Eileen's Blog

Eileen's Blog has moved home!

2010-07-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm no longer updating this site but don't worry I'm still blogging. You can read all my news from East Africa by clicking here

My sponsored child Davis

2010-06-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

Reading the article in Cork News about child sponsorship with World Vision this week made me think about my own sponsored child. As a World Vision employee, it may seem strange that I’m a child sponsor, perhaps even self-serving to some. The truth is that sponsoring Davis in North Rukiga ADP in Uganda is one of the most rewarding and cost effective ways I can use my money to make a difference. I know that only a fraction of my donation (22%) is used to cover the Irish office fundraising and programme quality costs and the vast majority goes to benefit Davis’ community. Unlike most charities, with World Vision I get to see exactly how Davis benefits from my donation and I have even visited him and met his family. The school that he goes to was seriously overcrowded with ramshackle buildings, but thanks to World Vision and partly thanks to my contribution, Davis’ school now has three classrooms. We occasionally write and he lets me know how his life is going and how World Vision is assisting him and his family. My relationship with Davis is a great window into life in rural Africa and one of the most transparent and accountable ways my money can be used.

Understanding Poverty

2010-05-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

By Evelyn World Vision seeks to understand and address the root causes of poverty and injustice but like most things in life, this sounds easier than it actually is. The causes of poverty are incredibly complex and involve historical injustices, current oppressive systems and sheer greed. However, the complexity and challenge of understanding and addressing poverty is no excuse for shoddy development work. It is not enough to claim ignorance and good intentions. Too often, Africans have been the recipients of poor development efforts. As a result, we have become either dependent on hand-outs, which encourage paternalism and further disempower us. Or we become sceptical and even –to be frank- cynical towards the intentions of those who want to ‘help’ us, as most of these efforts end up doing more harm than good. We know how to fish already! Muthoni Wanyeki, the Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, said it best in her commentary about the role of the civil society and private sector in promoting development in Kenya: "The question is not then the old conundrum about giving a man (sic) a fish versus teaching him to fish. It is about first assuming that s/he knows how to fish and addressing what’s preventing her or him from both being able to fish in the first place and from benefitting from having done so in the second place." Working with the Poor & Oppressed May is partnership month within World Vision and staff all over the world came together to reflect on their commitment to our call to ‘work with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation’. Our call is a pretty tall order, but an important one. What attracted me to World Vision in the first place is our unwavering dedication to good development work. We work with the communities and not for the communities. This means recognising the poor as active participants and leaders of their own development and not merely passive recipients of development efforts. It means addressing the interwoven intricacies that perpetuate poverty and oppression. In practise, this means reflecting on past experiences, learning from mistakes and ensuring they are not repeated, while always keeping in mind that our aim is to empower people, restore hope, self-esteem and dignity. During this month’s reflection session, one statement really hit home for me: "If development does not restore people’s sense of self-worth, little will be accomplished." I absolutely love that this is the way we are thinking as an organisation.

Donating t-shirts to Africa won't solve poverty - aid needs to empower people

2010-05-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Poor Jason Saddler - it's not easy being the victim of a growing wave of spleen towards bad development work.

For those of you not familiar with the story, Jason decided to collect a million shirts to send to Africa. As the Time article http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1987628,00.html#ixzz0nnqz07Hj) points out, it seemed pretty harmless and well-intentioned as an idea, but in reality these shirts will not only fail to address poverty: they will actually contribute to it by undermining the already struggling local textile market.

Not to mention, it is condescending to Africans to think that their problems can be solved with a t-shirt. Yes, clean, good quality clothes give people confidence and self-respect and often when I visit families in communities here, it is the first thing they wish for and spend money on when they have a little extra.

But it is a hundred-fold better to empower someone to earn their own living so that they can go out and buy a shirt themselves. A shirt that they like and are proud to wear, rather than one that bears a slogan like "sister for sale, will take any offer", "Proud Jewish Grandmother" or "I’m with stupid" (I’m not joking here, you want to believe the t-shirts that end up in refugee camps and remote villages in Africa).

Good Intentions are not enough

Back to Jason - I'm sure he's going through a rough time and feeling a bit disillusioned and hard-done by, however he has played an important role in raising public awareness of the need to be intentional and informed when doing development work. And even better, he has listened to his critics and decided to change his approach.

I’ve talked about the danger of naivety and good-intentions when trying to help before ((http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1987628,00.html#ixzz0nnqz07Hj)) and we all need to be aware that the reasons for poverty and injustice are deep, complex and – as they are often manmade - very unpleasant. As history has shown, we can’t just fix Africa’s problems by chucking money or hand-outs at them.

Say you spotted a naked 10 year old child on the street in January in Ireland. Would your first instinct be to give him some clothes and then send him on his way? What if you saw fifty naked children that day? You would probably be concerned and want to know what is going on. It’s unlikely you’d be able to clothe them all and you’d know there must be a bigger problem at stake.

In both cases, you would most likely stop and ask – why are you naked? Where are your parents? Should social services or the police be informed? If the worst thing you see when you look at these children is that they have no clothes then you’re not seeing the real problem.

This is a serious child protection issue that you are witnessing here and you need to address the cause of it, not just the symptoms.

Dumping handouts on developing countries

Jason’s critics, although harsh, make a valid case - hand-outs have been dumped on developing countries for decades but have made no inroads on stemming systematic poverty.

While gains have been made and aid does need to continue (I do not agree that community based aid should stop, although I do support many of the arguments made against direct budget support for governments), it also needs to be strategic and address the root causes of poverty.

Aid needs to empower people

Aid needs to empower people and treat them with respect. Before we start writing policies or projects that impact on African’s lives, we need to ask them what they want and we need to dig deep to understand the issues affecting their communities.

Maybe they do want the shirts, but if they were given a choice between shirts and livelihood opportunities that would allow them to buy their own clothes, as well as an end to the trade barriers, corruption and the decimation of local markets by careless aid, I’m pretty sure they would choose the latter.

Water for dignity

2010-05-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

By Evelyn in Kenya

I recently read an interesting, yet rather disturbing, statistic which stated that millions of women around the developing world spend up to a third of their lives fetching water. This made me think of how much of our lifestyle (e.g. my 30 minute long showers) is made possible by a reliable supply of clean water.

It also made me think of how much clean water and sanitation can do for the freedom and dignity of people, especially women and girls. Fetching water is a backbreaking household chore that usually falls to women and girls in many parts of the developing world. This is the case in Busia, Eastern Uganda, where Irish Aid has supported the construction of 8 boreholes, which provide a supply of clean water for 2,100 households. Community Groups in charge of Water In a recent trip to Uganda, Eileena and I visited these boreholes and got a chance to speak with the community members. Each borehole is managed by a water users association made up of elected members from the community (both men and women) that have received training on how to manage and maintain the water source.

They collect a small fee from each community member, which is then saved up to pay for future borehole repairs.

