Friederike's diary 
arrival
On 2 September 2010 we are after a one-hour flight from Nairobi to Kisumu at 9:30 am picked up by the school director Fred, his assistant, Vincent, Fred's brother, Nehemiah and the Son of the cook from the airport.
After extensive greeting is stowed our extensive luggage (at least 20 kilos of gifts and mail for the school and children) in the trunk of our rented SUV and we drive off in the direction of Kisumu city.
goes after a major purchase for the children there on the road towards Busia.
way we stop briefly in Emukhunzulu to discuss some things.
goes after the short break we continue to soon to Busia. It is already evening when we, after we have visited several hotels, opt for the "Farm View" and are quartered in the very simple, but quiet and safe hotel.
We turn to our driver giving us the next day pick up early ....
Friday:
On Friday, 3 September, it has come:
We will for the first time our new school project, the St. Zachariah Education Centre, which owes its name to Fred's father to visit.
Fred brings us to the driver from Ben at 9:00 clock and off you go. Once passed by Busia, which seems to consist of only a single road that is lined with houses, banks and many small stalls selling individual traders.
women laid on the roadside their goods for sale: tomatoes, onions, beans and rice, in between running the kids around all day, they will sit here until they have sold for a few shillings.
There are many cyclists that carry all kinds of loads, some with parts of the harvest on the road.
Anyone who owns a bicycle, can be pleased, because now he can offer his services as a courier or bicycle taxi.
The public transport system is deficient, Matatus the completely overcrowded. Moreover
have here in Busia, which is one of the poorest cities in Kenya, few people left money for transportation expenses.
We drive out of Busia on one with many potholes and the protection of pedestrians with thresholds provided Matayos tar road. In the small village we turn right onto a dirt road that now leads into a smooth ascent into the fields and hills. The road is lined with small acres, woods and undeveloped areas. We see the typical small huts, surrounded by manicured hedges as boundaries, tethered sheep and goats on the way, now and then a cow. Many pedestrians
come meet us, cyclists and sometimes a moped driver.
People seem here, where there is no public transportation more, to have to travel many miles every day.
After several minutes we reach the small village of Ganjala where we turn into an even smaller dirt road towards Funyula.
Finally, the elongated school building appears still hiding behind bushes in front of us.
We turn into the driveway with the beautiful new score and keep the middle of the schoolyard.
curious little face watching us out to meet the doorless classrooms, giggling, behave, laughing, excited. The children have lessons, but are distracted by our arrival very
Fred leads us now in einze each of the classes. Upon entering, Fred is respectful of the children with "Good morning sir" and he welcomes welcomes the children very friendly and introduces us to each class.
I'm so happy to finally see the faces I've known from the photos here and actually - I can name many of the known map, which in turn, the children find very funny.
We look at the site. The right of the long-stretched school building is the Schulshamba that still undeveloped, or freshly harvested appears and a small path leads straight to Fred's small, modest house. Next to the house is another small building, located in the generator and his office.
Behind the school building is a Mudhütte that serves as kitchen and those already under construction, new classrooms.
emerge now has two classrooms, which meet the requirements of the Kenyan education authorities, we are told Fred. The scale of the classroom must conform to certain values and it comes with the new building opposite now.
He also plans to remove the partition of two of the old classrooms to increase this to them.
Soon haben die Kinder Pause und stürmen aus den Klassenzimmern.
Wir werden umringt und bestaunt, zaghaft berührt und von allen Seiten bedrängt.
Ich setze mich in den Schatten und habe im Nu eine Traube Kinder um mich rum, ich frage nach ihren Namen und erzähle ihnen von Deutschland und von ihren Paten, die an sie denken.
Sie sind sehr schüchtern, antworten kichernd und zaghaft auf meine Fragen und wollen mich nur ansehen und alle versuchen, möglichst nahe an mich ran zu kommen.
Nach einiger Zeit wird mir der Andrang dann doch etwas viel, zusätzlich ist es ja noch über 30 Grad heiß und ich flüchte in Freds und Vincents Büro.
