When all you hear is “Don’t try that, you will not make it”

Sometimes we wake up feeling very excited about a day. We expect a perfect day where we will amongst other things engage in activities set for it with no buts coming our way. Occasionally, we do have unique plans, and we wish that nothing goes wrong about the plan(s). When we manage to live a day as planned, it is always our moment of glory. However, when we face obstacles right from the very beginning, then it’ll take more than endurance to wield through.

Since last year, I got involved in an environmental project.  Ran by a group of students, it seeks to transform the waste sector in my community. As a group of students, we face a major challenge of factoring in adequate time to learn more about waste management in our society while also spending time in weekly to monthly activities around environmental management and conservation. Sometimes a month or semester elapses and we don’t quite meet our goals. But we have never at any time thought about quitting. There are many things in life that an individual may not be sure about, but when you finally identify what you are passionate about, then no one can stop you from pursuing it. Perhaps that’s one reason why I have personally devoted my time and energy to ensure that I will gain the necessary competency and skills to see the dream of proper waste management translate into action.

In a real world, I have come to understand more than ever before that you never reach your limit without a constant flow and blow of obstacles. Obstacles will always rain on you.  I sit down today and wonder whether to just let go of an opportunity whose occurrence probability is very slim. I have talked to the “right persons” about a certain pathway to take and most of them suggested a ‘no, back off or try something else or this is not going to work’. The most discouraging of them all was this particular morning when my own professor made me feel stupid and reckless by the kind of attitude and thoughts he shared. I got to a point where I began questioning my sanity and non-relenting attitude especially because that was not the first “I suggest you drop it” advice echoed to me in barely a fortnight. Yes it may not work, but can’t we always try and get to the ‘no it didn’t sail through point?’ Why is human nature more discouraging often that pursuing? If it were not for the constant trial nature even when one is losing a million times, then we wouldn’t be in the progressive world we see today.

Having felt terribly laid back and discouraged, I am not about to stop. I am pushing our idea through until the very end where the judge’s verdict may give us a reason to stop. Only then will I be content even upon getting an answer of “No try next time”. My mind is continuously whispering the little words ‘never underestimate the power of trying’. And if you can’t try then don’t be the fellow who is always quick to make a final negative comment towards a motivated/passion-driven mind. Because it’s only by that extra scoop of passion that we get things done differently.

It’s 3rd year!

For the past 5 days I have been in school this new semester, I haven’t failed to notice a new wave amongst students who enrolled for freshman year with me about 2 years ago. Assuming most of us are now in 3^rd year, I have observed a few aspects of “3^rd years” that make us different from the toddler/ freshmen timidly nature we exhibited in the past 2 years. That most people become more mature, responsible and caring of what brought them to school is something on point. Interacting with a couple of my peers and college-mates has given me the chance to quickly scribble a list of notes on what it means to be in 3^rd year. And I am excited to share them. But my list is bound to change or widen with time.

Here’s my quick pick of what it means to be a 3^rd year:

•    It’s time to shape my degree. That’s what I’ve always heard ever since I walked into my campus, that the degree takes its shape when you cross into 3^rd year. It may not be true, but at least most of us believe it is. And thus there is more concentration in academia.

•        I got to choose the best of friends from the numerous friends I have been trying to make. Somehow we meet new people each day, but some of them don’t count at the end of the day. And in 3^rd year, we know who exactly is a best /pest friend.

•        I have to sharpen my networking skills. I have less than 2 years to be out there in the job market. I cannot wait to get employed by applying for jobs when I am out of school. The student/person I meet along the corridors, or at the school photocopier joint, or outside my library could be a potential employer or adviser on how I can be self-employed. It’s time to be nice, more sociable and friendly.

•        I got to drop my ego. We all have egos. We always want to appear on the upper side. But in 3^rd year, it’s time to put it down and take in corrections. My ego will not land me an attachment or internship or a good degree.

•       My principles must be well grounded or firmed. Most of us have principles when we get in campus. Some of us don’t, because we are too excited to be in campus. But sometimes we fall off trying to be like our cool buddies. In 3^rd year, we got to set at least some basic principles to ensure we are not merely wannabes.

