Date: Monday July 6 to Sunday July 26
Day 35 to 55
Quote of the week: "People must make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, promoting health in their communities and countries" - Obama (speech in Ghana during his first visit to Africa as the U.S. President)
WOW, I can't believe it has been 3 WEEKS since I last blogged! My delay in writing has been due to work being crazy busy and I am thrilled to announce that we have finally STARTED PRODUCTION! We started production on Sunday July 19 and distribution began the following day on Monday July 20. It has been unbelievable for us to finally achieve this great success after so many challenges have set the project back (mainly the post-election violence). Roy, the Yoghurt Mamas, and the community have been waiting for this project to start for over 2 years and now we can finally say that we are up and running :)
Jen, Rani, and I have spent the past 10 days working from 7:30 am to 5 pm at the kitchen and distribution centres with Roy and the Yoghurt Mamas. We have 3 distribution centres→ Jiko La Jamii Dairies which is our yoghurt kitchen , The Rachuonyo District Hospital, and The Ober Health Centre. Rani, Jen, and I rotate between the 3 centres supervising distribution for the study which is so great because every day is different and I love meeting new people every day. The clients have been LOVING the yoghurt and they are always asking for more.
The best part of my day is distributing the yoghurt to men & women living with HIV/AIDS and many malnourished children. I have had the great opportunity to meet some very healthy happy clients who are open about their positive HIV status and determined to spread awareness and educate the general public. It is the greatest feeling in the world to wake up every day and do something so simple which can bring a smile to someone's face. I have the best job in the world doing what I love and that is why I don't mind the hectic work days that we have been having getting only 5 or 6 hours of sleep.
Project Accomplishments:• Teaching the Yoghurt Mamas to ride a bicycle which is necessary for distribution to the Rachuonyo District Hospital. Initially only 1 Yoghurt Mama knew how to ride a bike but after a week she had successfully trained 5 others. Although this was very important and a lot of fun it was also very challenging since the 2 bicycles we have are HUGE and for the women who are short like me it is impossible to mount the bike and reach the peddles.
• We went over all of the record keeping documents with the Orande Women's Group prior to distribution. We also had all the women sign a contract ensuring confidentiality of the study subjects, high quality milk production, etc.
• PRODUCTION FINALLY STARTED!
• Sales have been relatively good considering we haven't really done any marketing yet. We are hoping to meet with the other women's group working on advocacy this week to spread the word about Fiti Yoghurt and eliminate any misconceptions about the benefits.
Challenges:• Pushing the huge broken water tank in the reception area out of the kitchen. This was pretty hilarious and we ended up taking a machete to it! This cracked water tank was in very high demand and many people tried to take it...although I'm not sure what they wanted it for.
• The study for the project→ The study is pretty demanding requiring 300 clients to come in and consume the yoghurt on site every single day for 6 months (including Christmas)! In Oyugis with their culture and lifestyle it is nearly impossible for this to happen when many of the study subjects are sick in bed, at church, or live very far and do not have the money to travel to our distribution centres every day.
o Many mothers struggle to get their very young children to consume the full 200ml of yoghurt because it does not have sugar and the children think it is medicine. On the first day of distribution I had a mother with her young child in our room for 30 minutes!
o Over 200 of our clients do not have telephone numbers so it has been extremely difficult to contact them about the start of distribution. As well, we have had to sign up many new clients and each survey takes 30 minutes to complete so we need to have someone who is capable and willing to survey the new clients.
• Communication (again)! When we are out at the distribution centres and must communicate very important information to the study subjects it is very difficult without a translator. I have been working to learn more Kiswahili & Luo phrases for the project and we have been finding ways to overcome this challenge. Sometimes the clients who know some English will help us translate to other clients which is really nice.
• Our milk supplier→ we have already had to switch suppliers after our first one failed to deliver high quality milk on time. It is impossible to find high quality milk at competitive prices in Oyugis so our suppliers come from out of town which causes delays a lot of time.
• The Yoghurt Mamas→ I have learned so much about the Orande Women's Group this past week and one thing that I had no idea about was the fear that some of the women have about distribution. Almost all of the Yoghurt Mamas have less than high school education and many of them have trouble looking up a client's ID # on the distribution sheets when the numbers are in order. We have been very patient with them supervising and teaching them every day.