Das Büro ist der Dreh-und Angelpunkt der Schule.
Dort ist eine kleine Bank, auf der die Eltern warten, die ihre Kinder anmelden wollen oder zu Besprechungen kommen.
Hier sind die beiden gespendeten Nähmaschinen, an denen die Uniformen und im Shop bestellte Alltagskleidung genäht werden soll.
Hier hat Vincent seinen Arbeitsplatz, an dem er Listen erstellt und verwaltet, Bios für uns schreibt und alle Anfragen der Eltern, Lehrer und Kinder entgegennimmt.
Nach kurzer Unterredung im Büro lädt Fred uns in sein Haus ein, um dort bei einem kleinen Essen unsere Gespräche fortführen zu können...
Fred erzählt uns, daß er sehr dankbar und glücklich is the support of our organization.
He also reported on the difficulty of the people here, to challenge their living costs.
The harvesting of small fields that most people have enough, maybe 3 months (from September to November). Back in December, most families are facing the situation that the harvest is used up and nothing to eat in the house.
last for the months of hunger and July / August and are getting worse month after month.
looking Therefore, the men and women jobs as laborers in the fields of richer people, mostly city dwellers who come only at Christmas time, to check on their property.
Here it across a whole Work 50 days to earn shillings, which works out at 50 cents.
often are the fields where they work, very far away, some already on the road to Busia. Therefore, they must take into account long marches or leave the work to those who own a bicycle. There
For public transport systems do not exist here.
had the meantime, the school children their school lunches get and were allowed to go home, because even was so holidays and therefore not that long school as usual
We (Fred, Vincent, the seamstress of Emuk that should choose the new sewers, Boaz the Headmaster, Adrian and I) decided to Busia for dinner to go to the Blue York Hotel and then continue our conversation.
I had been all day noticed how much heart and commitment to working with Fred, the teachers and especially Vincent.
Dealing with the kids is loving and determined, and the understanding to mothers and friendly.
I have noticed more than once that Vincent gave to a hungry child waiting with his mom food that had been provided for him. And I know that although he gets free lunch, but everything else has to pay himself and his salary is small.
Vincent was already working as a gardener in Emukhunzulu. Fred and he grew up together and distantly used. So decided Vincent, Fred's offer to work at the new school as an assistant to accept.
He has a lot of feeling for his work is competent and well educated.
Boaz is a very young teacher, he has finished only recently graduated and now teaches several classes in various subjects (for details of teachers and subjects in the interviews). Also he is very motivated and friendly.
prevails in the school a family atmosphere and that is the reason why the children are really happy here.
Dinner was fun and interesting conversations.
Eventually Ben drove us to the farm and we said goodbye to View Monday. Because the school was closed on Saturday and our visit would have been so meaningless.
I looked forward to the weekend when I have both my godchildren from Funyula, as had also been invited from Emukhunzulu.
weekend:
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons we spent two games with my godchildren and from Emukhunzulu Funyula (and their siblings) in the hotel. The hotel has a lovely garden with picnic tables and even make a field to play football!
We all had so much fun together, it was just a joy to watch the children from Funyula how happy and carefree they were playing.
Monday:
Am Montag, dem 6. September brachen wir bereits früh nach Funyula auf, um die für diesen Tag geplante medizinische Untersuchung der Kinder dokumentieren zu können.
Unterwegs hatten wir jedoch eine Reifenpanne, kein Wunder bei den steinigen Wegen und so verbrachten wir eine Stunde kostbarer Zeit auf dem Feldweg.
Ben und einige schnell herangeeilte hilfreiche Passanten wechselten den Reifen und wir konnten unsere Fahrt fortsetzen.
Als wir endlich auf dem Schulhof ankamen, warteten die beiden Ärzte und Fred bereits ungeduldig auf unser Kommen.
Zwei Klassenzimmer wurden als Untersuchungsräume vorbereitet, eines für die Augenuntersuchung und eins für die allgemeine Untersuchung.
Die Kinder wurden per class is called and then successively sent to the examination rooms.