•        It’s the majoring year. This happens a lot in my school. For the past two years we have been dealing  with general units meant to lay a good foundation for us in whatever field we’re getting into. In 3^rd year, we have the privilege of making options from a list of units to be studied. That bit of choice making creates a new feeling in us, it also sort of reminds us of 3^rd year in high school where we had to make choices. This time round, it’s not just about subjects we feel strongest at, we have to select units we love doing and which give us a good start/elevation into our career life.

•        I feel quite mature and all grown up. Some of the things we did in the past 2 years probably happened out of reflex action. But in 3^rd year, we look and feel all different. Our confidence is boosted (to those of us who never had it) automatically. We no longer giggle and laugh over silly nothings like  when a friend gives an incorrect answer in class.

From one 3rd year to another, this list varies or becomes populated. For those of us in 3^rd year not feeling anything different except the fact that it’s a new academic year for us, it’s time to take a reality check! Because we are not really okay, not unless we are enrolled for a 3 year course program or less, and we are therefore not going through a 4 year campus life.

Promoting Craft Art in the community to earn Income.

In August, I did a month long internship at a local Interior and Gifts shop called Goodies Limited. I am a science major student and therefore interning in an Art area was something that got most people I mingle with surprised. I remember going for a part time job interview a week after commencing my internship and my interviewer didn’t quite understand what on earth I was doing in an art field. 

 Actually, I hadn’t thought about trying something different from my major or related until I attended a Women-to-Women leadership conference a fortnight before my internship. It was during W2W that I met young girls from diverse backgrounds and cultures who had different skills and talents. And my desire to learn more in the art world was inspired by one Sarah Shaibani, a young girl who loves drawing and painting. She wanted to use her art talent to improve and promote arts back home in Libya where she felt they had rich art culture that wasn’t being adequately promoted. I felt challenged by her action plan and wanted to learn something about local art back home in Kenya. As I had long known a lady who was encouraging and promoting art talents among local as a way of helping them earn a living, I felt it was time to work with her and gather as much info as I could. I would later develop an interest for African Interiors for my future house!

The highlight of my internship came in the last week when I accompanied Goodie(my boss) and April(Goodie’s friend) to an art workshop (exchange visit) in Dandora phase 5. In May 2011, the 2 of them together with other ladies started “Sally-Ann Products”, a group through which they promote art talent among local women in Dandora, Embu, Kibera, and Makadara amongst other areas. Currently, Sally-Anne operates through the Salvation Army church which has provided a gateway for Goodie and her team to run the project especially because it targets a society part which would otherwise be difficult to penetrate given the circumstances facing such areas. Sally-Ann helps the women learn how to make various art products such as baskets, mats and beaded jewelry and thereafter sell them to earn an income. Most of these women based in slum areas are unemployed with no source of income. But through art, they are now able to feed their families by making an honest living. The group has held several workshops since inception aimed at empowering these women, it organizes exchange visits which bring together women in various sub-groups to learn from each other, share their challenges and have new ideas to better their work when they get back home. So far, Sally-Anne has been able to make quality baskets and jewelry some of them gaining market as far as Norway. A majority of the products are also sold locally through outlets such as Goodie’s and other art shops. The group has been able to attract more women, including HIV+ women whom have not only found a niche to earn an income, but they are encouraged and given hope to live each new day. 

Amongst some of the initiatives started by the project is “table banking” for Dandora women. This is an easy way into micro-financing. Table banking is a method through which people borrow small moneys (usually ksh. 2000 or 3000) for use in starting up a business in weaving. I was able to listen to some of the beneficiary women of table banking speak joyously about how helpful the business loan had helped them. Some of the women, once not able to afford to afford needs such as school uniforms for their kids are now able to buy their children uniforms and support them more in their schooling. 

I was impressed by the approach used to conduct the training. It was a practical class where the participants (local women) were engaged in activities that gave them an opportunity to learn new things they needed to do to keep their work standing. There wasn’t at any one time an activity which required a pen and paper to write for the sake of remembrance…one could remember most of the lessons by just visualizing the activity done. If only our school curriculum would be that consumable, I think all pupils and students would be craving for school! The workshop also provided a session where women would reflect back on how the project started, the challenges they have faced all through. Sally-Anne was indeed a voyage whose end was depicted by a ray from the sun on a drawing chart with a track of the rapids and cataracts in every step of the way. It is not often that we have people sit down to categorically talk about what happened every month of the way until where they are now. That gave me a challenge at an individual level to be more specific and detailed about what I do as far as my project work is concerned. 

