| MY AFRICAN CONNECTION . . . Rachelle Strawther LATEST UPDATE AND PHOTOS |
| Kenyan Family |
| Kiwanis Jr. Academy on a field trip to Kisumu Museum |
| Zawa & Sophia March 2010 |
| Langi Primary School Reconstructed |
| Sophia December 2009 |
| Our rual home - 3 room mud house plastered with cememt |
| PHOTOS ARE THUMBNAILS - CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE - USE ARROWS TO NAVIGATE |
As I write this, Zawadi, just three months over 5 years-old, is out driving her car around the neighborhood. Her “car” is a Radio
Flyer wagon that we inherited from our friend Tracy, who inherited it from another family in Kisumu. It is as coveted amongst the
younger children in our neighborhood as bicycles are coveted by teenagers. By 4pm, little boys have tiptoed into our compound
with hopes of using the wagon. They call Zawa (who, by that time, is usually enjoying a snack on our balcony) to come down and
play, knowing that she will inevitably bring her prized possession. It has made her a popular girl in the area, comparable to the
first American girl in her high school class to get her own car.
The kids take turns towing each other around the dirt roads – they don’t mind that cars and minivans frequently pass through the
neighborhood, creating clouds of dust behind them. It is the dust that usually keeps me (and Sophia) up on the balcony instead of
on the road, watching the children play from a safe distance. Every now and then, I take Zawa and Sophia on rides together. I may
be the only mzungu in the area, but by now, people are used to seeing me and my family of many flavors – vanilla, caramel and
chocolate.
We have lived in Polyview Estate for two years now. I love our little 2nd-story apartment, which gets a lot of light and a refreshing
breeze. The bedrooms may be tiny and there is no yard to speak of, but we have made it a comfortable home that receives a lot of
visitors. In the early evening, just as students and adults are returning home, Seth and I enjoy relaxing on the veranda, lounging
in the inexpensive papyrus chairs I purchased when I first moved to Kenya. In between re-telling the day’s events, Seth calls out
greetings to friends passing on the road. Sometimes someone comes up and joins us on the balcony for a cup of tea. This is
often how a day in Kisumu ends.
Of course, the day begins much differently. Zawa gets herself up and ready for school – she washes her face, puts on her
uniform, and waits for one of us to prepare her breakfast. I help her put in her hearing aids, pack her a snack, and send her out
the door with 20 shillings for her boda-boda ride to school (Kiwanis Junior Academy). Sophia is often awake by that time, too.
After breakfast, she could be doing anything from watching her favorite baby-songs DVD to going through my purse to splashing
the laundry water to throwing things off the balcony. It’s not really until she takes a nap that I am able to check email or do
anything truly productive.
Seth’s work schedule changes all the time, as he is sometimes doing field work in a rural area about two hours away, sometimes
in the town office, or sometimes at home writing reports. The goodness is, he loves his job and the organization he works for.
As for me, so much of living in Kenya requires patience. Patience, patience, and more patience. I didn’t come with a great supply
of patience, so it something I have been developing over time. The adoption process with Zawa, which so many people kindly
inquire about? Just waiting. Waiting for Zawa’s father to process her birth certificate so that we can actually go to an attorney and
draw up a legal custody agreement. If you are stunned that this has still not happened, just imagine - a couple we know just
finalized an adoption process that started three years ago. Despite the waiting, we are extremely fortunate to have a positive
relationship with Zawa’s biological family. We talk to them on the phone at least twice a month.
Back to the subject of waiting. (I am suddenly reminded of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go – the waiting place…) It’s often the
waiting that keeps me from initiating communication with people in the States. If I don't have answers to questions, I worry about
leaving friends and family with even more confusion. However, since there will never be clear answers to every question, the
least I can do is let people know that we are still here, still working, still going strong!
Kisumu Kiwanis issues have required more patience than anything I have ever experienced in my life. Other than Zawa’s
adoption, it is the main area of my life that is in a “holding pattern.” There are a number of question marks surrounding the future
of Kiwanis Club of Kisumu – whether or not it will dissolve, whether some of us will charter a new club, whether the other group
of people will let go of the Kisumu Kiwanis charter. But one thing is certain - amongst the group of Kiwanis members I work with,
we are still dedicated to Kiwanis as an organization. Many, many thanks to Kiwanis International President-Elect Sylvester Neal for
all his support and words of wisdom. He is one of the main reasons I am personally still committed to Kiwanis. And not only is my
group still working as Kiwanis members, but we are still committed to Kiwanis Junior Academy and our scholarship program.