What's great about this set up is that the community have control over the borehole and know how to fix it when repairs are needed. A 10k walk for water Prior to the construction of these boreholes, the women and children, mainly girls, were forced to walk up to 10 km to fetch water, often from dirty streams or ponds. It was no surprise then, that the women were the most vocal when it came to articulating the benefits the clean water of supply has brought to their lives. Rose Naja, who had a family of 9 children, told us how she could only collect 2 or 3 Jerri cans of water per day because the distance was too far for her to carry back any more water. When the needs of collecting water got too much for her manage, her daughters would be forced to drop out of school to help her collect enough water for the family. Lives changed for the better These boreholes and the clean supply of water they provide has had a significant impact on the lives of these communities, especially that of women and children. The women can now collect enough water to meet all their household needs in 30 minutes. Time spent fetching water can now be spent on performing other household activities, farming or going to school. Also, their children are no longer constantly sick with diarrhoea and dysentery. Through the support of Irish Aid, these communities can now enjoy the freedoms and dignities a clean supply of water can offer- better hygiene, less illnesses and more time to engage in productive activities.

By Evelyn in Kenya

Keeping track of our sponsored children

2010-04-30T04:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I was locked in a regional workshop on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe, Uganda. It sounds lovely in print, but besides a quick sprint to the corner shop in desperate search of chocolate, I didn’t see daylight for the four days we were there. I don’t normally get excited about conferences, but there is a major shift happening in our organisation and it is exciting. We are dramatically improving the way that we do business, particularly in sponsorship. Through sponsorship, World Vision tracks the well-being of more children in the world than any other NGO. Community volunteers visit children at least four times a year to check on their health and well-being, to share sponsor correspondence and make sure they are still living in the community. With each community that we work in having up to 2,000 children over a vast area registered for sponsorship, this is a massive undertaking. Some programmes are so remote that there is no transport, electricity or internet. Some volunteers have to cycle long distances to visit the children and record details using paper and pen. These are then entered into a computer at the nearest office with electricity (often several hours away). This has led to the occasional awkward error like a girl being recorded as being a boy or a child having moved out of the area in the few months and World Vision has not been informed. We do our best to prevent mistakes, but we’re all human. Technology is taking East Africa by storm – millions own mobile phones, computers are popping up everywhere and the fibre optic cable is bringing high speed internet to the region. World Vision is going digital with child sponsorship. We have a simple two page form (down from 8 pages), that the community volunteers can fill in and scan into a database. From here we can see how many registered children are malnourished, are immunised, have malaria, or are not in school and we can use this to inform our programmes. In most communities we work in, this kind of information is rare and most of what is available is out of date. So for example, if many of the children have diarrhoea, we will know to respond with a health and sanitation project. If immunisation levels are low, we will raise awareness of the importance of immunisation and support health centres to perform immunisation outreaches. And better still, we will go one step further and support health centres, schools and the government administration to collect this information and provide these services, so that they can provide important services to their communities.

Child Protection Work Gains Ground in Uganda

2010-04-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

By Evelyn Despite the 5am start, I was excited to visit Lunyo and Busitema in Eastern Uganda where Irish people are supporting a child protection project. This was my first visit to Uganda and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. First up, was a meeting with the Child Protection Committee, which is working with local communities to raise awareness of child rights. It quickly became apparent that the committee members are extremely dedicated to child protection and have taken it up as a calling. I was particularly impressed with Paul Ouma, the Child Protection Chairperson for the South West Parish, who spoke of his desire that “Busia will change and become a better place to live in.”

With the support of the child protection committee, communities are now watching out for the welfare of the children, reporting cases of child abuse and working with the police to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. As a result, the cases of child abuse are decreasing in the area. Local Solutions to Local Problems Too often we look to foreigners to give us the ‘magic pill’ which will fix all our problems. Sadly, there is no such pill. Meaningful development can only occur when communities are empowered to recognise and address their own problems - this way they are in control of their own development. This is the case with the Child Protection Committees I met in Uganda. After critically analysing their problems, community members have begun to come up with home-grown solutions. For example, a member of the Child Protection Committee for the Busia area, told me how they have started a mobile school, which offers classes every Saturday to children who cannot access school. Government support I was also really impressed by the community’s ability to engage the local government, through the District Probation Officer, Julius Ogalo, on child protection issues. While his department, like many others, was underfunded, he showed a real commitment to children’s issues. I sometimes feel that many of the government officials and leaders in African countries are unaware and do not care about how their actions impact their citizens. Many of us give up hope in the face of such apathy. However this is not the case with these communities – they seemed full of hope and resolve, with a real belief that lives can be transformed if everyone, including the government leaders and officials work together. It was truly an inspiring trip.

Finally the rains come to Kenya

2010-04-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

And then there was rain… Rain has finally come to Eastern Kenya (and most of Kenya). Driving through Mwala, I am amazed at the difference in the landscape. The fields are now lusciously green and filled with crops. The once dried rivers are now full. The heavy rains have turned the roads into a ‘four wheel drive only’ zone and part of our afternoon is spent trying to extract our heavy-duty 4x4 from the riverbed. Looking at this scenery, one would think Mwala is a fertile area with high food production. “Visit during September/October and you will not believe it is the same place - it will be very dry and dusty,” says Frank Meme, the Mwala programme manager. “Last year’s drought and the resulting famine were extremely severe; the community was forced to rely on relief food”, he reminds us. Evelyn and I were off to visit an Irish Aid funded project in Mwala ADP, to check up on how your tax contributions have been put to work! At last, enough food! After a long, bumpy drive, we arrived at the Wali Imwe Ndigua (one piece of cloth cannot make a dress) farmers group to a red carpet welcome. Each group member told us how this project, coupled with the great rains, has drastically increased his/her yield. This farmers group had been trained in improved farming methods and received crop seeds, fruit tree seedlings, farming equipment and livestock (Galla goats and cockerels). This has dramatically improved the group’s ability to fend for themselves: For example, the group’s treasurer told us that he has harvested 500kg of maize compared to 30kg of maize the previous season. Each group member contributes a small amount of their harvest to be stored and used as seeds for the next season. The surplus food is sold at the market and the profit used to benefit the group and promote their development. The group is determined to work their way out of poverty: “Hatutaki watu wa hiki kikundi wasikie njaa tena” (we don’t want our group members to go hungry again), the group’s Chairman told us. Water Kiosks At another project site, pointing to some far off hills, the Secretary for the Water Users Association recalls the long distances community members would walk to fetch water. Irish Aid funded a food security project which enabled the construction of a borehole, water tank and eight water kiosks in this drought prone area. Water from the borehole is pumped to the water kiosks where it is distributed to community members at an affordable rate. These kiosks are placed at convenient locations, reducing the distance community members walk to fetch water. Previously, people were walking up to 20km to fetch water, which meant entire days were wasted just trying to get water. To compensate for the lack of water, clothes went unwashed and bathing became a luxury. This led to the outbreak of skin diseases and water borne diseases – misery. Making a difference Despite the brevity of our visit, it was clear that the community were 100% behind the project and were maximising all opportunities given to lifting themselves out of poverty. I was deeply humbled by their welcome and gratitude for the help they have received from Irish Aid through World Vision Ireland. I was moved by the sense of accomplishment in their voices when they showed us their crops and livestock and their hope for the future. This visit reminded me of the reason for which we do this work- we are transforming lives and restoring hope. By Evelyn in Kenya

Child Friendly Spaces in Haiti

2010-04-01T04:09:00.000-07:00

World Vision Ireland doesn't just run development programmes in Africa. We also respond to emergency situations around the world. As soon as the earthquake in Haiti struck we launched an appeal to help the survivors. We raised nearly €100,000 from our supporters and received a grant from Irish Aid for €200,000. As a child focussed agency, we are especially concerned about the wellbeing of children. One of the things we do is we set up special centres for to care for children called ‘Child Friendly Spaces’. Children get to play and learn and really just be kids again for a little while. Counsellors are also on hand to provide support to the children traumatised by what they’ve been through. In Haiti, a lot of the children are still living in temporary camps, they may have lost family, friends and all of their possessions so they really need all the help they can get. This video shows the type of work we do in the Child Friendly Spaces. Hope you like it!