I was also impressed by the fact that each group was ready to work as a team and do all that is humanly possible in ensuring it achieved its goal(s). Earlier on we had had an exciting, heart-throbbing session on creating goals. I worked in a team which didn’t manage to be the best in the goal-activity, but I had so much fun and learnt a thing or two about my team members. In a team, we have people of different abilities, and the most important thing learning how to accommodate and tolerate each team member for who they are including some of those innate traits in them that we cannot change. After all, it is what makes a team unique.

The Voice of the youths will matter in stabilizing our nation’s peace more than ever before!

Having peace or leaving in a country where peace prevails at all times should be considered an invaluable gift. While it is easy to stay with a neighbor over a long period of time without hurting one another, it is easier destroying such harmony and in the process hate on one another to the extent of killing each other.

December 31^st polls of 2007 will live to linger in the minds of Kenyans who witnessed the bizarre incidences that occurred. It will also be a story to be told to many generations of Kenyans to come and the tale will be a nasty account. Friends who had long known each other suddenly became enemies over a disputed election, and the enmity resulted in mayhem, killings, rape cases and violation of human rights in its worst form. Fire was set on valuable property; thousands were displaced from the places they had known/called homes in a long time. The economy was quickly tumbling. It was a period of mourning. The deficiency in supply of necessities such a food was gradually encroaching. And to mention that the root course to all that was thirst for political power is something not pleasant to talk about. It beats logic when human sense can be overridden by power and political greed.

5 years down the line, we are back to a period of voting for our leaders again. It is patriotic to exercise one’s voting rights and choosing a leader whom s/he believes in. Therefore, going through a period of uncertainty in terms of who will be declared a winner or loser of the upcoming 2013 polls is not an option. We have to get there somehow. But this time round Kenyans have learnt a lot more; that our nation is bigger than any one of us; that our lives are more valuable than the leaders who seek our hand in the ballot box and that we are a nation whose peace surpasses anything we could ever desire. I am particularly impressed by the efforts that the youths have made to ensure that we don’t have a replay of what we saw after 31^st December. According to statistics, majority of Kenyans who voted in 2007 were youths. The youths make up the largest demography figures and matter a great deal to any aspiring contester. Most of the violence experienced in 07 had huge participation from youths (whom of course were incited by political figures). In a way, the youths determine the leadership of this country, they may not be controlling the economy for now, but the rate in which they are taking up responsibilities is amicable. 

Several initiatives and projects have been started by youths throughout the country with a key purpose of promoting peace. Talents are used to preach a gospel that every Kenyan needs to hear……”may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty as our national anthem puts it.” We have learnt not to take peace for granted. And we will not let it be taken away from us, no matter the cost. One group that I managed to catch up with on the weekend of August 11^th is “I AM KENYAN PROJECT”.

 Led by an 18 year old Sophie, the team has managed to use social media and photography to preach peace. It’s a simple thing to do; take photos of you or your friend or your community with a message that you are Kenyan, feel proud that you are Kenyan and take a step further to share the photos through I am Kenyan social media pages or email. The Saturday event marked a climax of a project that has been long running (for almost a year now) by capturing voices and videos in more than 60 countries. It had Kenyans(majority were youths) make a peace walk from Uhuru park through the city’s CBD on Haille Sellasie avenue, Kenyatta avenue and back to Uhuru park where a live music concert was held incorporating Local artists such as Juliani, Eko Dyda and Holy Dave. Also present was Helen Mutawali (singer/ lecturer at Daystar university but popularly known for her principal role in Tusker Project Fame Academy). Sponsored by Coca-cola, USAID, PACT, ACT and G4S among others, the event brought together hundreds of Kenyans from different tribes, and they all stood out in one voice of “I am Kenyan”. Thanks to our local media (ntv and kiss 100 fm) for blowing the event details through their daily broadcasts. Each participant had a chance to sign a banner promising to keep peace in Kenya. Sophie and her team would thereafter take these signatures to the office of the president and other leaders informing them on what the voice of the youths says regarding peace, and requiring them to sign as well in agreement that they will keep/preach peace in the next polls whether they win or not (for those who intend to run for office again). I have no doubt that this will be a wakeup call to our leaders that they must do as the public wishes. After all, we choose and task them to lead us, it is not a favor they do us when in office. We cannot lose Kenya in a day, never ever. 