During February, we awarded 10 scholarships, primarily to high school students. The recipients all come from very poor
backgrounds, and 8 of the 10 are either total orphans or being raised by widowed mothers. Please allow me to thank the following
2010 donors who contributed towards these scholarships:
• Mary Jo and Gordy Monten (Belfair, WA)
• The North Mason Kiwanis Club (Belfair, WA)
• Jim and Lana Hess (Menlo Park, CA)
• Dick and Dorothy Carson (Spokane, WA)
I would also like to continue thanking a few people close to me who have been sponsoring high school students privately for the
past few years: Barbara Bryant, Candice Battle, Pat Warpenburg, Tara Embrey, Colin Hardman, and Linda and Jerry Hardman.
Kenyans know that the key to rising above poverty is education. Education in Kenya, relative to the average income of
approximately $40 a month, is very expensive. Non-boarding high schools cost $150 to $200 a year, while boarding schools cost
at least $500 a year.
One of the best ways to invest in Kenya’s future is by helping a bright, needy student finish high school. If a student performs
well enough on the KCSE exam (similar to the SATs), he/she is sponsored by the Kenyan government to attend university. If any
of you feel compelled to contribute towards the scholarship program, even for the year 2011, please let me know.
Kiwanis Junior Academy, under the supervision of our new volunteer Morgan Maier (Beaverton, OR), continues to run smoothly
with 48 students. I am always struck by how well our three teachers work together. The Head Teacher, Dorsila, has been running
the school since it opened. She has proven herself to be a very honest and transparent person, as well as an excellent teacher.
Nowadays I only pop in and out to check on things and give support when necessary – Morgan and the teachers really have
things under control.
Seth and I are still involved in his village’s development project. Langi Primary School, which a year ago was a series of falling-
down, mud classrooms, is now the jewel school of the area. Thanks to the local donors who made it happen, the school now has
11 permanent classrooms, an office and a library. The last phase of the project is the furnishing of the library – the donors have
provided all the books, and the community is raising funds to supply the shelves, tables and chairs. The 400+ students are
equipped with bright new uniforms, and their faces exude so much pride in their new school. This is only the beginning of things
to come for the village!
As always, my email has gotten long, so I will cut it short here. I have attached a hodgepodge of photos. I would love to hear from
you – even if it means putting Sophia down for a nap so that I can reply!
With love from Kenya,
Rachelle (and Seth, Zawa and Sophia)
Flyer wagon that we inherited from our friend Tracy, who inherited it from another family in Kisumu. It is as coveted amongst the
younger children in our neighborhood as bicycles are coveted by teenagers. By 4pm, little boys have tiptoed into our compound
with hopes of using the wagon. They call Zawa (who, by that time, is usually enjoying a snack on our balcony) to come down and
play, knowing that she will inevitably bring her prized possession. It has made her a popular girl in the area, comparable to the
first American girl in her high school class to get her own car.
The kids take turns towing each other around the dirt roads – they don’t mind that cars and minivans frequently pass through the
neighborhood, creating clouds of dust behind them. It is the dust that usually keeps me (and Sophia) up on the balcony instead of
on the road, watching the children play from a safe distance. Every now and then, I take Zawa and Sophia on rides together. I may
be the only mzungu in the area, but by now, people are used to seeing me and my family of many flavors – vanilla, caramel and
chocolate.
We have lived in Polyview Estate for two years now. I love our little 2nd-story apartment, which gets a lot of light and a refreshing
breeze. The bedrooms may be tiny and there is no yard to speak of, but we have made it a comfortable home that receives a lot of
visitors. In the early evening, just as students and adults are returning home, Seth and I enjoy relaxing on the veranda, lounging
in the inexpensive papyrus chairs I purchased when I first moved to Kenya. In between re-telling the day’s events, Seth calls out
greetings to friends passing on the road. Sometimes someone comes up and joins us on the balcony for a cup of tea. This is
often how a day in Kisumu ends.
Of course, the day begins much differently. Zawa gets herself up and ready for school – she washes her face, puts on her
uniform, and waits for one of us to prepare her breakfast. I help her put in her hearing aids, pack her a snack, and send her out
the door with 20 shillings for her boda-boda ride to school (Kiwanis Junior Academy). Sophia is often awake by that time, too.