Back to blogging from Kenya

2010-03-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

I know I’ve been conspicuously absent on my blog for the past few months and there’s been lots of interesting developments since December. For one, I now have an intern onboard! Her name is Evelyn Gathuru (see photo) and I’m going to let her introduce herself here: “After living in Canada for 5 years, where I completed an undergraduate degree in Human Biology and Sociology from the University of Toronto, I decided to move back home to sunny Kenya. After a brief re-adjustment period (e.g. remembering that Kenyans tend to drive on the left side of the road), I was ready to jump into development work in Kenya. I then decided to pursue a Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management for Development Projects at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, which I completed in October 2009. After exposure to development issues in Kenya and the rest of Africa, I felt quite disappointed by the approach we were taking to address these issues. It did not seem like the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice were being sufficiently addressed. Rather, it seemed like we were constantly putting out fires. I was (and still am) specifically disappointed with the lack of political goodwill to make significant positive changes in the well-being of the Kenyan population. My sincere desire to work towards bringing sustainable development and improving the well-being of Kenyans prompted me to join World Vision Ireland. I especially like their child-focused approach. I had finally found an organisation whose developmental approach was in line with my thoughts and feelings regarding development work i.e. one that was committed to working towards tackling the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice in order to secure long-term change.” Evelyn will be working with me until at least September and she'll be helping out with the blog, so you'll be hearing plenty more from her!

Haiti: The challenge of aid work in an urban setting

2010-03-18T04:23:00.000-07:00

Guest Blog from Haiti By John Kisimir John Kisimir is a World Vision International relief communications expert from Kenya. He is currently based in Haiti. The Haiti earthquake emergency intervention is proving to be one of the most challenging humanitarian situations in modern times. Most humanitarian organizations are used to supporting major interventions in rural areas and rural communities do have functional social structures that make it easy to mobilize people thus making the business of giving aid much easier. Haiti is different. Its city of Port-au-Prince is a fully packaged urban environment – from the suburbs to the sprawling slums of Cité Soleil. Its people are not peasant farmers whose lives have been spanned by a hurricane - some are professionals whose homes and jobs are no more. Some are families who lost a loved one they depended on. Some are folks who abandoned their homes - too scared to live under a concrete roof. Some are criminals who mugged and stole even before the earthquake. You can also count among these prisoners who walked to sweet freedom when the quake brought down some jails. Do not also forget unaffected people who pose as victims who attempt to receive free stuff – sad but true. Aid agencies & the Military It is one of those rare moments where aid agencies have embraced the support of the military in providing armed protection at aid distributions - an interesting combination of compassion and hard knuckles. If you want to know how this combination is working, you should probably meet Dr. Debebe Dawit, a veteran aid worker for World Vision. His experience wraps up massive humanitarian interventions like the Asia Tsunami and others in Pakistan, the Southern Africa food crisis, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Angola, Rwanda and now Haiti. He comes to Haiti with a heart and expertise to move things fast. Yet he sees the risks behind every makeshift camp in the city. Life is hard and residents are restless for all the suffering they are going through. Anything done wrong can cause distress and possibly a riot. Today, he woke me up at 5:00 am to visit one camp to provide tents to those who do not have. The plan is to go early and make sure that only those who live in the camp get the help they need. Working with UN peacekeepers to distribute aid With a crew of 20 World Vision staff and United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal, we arrived at the sleepy camp. Some residents were sleeping in cars, while those who slept under the stars had started to stir. As the peacekeepers took positions, World Vision staff swung into action putting a security barrier at the entrance of the camp. Leaders of the camp were quickly located and word was passed out from tent to tent. Sleepy camp residents started to come out holding coupons that were given through their leaders a few days ago. The elderly, the disabled and the sick got into line first. The young and the strong jostled for position at the end of a growing line. A truck carrying the tents pulled over and the distribution starts. Hawk-eyed Dawit was busy giving instructions to his staff. Every detail in the process matters and no room for mistakes - from security to the recording of names on the register. The soldiers are on guard, stopping those without coupons outside the camp from getting into line. Often there are scuffles and arguments but the tension subsides once the beneficiaries realize that the process of sharing resources is transparent. Humanitarian aid in Port-au-Prince is given with compassion and sometimes with hard knuckles. “It is human nature to have conflict when in distress but my job is to make sure that those who deserve help get it. I must also keep the promise of that person who gave a one dollar donation to Haiti,” Dr. Dawit says. Today’s distribution is over and another one is planned for tomorrow and the weeks and months to come. Since the earthquake struck, World Vision with the support of the World Food Programme has given food aid to more than 864,000 people. None food items including 2,500 tents, 9,400 blankets, 11,400 cooking sets and 5,200 mosquito nets have reached 65,000 people in the camps to make life just a little bearable.

Giving birth in Haiti camp – Aid worker’s diary

2010-02-24T08:18:00.000-08:00

Guest Blog from Haiti Fiona Perry works as a health advisor for World Vision On hearing the rain in the morning, I hoped it was someone showering in the next room, but Port-au-Prince had been soaked through. Whenever I do assessments in my line of work I always say it’s important to use all your senses – eyes, ears and smell especially. So I lay in bed visualising what the temporary camps would be like this morning. Not only do have families need to put up with the cramped conditions of living in a tiny 6ft by 6ft square space, covered with sheets, blankets or sometimes some plastic sheeting held up by makeshift poles, they now have to battle the rain. Health needs I have been in Haiti for a month, helping to address the health, hygiene and nutrition needs of people affected by the January earthquake. World Vision is working in eight camps in the capital, all filled with thousands of people whose homes were destroyed and who have nowhere else to go. A few days ago, I had an experience that helped me to remember why I am here. On a camp visit, I walked through the labyrinth of narrow pathways around a piece of land perhaps the size of a tennis court, which is home to around 200 families. Here, World Vision has provided people with heavy-duty plastic sheeting, mosquito nets and cooking sets. It was good to see that each house had a plastic sheet and most have made every effort to make their hut a home. An entrepreneur had established a kiosk selling fruit, condensed milk, sugar and spices. A few of the children were having their afternoon wash. Birth I was called over to a hut where a woman was lying on a plastic sheet on the ground, having given birth to a baby boy only minutes before. New to the camp, she had very little in her home made from four sticks and some bed sheets. A nurse who happened to be in the camp had helped to deliver the baby but had run out of equipment. She needed some more gloves and was out of plastic sheets. There was no sign of any of the comforts that we in the West take for granted – a soft mattress, a pillow, some soothing background music or someone to hold your hand. This mother was enduring a complicated birth. Delivery pack The week before, I had been at the same camp distributing clean delivery packs to pregnant mothers, so I asked the camp leader to get a pack from one of the mothers. Rather than demonstrating, as I usually do, I took out the clean gloves, plastic sheet and piece of material from the emergency kit and helped the nurse with the mother’s prolapsed uterus. We both agreed she needed to go to hospital. Her new baby was wrapped in a towel and we helped her to walk to the car. At the busy city hospital, a doctor examined her before telling us he had nowhere to live. I am constantly shocked at how everyone has been affected by this disaster. When I went home that evening and felt tempted to complain about the lack of electricity, or that I have to eat the same food every day (rice and beans mostly), that there is no light in the bathroom or that I have to have a cold shower every morning, I stopped myself. One day with those affected by the earthquake and my struggles seemed very small indeed.