Over the last 5 years, I have seen youths lead campaigns to promote peace. As youths, we know that we are the people who can save our nation from the haunting scenes we witnessed. I have a reason to believe that it is the voice of the youths that will determine the aftermath of our polls. We may not have significant number of youths run for office, but our stand is significant. It is upon us to remind other youths in all parts of our nation that we cannot let our leaders tell us how best to treat one another. “I am Kenyan project” is one of the ways a youth can get involved in a peace promoting initiative. Follow them on face book, twitter and website and talk peace to a fellow Kenyan. Come Aug 2013, same day and time as 12^th August, my wish is that we will be celebrating the peace we upheld in our polls, and feel proud that no one influenced us to hate on each other. We are now in a period of panting….everyone is watching with a lot of “what if it happens again?” Predictions already have it that should history repeat itself, we will be in for a multiplied and worse experience of what we saw in 2007. We cannot let that happen. Each Kenyan should cling onto the words of our national anthem and pride oneself in the words that it says.

Everything in Life Happens for a Reason

I do a lot of texting; I interact with numerous people via sending of texts. I rarely indulge in phone calls…..being on phone is not my thing on any jolly day. A couple of days ago I was familiarizing with a new friend I met in campus. I had previously told him something touching on my uncle, my aunt and I as we talked about one another’s parents. Throughout this conversation, he was keen enough to notice I never talked about my parents. When I really had to say something that a parent would do for his/her kid, I would instead mention my guardians (whom I’ve grown to refer to as daddy and mama) or my aunt and uncle. Recently as we were chatting he requested to ask me a personal question. “? Aha, I’m listening…..” And he went ahead to ask why I never talk about my parents.

Casually I replied to him saying, “Oh, sorry I never told you about my parents, they passed on when I was a kid. I got over it many years back. In fact I have grown up around people who treat me so preciously that I wonder if my own parents would ever have done the same for me.” I further explained to him that I didn’t like letting the whole world know that I was orphaned at an early age as I am one person who doesn’t appreciate pittance in a situation where we all should be treated equally. I have learnt to appreciate the death of my parents, for in one way or the other, consequentially; I believe my life path has shaped me into a better ingredient for the society.

I barely know my dad as his demise took place while I was 2 years. But I have vivid memories of the times I shared with my mum, and I know that back then I was never bright in class. Not because my I.Q wasn’t good enough, but maybe because I just never saw the sense in working hard or being an achiever. Upon the death of my mum, I moved in to stay with one of her best friends and colleague at work. It is through this family that life portrayed a different meaning to me. Life was about toiling to achieve; it was about believing in oneself and having ambitions. I remember always being told by mama (as I refer to my guardian) that I was very smart, if only I put a little effort. And with those words, I spent a whole year of standard three sparking myself that I would rank among the best three pupils in my class……from a below average student!. Everywhere I went I would remind myself the task ahead. When I finally did it, I knew I had indeed made a milestone in life, and would never look back. Rather, would give my best at all I do.

Most of my family members never made (make) it to university…..not because they couldn’t (can’t) do it, but because my family (close and extended) is one place where education isn’t a top priority to young people. I turned out different, and I owe my guardians’ for my achievements so far, because through their efforts, I got enrolled at Starehe Girls’ Centre as a pioneer student where my high school education was fully catered for. My family wasn’t economically stable and I had relied on my guardians’ support through my primary education. It was at Starehe that I landed yet another sponsor to handle my university fee.

I know mum and dad are proud of me wherever they are. It is not for nothing that they had to leave; perhaps it was God’s plan of letting me lead a different path that would later define my personality as an epitome.

The Therapeutic Power That Lies in Friendship and Togetherness.

A couple of days ago I fell ill. And I spent most of my time in bed for an entire week. My illness started off mildly, I felt shivery and would end up taking some hot beverage to stimulate my system. For 3 days, I stack to the same remedy not yielding to any advice of seeing a doctor. When it comes to injections and medicine, I am the worst fellow to recommend them to; because they are some of those things I have developed deep phobias towards. If I really have to take prescribed medication, then my condition must be pretty much awful. Well, that is a habit I am forever changing ever since the past fortnight when I was completely overpowered by an illness at a time when I needed good health the most. I had my end of semester exams then. I hadn’t cared enough to think what the next 2 days would turn out to be like had I not sought early medical attention. With symptoms cuing, I would earnestly mumble a prayer to at least sit my  two final papers before chewing blackout in the name of sickness!