• People ALWAYS asking me to give them or buy them yoghurt which is especially hard when they want it for their child.
Most Memorable Moments:• Playing football (yes, I don't call it soccer anymore) with a local high school boys team. Roy spoke with the coach previously about me practicing with the boys’ team and although he told me they were very excited to have me play I was soooooooooo nervous. I was the only girl, the only white person, so out of shape, and HUNDREDS OF BOYS at the high school were watching the entire practice. Agoro Sare Secondary School is an all boys boarding school where they NEVER interact with girls so having Jen, Rani, and I come there was a pretty big deal. Plus none of the boys would talk to me since they've never had a lot of interaction with females and they are all in high school and very shy.
I played with them for 3 days and LOVED it :) It was the best feeling to finally be getting a good workout and it was pouring rain everyday which was awesome. A lot of the boys showed concern for me when I stuck it out in the rain, they said some really nice things about the way I play, and they kept telling me to come back every day. We also spent a full day with the team at a tournament and made a lot of new friends.
• Children outside the kitchen using our broken water tank as a play pen and slide.
• Leaving our hotel for dinner for the first time ever. This was definitely a good decision since our new dinner place makes the BEST food with a variety of items and exceptional service unlike at our hotel. We thought it was such a big deal to leave our hotel after dark because everyone built up this fear inside us but we have never had a problem and Oyugis is very safe.
• Stargazing behind our hotel :)
• Teaching Sachabea (our 8 yr old neighbour who isn't in school) some English phrases and math.
• News travels very fast in Oyugis which is why we must be very careful with our actions all the time because we get a ridiculous amount of attention. We were very happy when a friend told us that people in Oyugis like us because they have noticed that we try to blend in with the local culture and live like they do. I absolutely hate seeing tourists around because we are not tourists (we live here!) and sometimes I think they act so disrespectful and only solidify the stereotypes that Kenyans have about us.
• Jen and I trekking through the market with bicycles on a Tuesday (market day)!!! This was a disaster and pretty embarrassing and will never happen again. It is impossible to move around with people, food, and clothes everywhere!
• Speaking to one of the Yoghurt Mamas about her life. She shared with me how her mother passed away when she was very young, she was sold by her aunt to her current husband, has 6 children and would not like to have any more.
Life in Kenya:• Being Mzungus (white)→ we get asked to sponsor someone every single day...I only wish people could understand our situation as students in debt when we return to Canada. My boda boda (bicycle taxi) driver even asked me to sponsor him so he could buy a motorbike!
o We are ALWAYS offered a chair to sit on...we usually sit on the ground to show them that we are NOT superior to blacks and DO NOT deserve better treatment.
o They think we are very fragile beings→ bruises, always sick, sunburns, etc.
o People call us fat...YUP! I have gotten this comment about 3 times now and it’s hilarious.
o "H1N1! Swine flu!" being yelled at us after some UK students were quarantined in Kisumu (2 hours from Oyugis) and were all over the news.
o A hospital staff volunteer asking to be my Mom's maid and if I eat snail.
• Electricity and food are luxuries for many people in Oyugis
• The market→ the one thing I don't really understand is why everyone sells the exact same thing right beside each other...I'm not sure if this is some sort of regulation or their own choice but I find it very weird with no differentiation, excess supply, and very little demand.
• Corruption is EVERYWHERE!
• Children grow up learning to ask for money and food from Mzungus and to take things for free without earning it through hard work. One of the saddest things I have seen has been around the yoghurt kitchen where very young children scavenge through our garbage bin for empty yoghurt packets to drink. I always tell them "THI! THI!" (meaning GO!) because I am so worried about them getting sick or contracting a disease.
• Every little thing is entertainment since many people have nothing to do.
• Families of 6 and 7 are very common.
Quotes and memories:• All of our friends here say that I'm the loudest out of the 3 interns...I'm sure my family and friends back in Canada are laughing about this one.
