The face of poverty

Yesterday (Thursday) was the height of my experience here in Kenya, because I was able to sit face-to-face with one of our new borrower applicants, Quinta.  After an excellent morning of sessions at the conference dealing with microfinance and agriculture/food security, a topic on which I am presenting at the upcoming Academy of Management meetings, I proceeded to the Daughters home on Langata Road and spent the afternoon with Sr. Deb.  We first dropped by the DREAM center, and Sr. Deb spoke with a patient who approached us "walking" on her knees because she has no feet.  Sr. Deb will be bringing her this morning to the ADP (Association for Disabled Persons) to try and procure her a wheelchair that she can propel with her hands, which would allow her much more mobility.  I was so impressed with the exchange between these two women, not only because Sr. Deb is able to communicate in the local language (KiSwahili -- a Kenyan form of Swahili) but also because she works with those in need in a manner that is never condescending, that is helpful but that also is firm in establishing the responsibilities that every individual has to help themselves, and because in this far-away place, so foreign to many of us, two people from entirely different backgrounds and sent to this earth with entirely different sets of skills and endowments can "meet", relate to each other, and share the same goal. 

We went on to the Gataka village with two Kenyans who work with Sr Deb at the DREAM center -- our driver Charles (an excellent driver!) and Vicky (such a poised and articulate young Kenyan woman).   Gataka is built in a quarry, and is a collection of homes -- not homes that any of us in the West would recognize as such, but homes that are a point of pride for the families who live there -- as well as businesses, livestock, and many children.  The ground is muddy, and the homes are made of mud or wood, often with mud or metal roofs, and typically one room.  There we met Quinta who, along with her husband Isiah Mboya are applying for a loan from GLOBE for a new business.  The business is a baking business, and Quinta is asking for the equivalent of about $100 to buy a small stove, utensils, and ingredients.  Her hope is to make enough money to continue to support the business and carve out a small profit that will help her pay for her four children's school fees.  Quinta's four boys were on hand for the conversation, and are 10, 8, 7 and 5 years old.  Isiah, who had spoken to Sr. Deb earlier, was working in the quarry yesterday as he does six days a week, making less than $2/day, which has to feed his family of six people!  The boys, with a little urging, sang a song for us to our complete delight.  The face of poverty is surprisingly familiar.  Quinta looks like many people you may know and love, or someone you might pass in the street in typical day in the city.  But she is a bit shyer than the people you know, and she is not fully confident in her ability to run a business successfully.  Sr. Deb was so helpful in explaining how the program would work, and easing Quinta's fears.  We have such a strong partner in Deborah, and I am fortunate to know her and to have met her. 

On the way home, we passed by another village where the Daughters work called Bangladesh (like the country!).  In seeing these villages, you might think of them as slums, but they are true villages, incorporating the lively activity of any village -- work, play, family and religion.  We saw many goats lazing about, as well as cows, donkeys and some poultry.  On the road home, we spotted a baboon sitting up on an electrical wire!  Just posing there for us!  The landscape all around these rural villages is extraordinary.  This being the rainy season in Nairobi, everything is verdant and lush, and really quite breathtaking. 

Returning to the Daughters' house, which is a haven of beautiful gardens and tranquility, I could not help but marvel at all the good work that is being done here, and all the need that remains to be met or fulfilled.  GLOBE students -- take heart! Your efforts are not wasted and always appreciated here in Kenya.  And your learning will carry you on to even greater ventures, we hope, in the future. 

I will try to blog again tonight at the end of my day of sessions, and that will probably be my last blog.  Saturday is a field visit, the timing of which does not allow me to visit the business center here at the hotel, which has limited hours on the weekend.  So hope to talk to you later, fellow travelers!!