Filamu!

While updating the program approach, I took a stab at searching for some filamus and documentaries that could be used as program material. After an hour of searching I settled on a few that will review and choose from when it's time to develop the curriculum. But the search was not easy. I decided to go the Africa/ Kenya route choosing films set in Kenya and Africa all together, otherwise the selection would be limited. Films like "Yesterday" from South Africa and "Africa Unite" which covers East and Southern Africa help with the section on Health and HIV/AIDS while the latter literally cover various topics in modern Africa including war, girl's education, poverty, early age prostitution, HIV, etc... despite all of this it is really just a fun movie to watch.

While I'd love to show something like "Kidnappet" a dutch film in Kenya or "Nairobi Half Life"... those are just too violent. But I will review films like "The First Grader" and a newer film "Ni Sisi" to see if they could fill the slot. Otherwise there is "Taking Root", which is about the life an cause of the late Wangari Mathaii and a few other documentaries short and long. Even the BBC series "Africa".. just to show them some animals, lol! Hey, why not! I think it is important to add some media to the curriculum so that they can see, hear and understand what they may experience in a different way. I can't wait till the review period. I may have some more viewing parties so that i can have some outside opinions on whether or not the film may be right for the youth to see. I will get the popcorn ready!

Dance craze... kind of!

While I am not excited about the song title, African Skank, the song creates a lot of energy on the club scene. The artist, JJC, goes to various places across the African continent to bring for you... exciting dances from Africa.

The dance "Do the Masaai" represents Kenya. Though no one actually does this... unless the song is on of course,  it is quite entertaining. But only if you jump really high! I can only hope he got creative permission from somebody to make this a dance. :)

My favorite of course is the Azonto and finger point dance he brings to us from Ghana. I will never stop bobbing to this... even with Kukere. I just love it. 

Also, shout out to Atlanta... where the Nigerian artist, sort of crumps and "makes an ugly face." 'Cause that's exactly how we do it down south! You know! Not really. I wish he would have done a Bankhead bounce, or a finger snap or something. It is all quite entertaining.

Anyway...watch the video and get your African Skank on!

MidTerm Report

Hello guys,

The midterm report is complete. It encompasses all of the tasks accomplished in the last quarter, February to May. This includes updates for the program approach, logo and brand, and search for partner and host sites. While it is not as busy as the previous quarter it has given us the chance to review where we are in our work plan and where we need to be. Our plan is to begin lobbying for  board members and donors by the final quarter of the year (September through November). So, though we are on track, we have to really work hard in this quarter to consolidate host sites for the youth, finalize potential program activities, and get the necessary documents in order before that time. Finally, as a follow up to the mid term review, it is quite evident that a revision of things like the budget, business plan, and results matrix and other material is necessary to keep everything updated and on the same page. So enough talking to you guys. I'll get back to work!

Cheers!

Girl's Play

I live behind a school and everyday there is some sort or noise or sound coming from the school yard. Whether it is a staff member chopping wood, a random traveling band, kids playing, girls sweeping as a school chore or excited boys burning hay... also and surprisingly as a school chore. The screams and screeches that come from my backyard never cease to amaze me. Today is no different.  As I peered out the side bedroom window, I found a group of about 20 school girls organizing themselves into a circle. A couple of the girls were pulling the others... quite violently, but that is not the subject here. In a matter of minutes the school girls gathered in their pale blue uniformed dresses and black dress shoes, sweaters folded and wrapped tightly about their waist.. and danced. Boy were they getting down. Swiftly moving their waists from side to side, jumping back and forth as they trailed each other in a circle singing...something in another language. I want to say it was a traditional dance, but that would be assuming. Who knows?!

It reminded me of how I used to play with my cousins and the neighborhood girls... chants like Gigolo... "Gi-gah- lo, Gig, gi-gah-lo! My hands up high, my feet down low, and this the way I gigolo!" ...Not sure why Gigolo was a girl's chant.. but hey. Then, there was Fight the Power.  (A revolutionary chant of sorts). "Fight, Fight the power, yeah, Fight! You got to do it baby, do it baby"...Once again, not sure why that was in a girl's chant, but I digress). And then there was the ever famous Jump in, Jump Out, turn yourself about...(I wish you could here the cynicism in my voice as I sang that).

 Anyway. All that to say... this is what girls do. But to see it Kenya style was nothing short of exciting. I only wish I could have joined in. Why not...

Logo Updates!

Yesterday, I met with Ed at Ark to check out the updates they have made to the logo. I must say.. I am very impressed. They worked in all of my considerations and in fact, made them even better. Ed offered me some great examples to preview.

There were two concepts. I call them, soar and world.  The first step was to narrow those two concepts down to one. From there I can choose the color, layout, and font, I wish to make it even cooler. I decided to send the options to some friends back home to get their opinion because truly... I loved them all. I could barely decide.