How to stay healthy in the camps

2010-02-16T03:59:00.000-08:00

Guest Blog from Haiti Conditions in the temporary camps in Haiti, where people have taken shelter because their homes were destroyed in the earthquake, can be pretty unsanitary. People have set up homes at roundabouts, parks, any empty public space really and the lack of clean water, showers and toilets pose a serious health risk. World Vision is handing out water containers, water purification tablets, and hygiene kits to families in the camps and we’re also working to construct latrines across 7 camps. Another thing we’re doing is, we’ve hired an acting troup called Compagnie Zoflanbo to raise awareness of how people can stay healthy in the camps and prevent disease. In the photo here, taken at a camp in Lagrott in Port au Prince, the acting group is highlighting the importance of clean water and hand washing. As well as drawing a crowd the music and drama gives people an opportunity to come together and have fun.

Hugh Jackman speaks out for the people of Haiti

2010-02-10T02:17:00.000-08:00

Hugh Jackman, actor and World Vision ambassador, speaks out for the people of Haiti, whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake which struck on Jan 12th 2010.

Beyond Haiti's headlines

2010-02-08T01:21:00.000-08:00

Guest Blog by World Vision aid worker in Haiti Anna Ridout While headlines report violence and looting in Haiti’s capital and observers speak of chaos and desperation on the streets, I’m seeing another side to Port-au-Prince often lost in disaster reporting. Young boys scramble and leap over rubble chasing their ingenious kites made of flimsy plastic bags. A dozen teenagers sing their hearts out at a spontaneous open-air church service overlooking the devastated city. Small businesses – barbers, corner shops, bars – have already sprung up in many of the haphazard settlements of tents and makeshift shelters. Children dance, sing and laugh in one of World Vision’s safe play areas. Only three weeks after the earthquake caused catastrophe here, people are already finding ways to rebuild their lives, often with a smile. Calm While there have been moments when fighting has broken out at distributions and security remains a key issue for the population as well as aid agencies, these are notable incidents rather than a sign of widespread unrest. When World Vision and other agencies launched a city-wide distribution of rice, with the World Food Programme, designed to reach close to two million people in just two weeks, many feared chaos. Today our team was in the notoriously volatile district of Cite Soleil. We intentionally started the distribution a few days later there to give us additional time to talk to those who have influence in the community, such as leaders and local groups. This meant we were able to reach 8,500 people today in the most dangerous part of town with calm and cooperation. Gesture Incredibly poor, Cite Soleil was already a huge densely-populated neighbourhood of iron roofs and inadequate services. My non-existent Creole means I’m often communicating with people in gesture or expression. As the empty food trucks left the site, a young girl with confident inquisitive eyes looked at me and smiled. I scrunched up my nose and she did the same. She tried to speak to me and I shrugged my shoulders; she laughed. It’s staggering how such a spirit of tenacity can exist alongside devastation and poverty. Sharing At all the food distributions this week the most vulnerable have been first in line. A blind man and his daughter, an elderly woman with her arm in a sling, a pregnant woman with a month to go, all left with 25-kilogramme sacks, assisted by World Vision volunteers, without hassle. Elderly women tell me how the only way they are eating is because neighbours, friends, strangers are sharing food and water with them. Such generosity was echoed by a woman I met in a lively crowded camp, who has lost both her home and job. “When we get help here, we never fight,” she said.“We are friends and we share our things and support each other.” A nine-year-old girl who lost both her parents in the quake tells me of a friend who has taken her in. Families who have been left with nothing are surviving by sharing. Continued support The generosity of the public all over the world in response to this disaster has been incredible. Today that money is helping provide families with food, healthcare, water and shelter – immediate life-saving relief that is still needed for the millions of people affected. As we look to the long-term rebuilding of Haiti, the continued support of the international community will be vital. World Vision will continue working here beyond the emergency phase to help people find secure jobs, reliable incomes and strong community networks. As local artists start once more to line the streets with bright bold paintings, and potters display mosaic plant pots in amongst the debris, artists and businesspeople alike need help to enable their businesses grow and families flourish. The evidence on the ground here in Haiti proves there is the resiliency and determination to make it happen.

Good Intentions not good enough for Haiti's children

2010-02-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

Guest Blog by Anna Ridout, Emergency Communications Officer for World Vision in Haiti This evening I walk up a steep hill covered in makeshift huts made of floral pattern sheets hiked up on anything that will hold them. I speak to a mother who is living in a fragile shelter perched on precarious rubble. “We are worried about people who come to pick up our children,” she said, “it has happened here.” Missing Child At crossroads next to a flattened school, a man waited patiently behind the roped area as World Vision gave families rice this morning. Since the earthquake struck Haiti three weeks ago, he hasn’t seen his seven-year-old daughter. He shows me Jaymmiqua’s birth certificate and explains he has done everything he can think of to find her. “I tried to look for her but I couldn’t find any information,” he said. “The neighbours said they don’t know where she is. The way the house is broken there’s no way to check inside. It’s like my soul has disappeared with my daughter.” Afraid This afternoon I talked to children who had found a safe and fun place to play at World Vision’s children’s play area. I met a nine-year-old girl whose Mum was killed instantly in the quake, while her father, severely injured, was flown to Santo Domingo for urgent medical treatment. “I’m afraid of another earthquake,” she said. “I’m afraid to be alone. I’m afraid of people who may come to do bad things to me.” Dust A 12-year-old boy lives on a roundabout in what used to be the smart part of town. Since his Mum died, he is living with his Aunt and two cousins. He told me what happened on the day of the quake. “I was on the street near my house and I felt a shake and I saw lots of dust,” he said. “I just stood there. If I was supposed to run, I don’t know where I was supposed to go. “My Mum was at the open market and when she tried to come back home, some blocks fell on her and killed her. People found her and I saw her. I felt shaken because I lost my mother. “My father has been living in Santo Domingo before the earthquake. I don’t know anything about him. I have a brother and sister but we are not together,” he said. Alone and Vulnerable When the earth split and plunged Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas into chaos, it did not just destroy lives, businesses and buildings. The earthquake split families apart and left many children alone and vulnerable. Just as the recovery following such a catastrophic disaster will take a long time, it will take weeks and months for children to be reunited with their parents and for parents to find their children. As just one day in this densely-populated city proves, the problem is complex. And as with most complex issues, there is no quick-fix solution. At risk As this week has shown, children separated from their families are at risk of abuse and exploitation, trafficking or losing their identities permanently if they are not rapidly registered for family tracing and reunification. World Vision has called on a halt to all new international adoptions, while working hard to protect and identify children in Haiti and over the long-term will help strengthen community networks and support systems. Taking children out of the country in the midst of chaos will permanently separate thousands of children from their families – a separation that could compound the acute trauma they are already suffering and inflict long-term damage on their chances of recovery. As I and the woman agreed as we stood next to her temporary shelter over-looking the destruction of the quake, let’s not let the genuine desire to help those in need become an excuse for short cuts or easy answers.