•"I am almost the small dairy God" - Roy...because he is!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tears of Joy
Date: Saturday June 27 to Sunday July 5
Day 26 to 34
Quote of the day: "They are corrupt at the top out of greed, and they are corrupt at the bottom out of necessity" - Chris Hirst, Ongiya Disi Preparatory School sponsor
This was the most INCREDIBLE week of my trip so far and it was an emotional rollercoaster that I will never forget. I shed tears of happiness for the first time in my life on two completely different occasions. The first life changing experience for me was on Friday when we visited Ongiya Disi Preparatory School located on top of a hill in a small village called Ringa. We have met many children and visited a school before but Ongiya Disi is truly something very special. With 227 children and 9 teachers (plus the head teacher, kitchen staff, and maintenance) the school focuses on teaching the children integrity and empowering them out of poverty.
Ongiya Disi was built by an amazing woman named Risper Saituni...the Mother Teresa of Kenya. She has a huge heart and has devoted her life to building hope for the country she loves with this school. The school is currently surviving on the good will of the staff and the local community as they realize that education is their only hope. The teachers are practically volunteers with such a low salary and they are keeping this school alive without corruption (unlike all the government funded schools here). Upon our arrival we received a tour of each classroom and each group of children had a different song or poem for us. The youngest class, age 3 to 5, was definitely my favourite as the children belted out different songs in English led by 1 very young confident girl. Our tour ended with the most amazing song and dance performances by the children, speeches from Risper and Chris Hirst (sponsor who brought us there), and finally speeches from us. As soon as I began to speak my emotions took over and I began to shed tears of happiness. I tried to hold my tears back as I thanked Risper, the teachers, and the children expressing how incredible they all are in every way.
I truly believe that these children can make a difference and that they will be successful in their lives. It is something you really have to experience to believe in which is why I have really good videos for all of you to see! Children are the future and we must start with them to change the world.
Now the project and my second emotional experience...
This week we had 3 Yoghurt Mamas from the Fiti Yoghurt kitchen in Tanzania (up and running for 4 years now) in Oyugis training our Yoghurt Mamas on production, quality control, and hygiene. These women were truly inspirational and I am so proud of them for everything they have done for themselves and everything they have taught our Yoghurt Mamas. The 6 days of training were very successful and I was very impressed by the hard work, dedication, and desire to learn from both women's groups. On our last day of training speeches of thanks were given by the 3 Yoghurt Mamas from Tanzania, one of our Yoghurt Mamas, Roy, and the interns. Again as I started to speak my emotions took over and I cried uncontrollably. I was just so happy and inspired by the Tanzanian Yoghurt Mamas, their incredible leadership, and everything they have accomplished for themselves.
Project Accomplishments:
• Purchasing the necessary lab equipment and supplies for production
• Branding the kitchen FINALLY! We painted the front and side of the kitchen which includes "Jiko La Jamii Dairies", the project title, a dairy cow, and "processors of high quality healthy yoghurt". We also used blackboard paint inside the kitchen and have been using it for production records.
• Training by the Mwanza Yoghurt Mamas is finally complete! Although many of our Yoghurt Mamas were late on the first day of training their attendance and timeliness improved over the week which I was very happy about. I am very proud of all them for their huge amount of self-sacrifice when they leave their families and come to the kitchen for the whole day with no pay and no lunch.
• We have electricity!
Challenges:
• Every day we are faced with the challenge of dealing with people who want to use our phone (and therefore credit), buy them something, give them money, etc. The most difficult part about this is when they are our friends or acquaintances and it is hard for us to say no.
• Another similar challenge is replying to our friends/acquaintances when they ask us how they can get to Canada or to help them get to Canada. Unfortunately almost everyone here believes things are better outside of Kenya in the Western world and they all have dreams of going there. Every time we meet someone I dread this question being brought up...it is very difficult to answer and Kenya is way more beautiful than Canada anyway.
• Changing the stereotypes that everyone has about us. We are staying in the most expensive hotel in Oyugis and we have to purchase every meal out since we don't have a kitchen to cook for ourselves. We would prefer to live in an apartment with our own kitchen especially so people don't judge us as white "cash cows". We also buy a lot of water which people ration here.
• Communication! The biggest communication challenges are with the project work since Roy is the ONLY one in the kitchen who speaks Kiswahili, English, and Luo fluently. Roy was a translating machine this past week and not only was this very difficult but I'm sure many things got lost in translation. I love learning Luo, it is simple and usually white people never learn the language which makes us unique, but Kiswahili is the national language so it is probably more important for us to know that language.
