Three amazing days, one long blog!

Blog readers, forgive my absence! Between the limited hours of the business center, a hectic schedule, and a 24-hour bug that had me laid up for one full day, I have neglected my blog-edness, but I am back this morning to share some of my escapades.
Sunday with the Daughters of Charity was such an uplifting (and in many ways, humbling) experience.  I was greeted at the door by Sr. Deborah Mallott, our St. John's GLOBE connection in Kenya.  She is an amazing woman who had so many wonderful stories to share about the work that is done by the community of Daughters there on Langata Road.  Besides the many educational programs they offer, one of the critical projects they have is DREAM - Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition.  DREAM engages in a holistic approach to treating AIDS that includes drugs, testing, a nutrition program and sanitary education -- usually offered by other AIDS patients (peer-to-peer is really the way to go, here in Africa). It boasts a very high compliance rate.

DREAM is located in a number of countries in the African continent, and this DREAM center is located right on the property.  It includes a Nutrition center as well as a playground for the children.  Over 1500 AIDS patients have been treated there, and many who believed that there was no hope left for them or their children, have found a future through DREAM.  Sr. Deb tells me that so many women are infected with AIDS by men who then abandon them, and they have neither the resources nor the capability to get help, since the stigma of AIDS is an obstacle to treatment.  Finding the men who are infected is even a greater challenge, as many of them do not seek treatment, nor do they welcome offers of help.

We were joined at lunch by Sr. Catherine Mulligan, who was so inspiring and a perfect host.  Sr. Kate did the cooking along with several Kenyan novitiates and Sr. Arthur.  So many good souls....Also joining us were two Ladies of Charity from Madagascar, Rose and Odile.  I believe they may help us to get the chicken project off the ground there, and we exchanged contact information.

In terms of loans, Sr. Deb explained some reluctance in having those in her community apply for loans until they seem ready to understand the obligations associated with it in terms of repayment.  I will be returning this week to visit the DREAM center, and perhaps meet one potential borrower, a young man who is HIV-positive and who she deems a good possible candidate for our program.  We will explore other possibilities as well.  Sr. Catherine suggested that one interesting project for the students would be to research marketable business ideas, since many of the businesses the microentrepreneurs launch have very limited profit potential.  For example, making clothing just doesn't sell here, since most do not wear African garb, preferring the cheap and available western attire available through GoodWill and other donating agencies. Students, I think this is a great idea, and an excellent application of your business talents to the objectives of GLOBE!
After a wonderful lunch of lamb, vegetables, salad and potatoes (and CHOCOLATE CAKE -- YUMMY!), and a tour of the grounds, Sr. Catherine treated Rose, Odile and me to a visit to the Giraffe Center, where a giraffe came right up to us and ate cereal right out of our hands! Amazing!

Monday, I stayed in bed all day, down with a nasty bug, so nothing much went on that day!

Yesterday (Tuesday) was my visit to Jamaii Bora's town, Kaputei.  What a day! The ride there alone was an unsurpassed adventure, with the little vans forging creeks without bridges and navigating gullies and pitted roads that go up against the worst sections of the BQE!!  Kaputei plans on housing some 2000 families, and building continues there.  Currently, they have sold about 240 houses, and 100 more are ready to be allocated.  The cost to Jamii Bora members of a 2-BR house is 350,000KS (or about $5000) and a 4-BR is close to 500,000KS (or about $7,000), at interest rates of about 10% (very positively comparable to what they would get from a bank -- but of course, they would never be eligible for a loan from a bank here!). We met some of the original Jamii Bora members who own their own homes now with their loans from Jamii Bora, complete with flushing toilets (instead of the flying ones!).  They showed us how they make the bricks for the homes and tiles for the roofs, and they let us into their homes, their schools, their lives.  We were surrounded by love, and such beautiful children!  We made great friends yesterday!  What was really amazing was how conscious the town is about recycling and ecology.  I captured some of the talks on my flip video and hope to share with all on our GLOBE website when I return. 

I met some amazing people on this trip, all engaged in one way or another with microfinance.  One woman, Gail, has been traveling with Muhammad Yunus for 2.5 years making a documentary entitled "To Catch a Dollar".  I will see a screening of it on Thursday night.  I hope this film gets a wide release so everyone gets a chance to see Dr. Yunus in action!  I also got to meet Ingrid Munroe, founder of Jamii Bora (although she likes to say that it is the street beggars, Jamii Bora's first members, who are the real founders!) and other luminaries in the field.

Today I am off to the opening ceremony of the conference and the first day of official sessions. Can't wait! Talk to you all soon!