Life In Rural Kenya

Dr. Taylor and a Student I live in an area where there is no running water, no paved roads and no electricity. After many years of carrying water in a 20 liter jerry can hung on my back by a rope across the top of my head and reading by lantern light, I designed and constructed a solar home and had a phone line installed. Now I am enjoying lights, internet connectivity and even solar heated water. However, there is no washing machine, no microwave, no carpets or vacuum cleaner and no lawn mower. Each and every task is done by hand. But all in all, its a life I love.

We are four in this solar home. One Heart is the sponsor of an orphan in Form 3 called Kanini Mbete. I decided to make my home her home. She is pictured with me here on our veranda with our 2 small Christmas trees. There is also my small black cat, Kailu, and my musician husband, John Kiwa. This is not very typical of a Kenyan family. The number of children in Kenyan families is usually 5 or more. But I, as the Kenyan director of One Heart with Africa, have countless children. I see Kanini at her boarding school on parents visiting day. My home receives many visits by our sponsored students on school breaks. During these visits, I receive their exam results, school receipts and discuss their needs and happiness while they usually pitch in assisting me in whatever chore I am presently doing. Our sponsored children regard me as their Auntie.

One Heart has very low overhead costs at our Kenyan base of operation since there are no rent, electricity or water bills. Therefore, the lions share of your donations goes directly to support the education of these children. And finally, we are a small enough operation to maintain a personal touch and can put you directly in contact with the lives of any children you wish to sponsor. Join me in being a Kenyan parent.

The New Look On Kenyan Roads

Public transport has been the most important issue rocking Kenyans over the past few months. Imagine bumping along in a flashy painted matatu (public service vehicle) on a dirt road or pothole-filled paved one packed like sardines in a tin can. It is now even harder for Kenyans to imagine, having tolerated this situation for decades, to be riding in comfort wearing seat belts at a speed no greater than 80 km/hr. But this change did not come easily. When the matatu owners first heard they were going to be required to have seat belts for every passenger, speed governors, uniforms and badges for the driver and 2 conductors as well as plain body paint with a dark yellow stripe indicating the area of operation and maximum number of passengers, they staged a strike. The roads were empty for a week. People were seriously wearing out their shoes and taxis were doing an enormous business. On Feb 1st, the day the new laws went into enforcement, the roads were empty again as hardly a single vehicle met the new requirements and were impounded by the police. Now the roads are slowly filling up again as more and more vehicles become compliant but at the expense of the travelers having to pay increased fares. But we are happy to see that the days are gone where fancy decorations and blaring music were more important than safety and comfort. Maybe theyll repair the roads next!



One Heart With Africa
P.O. Box 372 • 44 Bridge St. • Middleville, NY 13406
email: info@oneheartwithafrica.org