Returning home from Haiti

2010-01-29T02:56:00.001-08:00

Guest blog by World Vision aid worker James Addis I’m writing this from a little eight-seater plane that has just flown out of Port-au-Prince airport. I think the pilot said the plane was a Chieftain but it was difficult to hear him above the whirr of the engines. Other communicators will be coming take my place. It’s an odd feeling. I’ve spent the last few days looking forward to returning to the comforts of home. Now they are actually in sight, I feel slightly deflated. One feels a whiff of nostalgia for working long hours in difficult conditions, rubbing shoulders with people who have lost everything including those dearest to them and possibly are now missing a limb; and yet are prepared to soldier on regardless. Real life It’s odd how we spend most of our lives seeking some kind of security and comfort—financial security, a decent retirement, a comfortable home to live in with conveniences like dishwashers and microwave ovens; an air-conditioned office with every kind of phone and internet connection, and things to entertain like Wii players, and ipods, and big, flat-screen televisions. But the real living, I imagine, is done when everything is haphazard, unreliable, uncomfortable, and dangerous. Comfort zone Out of your comfort zone you are forced to rely on every scrap of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and courage that you can scrape together. And there’s a certain kind of joy in discovering you have those things when you did not know you had them. And when they are exhausted you are forced to lean on God and simply ask that he take care of things. There’s a sense of release and peace in that. Free Food I think Gilbert Bailly will be feeling some of these emotions. He is my favorite person in Haiti right now. His three Muncheez pizza restaurants miraculously remained intact during the quake. But he realized he had not a chance of running a business in the current chaos. Nobody has money to eat out, and there’s no fuel or power to run his restaurants normally. Did he retire to a corner and sulk? Did he shoot himself? Did he anticipate financial ruin? Actually, no. He calmly reopens one of his restaurants and uses it as a base to provide cooked meals and distribute donated food for free to people who desperately need it and can’t afford to pay. Right now much of this food is coming from World Vision. Other donors are providing the fuel he needs to keep the place running. Staff volunteering His formerly paid-staff have become volunteers. They know there is no money in this. I’m sure their satisfaction comes from seeing the hundreds of hungry come through the door to get free food. Each day, Gilbert’s sstaff distribute about 1,000 plastic bracelets in a needy part of the city. They vary the location to spread the goodwill around. Late in the afternoon, the restaurant opens its doors and those who turn up wearing a bracelet are allowed admission. I’m thinkin many years from now, when Gilbert reflects on his life and what he has accomplished in business and elsewhere, he will probably remember this as one of the toughest times and a commercial failure. I think he will also remember it as his finest hour.

Did you feel that one?

2010-01-26T04:19:00.000-08:00

by Guest Blogger James Addis in Haiti I must be remarkably insensitive to after-shocks. Colleagues keep saying did you feel that one. Where were you at X p.m? or Y a.m. Did you feel it? I must confess I haven’t felt a darn thing since the really big one a few days ago. I think my biggest concern is a really big quake in the dark. I’ve been sleeping with a flashlight in my hand. The thought of fumbling for it in the inky blackness does scare me a bit. But once I’ve got the flashlight firmly clenched in my left hand, I sleep like a baby. It was a bit of a quiet day yesterday. I managed to phone my wife and my parents back in New Zealand. It was so good to hear their voices. Evacuation Another moving moment was watching children of World Vision Haiti staff being evacuated. They had turned up to the office to say their final goodbyes before taking the trip to the airport. Earlier I had spoken to Jhonny Celicourt, World Vision Haiti’s communications manager, whose wife and 4-year-old daughter were evacuated a few days earlier to Florida. His mother lives in Orlando. Up until that point his family had been camped out in a tennis court, opposite his home. His house did not collapse but was seriously damaged during the quake. Despite all the upheavals, and a seriously distressed daughter, Jhonny has been faithfully turning up to work every day. Indeed, the day after the quake, having not slept a wink all night, he joined a team delivering medical supplies to city hospitals absolutely swamped with quake victims. Sleeping Rough Later, I got out to a homeless camp, about a 5-minute drive from the World Vision office. I met Fabiola St. Juste. She does not like being there very much. The eight-year-old sleeps on a particularly rocky patch of ground that was once part of a grassless soccer field in Petionville, Port-au-Prince. She sleeps on an old piece of carpet, but complains when she lies down it still feels hard and cold. A few days ago, her only protection from the elements was provided by thin, torn, roughly-tied-together bed sheets, suspended by odd bits of lumber. It provided some protection from the sun but was useless against the rain. Three families—15 people—slept, ate, washed, and socialized, in the crudely constructed tent. Fabiola hated the fact that it was so crowded. “There was not enough room to eat, or sleep. There was not enough room to do anything,” she said emphatically. Even so, she would not risk going back into her home, which suffered structural damage but was not destroyed in the earthquake. If there’s one bright spot in the grim picture, it followed a World Vision distribution of tarpaulins, cooking utensils, and hygiene kits to the hundreds encamped on the soccer field. Fabiola considers the tarps to be the most helpful thing because they keep the rain out.

Homeless in Haiti

2010-01-22T08:10:00.000-08:00

People in Haiti who lost their homes in the earthquake are now living in temporary camps all over Port au Prince. They desperately need food, water, shelter and medical care.

Haiti: The Aftershock

2010-01-20T09:39:00.001-08:00

Guest Blog by World Vision aid worker James Addis in Haiti Well, a heart-stopping moment this morning when a powerful after-shock, just after 6a.m. had me making a hasty exit out of my hotel. I was soon joined by the rest of the World Vision, staff, mostly in pyjamas. Once we had recovered our breath, the conversation quickly turned to how many more fragile buildings might have been brought down. More injuries The whole thing maybe lasted six or seven seconds. I’m writing at 6.30 a.m. and my heart is still pumping quite hard. It’s certainly the biggest quake I’ve ever been in, but I imagine peanuts for others. You can’t help feeling the people of Port-au-Prince could use a break. Yesterday, I spoke to a man at one of the city’s hospitals, where World Vision was delivering medical supplies. He was holding his bandaged up son, but had actually come to visit his daughter, who was lying on a stretcher, wrapped in multiple bloodied bandages. She had been trapped in a church building for two days before being rescued. Call of Nature But it was the father, Rosmond’s story that struck me on this occasion. He and his wife and 8-year-old son had been living on the street since the quake, sleeping on plastic sheets. He had been using the cash he had on him to buy food and water. That morning, his money had run out. It was about 3 p.m. and he and his family had not eaten all day. In one sense though, he was remarkably lucky. His home is built on a hillside and he was the only one at home when the quake struck. His wife was at work and his son at a neighbor’s house. Seconds before the quake hit he had gone to the outhouse to relieve himself. It will probably be the most fortuitous call of nature of his life. He had just stepped outside again, when the quake hit. Three houses slid down the hillside and crashed into and demolished his home. Rosmond and the outhouse remained standing.

