News from Kenya
We’re currently in Magongo, Mombasa - meeting the team at Glad’s House Kenya, making preparations for August’s ‘Football Extravaganza’ and capturing some media content to help our fundraising efforts.
We’ve been blown away by both the scale and impact of the programmes that Glad’s House deliver here in Magongo and the success of their safe space and sports programmes for both supporting street-connected children and their transition in to education, foster care and employment. It truly is integral to, and at the centre of the local community.
The Football Extravaganza is shaping up to be a wonderful event that will bring the local schools and community together to educate and engage them in the work that Glad’s House do with the street-connected community. It will specifically educate local teachers on how to work best with local children through sports and understand the rights and needs of the most marginalised and hard to reach. It will build relationships with and put pressure on local government and duty bearers to hear the voices and needs of the children that are supported by Glad’s House. We can’t wait.
There will be opportunities for volunteers to share skills in sports and social work, teaching, art and media or help with the logistics and event management. If you are interested in joining the project in August or would like to be kept in mind for future projects then please do reply or get in touch to talk about how to get involved or join our mailing list.
We are asking for individuals to raise a minimum of £500 to join the trip in August to cover the costs of your food accommodation and some project costs. The trip is planned to run for a fortnight from the 9h-23rd of August.
We are working hard to bring together our new website to explain more about Greater Goals and the work we are doing out here in Kenya with Glad’s House and are planning to do in Sri Lanka with Child Action Lanka next year. Attached are a few photos we have taken over the last few days of the street sport projects and staff to give you a flavour of what it’s like here. For now we would like to leave you with a few impressions from our experience here and we hope to speak with you soon!
Mombasa is a kaleidoscope of colour, energy, sounds and smells - a real sensory experience! Small shops line the busy roads, each individually presented with hand painted colourful signs - get a haircut, buy some shoes, clothes, electrical goods or pretty much anything else. Carts of fruit and vegetables are pushed through the roads avoiding pot holes and tuk-tuks. Huge trucks carrying clean drinking water navigate the small roads, stopping at each of the Swahili styled homes (single story with courtyard, built with limestone, clay and wood) to top up their large water vats.
Music seems to be coming from everywhere in an endless mix of afro beat, hip hop, jazz and church music. Kids smile and shout ‘Mzungu!’ (Europeans!) as we walk through the tightly packed lanes and alleys of the residential area of Mgongo - the location of the Glad’s House project. Locals appreciate hearing the few words we have learned in Swahili - “Mambo” (Hey how you doing?) “Poa” (Cool) comes our reply.
We sit down to eat Sima (maize with water) and are instructed to leave the spoon and mould the Sima to scoop up and soak up the fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers served with the dish. We drink sweet and spicy chai with milk. Rain has been falling this week as we approach the end of the rainy season. It rains in short intense heavy bursts, the kind of rain that no waterproof jacket could handle - but you wouldn't choose a jacket anyway because it's still so hot and it only takes a minute to dry when the rain stops, the air then is fresh too.
Riding into the city centre on the heavy stylised Matatu bus (think brightly spray painted exteriors with striking decals, philosophical statements, body styling ‘mods’) is a unique and exciting way to get about - weaving through the traffic (on the left side of the road) seems like pure chaos but it goes like clockwork.
The coastal area of Mombasa is culturally diverse and has rich social history. Omani and Portuguese architecture can be seen in the old fortifications and buildings around the old town, Indian dishes can be found on restaurant menus, and 3 pin UK plugs are used for electrical items although that small convenience acts as a more immediate reminder of the colonial past. Tourists and locals alike visit the many animal sanctuaries located in the area - just a short tuk tuk or über ride away - expect to see hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, snakes and giant tortoises.
It's difficult to succinctly sum up the last few days, other than to say it's already been a memorable visit. Bokey (above) and his team are truly inspiring and we can't wait until August (not just because the wet season will be well and truly over!).
All at Glad’s House and Greater Goals are looking forward to sharing this experience with volunteers who can support and get involved with this amazing project.
If you would like to know more about this August, future opportunities or just to talk things through please do get in touch!
Kila la heri (best wishes),