Most Memorable Moments:
• ONGIYA DISI PREPARATORY SCHOOL!!!→ I also saw my first traditional African dance put on by these children :)
• Our 1st customer at the kitchen!!! A small child (about 5 years old) in her school uniform came into the kitchen with money for yoghurt. We gave her a packet for free since the yoghurt was not high quality yet.
• Chasing the young children as they run away screaming and laughing. They love it!
• Kennedy (my favourite soccer friend who is 13 years old) setting up an email account and sending his first email ever to me!
• Celebrating Canada Day decked out in red & white and temporary tattoos, stickers, and flags. By the end of the day we had many children, friends, and the hotel staff all wearing the temporary tattoos and stickers...it was awesome!
• Jen's birthday celebration! We spent Thursday night enjoying Tuskers (Kenyan beer) with our local friends and Saturday we had a fabulous trip to Lake Victoria! Lake Victoria is East Africa's most important geographical feature and the best part of this trip was the sweet boat ride we took on a really old gorgeous wooden sailboat (without a sail...just giant paddles) :)
• The Tanzanian Yoghurt Mamas thanking us for our self-sacrifice and commenting on how difficult it is for our parents to let us come here.
o Also, when we held elections for the kitchen positions one of our Yoghurt Mamas nominated me as Secretary as a joke
Life in Kenya:
• The average elevation of Oyugis is 1420 meters, about 4686 feet, compared to Toronto at 270 meters.
• WOMEN: Hair maintenance is very expensive so many young girls have their heads shaved and sometimes we have trouble distinguishing whether some children are male or female.
• CHILDREN: Jen and I observed the children and discussed the young ones looking after the babies as usual. We realized that when parents have more children it really isn't more work for them because they just have their older children looking after the young ones. Children grow up so fast and mature at a very young age learning to cook, look after their younger siblings, do the laundry, clean the house, etc.
• SCHOOL: A field trip for many children in Kenya is a trip to the supermarket where they learn to shop, pick an item, take it to the checkout, and make a purchase. This is something I would have never imagined but for these children it is educational and an important thing for them to learn.
• There is a sign that says "HIV/AIDS keep off or use condoms" at a junction near the market and kitchen
• We have been told that witches exist in Kisii (30 mins from Oyugis). They eat human corpses (by tapping on the grave and the coffin just comes up) believing that it gives them strength. They also use human hands as stir sticks when making alcoholic brews.
• Our hotel guards use a bow and arrow as their weapon. I have now witnessed one of the guards bring it out twice now after our friends were at the gates...it's nice to know that we are protected but I get really scared when they are pointing them at our friends!
Quotes and memories:
• INCREDIBLE is my new favourite word. Everything here is incredible and in every video we have I am saying that word.
• Singing along (very loudly) to Dilemma by Nelly and Kelly Rowland in the Matatu to Lake Victoria
• "Education is Life! It gives bread and wine, for those who are clever and wise, they never fail in life!" - Children singing at Ongiya Disi Preparatory School...just wait until you see the videos :)
• I got bit by a dog...it really isn't that bad at all and it barely broke skin but it’s funny because I'm the only intern who got the rabies shot. My co-intern Rani got a kick out of this...
o "Amanda's rabies shot - $800...Amanda getting bit by a dog - PRICELESS"
• Our friend wrote a cute message on Jen's birthday card and added "T-H-U-G→ True Homies Under God"
• "How do they hold the pot when it is so hot?" - Interns to Roy about the Yoghurt Mamas
"They are women, they just do it....you are not women." - Roy
Day 26 to 34
Quote of the day: "They are corrupt at the top out of greed, and they are corrupt at the bottom out of necessity" - Chris Hirst, Ongiya Disi Preparatory School sponsor
This was the most INCREDIBLE week of my trip so far and it was an emotional rollercoaster that I will never forget. I shed tears of happiness for the first time in my life on two completely different occasions. The first life changing experience for me was on Friday when we visited Ongiya Disi Preparatory School located on top of a hill in a small village called Ringa. We have met many children and visited a school before but Ongiya Disi is truly something very special. With 227 children and 9 teachers (plus the head teacher, kitchen staff, and maintenance) the school focuses on teaching the children integrity and empowering them out of poverty.