In Haiti; Home Tugs

2010-01-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

Guest Blog by World Vision aid worker James Addis in Haiti The last time I was deployed to a humanitarian emergency, I had no wife and no children. This time I have a wonderful wife, Sharon, a daughter, Nicole, 3, and a young son, Michael, 6 months. In previous emergencies, I never got homesick. Now the tug of home hits more powerfully than ever. I keep needing to pull myself together: For goodness sake, man, you have only been here a few days. It’s not only missing the family, of course. The heat, the smell of sickness and despair, the tragic stories that one hears, it all makes one long for peace and tranquility, familiar faces, the comforts of home—a strong cup of coffee, taken at leisure and not in a mad rush. Aid Distribution Yesterday, I attended our first distributions of relief aid to the homeless—biscuits, health kits, clothes, and bottled water. I chatted to people waiting patiently in the lines. They all have a story. One woman was trapped for days, hugging her infant son. She says she spent most of the time praying. Another woman, Gina Jean, was pulled from the rubble almost immediately. Bewildered, she ended up sitting in a street full of screaming people. When she eventually composed herself, and was able to thank God that she was still alive and that her children had also got out. Then she was struck by a fresh fear: what about her husband at work? Family He has not been seen since the events of Tuesday. Gina has since checked the local hospitals, without success. If things were not bad enough, she now lives on a patch of ground with her two children. One of them is only 4 months old. The other is 10. A few strung-up bed sheets and a washing line hung with clothes are their protection from the sun. These things amount to home at the moment. “It is shameful for my children to have to live like this,” she says. Soon I expect I will be able to go home and be reunited with my family. One can only guess what the future holds for Gina.

Haiti Earthquake; "This is the most shocking I have ever seen."

2010-01-18T02:42:00.000-08:00

Guest Blog by World Vision worker James Addis in Haiti written on Jan 16th 2009 I’ve been deployed to many humanitarian emergencies. For me, this is the most shocking I have ever seen. I will never forget the corpses piled outside the city morgue. Travelling back to a modest hotel at 2am last night we drove past hundreds, maybe thousands, who would have no shelter that night and perhaps not for many nights to come. People everywhere Some slept under vehicles. Some on sidewalks. Some dangerously on the road. Some had set up chairs in the middle of the street and remained talking into the early hours. Vehicles were parked haphazardly. We had to ask bystanders for one to be moved. Our driver got out and helped push it. People were good natured about it all. So far I have not seen a hint of the violence that some have predicted may erupt if conditions do not improve. On the contrary, for now, a spirit of cooperation seems to prevail. At the hospital on my first day, where World Vision was distributing medical supplies, the hospital manager spoke enthusiastically of the volunteers who had come to help out. Everything takes an age It took ages to reach the hotel. We lost our way several times in the narrow streets, many blocked by large bits of rubble. The good news is World Vision’s flights bringing emergency supplies have started to land. We are expecting several in the next few days. The next challenge will be to distribute it. Everything takes an age. It’s hard to find trucks and gasoline. The simplest things—getting a driver, finding an internet connection, finding a place to stay at night require a lot of effort and planning. It’s tiring work. But one only has to walk the streets for a few seconds. Take in the smells emanating from the makeshift camps to realize that ones own position is a thousand times better than that of those all around you.

Earthquake devastates Haiti

2010-01-18T02:24:00.000-08:00

You have probably already seen the pictures of the devastating effect the recent 7.0 magnitude earthquake had on the people of Haiti. Tens of thousands have already died and many more are sick and injured. Many have been left with nothing, as their homes, their possessions and their access to clean water have been all destroyed. Emergency Response You probably know World Vision through our child sponsorship programmes, but what you may not know is that we are also one of the world’s largest emergency aid organisations. World Vision has been active in Haiti for over 30 years and had 370 staff already working in the country before the earthquake. Since the earthquake struck on Tuesday though, additional staff and supplies have been flown in toprovide much needed expertise and assist with immediate needs such as search & rescue, food, water & shelter and medical care & supplies. James Addis: Guest Blogger in Haiti For the next while, this blog will be updated by James Addis a World Vision aid worker who is now in Haiti to help with the relief effort. World Vision Ireland is also running an appeal to help the survivors of the quake. If you would like to donate, go to www.worldvision.ie or tel +353 1 498 0800

Feathered friends - a better breed of chicken for Christmas

2009-12-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

Lots of people have been buying last minute Christmas gifts from the World Vision Community Gift Catalogue including this cockerel (€12) and 6 chickens (€10). Here actress and writer Pauline McLynn talks to a Youth Group in Gakungu in Kenya about how this particular breed of cockerel, when bred with local chickens, leads to a better quality and quantity of meat and eggs being produced. Chickens are a great income generator for women and vulnerable families because they can be managed at low cost and their ‘waste’ makes great organic fertiliser too. Peeoowh!

Visiting Uganda: People rebuilding their lives after the war

2009-12-11T07:11:00.000-08:00

“This is where the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) used to take all the abducted children” my colleague Santos tells me, pointing at the vast bamboo and grass forests around us. “They would abduct 300 to 500 people and hide them here for a few months before marching them south for an assault.” I’m visiting an Irish Aid funded World Vision Ireland project for Internally Displaced People in Uganda. Between 1987 and 2006 in Northern Uganda, 25 000 children were abducted by the Lords Resistance Army - a brutal guerilla insurgency, led by Joseph Kony. Creeping into villages at night, Kony and his men captured large groups of children and forced them to fight for him. Peace Restored “Four years ago it would have been impossible to drive along this road; even with a fully armed escort, we would have been very much risking our lives.” Since peace has been established, over 10 000 children have returned home, but this has also brought new problems as a lot of the children and their families are traumatized by what they went through. Returning Home When we get back to Pader town, Santos points at the large field in front of our hotel, where there is a large gathering of people celebrating an anti gender-based violence campaign. “You could not even stand where those people are. You would be abducted. It was so dangerous.” Thankfully, those days are over now. The massive camps are emptying and thousands of people have already returned to their homes. But when they got home they found all the infrastructure in ruins: schools, water points and health centres had been destroyed by the LRA’s brutal campaign. Rebuilding Infrastructure While there are still doubts about the sustainability of the peace, particularly with trouble brewing in Southern Sudan with the upcoming elections, people are delighted to be home. With the support of Irish Aid, World Vision Ireland has been able to dig 22 wells and train the community on how to maintain them. This means that the community can access safe water for their homes and schools, preventing the outbreak of diseases and simultaneously encouraging people to move home and begin the journey to sustainable development. Long may it last!

Victoria's Secrets

2009-11-27T03:25:00.000-08:00

Written by Guest Blogger Tressan McCambridge I was really disappointed to hear that the RTE Drama The Clinic has been axed. The fact that TV3 is looking into picking it up is good news though. It’s a really good show. I met with Victoria Smurfit yesterday, who has been staring in the show for the past 5 or 6 episodes and she was saying what a shame it is for all the fans, cast and crew. It had over 400,000 viewers they say. Victoria was around to go on The Afternoon Show on RTE 1 to talk about sponsoring a child with World Vision Ireland and our Community Gift Catalogue. I have to say she did a fantastic job. Looking as beautiful as ever and full of energy as always, she talked about her trip to meet her sponsored child in Tanzania and how important it is for her to teach her children the real meaning of Christmas. That's why she's buying charity gifts this year. You can watch it here - the interview starts about 3.15 minutes into the show.

