Tip of the Iceberg

News from Kenya, both from our contacts on the ground and media reports, indicates that violence and attacks persist in the cities and Western region of the country.  New outbreaks have been appearing now in the Central region as well.

Felix Masi, our contact in Kenya, provided this eyewitness account of his work in Korogocho slum, Nairobi...

"I am back from the slums visiting our friends and small shopping for their upkeep.  Women are living in great fear for rape and attack, I hope peace prevails soon.

I visited one of our clients, a social worker Florence, who is caring for a victim of rape by young men three days ago. She was robbed off her belongings, her husband fled when they threatened to kill him, and the family is living apart with their children under care of her sister. 

I am keeping fingers crossed and keeping the faith for a new Kenya."

It is often the vulnerable that suffer most during these times of conflict and anger.  Rahab Ngugi, Manager of Patient Services, Nairobi Women's Hospital echoes Felix when she is interviewed in this BBC Report (Click on title to link directly to the BBC Report) ...

Women and children: Target of Abuse

We are committed to continuing our efforts to provide funds for food and emergency items to the innocent and the vulnerable during this unsettled time in Kenya.  We thank those of you who have responded this week with donations of nearly $1,000!  Please know that it is being put to immediate use.  Knowing that others care to help also helps lift the spirit of care providers like Felix who have witnessed very difficult human conditions in these past four weeks.

Please feel free to share this blog with friends and colleagues.  

A little bit from a lot of people will make a world of difference!

Unrest Continues in Kenya

These two articles, which appear on Newsvine and the Globe and Mail, describe the current climate in Kenya.

1. While the presence of former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is considered a positive step, violent demonstrations continue in the capital city of Nairobi. (Click on titles to link directly to articles)
Protesters Burn Government Buildings (Newsvine)
2. The impact of the unrest and challenges to daily living are most directly felt by women and children.
Impact on Women and Children (Globe and Mail)
We can only hope that there will be some progress this week in bringing the two political sides together and beginning a dialogue of reconciliation.

What can you do to help? PASS THE WORD along that we are making things happen to support Grandmother Families through this difficult time.

Thank you for taking time to read our blog and updates.

Two Degrees of Separation...

The catalyst for creating this Emergency Fund was the feedback that came, almost immediately from Kenya when the political unrest broke out. Life basics such as cooking fuel had doubled in price. A liter of parrafin, which is used for cooking and as a lightsource, was now $2 a canister. That may seem inexpensive by Western standards, but for grandmother families, it was a huge set back. The average daily wage is $1.

For those of you who aren't familiar with "grandmother families", they are a very special segment of sub-Saharan African life. The AIDS pandemic has taken a huge toll on the "parent generation" of this part of the world. In the wake of losing their own children to the disease, grandmothers have stepped up to raise extended families of "grandchildren". Many are caring for upwards of 10 children. Public school is free, but high school requires tuition. Now in their elder years, they are faced with feeding, housing and educating the future generation. And they are nobly committed to educating their grandchildren!

Organizations like the Stephen Lewis Foundation, have recognized the amazing resource of these women and have created on-the-ground support for them. Voiceless Children, a Kenyan-based organization which was founded by a grandmother-raised orphan, Felix Masi, is also part of the solution. In a "normal year", Voiceless Children tends to grandmother families in the slums of Nairobi and villages of Western Kenya. Helping with food & supplies, housing, school fees and small business start-ups, it has become a thriving example of providing a solution from within Africa.

The recent violence that erupted from disputed election results, has created even greater obstacles for those who were devoted to building community solutions. Women and children are bearing the brunt of the violence and harsh living conditions.

In this case, rather than being on the sidelines to a global story, we have reliable contacts on the ground in Kenya who can help ease the burden of these grandmother families. Voiceless Children is a registered charity in the US and currently being processed as an NGO (non-government organization) in Kenya.

I can assure you that word of "strangers from far away" sending donations to help ease their suffering will lighten the hearts of these amazing elder women and their children. We will keep you posted on the progress of the fund (the Chipin box will show a running tally) and hopefully, a few photos of the supplies being delivered.

The new year has arrived with much unrest in the world. Knowing that you are only two degrees of separation from a solution will hopefully lift your heart in the spirit of helping.

One global family, One loving heart...

Launching Voiceless Children Emergency Fund

Welcome to Voiceless Children Emergency Fund.  This initiative has been created to support grandmother families in Kenya (specifically Nairobi and Western Kenya).

We received news yesterday (January 18th, 2008) from Felix Masi, founder of the Kenyan-based organization, Voiceless Children.  Here is an excerpt of that message...

"... it's not business as usual in Kenya.  I have witnessed over six killings using live bullets by Kenyan police today in Kibera, including a ten-year old girl at her house.  I am thinking of how to get Silas, alongside other families, into the rescue camp.  I hope they are fine where they are.  We lost communication since yesterday."

These are people we've come to know through the filming and production of the documentary, "A Grandmother's Tribe" and it is unimaginable that these elder women, having survived the loss of their own children to HIV/AIDS & caring now for their grandchildren... are now struggling for the life basics of food, cooking fuel and basic medical supplies.

We hope you will join us in helping these amazing women and the children in their care.

To DONATE (through PayPal secure sites), you can either use the "Chipin" box on the top right of this page or  link to... www.voicelesschildren.org/donation.html

Thank you for your generous support and caring...