa you must not show fear."
I was arguing with God during my walk. The poverty, the young men drunk or with bottles of glue stuck on their lips, the stench............and the stares! Rich Americans walking through their slums! What was I doing there? Did the residents think we were there because we had pity on them? That we felt better ourselves by being there? Or did they think we actually wanted to help? Why were the able-bodied young men idle? Where were the women - at work? Of all the men we saw, how many were HIV+ and hadn't been tested? The first thing I thought when I saw the idle men - wasted manpower.
The walk was intense. The trash mounds got bigger, the terrain rougher and the streets turned into unmarked paths. We finally arrived at Zakina's "home" after ducking through broken fences. She was born a Muslim. Her husband died of AIDS and his family kicked her and her sons out of the house and family. She was labeled a murderer. She returned to her mother's family's "home", where she lives now. She became very ill and got tested. She is HIV+. Her sons are clean. Her blood counts were so low, she was near death last year. Jane heard of Zakina and started making twice daily visits. She brought her meds and food. She bathed her, comforted her, nursed her back to health. Today Zakina's blood count is nearly back to normal. She is reminded of her previous life every time the Muslim call to prayer is heard - she lives near the mosque. Zakina is on a waiting list to be accepted into the WEEP Program. In the meantime, she is grateful to Jane and WEEP.
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