Ongiya Disi was built by an amazing woman named Risper Saituni...the Mother Teresa of Kenya. She has a huge heart and has devoted her life to building hope for the country she loves with this school. The school is currently surviving on the good will of the staff and the local community as they realize that education is their only hope. The teachers are practically volunteers with such a low salary and they are keeping this school alive without corruption (unlike all the government funded schools here). Upon our arrival we received a tour of each classroom and each group of children had a different song or poem for us. The youngest class, age 3 to 5, was definitely my favourite as the children belted out different songs in English led by 1 very young confident girl. Our tour ended with the most amazing song and dance performances by the children, speeches from Risper and Chris Hirst (sponsor who brought us there), and finally speeches from us. As soon as I began to speak my emotions took over and I began to shed tears of happiness. I tried to hold my tears back as I thanked Risper, the teachers, and the children expressing how incredible they all are in every way.
I truly believe that these children can make a difference and that they will be successful in their lives. It is something you really have to experience to believe in which is why I have really good videos for all of you to see! Children are the future and we must start with them to change the world.
Now the project and my second emotional experience...
This week we had 3 Yoghurt Mamas from the Fiti Yoghurt kitchen in Tanzania (up and running for 4 years now) in Oyugis training our Yoghurt Mamas on production, quality control, and hygiene. These women were truly inspirational and I am so proud of them for everything they have done for themselves and everything they have taught our Yoghurt Mamas. The 6 days of training were very successful and I was very impressed by the hard work, dedication, and desire to learn from both women's groups. On our last day of training speeches of thanks were given by the 3 Yoghurt Mamas from Tanzania, one of our Yoghurt Mamas, Roy, and the interns. Again as I started to speak my emotions took over and I cried uncontrollably. I was just so happy and inspired by the Tanzanian Yoghurt Mamas, their incredible leadership, and everything they have accomplished for themselves.
Project Accomplishments:
• Purchasing the necessary lab equipment and supplies for production
• Branding the kitchen FINALLY! We painted the front and side of the kitchen which includes "Jiko La Jamii Dairies", the project title, a dairy cow, and "processors of high quality healthy yoghurt". We also used blackboard paint inside the kitchen and have been using it for production records.
• Training by the Mwanza Yoghurt Mamas is finally complete! Although many of our Yoghurt Mamas were late on the first day of training their attendance and timeliness improved over the week which I was very happy about. I am very proud of all them for their huge amount of self-sacrifice when they leave their families and come to the kitchen for the whole day with no pay and no lunch.
• We have electricity!
Challenges:
• Every day we are faced with the challenge of dealing with people who want to use our phone (and therefore credit), buy them something, give them money, etc. The most difficult part about this is when they are our friends or acquaintances and it is hard for us to say no.
• Another similar challenge is replying to our friends/acquaintances when they ask us how they can get to Canada or to help them get to Canada. Unfortunately almost everyone here believes things are better outside of Kenya in the Western world and they all have dreams of going there. Every time we meet someone I dread this question being brought up...it is very difficult to answer and Kenya is way more beautiful than Canada anyway.
• Changing the stereotypes that everyone has about us. We are staying in the most expensive hotel in Oyugis and we have to purchase every meal out since we don't have a kitchen to cook for ourselves. We would prefer to live in an apartment with our own kitchen especially so people don't judge us as white "cash cows". We also buy a lot of water which people ration here.
• Communication! The biggest communication challenges are with the project work since Roy is the ONLY one in the kitchen who speaks Kiswahili, English, and Luo fluently. Roy was a translating machine this past week and not only was this very difficult but I'm sure many things got lost in translation. I love learning Luo, it is simple and usually white people never learn the language which makes us unique, but Kiswahili is the national language so it is probably more important for us to know that language.
Most Memorable Moments:
• ONGIYA DISI PREPARATORY SCHOOL!!!→ I also saw my first traditional African dance put on by these children :)
• Our 1st customer at the kitchen!!! A small child (about 5 years old) in her school uniform came into the kitchen with money for yoghurt. We gave her a packet for free since the yoghurt was not high quality yet.
• Chasing the young children as they run away screaming and laughing. They love it!
• Kennedy (my favourite soccer friend who is 13 years old) setting up an email account and sending his first email ever to me!
• Celebrating Canada Day decked out in red & white and temporary tattoos, stickers, and flags. By the end of the day we had many children, friends, and the hotel staff all wearing the temporary tattoos and stickers...it was awesome!
