Toronto! Cities Alive!

Hello,

JP and I met in toronto mid october and it has been a flurry of activity ever since... we went over all that has happened in 2009 and where we are headed for 2010. There was no shortage of ideas and direction for AI... so stay tuned

After JP left I headed to the cities alive conference and had a close look at some of toronto's beautiful green roofs! There is alot happening in the world of green roofs and cities alive was the place to be. There were delegates from all over the planet: germany, the Netherlands, France, China, Chile and Brazil. There were tons of unique projects from green walls in subway stations to clean air in Santiago, to forest rooftops in Singapore. there was also some definitve research showing that green roofs reduce annual temperatures in cities by 1-5 degrees ( i know that doesn't sound like alot but it is a big accomplishment as it that much of a difference which is raising our oceans and melting our ice caps! so here is to green roofs! and aren't they pretty!

Architecture for Humanity: Cameron sinclair

Open source architecture that is changing the world.... It is amazing how easy and possible it is for all of us to make a huge difference quickly!

Confession's of a Radical Industrialist

Here is an excerpt from Ray Anderson, a keynote at the West

Coast Green Conference I attended at the beginning of October.

He has a very interesting point of view and has changed

the face of how we look at Industrialism and big business.

Good Stuff!

Karamana's Letters

Seems as all is going well with KACH and the gardens.... Here are a few excerpts from Karamana's recent letters

October 2nd, 2009

"Hello Hi Lisa how are you? we are all fine here in meru,kach is doing really well The gardens are doing good we use the vegetables from the gardens most of the times. The onions are very good and have an amazing taste in the food . Several Blocks have been prepared on the other farm and the children help over the weekends. Simion and benard have done a good job.They instruct the children while working on the blocks.Am sure youll be amazed when you see the pictures.The Gate is now fixed ,there is a beautiful round about with a path leading to the kitchen and to the animal shed. About the Permaculture conference i would really love to be apart of it.this will enable us get very good information on how to bring the change we are advocating to our community. i have been sharing the idea of bringing nature back to nature ,with several groups.The biggest challenge is there interest to come and see our gardens. We were hoping to see you in nov. but since things have changed we undestand and we will keep doing the work here at our level best. we wish you all the best and thank you for each and everything.Thank you so much for the books you sent us.there is one that is really helpfull(herbal body care business)when i finish reading i will tell you more about it.asante sana..... regards to all your friends... peace and love karamana." October 6th, 2009

"Hello Lisa, How are you? It is my prayer that you are doing well. I am writing to thank you very much for the organic gardens which provide vegetables for the kitchen. There were 3 malnutritioned children who came to kach. The vegetables from the gardens have done a transformation in their health. Asante sana. We are expecting the rains any time from now. I will grow bushes of Rosemary. Simon and Bernard have really changed the face of the other farm. The blocks already have vegetables and the kids were working on others on Saturday. Will forward pictures soon. Pass our warm greetings to all. Peace/Love Karamana."

SEEDS WORKSHOP

Here are a few shots of the seed workshop by the Organic Seed Alliance at Abbondanza Farm. I will be taking over several varieties for testing in November!!!

Bikes and bikes part 2.

Since we've been staying at KACH, we don't make the commute from Makutano to Kithoka on our bikes.  We've been enjoying the time we get to spend with the "fortunate" few who moved into KACH but in the last few days.  I've been thinking a lot about Makutano's main intersection kids, the ones who still sleep on the street every night.  A lot of people have given up on chokoras because they are "too hard to rehabilitate".  To be honest, I know I don't have what it takes to truly help them myself.. or is it courage I'm lacking?

We've heard about how a lots of them escape homes like KACH to go back to the streets... too addicted to glue or simply unable to integrate with other kids their age.  In the street, they have their own world, their own rules, I assume they find some level of comfort there.

Lisa talked to Simon (who looks after the garden at KACH) about starting gardens in Makutano, where the street kids would work and eat from.  Everyone is exited about the idea but more thinking needs to be done before it becomes reality.