Life's a beach

2009-11-20T05:31:00.000-08:00

There’s an old Swahili saying “Mambo ya pwani si mchezo”, which means that life at the coast isn’t a game. On the surface, this is hard to believe – the Kenyan coastline is beautiful and life moves at a sumptuous, leisurely pace. Drive a few kilometres inland though and life is anything but a game. This is one of the poorest and most disenfranchised areas of Kenya. Three years of consecutive drought have left tens of thousands on relief food and the rations are never quite enough. There are hundreds of moderately and severely malnourished children. Before the rains arrived this season, the closest water points were a 60km cycle away. And the place is so full of poisonous snakes that Steve Irwin filmed an episode of Crocodile Hunter out here. No Complaints But people aren’t sitting around moping or complaining about their misfortunes. Anything but. Despite six consecutive crop failures, they have prepared and planted their land. This is back breaking work under an unforgiving sun, which seems to promise yet another drought. 'Poverty tourism' I was there for three days this week visiting an Irish Aid funded food security recovery project and it is one of my favourite projects in the country. I’ve even brought friends to visit it while they were over in Kenya. They were reluctant at first, fearing that it would be a depressing and somewhat invasive “poverty tourism” trip. They actually found the opposite. Heart warming hospitality When we stepped out of the car, we were met by large crowds of women and men singing our welcome. Despite barely having two beans to rub together, they rolled out the red carpet for us. They sang us songs with our names woven in and gave us an array of gifts including chickens, a handmade bag with my name woven into it, and an assortment of spoons, as a thank you for our support. When they saw me melting under the jua kali (fierce sun) they lent me a kanga to cover my head with. I can’t begin to explain how humbling and heart-warming their hospitality and generosity is. It’s also astute on their part – charming visitors encourages them to be generous in return. I always leave wishing there was more we could do. Food and Water World Vision Ireland has achieved a lot in the past three years in this area. In partnership with the community, we constructed rain water harvesting tanks and reservoirs (as shown in the photos) which can store water for the next few months – some even until the next rainy season. When the drought was at its worst, the government trucked in water and filled the tanks, which meant an end to the 60km cycles. We’ve also trained farmers on improved agricultural methods, which helped them to capitalise on what little rain there is. A major success it the super goats that were given from the world vision gift catalogue – many kids have been produced, which means more milk, meat and money for families. I just pray that the rains come back.

Growing food when the odds are stacked against you.

2009-11-10T03:48:00.000-08:00

I just got this great story in today from Muranga where Irish Aid and World Vision Ireland have been running a food security recovery project in Muranga in Central Kenya. The goats and seeds that people buy from the World Vision Ireland gift catalogue have also been helping make this project the success that it is. It’s been running for over 2 years now and I visited it again last week. The farmers I met told me that they have been able to quadruple the amount of food they produce! Jane Wanjiru Mwaura is one the best examples. Jane is a retired nursery school teacher and mother of five children. She owns just a quarter acre of land and depends on this for her livelihood. She joined Kamaka Self Help Group in 2007. Through the project, Jane and her fellow group members received training on improved farming practices and water conservation techniques. After the training, Jane dug 450 zay pits, which are 2x2x2 foot holes that promote soil fertility and water conservation. Zay pits are hard work to dig, but the results are well worth the effort - she harvested some 800kgs of maize last season. This was more than enough to feed her family and to sell for hard cash. Jane has become a model to others in her community. She trained her six neighbours and they too have started reaping the benefits of zay-pits. Jane said “From the training, I have been able to revolutionise my farming. I even get crops when the rains are poor, while other farmers using traditional methods are not harvesting anything.” On World Food Day, Jane was awarded a certificate by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture for being one of the best farmers in the district. But she won’t stop there: She says “My intention now is to train more farmers in my are to be self-sufficient in food production”. Happy days.

Pauline McLynn and her Super Goat

2009-11-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

If you’ve ever wondered why the goats in the World Vision Community Gift Catalogue are called ‘Super Goats’ watch this ..

It’s Pauline McLynn, who played Mrs Doyle in Fr Ted, milking Lucy the Super Goat in Kenya. Everybody in Kenya loves this breed of goat because they provide double the meat, milk and offspring of local goats. They are very cool goats!

So Relieved Sharon & Hilda Are Safe

2009-10-23T02:11:00.000-07:00

I received the text at 4am on Sunday that Sharon Commins and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki had been released from being held captive in Sudan. I haven’t met Sharon, but she used to go out with a close friend of mine and throughout the whole ordeal, I was really worried about them.

Sharon and Hilda were both snatched from a Goal compound in Darfur and held captive for 107 days. I am so relieved that this story had a happy ending and that they are both now safe at home with the people they love.

Kidnapped There are few experiences that could be more harrowing than being kidnapped. As an aid worker in Nairobi- which in the past year has experienced over 100 kidnappings – I am all too aware that this is a major risk that I face in going about my daily life. See article in the New York times last week - Kenya’s Criminals Tap a Growth Industry: Kidnapping.

Ireland: The Somalia of Europe ?

2009-10-19T01:59:00.000-07:00

Travelling to Somaliland in North West Somalia, is another painfully early start. You may have guessed it already, but I am not a morning person. It’s a 5.30am check in for the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS). The flight took about 5 hours. UNHAS offers a genuine no-frills service, with not even the option of purchasing food, so by the time I reached Hargeisa I was starving. On paying the $22 on arrival for visa and airport security tax, I am handed my change in Somaliland shillings. A dollar equates to 6,500 shillings and the standard bill is 500, so I can barely close my wallet now. Waiting for Godot I head outside to look for my pick-up, but the driver is nowhere to be seen. It’s a baking 36 degrees so I settle under the shade of a tree and chat with some old Somali men, while I wait for Godot. When they hear that I am from Ireland, they tell me that “Ireland is the Somalia of Europe”. This is not the first time I have heard this, but I am still a bit mystified by that statement. Female Genital Mutilation The reason for my trip is an evaluation of an Irish Government funded Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting eradication project. We met with a group of women who used to carry out Female Genital Mutilation on girls, but have since publicly announced that they have completely stopped practising. They had each cut hundreds of girls in their careers, but since learning from the World Vision project that it is not a religious requirement and that it does major damage, they made a public announcement that they would abandon the practise. They told me how they really regretted what they had done and would never go back to it, even though it meant a significant drop in their income. “The girls are so happy now. They used to fear being circumcised so much that before the season started they’d be crying. Now when the circumcising season begins they all go out together and play.” Why do they do it? Which begs the question- if your daughters are terrified and it hurts them so much, why would you do this to them? I’m not making apologies for this practice, but people aren’t doing it to be cruel. Most of the community genuinely believed FGM is a religious requirement and that women can not pray or marry without undergoing it. They would be stigmatised and ridiculed. Many would rather go through the pain than be a social outcast. Life is tough enough out here and there is nowhere for an outcast woman to turn to. There are no safety nets or social welfare. But attitudes towards FGM are gradually changing. World Vision has been working closely with religious leaders to highlight that the Prophet Mohammed never practised FGM on his daughters and that it goes Against core Islamic principles and gradually we are seeing a change.

There are still people in the community that practice FGM on their daughters, but from all I heard today the numbers are reducing. What a relief.

I'm in the Irish Independent today

2009-10-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

It’s so weird seeing yourself in the paper. Today’s Irish Independent has an article in it that I wrote to highlight the difficulties faced by those who wish to "make a difference" in people's lives.

The headline is ‘Don’t be a mug when you’re trying to help…’ and talks about how it takes more than good intentions to make a difference.

Many NGOs, like World Vision Ireland, have gotten past a lot of the hurdles I mention in the article and have gained a lot of experience about what it takes make a genuine impact on people's lives and deliver effective aid effectively.

