Back to blogging from Kenya

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!

So Relieved Sharon & Hilda Are Safe

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.

I'm in the Irish Independent today

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 >