Once I get their feedback, I will move forward with some concrete decisions on what I want for the logo and even further the brand. This is so much fun. I just can't wait to see what we come up with!

Wowzers! Mother's day, Scandal and the stuff I forgot to tell ya!

Wowzers, I haven't written in a while.

Since I last updated you guys, a lot has been going on. As far as business is concerned I have developed the policy, continued to make connections for volunteer host sites, and been working towards a successful logo and brand. All is well.

Yum!

In other news, over the last couple months I have been rehearsing with the Ladies choir at church and we sang for Mother's day during the three services (boy was that a long day). We sang some fun African/ Swahili songs and even got the church to join us in dance during the worship. It was wonderful... and tiring. But we made it through. And it was indeed a Happy Mother's day!

During that week, I also traveled to Uganda. Kampala is the same as I remember but with even more boda bodas (motorcycle taxis). I didn't even know that was possible. 

Over the weekend, I first worked with Helen to bake and design 500 cupcakes for her cousin's wedding. From night until morn, 10 hours...Talk about a hand cramp with all of that piping. It was fun though. And that chocolate coffee silver colored icing... Magnificent (in my Kifaransa accent)!!! That was Friday/ Saturday. A very loooong night.morning.day!

Later, I prepared and hosted a viewing party for the popular U.S. television show Scandal. With about 10 guests, we munched on character inspired foods and drink and had a great time watching Olivia Pope and Associates put their white hats back on! It was truly nice!

So, pretty exciting, pretty normal... but next time I will remember to blog it all!

Ideas

It's the end of the week and I wanted to write about some new ideas I had over the past week. Now... Ideas could be a good thing or a bad thing. If I have too many, it could could the objective and make it very difficult to implement any program activities because there is too much going on. Or... Ideas could be starting point for a wondrous program experience. I beg to bet on the latter. Anyway, I have taken the liberty of writing these ideas down so that I could explore them when the time comes. They all relate to program activities but I am hesitant with sharing them with the public until the nooks and crannies are pretty much filled. But until then... I will just keep on dreaming them up. 

Volunteering with Youth on the Street

Yesterday, I went to Tumaini Kwa Watoto headquarters near Kenyatta Market to discuss the work that potential volunteers could do while working with their organization. I have blogged about this org before. They do great work with youth living on the street. Under the supposed new format, participants of TWO Hands International would be able to volunteer for a day with the organization as they learn and employ issues related to youth development and in particular vulnerable youth (Orphans, youth living on the street, etc). While I am concerned about the safety of the volunteers working at some levels or phases within the organization, I have opted to do a volunteer day myself to see what youth volunteers would do if they worked in the Government Rehabilitation Center for a day. They would have the opportunity to speak with youth who formerly lived on the street and participate in daily activities with them, including chores, etc. Sounds okay, though I could ask for more. For now, I will volunteer at the end of May and see if this is an opportunity I could explore further for partnership. Otherwise, there are many organizations that can fill this slot. I will keep you posted.

Logos... schmogos

Just went over some logo and branding ideas with Edward. I will send to Ark just now. I hope we can bring these wonderful ideas to fruition. TWO hands!

Stand with the Masai

I've been to Ngorongoro and it is considered the cradle of human kind. Where some of the first hominids are said to have walked the earth. Wildlife such as lions, cheetahs, zebras, and the like, roam freely in the space where the Masai graze. This vast land situated near the Serengeti is the ancestral territory for all of these inhabitants. But a new breed of inhabitants threaten its safety, livelihood and even very existence. These new inhabitants... wealthy tourists.

This place has been a world destination for tourist for centuries, of course. But if the Tanzanian government has its way, it could open the reigns of the area making it available for tourists to more than just have their way. Money talks, and in this case, the money wants to hunt the very wildlife that  makes this area the most precious in the world. Ain't nobody going to Europe or Dubai to see animals. Never mind the potential for extinction, we want to eat lion and leopard for dinner in Africa.  That's pretty much the sentiment. Hunting. It not only places the wildlife in danger but their societal keepers, the Masai as well. Not because they'd be in the way of course, Kikwete (TZs president) isn't inhumane exactly. Troops have been dispatched in the past to keep cattle and humans out of way of the hunting. But now, a firm wants to buy the land and settle in the area for the sole purpose of tourist hunting game. The threat of relocation for the Masai would take away an already diminishing 40 per cent of ancestral land and grazing territory.

This is not a completely new threat after all. Royalties from days gone by have hunted game, placing the heads of their prey on mantles, meaty bodies on their dinner tables and skin on their boots. It is an art.. a game. But we are done with playing people's lives here.

We need them to know that they can not buy us. Africa has been raped far too long for the benefit of the money rich. And quite frankly we are tired of it. The Masai deserve their livelihood despite Kikwete's belief and despite what money can say, never mind the damage it can do.