Aid really does work - when it's done right. You can read it here >

Aid Success in Kenya

2009-10-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was back in Eastern Kenya visiting one of our development projects in Mutonguni, with Helen Keogh, World Vision Ireland Chief Executive and my boss. It was baking hot and very dusty. The last three rainy seasons have failed and there’s not a blade of grass for miles. The key focus of our work here is water and sanitation and we’ve already brought clean, safe water to hundreds of households. This saves women and girls from walking for miles to fill up a 20 litre jerry can of water and then lugging it back (collecting water is typically considered women’s work) . Marriage Proposal The community like to tease me, asking me to marry one of their sons. I tell them, with all honesty, I would make a useless wife. I doubt I could make the 10km roundtrip with 20 litres of water weighing me down for half of it. Not to mention the farming and childrearing. Irish Accent The other thing I get teased for is my accent – the school health club at Mutonguni Primary School find it hilarious. As I’m chatting with them some of them start imitating my accent by holding their noses. Apparently us wazungu (white people) sound nasal, like – and I quote – “we are picking our noses”. Charming. Health and Hygiene I manage to get over this though as the chairman of the school health club, 14 year old Gitari Kagendo, tells me how they have been promoting health and hygiene (e.g. handwashing) to their peers and the community. World Vision Ireland, with the help of Irish Aid, has supported the construction of pit latrines, hand washing facilities and 2 rainwater harvesting tanks in the school. This has helped reduce school absenteeism caused by diarrhoea and other water borne diseases. They’ve also established a vegetable patch with some seeds we gave them and vegetables are a regular part of the school lunches now. At the end of the visit, I’m sorry to leave but glad to be able to report that there’s some fantastic work going on in Mutonguni.

Food for Thought

2009-10-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article today in the East African Standard called 'Oasis of hope in the middle of nowhere'. It's about a school supported by World Vision Kenya and it's a national paper so it’s great coverage for the organisation. World Vision Kenya helped built the school in a very drought prone area called Pokot East but it wasn’t enough. They needed to introduce a ‘feeding programme’ to encourage the children to come to school. The lure of one solid meal a day really boosts school attendance. After all, if you haven’t eaten all day and have no food waiting for you when you get home, how can you possibly concentrate on learning? Satisfying your hunger is all you can think about. Providing the children with one guaranteed hot meal in the day makes a lot of sense to me.

Packing for Somalia

2009-09-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

I’m off to Somaliland in two weeks time to participate in an Irish Aid funded project evaluation (Somaliland is an autonomous region in North West Somalia). I’m looking forward to it; it’s a fascinating part of the world. It sounds far more adventurous than it is though - where we’re going it’s relatively peaceful and stable.

What to wear

I need to find appropriate clothes for the trip. The hejab (a long dress) and the headscarf aren’t wardrobe staples of mine. I’m a fan of both: The headscarf means bad hair days can be forgotten about and the hejab is super comfy and stops me from getting burnt to a crisp. Fortunately for me, my friend Sofie has a good supply of both and is happy to lend them out.

FGM

The project that we’re evaluating is funded by Irish Aid and aims to reduce the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the area. The practice is widespread in Somalia, as most people believe that it is an Islamic requirement.

In fact, it is not and Muhammad never subjected his wife or his daughters to it. But saying "no" to FGM is not easy, as you are likely to face ridicule from your peers and may find it very difficult to get a husband.

From preliminary reports, the three year project has helped reduce the practice of FGM in the area. I’m looking forward to finding out more, particularly what encouraged people who have stopped to do so. I'll keep you posted on my experiences out there!

Dancing Kenyan Style

2009-09-28T02:43:00.000-07:00

Most Irish people, but particularly Irish men, will only dance after several pints. In Kenya, they dance any time of day. No drink or drugs needed - just a modicum of rythm and a willingness to let yourself go.

This time two weeks ago, I was dancing under the midday sun with 200 boys and girls from all over Northern Kenya. Yes - I kid you not. This was broad daylight.

We were celebrating the "Children's Voices" conference, which brought together children from the many different tribes here and gave them a chance to voice their concerns to the Government.

Drama

Through dramas, poems and testimonies we heard how their lives were affected by the food crisis, insecurity and crime, water shortages, poor health care and early marriage.

They then presented their recommendations and requests to the Government of Kenya in a formal document. The Government was represented by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Children's Services.

Tough Questions

The children asked their government many tough questions, which represented a real break with the tradition of silence and not challenging ones elders.

"Why do we only have 2 doctors in our hospital and the only time they are punctual is for lunchtime?" "Why do we not have any tarmac roads or police in our area? Many people are being attacked".

Dancing

And afterwards we boogeyed. The popstar (Jimmy Gate anyone?) informed the audience that I was the first mzungu (Swahili word for white person) he'd met who had any rhythm. I was chuffed.

Working with Kenyan Farmers

2009-09-25T01:54:00.000-07:00

Part of my job as Programmes Officer for World Vision Ireland is visiting the development projects to see how things are progressing. The other day I made a long bumpy journey in the back of a pick up truck to a place called Mutonguni in Eastern Kenya – an area which has not received a drop of rain for almost a year. Supporting Farmers I met Lucy Ndemange and her husband Sammy. Lucy is a member of the Kauwi Farmer’s Group, one of twenty groups that received training in new farming methods from World Vision and the European Commission . The new methods should help Lucy and Sammy grow enough food to eat even in times of drought. "We planted kale and tomatoes and we harvest once a week, which earns us 3,000 bob (€28) per week. We are using the money to pay for our daughter’s secondary school fees and we have plans to expand this technology across our farm. Our neighbours have even started copying these methods" explained Sammy. Water Luckily, Lucy and her neighbours have access to a well, which they can water the crops from, but it’s not easy work: She let me have a go at pulling the 20 litre bucket up the 18m well shaft and laughed when I broke into a sweat before it was half way up. You need to be made of strong stuff to survive out here.

World Vision supports Cadbury Fairtrade advert

2009-09-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Cadbury in Britain is certifying its Dairy Milk bar with fair trade cocoa from Ghana. This means farmers in Africa will earn a guaranteed minimum price for their harvest which is good news. World Vision worked with Cadbury to help create their latest advert for this new Fairtrade Dairy Milk bar . The ad features renowned Ghanaian hip-hop artist, Tinny. Read more about the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership here.

Sending the Rain from Ireland

2009-09-23T01:59:00.000-07:00

It can be a killer early morning flight from Dublin to Nairobi - this time it was a 4.30 am start.

Fourteen hours later, I arrived home in the dark. Yet again there’s no power. This is nothing new to me – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I have no electricity.

No Electricity The ongoing drought has dried up the rivers serving Kenya’s hydroelectric power stations and the Government is imposing strict power rations to ensure that the manufacturing and business areas continue to be served. Weather forecast

I fumble the key into the lock. From the darkness, my delighted dog comes barrelling out at me. He’s covered in mud. At long last, it’s been raining! As an Irish person, it almost goes against my nature to hope that the forecast for “good rains” will be correct, but the livelihoods and lives of people here depend on it. There’s been little to no rain here for the past year. While we complain about our seemingly perma-rain in Ireland, we would definitely miss it if we went without it for a year. Sunburn and half-naked builders Our grievances would be small at first – sunburn, half-naked builders – but they would quickly grow as water and electricity were rationed. Agriculture and industry would take a major hit, undermining an already struggling economy. In Kenya, this is the reality now. If only we could send some of the rain from Ireland over here.