The diagnosis was entered in a report for each child extra scale issue, the long term the health of every child can be traced.
The GP examined the children for worms infestation, ring worms, skin diseases, malnutrition and vitamin deficiency, he examined their mouths, feet, abdomen, legs.
In most children it was found worm infestation (3 / 4 of the school) and they were immediately treated with medication. Many have ring worms and skin diseases (open, suppurating sites of the leg), which are caused by fungi. Frequently
were bacterial eye infections and eye irritation from the ubiquitous dust.
Fred was given a list of required medications that he wanted to get the next morning.
We brought the eye doctor gave glasses (about 2 kg). Some he gave the children affected directly and most of it with her, to make appropriate use glasses.
In about 20 children were diagnosed with refractive error.
During the medical examination were recording interviews with the parents of future students.
Today was indeed the beginning of the 3rd to term and the opportunity for new children to be included in the school. I got immediate
Insight into the recording process and especially in the living conditions of some families. hear
The staggering fortunes by the person affected is a very different experience than just reading the reports.
It touched me and made me so concerned and sad to hear, live in misery and hopelessness which many people.
poverty, neglect, alcohol and violence is a spiral that pulls everything down with great force.
The construction of the school is hope for the people of this region and gives them the courage to address this energy. Mama Teresa
put themselves and their grandchildren. She speaks good English and is a very warm hearted, educated woman, with which we have subsequently maintained any longer.
When the boarding house is finished, they would love to get a job as house mother.
I would be very happy if this works, because she is very experienced and loving with the children.
As Mama Teresa is also a nurse, she has much experience in dealing with children and mothers.
She says that many mothers die in childbirth. They have no money for medication or a hospital visit.
Many children die of malaria and diarrheal diseases.
There is a lack of awareness of hygiene and medical facilities within reach for people Nearby. Also
AIDS prevention is an issue. From grade 5 teachers are trained specially invited to the school to educate children about the dangers and prevention of AIDS.
also our 5th Class next year will be educated about AIDS prevention.
Throughout the day, sewed the three women who had applied for the position of tailors at the school, the sample of uniforms.
The day ended with a brief shower of rain, which transformed the earthy ground in muddy roads.
The rain has been too short and not productive enough to water the plants. There is poverty here water - water is a precious commodity.
Tuesday:
Am Dienstag , dem 7. September erledigte Fred alle benötigten Einkäufe.
Um die Ananas für die Ananasspende zu kaufen, fuhr er extra über die Grenze nach Uganda, da die Früchte dort um die Hälfte billiger sind.
Auch die Bananen kaufte er ein, sowie die Medizin, die bei der ärztlichen Untersuchung verschrieben worden war.
Während Fred noch einige wichtige Dokumente kopierte, die wir für unsere Vereinsunterlagen benötigen, besorgte ich noch im Supermarkt Buntstifte und Papier für alle Kinder der Schule.
Da heute auch die Geschenkübergabe der Paten geplant war, wollte ich gerne den Kindern, die nicht bedacht wurden, ein paar Stifte und Papier schenken.
(Fred but later decided to hand over the pins to the teachers that they then handed the children to paint).
When we arrived, the sun was already hot from the sky.
The purchases were stowed away, the pineapples designed to Thursday in the small storage room. Today
should get the children first perishable bananas.
shopping for Fred is connected with difficulties. Because he has no car and must borrow at higher purchases a pick-up costs, which he can only wear once a month. Therefore, it should give the fruit a gift only once a month.
Inwischen the doctor had come to the children of the prescribed Medizin auszuteilen.
Ich fragte ihn nach seiner Einschätzung, was den Gesundheitszustand der Kinder betrifft. Er meinte, drei Viertel der Kinder hätten Wurmerkrankungen.
Diese Behandlung ist einfach und auch nicht teuer. Wurmerkrankungen werden mit einmaliger Tablettengabe behandelt und diese Entwurmung sollte einmal im Jahr wiederholt werden.
