All,
It is an alarming realization when you get to the Thursday of the second week of this program that it is the last day that we do art with our students this year. Today art class started out sluggish and picked up momentum. We had the whole class for nearly 7 hours yestreday and some of them had errands around their homes that they had to handle that did not get handled yesterday. We did daily mediation, and dove in. Although they have been so wanting to do painting and we brought it back this week for them after a week of sculpture, today they wanted to do sculpture and origami and such. It is funny to see them get into it and I think for the students, they realize that we are leaving too. We did our art creation diligently, many questions were asked, and then as we were closing class and preparing the room for tomorrow's celebration, you realize that although its an end to our art immersion for them, its a beginning of a year of art exploration without us from some of the basics that we have delivered. It is amazing to come back and hear what they have accomplished, built on what was learned while we were here. This carries through their established art club that happens during the time we are gone on a weekly basis. This is the first time that I have felt uncomfortable that they will not be getting art immersion until next year so this may be the opportunity to expand to maybe a regular presence in the art space for the students at St. Al's and maybe others in Kibera. Margaret and I have our thinking caps on for how we may bring the art more regularly. They are such good artists that it feels a shame not to expand their horizons more than just when we are present.
During class, I prepared the certificates we distribute, this evening Margaret completed them with her nearly perfect hand writing by putting each of their names in. Tomorrow morning we will celebrate the 5th year of the Art in Kibera program in a special way; we ordered a large decorated cake and if we can find a way to bring in tea, we will and it will truly be a treat for all. FYI--If you do not know Kenya tea, you should! Its equal parts milk and water boiled together then the tea leaves are added while boiling then sifted and then sugar is added. It basically replaces my coffee addiction while I am here and I love it. One of the left overs from colonization.
After class ended the student were still preparing the space for display by hanging and setting up their art and cleaning the room. It is always such a nice event the last day of our class. After class we went off to the Children of Kibera Foundation to work with the administration on some ideas for how to look at photos that convey they mission of their organization. We showed them some website that do that well and pictures that can tell stories. They are not the client and when they see the pictures they already understand their mission. How do you get others to? It really is about art. How do you get people to understand, buy in, connect with your story and some how take part? Its about what and how you present information. It happens in everything we do and its how you gain peoples attention. It was fun to be able to work with them and I hope we were helpful.
We did something very awkward for us, we went to KFC for lunch. Yes there are many KFC's in Nairobi and they are big and nicely decorated. At the end of the day, its fried chicken and really does not differ from that in the US. Its good as your having it and then you realize that you don't like eating that food once you have had it. Margaret said we were preparing for reentry to home in DC, and it was a reminder upon reentry that we should not be eating KFC!!!!! After lunch a little last minute shopping at the Masai Market and then I was able to spend some time with Sr. Mary Owens, ED of Nyumbani. I am on the board of this organization in the US and we always take time to catch up about the past year and the future on each visit. Nyumbani home is the first Kenyan orphanage with Children with HIV and Nyumbani Village is a home for grandparents and children that have been impacted by the loss of family to AIDS, creating a self sustaining community that creates family and generates carism. When the father/mother son/daughter die from AIDS, the children and the grandparents are the ones impacted as the model is that the middle of this equation takes care of both the young and the mature in age. When this is not present they both are left in need. The model is to bring actual or fictive grandparents (sho sho's) together with children to create this care model in the village. This is so beautifully done at Nyumbani Village and it is just so amazing to think they are almost to 100 grandparents and 1000 kids. This is also the 20th year of Nyumbani and in the US, we are having our annual benefit on September 28th, Please see Nyumbani.org for more info.
We are excited and saddened by the fact that tomorrow is our last day. Happy that we had another year, sad that we are done. It is amazing to see the progress and to see the happiness and excitement for the work they do. The students always give such appreciation for our presence and it is in fact us that are receiving the gifts of them.
It is always a wonderful experience taking you all on this journey with us.
Be well,
Charles and Margaret
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