• Jen's birthday celebration! We spent Thursday night enjoying Tuskers (Kenyan beer) with our local friends and Saturday we had a fabulous trip to Lake Victoria! Lake Victoria is East Africa's most important geographical feature and the best part of this trip was the sweet boat ride we took on a really old gorgeous wooden sailboat (without a sail...just giant paddles) :)
• The Tanzanian Yoghurt Mamas thanking us for our self-sacrifice and commenting on how difficult it is for our parents to let us come here.
o Also, when we held elections for the kitchen positions one of our Yoghurt Mamas nominated me as Secretary as a joke
Life in Kenya:
• The average elevation of Oyugis is 1420 meters, about 4686 feet, compared to Toronto at 270 meters.
• WOMEN: Hair maintenance is very expensive so many young girls have their heads shaved and sometimes we have trouble distinguishing whether some children are male or female.
• CHILDREN: Jen and I observed the children and discussed the young ones looking after the babies as usual. We realized that when parents have more children it really isn't more work for them because they just have their older children looking after the young ones. Children grow up so fast and mature at a very young age learning to cook, look after their younger siblings, do the laundry, clean the house, etc.
• SCHOOL: A field trip for many children in Kenya is a trip to the supermarket where they learn to shop, pick an item, take it to the checkout, and make a purchase. This is something I would have never imagined but for these children it is educational and an important thing for them to learn.
• There is a sign that says "HIV/AIDS keep off or use condoms" at a junction near the market and kitchen
• We have been told that witches exist in Kisii (30 mins from Oyugis). They eat human corpses (by tapping on the grave and the coffin just comes up) believing that it gives them strength. They also use human hands as stir sticks when making alcoholic brews.
• Our hotel guards use a bow and arrow as their weapon. I have now witnessed one of the guards bring it out twice now after our friends were at the gates...it's nice to know that we are protected but I get really scared when they are pointing them at our friends!
Quotes and memories:
• INCREDIBLE is my new favourite word. Everything here is incredible and in every video we have I am saying that word.
• Singing along (very loudly) to Dilemma by Nelly and Kelly Rowland in the Matatu to Lake Victoria
• "Education is Life! It gives bread and wine, for those who are clever and wise, they never fail in life!" - Children singing at Ongiya Disi Preparatory School...just wait until you see the videos :)
• I got bit by a dog...it really isn't that bad at all and it barely broke skin but it’s funny because I'm the only intern who got the rabies shot. My co-intern Rani got a kick out of this...
o "Amanda's rabies shot - $800...Amanda getting bit by a dog - PRICELESS"
• Our friend wrote a cute message on Jen's birthday card and added "T-H-U-G→ True Homies Under God"
• "How do they hold the pot when it is so hot?" - Interns to Roy about the Yoghurt Mamas
"They are women, they just do it....you are not women." - Roy
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Embrace Life
Date: Monday June 22 to Friday June 26
Day 21 to 25
Quote of the day: Impossible things can happen
The Project:
Unfortunately our project work this week was very slow, complicated, and frustrating. We wanted to spend the week completing some necessary tasks for production to start (which is our main priority at the moment) but instead we had some financing limitations and other restrictions from KEMRI (Kenyan Medical Research Institute) which held us back. Instead we worked on anything and everything that we could think of to do for the kitchen.
Our accomplishments this week:
• Financial statements including a balance sheet and projected income statement. These tasks have been very difficult to complete with such large amounts of missing information (e.g. start-up costs). As well we must decide whether to create these statements for the kitchen as a commercial business or as a project including the World Bank funding and the study.
• Completed a rough draft of a business plan for the project kitchen in Oyugis (including the study)→ this will be used by all stakeholders involved. We can also make slight changes to the business plan to make it appropriate for the kitchen as a commercial business.
• TRAINING→ On Thursday we had a very successful training session with 9 of the women from The Orande Women’s Group (our Yoghurt Mamas). Unfortunately I was sick and had to stay home at the hotel :( I wanted to be there more than anything to see the Yoghurt Mamas again!
o Topics covered: project summary, yoghurt benefits, the Yoghurt Mamas, and Yoghurt Mama profiles (occupation, why they are involved, goals, etc.)
o I created a project summary sheet for the Orande Women's Group which includes the objective of the project, the benefits of the probiotic yoghurt, the role of the Yoghurt Mamas, information on the study, and a list of resources/contacts. This information was reviewed with them on Thursday as part of their training. Many stakeholders have not read the project proposal so this document will be used as a brief but thorough summary of the necessary project information.