After breakfast, she could be doing anything from watching her favorite baby-songs DVD to going through my purse to splashing
the laundry water to throwing things off the balcony. It’s not really until she takes a nap that I am able to check email or do
anything truly productive.
Seth’s work schedule changes all the time, as he is sometimes doing field work in a rural area about two hours away, sometimes
in the town office, or sometimes at home writing reports. The goodness is, he loves his job and the organization he works for.
As for me, so much of living in Kenya requires patience. Patience, patience, and more patience. I didn’t come with a great supply
of patience, so it something I have been developing over time. The adoption process with Zawa, which so many people kindly
inquire about? Just waiting. Waiting for Zawa’s father to process her birth certificate so that we can actually go to an attorney and
draw up a legal custody agreement. If you are stunned that this has still not happened, just imagine - a couple we know just
finalized an adoption process that started three years ago. Despite the waiting, we are extremely fortunate to have a positive
relationship with Zawa’s biological family. We talk to them on the phone at least twice a month.
Back to the subject of waiting. (I am suddenly reminded of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go – the waiting place…) It’s often the
waiting that keeps me from initiating communication with people in the States. If I don't have answers to questions, I worry about
leaving friends and family with even more confusion. However, since there will never be clear answers to every question, the
least I can do is let people know that we are still here, still working, still going strong!
Kisumu Kiwanis issues have required more patience than anything I have ever experienced in my life. Other than Zawa’s
adoption, it is the main area of my life that is in a “holding pattern.” There are a number of question marks surrounding the future
of Kiwanis Club of Kisumu – whether or not it will dissolve, whether some of us will charter a new club, whether the other group
of people will let go of the Kisumu Kiwanis charter. But one thing is certain - amongst the group of Kiwanis members I work with,
we are still dedicated to Kiwanis as an organization. Many, many thanks to Kiwanis International President-Elect Sylvester Neal for
all his support and words of wisdom. He is one of the main reasons I am personally still committed to Kiwanis. And not only is my
group still working as Kiwanis members, but we are still committed to Kiwanis Junior Academy and our scholarship program.
During February, we awarded 10 scholarships, primarily to high school students. The recipients all come from very poor
backgrounds, and 8 of the 10 are either total orphans or being raised by widowed mothers. Please allow me to thank the following
2010 donors who contributed towards these scholarships:
• Mary Jo and Gordy Monten (Belfair, WA)
• The North Mason Kiwanis Club (Belfair, WA)
• Jim and Lana Hess (Menlo Park, CA)
• Dick and Dorothy Carson (Spokane, WA)
I would also like to continue thanking a few people close to me who have been sponsoring high school students privately for the
past few years: Barbara Bryant, Candice Battle, Pat Warpenburg, Tara Embrey, Colin Hardman, and Linda and Jerry Hardman.
Kenyans know that the key to rising above poverty is education. Education in Kenya, relative to the average income of
approximately $40 a month, is very expensive. Non-boarding high schools cost $150 to $200 a year, while boarding schools cost
at least $500 a year.
One of the best ways to invest in Kenya’s future is by helping a bright, needy student finish high school. If a student performs
well enough on the KCSE exam (similar to the SATs), he/she is sponsored by the Kenyan government to attend university. If any
of you feel compelled to contribute towards the scholarship program, even for the year 2011, please let me know.
Kiwanis Junior Academy, under the supervision of our new volunteer Morgan Maier (Beaverton, OR), continues to run smoothly
with 48 students. I am always struck by how well our three teachers work together. The Head Teacher, Dorsila, has been running
the school since it opened. She has proven herself to be a very honest and transparent person, as well as an excellent teacher.
Nowadays I only pop in and out to check on things and give support when necessary – Morgan and the teachers really have
things under control.
Seth and I are still involved in his village’s development project. Langi Primary School, which a year ago was a series of falling-
down, mud classrooms, is now the jewel school of the area. Thanks to the local donors who made it happen, the school now has
11 permanent classrooms, an office and a library. The last phase of the project is the furnishing of the library – the donors have
provided all the books, and the community is raising funds to supply the shelves, tables and chairs. The 400+ students are
equipped with bright new uniforms, and their faces exude so much pride in their new school. This is only the beginning of things
to come for the village!
As always, my email has gotten long, so I will cut it short here. I have attached a hodgepodge of photos. I would love to hear from
you – even if it means putting Sophia down for a nap so that I can reply!
With love from Kenya,
Rachelle (and Seth, Zawa and Sophia)