Sehr viele Kinder sind mit Ringelflechte (ringworms) infiziert. Die Behandlung dieser Krankheit erstreckt sich über drei Monate und ist teuer (ca. 15 Euro insgesamt), da mehrere Tuben Creme und desinfizierende Lotion gekauft werden muß.
Fred braucht sein Budget, das ihm für die medizinische Untersuchung gespendet wurde, nun erst einmal auf, um die Kinder zu behandeln.
The children suffer from vitamin deficiency, Jiggers (which are parasites that migrate through the infected soil in the soles of the feet), yeast infections of the skin (caused by poor hygiene and inadequate nutrition) and purulent pustules.
The doctor will come up permanently at the school until all children have been adequately addressed.
I was hoping to be able to pass the godfather gifts in the evening when some of the children had already gone home.
But thick clouds indicated again today to the coming storm now and then Vincent and Fred decided to make the delivery of gifts immediately after the lunch issue.
The children were delighted to her mail and then immediately went into her classroom to restore her godmother or godfather.
The children drew pictures or wrote without mentors also a few lines, so that future patents may be greeted immediately with a letter.
I could detect no movement among the children of envy, even were the ones who did not get anything obviously sad. They seemed to accept with equanimity, just turned back to their games and blew with the ball on the playground.
Some children who had received something, gave the new stuff once the other children to watch, all seemed happy to be simply that it presents was.
I had a few toys here that I could give some of the neediest children and thought briefly about how full the children of my children are toys, they may not even partially. Here's the slightest little thing
something big.
the afternoon, then pass the bananas and I had the opportunity to make up for some photos.
The children love fruit, it is in the area is a luxury to get fruit. For the money, the family is used primarily for basic food, as you know it from the SOS kit issued. Few families have in their little Shamba fruit trees and a banana costs 5 KSH, or 5 cents.
I talked to Fred, the composition of the SOS kit. add fruit to the package is not possible, because each fruit is so perishable. But there is a lack of proteins, which are in fact contained in beans. Since we want to include hygiene parcels to our assortment in the shop, it made sense to replace it in the food package by the protein-rich beans.
Many families are planting their fields Sukumawiki, a kind of spinach is eaten as a side dish for semolina. In the evening we followed
Fred, Vincent and Boaz for a meeting and dinner in the Blue York hotel where I could also have access to the Internet.
We discussed among others of you want the extensions to the shop the offer, the Prices and production of civilian clothes, the possibilities for family support.
It turned out that a bike is for many families the key to a better life to.
by bike can not only children who have a long way to be driven to school, but also the parents to transport their crops to market. They have better chances of finding work because their range of motion is much larger.
why I consider it a good idea to integrate the bicycle as a means to help themselves in the shop inventory.
Wednesday:
On Wednesday, 8.9. 2010 brought us our driver Ben to school on time. For
Today we set out to photograph all children at school.
I wanted to do a full body photo and a portrait image that is more than 200 children over 400 pictures.
I showed Fred the place where I wanted to photograph: On the wall under the tent structure gave it the best light. In order to protect my sensitive
SLR camera in front of the fine red dust that was stirred up constantly, was set up especially for photographing an additional side wall of tent material.
could now start the photo shoot and I even had time to change with one or the other child a few words.
The children made the whole process fun, Some were shy, but most found it funny, especially when I showed them on the small screen of the camera the picture
After a short break we went into the office, where there was already some parents and grandparents out of us to be interviewed.
Vincent was an excellent interviewer and a few key words he conducted the interview perfect.
The result you will still get to see or read.
then broke Adrian with Fred to visit family and I stayed back in the office.
Later in the hotel we lay down to sleep early.
the last day: The
Thursday 9 September 2010 was our last day at school.
Ben planned on Friday, after our return from Kisumu to have set up the axes of the van and to look through the car.
The rocky paths have already added him very much.
a normal car can not possibly continue to purchase Fred. Because this can only be addressed by road vehicles.
On the way to school, I was again aware of the vast distances that people travel here need to get to work, to go into the other schools or attend only the market or the next business.