• I also worked on my personal work responsibilities by summarizing some information informally to assess the cultural and intercultural communication issues around business decisions among the program stakeholders in Oyugis.
• I received feedback from the Yoghurt Mamas on the marketing materials (poster, flyer, and packaging inserts) and made necessary changes to make them more eye-catching with clear and concise information
• I designed and created client ID cards and dairy farmer tender posters
o Although Roy already has milk suppliers, KEMRI is requiring us to distribute the posters to attract milk suppliers for formality
• We created the training schedule for next week when the Tukwamuane Women's Group from Tanzania will be training our Yoghurt Mamas. These women have been involved with the Western Heads East project for 4 years and they are successfully operating the Fiti Yoghurt kitchen in Mwanza. This training will be very empowering for both women's groups and I know that the Orande Women's Group will gain more hope and excitement for the project after next week. Some things that will be covered in this training are:
o Hygiene & cleaning procedures
o Yoghurt production process
o Business practices: sales & distribution, record keeping, ethics, financial statements (opening and closing entries)
o Personal benefits for the Yoghurt Mamas
I love the work and it is so great to actually be using what I've learned in school. We face many challenges every day and work is very slow (something we are not used to at Ivey) but we are doing absolutely everything we can to get the kitchen up and running.
Challenges:
• We have a long list of THINGS TO PURCHASE BEFORE PRODUCTION which we wanted to buy this week but unfortunately KEMRI, a government institution with a lot more authority than us, has very specific requirements which must be met and they are extremely slow on transferring funds so this did not happen.
o As well our project manager Roy has ordered many of the necessary supplies for the kitchen and we are still waiting (after many weeks) to receive them.
• Although the Western Heads East project is very important to many people it is a very small project for KEMRI and this makes it extremely difficult for anything to get done.
Most Memorable Moments:
• Watching a group of kids (about 7 or 8 years old) taking turns riding an adult's bicycle down a hill. The kids would stand on one side of the bike with 1 leg through the bars to reach the other pedal. It was incredible.
• Climbing a tree at Oyugis Primary school. It was COVERED in ants so I was a little hesitant at first but of course I just climbed away. The children who followed us up the tree were like monkeys climbing at double the speed of us.
• Again I have to mention the children yelling my name Everywhere we go I get many children who have now replaced “Mzungu!” with “Amanda!”
• Tracy (our 2 year old neighbour) speaking for the first time ever!
• Making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! Yummmm...after eating huge portions of chicken or beef with rice or potatoes it is nice to have a smaller option available for lunch or dinner
Life in Kenya:
THE CHILDREN→ usually the children wear exactly the same thing clothing every single day (which is usually ripped or the wrong size). I can't believe how much we complained to our parents about wearing hand-me-downs. Their feet, hands, and faces are very dirty and the soles of their feet are as hard as rock from running around without shoes. One time I attempted to play soccer without shoes but barely lasted 10 seconds...running on the stones and hard ground was so painful!
• Children don't cry very often but when they do their parents are usually not around and so they are left to cry on their own.
I constantly think about how grateful I am to be here and how perfect this opportunity is for me. I love everything about the project and living in Africa is an incredible experience. I will always have a place in my heart for Oyugis, the project, and the people I have met here. I wake up everyday and still can't believe that just over a month ago I had no idea what my summer plans were and now I am living my dream.
Day 21 to 25
Quote of the day: Impossible things can happen
The Project:
Unfortunately our project work this week was very slow, complicated, and frustrating. We wanted to spend the week completing some necessary tasks for production to start (which is our main priority at the moment) but instead we had some financing limitations and other restrictions from KEMRI (Kenyan Medical Research Institute) which held us back. Instead we worked on anything and everything that we could think of to do for the kitchen.
Our accomplishments this week:
• Financial statements including a balance sheet and projected income statement. These tasks have been very difficult to complete with such large amounts of missing information (e.g. start-up costs). As well we must decide whether to create these statements for the kitchen as a commercial business or as a project including the World Bank funding and the study.