Funny how our encounters with the chokoras was the part we dreaded most about our bike ride home.  By the end of the trip, it was the part we were looking forward to.  As we approached the main intersection, we'd wait to see little barefoot people running out of alleys, screaming "Mike!  ..JP!".  We'd nod and invite them to follow us if we had food, a couple would jump on our bike racks, we would  go around the corner and pull over at the next gas station's parking lot, step back while they eat, share food with each other, fight a bit, yell a bit, throw rocks at bigger kids coming to steal from them...  Watching them eat was like watching the animal channel.  But once the food was all gone, there was no more reason for them to hurry or to be on their guards.  That's when we could enjoy a bit of time with them, learn a few more swahili words, learn about where they are from, how they got there, share smiles and laughs..  (they always got a kick out of our ki-swahili and ki-meru lines, and how hairy our legs are...!)

Statistics say that by the time they are 20, most of these kids will be dangerous criminals.  Desperate to belong, kids who are left on their own are more prone to be  pulled in the wrong direction.  As I'm about to go back to Canada, I can't help wondering what will happen to Kevin, Lino, Patrick, Emmanuel, Bundy, Tony, Francis and the rest of the crew we met this year..  When will I find the courage do something about it..?

Tina.

Tina Fleishman is a psychologist from Vail.  She came in just a few days ago to spend some time with the kids.  Some of the things she will discuss with them are peace, group dynamics, the concept of family, cooperation, character education and values.  It's so great to have her around.

Smiles

We keep telling ourselves that, even though we came here to work for the children, we don't need to be able to see them or have any kind of interaction with them..  We like to think that we can be self-less enough to just do our work without meeting with the people it will affect.  But the truth is, all these thoughts go out the window the moment we get to see the kids or the people who will be working at KACH.  I can't explain how happy it makes me when I see them smile.  Today we put work aside to go play with everyone and enjoy some of these smiles.  That's our real pay off.  If I had to, I would do 10 times the amount of work I did here just to see one of these smiles.

Anyone who helped along the way, These pictures are dedicated to you,

Enjoy.

Clinic.

We took the kids to a free medical clinic set up by the Kenya Red Cross.  They are in fairly good shape, some we showing signs of malnutrition, most of them got de-warmer medication and they all handled going to the doc like champs!

When we got back home it was arts and crafts time..

First morning at KACH!

Some of the kids got up at 6:30 to do their chores (make their beds, clean the floors and bathrooms).  Before breakfast, we did a morning workout with Dolphine, our dance instructor!  Lots of laughs...

The kids are in!

Today is extremely hard to describe with words...  and I don't think pictures can do it either... 

We went and picked up the first kids who will be staying at KACH.  Some seemed extremely excited about going (mostly the ones who had no real home and/or the ones who already knew Karambu, Mikey or myself) some of them seemed scared and a little confused.  KACH is such a great concept to me that I forgot about how, no matter how gentle the transition may be, moving to a new house with new faces can be difficult and scary.  As we drove through the Meru district, stopping at different boarding schools and houses, I became progressively more anxious to see how well the kids were going to adjust to their new surroundings..

As they moved in, they all seemed super happy and comfortable with each other!  Mikey, Karambu and I spent the night at KACH with them.  As I was laying in bed, I felt like I had to pinch myself to realize where I was and what was going on.  I kept telling myself: "I can't beleive I'm laying down on a bed in KACH right now!  The kids are here, they have a home, a new family and they seem happy!  Their new life starts right now!!"

I can't wait to see alice smile!!

Looking for Nora and Mercy was kind of like "where's waldo"

Faith and Patrick's father past away two weeks ago.

Their mom had been gone for a few years and they were now living

with their grand parents, who were having a hard time providing

for them.  All the kids moving in today have their stories..

most of the stories are not pretty..

Linet was picked up on the road by a lady who lived with her

110 year old mother.  She stayed with them for a few months

while KACH was being built.  As Linet was leaving them today,

the old lady grabbed her hand and gave her some advice about

boys, about being herself, making choices etc... Very powerfull..

"Welcome package"; toothbrushes, soaps, cups, towels, home made quilt

and  beanie babies!

Playing games to break the ice.

Taking a tour of the place with Karambu.

Dennis was so excited to move in that he forgot to pack half his things!