I found this petition on Avaaz, and I hope that it encourages Kikwete to stand his ground, our ground, for his people and not for the wealthy tourists. Perhaps they can bring their monies and promote more efforts in conservation. Dig a borehole. Or do something selfless to preserve the land.

I mean, this is just all types of wrong.  Read More.
And More


See the Masaai plea below! And sign the Petition! I hope its not too late.

 
Stand with the Masai  <-------- Click here

We are elders of the Maasai from Tanzania, one of Africa’s oldest tribes. The government has just announced that it plans to kick thousands of our families off our lands so that wealthy tourists can use them to shoot lions and leopards. The evictions are to begin immediately.

Last year, when word first leaked about this plan, almost one million Avaaz members rallied to our aid. Your attention and the storm it created forced the government to deny the plan, and set them back months. But the President has waited for international attention to die down, and now he’s revived his plan to take our land. We need your help again, urgently.

President Kikwete may not care about us, but he has shown he’ll respond to global media and public pressure -- to all of you! We may only have hours. Please stand with us to protect our land, our people and our world’s most majestic animals and tell everyone, before it is too late. This is our last hope.

-- The Masai community of Ngorongoro District

100th POST

This is my 100th post! And I am soooo excited.

Let me give you an update.

Currently, a lot of work is going on. As the quarter reaches a close, I hope to have the policies, bylaws, and organizational strategy complete or in its working draft by mid May. By the end of May, we will release our Mid Year development report to all of our supporters... so that they can be abreast of where we are and what we have accomplished... and of course, keep supporting us. This quarter has not been as busy as the last, but it has had its success and I can't wait to share them with everyone.

We are exactly where we need to be according to our work plan and will be moving on to the next deliverables for the next quarter. This includes curriculum development, completing the marketing strategy and our intense search for board members.  It is really more than exciting.

Just now, I have left a meeting with Catherine Ndunga of TAP, The Afterschool Program, in Langata and we have discussed ways to work together for the benefit of both of our organizations. Catherine has worked with Global kids in New York, an organization with the same goals as TWO Hands, to bring youth to Kenya. She has shared some wonderful ideas about the program, community development and non profit start ups. All of it has been very useful. We will definitely work together to further the goals of both organizations and design a healthy partnership for the  TWO Hands program in the near future.

Extraordinary partnerships- that is the word from Parklands Baptist Church for the month of April... and I am seeing the word come to fruition.

How wonderful!!!

Will keep you updated on more. And look out for our Mid Year Development Report by the end of the month.

I love it!

I am excited about our 100th post. If you are excited, leave a comment below!

Peace Corps Mourns the Loss of Volunteer, Atlanta native, Danielle Dunlap

Peace Corps Mourns the Loss of Volunteer Danielle Dunlap

This bit of news just broke my heart. My heart goes out to the family.

 WASHINGTON, D.C.  April 30, 2013 – Peace Corps Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet is saddened to confirm the death of Peace Corps volunteer Danielle Dunlap. Dani, 25, died in Ghana on Sunday, April 28 after becoming ill.
“Dani was a widely respected and ambitious Peace Corps volunteer who was an exceptional role model for the youth in Jukwa Krobo,” Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “The entire Peace Corps family is grieving over this tragic loss. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Dani’s loved ones and her community both here and in Ghana.”

 

Dani, of Atlanta, Ga., arrived in Ghana on June 6, 2011 for pre-service training as a health volunteer. She was one of 69 Americans sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers on Aug. 30, 2011 at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Peace Corps in Ghana. Throughout her service, she carried out activities aimed at improving the quality of life for her community in the areas of nutrition, HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness, and sanitation. Peace Corps Ghana staff said Dani’s boundless energy and enthusiasm endeared her to her community in Ghana, and that she was proud of her role as a volunteer trainer, helping to mentor newly arrived volunteers in the projects to which she was so devoted. Dani was scheduled to complete her service on August 16, 2013.

Attending Brown University, Dani graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. Throughout her time there, she planned and hosted events for prospective minority students as a minority recruitment intern. She was also a swim instructor for children with asthma and a sleep research intern.

Dani was born in Germany and lived in several places around the world before her service in Ghana.  She enjoyed traveling and studied abroad in both Haiti and South Korea, where she learned Spanish and Korean. Prior to joining the Peace Corps, Dani tutored young students in English, math and science at The Academy at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass.
 
In addition to her volunteer work and interest in different cultures, Dani hoped to pursue a career in health care. She spent a summer learning about efforts to deliver needed medical supplies to developing countries, and looked forward to gaining more experience in the field during her time in central Ghana.  Her community greatly appreciated her health care work and had planned to honor her accomplishments. Dani also had a passion for Christian missionary work, dancing and scuba diving.
Dani is survived by her parents, grandfather, grandmother, and a host of uncles, aunts and cousins.

About the Peace Corps: Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 210,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 8,073 volunteers are working with local communities in 76 host countries in agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment and the agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit www.peacecorps.gov for more information.