• Completed a rough draft of a business plan for the project kitchen in Oyugis (including the study)→ this will be used by all stakeholders involved. We can also make slight changes to the business plan to make it appropriate for the kitchen as a commercial business.
• TRAINING→ On Thursday we had a very successful training session with 9 of the women from The Orande Women’s Group (our Yoghurt Mamas). Unfortunately I was sick and had to stay home at the hotel :( I wanted to be there more than anything to see the Yoghurt Mamas again!
o Topics covered: project summary, yoghurt benefits, the Yoghurt Mamas, and Yoghurt Mama profiles (occupation, why they are involved, goals, etc.)
o I created a project summary sheet for the Orande Women's Group which includes the objective of the project, the benefits of the probiotic yoghurt, the role of the Yoghurt Mamas, information on the study, and a list of resources/contacts. This information was reviewed with them on Thursday as part of their training. Many stakeholders have not read the project proposal so this document will be used as a brief but thorough summary of the necessary project information.
• I also worked on my personal work responsibilities by summarizing some information informally to assess the cultural and intercultural communication issues around business decisions among the program stakeholders in Oyugis.
• I received feedback from the Yoghurt Mamas on the marketing materials (poster, flyer, and packaging inserts) and made necessary changes to make them more eye-catching with clear and concise information
• I designed and created client ID cards and dairy farmer tender posters
o Although Roy already has milk suppliers, KEMRI is requiring us to distribute the posters to attract milk suppliers for formality
• We created the training schedule for next week when the Tukwamuane Women's Group from Tanzania will be training our Yoghurt Mamas. These women have been involved with the Western Heads East project for 4 years and they are successfully operating the Fiti Yoghurt kitchen in Mwanza. This training will be very empowering for both women's groups and I know that the Orande Women's Group will gain more hope and excitement for the project after next week. Some things that will be covered in this training are:
o Hygiene & cleaning procedures
o Yoghurt production process
o Business practices: sales & distribution, record keeping, ethics, financial statements (opening and closing entries)
o Personal benefits for the Yoghurt Mamas
I love the work and it is so great to actually be using what I've learned in school. We face many challenges every day and work is very slow (something we are not used to at Ivey) but we are doing absolutely everything we can to get the kitchen up and running.
Challenges:
• We have a long list of THINGS TO PURCHASE BEFORE PRODUCTION which we wanted to buy this week but unfortunately KEMRI, a government institution with a lot more authority than us, has very specific requirements which must be met and they are extremely slow on transferring funds so this did not happen.
o As well our project manager Roy has ordered many of the necessary supplies for the kitchen and we are still waiting (after many weeks) to receive them.
• Although the Western Heads East project is very important to many people it is a very small project for KEMRI and this makes it extremely difficult for anything to get done.
Most Memorable Moments:
• Watching a group of kids (about 7 or 8 years old) taking turns riding an adult's bicycle down a hill. The kids would stand on one side of the bike with 1 leg through the bars to reach the other pedal. It was incredible.
• Climbing a tree at Oyugis Primary school. It was COVERED in ants so I was a little hesitant at first but of course I just climbed away. The children who followed us up the tree were like monkeys climbing at double the speed of us.
• Again I have to mention the children yelling my name Everywhere we go I get many children who have now replaced “Mzungu!” with “Amanda!”
• Tracy (our 2 year old neighbour) speaking for the first time ever!
• Making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! Yummmm...after eating huge portions of chicken or beef with rice or potatoes it is nice to have a smaller option available for lunch or dinner
Life in Kenya:
THE CHILDREN→ usually the children wear exactly the same thing clothing every single day (which is usually ripped or the wrong size). I can't believe how much we complained to our parents about wearing hand-me-downs. Their feet, hands, and faces are very dirty and the soles of their feet are as hard as rock from running around without shoes. One time I attempted to play soccer without shoes but barely lasted 10 seconds...running on the stones and hard ground was so painful!
• Children don't cry very often but when they do their parents are usually not around and so they are left to cry on their own.
I constantly think about how grateful I am to be here and how perfect this opportunity is for me. I love everything about the project and living in Africa is an incredible experience. I will always have a place in my heart for Oyugis, the project, and the people I have met here. I wake up everyday and still can't believe that just over a month ago I had no idea what my summer plans were and now I am living my dream.
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