For today, we had many plans, because we had all this to complete what we previously did not make it.
The last discussions and interviews were conducted (these then everything you see in the movie will be released in late October) and I tried again, as much as possible to photograph.
Every time I came with my camera, were immediately (usually the same) children around me, that "me, me" - tried to call to draw my attention.
Often I wanted a picture of a shy child, but before I could realize that, even were some other kids before and obscured the view!
When I think back, I can say that I have children in Funyula most at present. They are, as sie so abgeschnitten von der zivilen Welt leben, einerseits so unschuldig und ursprünglich in ihrem Wesen und gleichzeitig bereits so von der Not und den Sorgen gezeichnet, die zu tragen ja eigentlich Aufgabe des Erwachsenen ist.
Sie sind hungrig nach allem, besonders nach Zuwendung und jeder Art von Anregung.
Irgendjemand brachte eine Trommel und Eugen fing an, wunderschön zu trommeln und sofort tanzten, sangen und klatschten die Kinder zusammen.
Viele Erwachsene hatten sich unter dem für uns errichteten Vordach versammelt.
Bereits an den Tagen vorher hatte Fred mich gebeten, ein paar erklärende Worte an die Eltern und Großeltern der Kinder zu richten.
Denn jemand accused Fred, he would sponsor "sell", ie if a child the option to be sponsored, Fred would sell for money to another child.
Some had the sense and the concept of our organization is not yet understood.
I told the adults, therefore, once the structure and the concept of our organization.
The principle of sponsorship and the role of sponsors, staff and especially the role of Fred.
I told them that we fully support Fred, trust him and do our best to achieve that the children be cared for and the school can be further expanded.
But in Germany we must hard for unser Geld arbeiten und viele Paten müssen Einsparungen in Kauf nehmen, um ihr Patenkind unterstützen zu können.
Ich erklärte ihnen auch eindringlich, daß wir ihre Unterstützung brauchen, damit ihr Kind eine bessere Zukunft haben kann. Denn nur, wenn das Kind zuhause die Möglichkeit hat, zu lernen, wenn es gut behandelt und nicht geschlagen wird, wenn es genug zu essen bekommt und in einer sauberen Umgebung großwerden kann, dann fruchten auch die Bemühungen der Paten und Patinnen.
Wir ziehen mit den Eltern am gleichen Strang in der Bemühung, den Kindern ein besseres Leben zu ermöglichen.
Fred schloss den Elternnachmittag mit einer kleinen Rede und wir alle beteten zusammen.
Then the parents began to sing, and some mothers and grandmothers gave me gifts, which I was very pleased (a woven basket, a mortar, a few avocados and a set of handmade brooms, which now adorn my wall).
It was really joyful moments that I will not forget.
Then first was the pineapple and then pass the orders.
I used the time to still shoot a lot.
It was brewing again together a downpour and so tied to parents and grandparents and their bundles were quickly on the way home with their children. Then, when it
losschüttete, we fled into the office, where we sat together with Consolatas grandmother and her grandchildren, Paul's mom and siblings and some other children and adults talked and laughed and had fun together. It rained and rained
even very strong and I asked Vincent if the men were now happy about the rain or if it would damage the crop may be.
Vincent replied that this rain was a blessing and that people here said that he came because we were white people here. For that we (for our organization) are here, would be a blessing.
Happy and exhausted, but also with the feeling that they have not fulfilled all what we had planned, we set out on the way home.
I would love a few more days left and would have had time to get to know the children better and to play with them. I would have gladly given them even more.
But that's not my job alone, but the godfather of our entire community. Only together we can make it turn to something permanently in Funyula for the better.
The people there are so adorable and incredibly grateful that "light in their darkness" comes from.
The construction of the school is seen as the beginning of a better life of the whole community, an opportunity that has the youth and now affect the whole community is.
What we have here in den 9 Monaten unseres Bestehens bewirkt haben, ist unbeschreiblich.
Es ist nicht an rein Materiellem zu messen, sondern an der Hoffnung, die wir den Menschen zurückgegeben haben.