Unfortunately, we don’t always have things work out our way. And so on a fateful Sunday afternoon…having felt nausea earlier that morning, I headed downtown to a saloon. My exam paper was scheduled the next day on Monday and later that afternoon I had an internship interview. While walking to town, I couldn’t help thinking more about how I would finish my exam paper and thereafter  have my interview….my day was going to be that simple. However, as soon as I got to the saloon things fell apart. The hairdresser could barely do my hair as I kept on asking for a break to do a nap. Things didn’t seem good at all. I had to call my girlfriend back at school to come and pick me up as I could barely get anywhere on my own. We headed straight to the clinic. Finally I relented to the call to see a doctor. I had severe fever and was diagnosed to be suffering from a bacterial infection and Malaria. I looked okay but deep inside felt teary and shattered. I got a couple of jabs and medication to take for the next week.

Monday morning…….I was down in bed. What! I couldn’t have my exam paper….and obviously there was no interview for me! I kept praying and wishing I had been to hospital a little earlier, but that wasn’t going to solve the issue at hand. My girlfriend had to make sure I received a letter from the medical services exempting me from sitting the remaining papers as I was too weak to sit up or stand.  Monday would have turned out to be one of my longest days on earth……but it never did. And that is why I am doing this blog post. Because I felt a lot better than I had anticipated……partly because of the good medical attention I received, but most importantly because of the power of friends.

I never knew how caring classmates could be until I fell ill. In life, there are people we never get to interact with, circumstances bring us together and when they do, we still stick as acquaintances to each other. We don’t share much in common except for the fact that we are perhaps classmates, or church-mates or stay in the same neighborhood….it is social events or gatherings that bring us together. We never care to know each other because after all, we don’t have things that bind us. Now that is human nature, you can’t blame yourself for heeding to it.

I had lots of my classmates pop in to my room to say a word of hi…and bring out their best of joke cracking to cheer me up. I was entertained to a whole afternoon of laughter especially the day after. I got to know another side of my classmates I never did. They were truly caring people. I am not much of a stay behind-get-to-know-my classmates’ kind of person which is something I need to work on.  I felt quite guilty seeing some faces in my room, I almost blamed my girlfriend for making the whole word think I was on a death bed!! Sometimes it feels as though people think we’re soon leaving them and therefore come to pay their last tributes just before we eventually disappear into thin air. But that wasn’t it. These people did more than just visit me, they shone a ray of hope in me, they gave me a therapy I needed to get me kicking for my interview day which had been pushed to Wednesday afternoon. By Tuesday night, except for loss of appetite and stubbornness swallowing medicine, I looked quite energetic and ready to face an interview panel.  I had laughed so much that my belly was aching. I didn’t want to laugh anymore but it was what I needed to restore the liveliness that lived in me. That Tuesday night as I drowned in my usual world of meditation just before sleeping, I said a little prayer to God; “Thank you God for giving me such wonderful classmates. I am not sure if I could ever thank them enough, and let them know just how much their presence and stories touched my heart and life. If it is within my might, I want to be there for somebody else and contribute towards there healing process.”

So one day when you are ill, don’t stick alone ailing in pain, invite lots of friends and friends of friends. You don’t even need to send out invites, making your friends aware of your condition is enough invite. You never know how quick you will get off that sickbed just by an hour of listening to friends and sharing together in fun and laughter.  The power of friendship is invaluable, no medicine can overpower it. And be careful to exercise an art of gratitude for the time spent with you.

Earth Day Race: Promoting Eco-friendly transport system through cycling.

Saturday the 22^nd of April was earth day. Reviewing a number of online resource materials about earth day traces its origin back to 1970 in the United States (according to www.earthday.org website). The main start-up idea revolved around a decision to put environmental issues at the forefront. You can read more about how this day has metamorphosed over the years into what it is today by visiting the history link to the above website.

An event to mark earth day was organized by African Youth Initiative on Climate Change- Kenyan chapter (AYICC) in partnership with Ridestrong cycling foundation(a community based organization started to promote cycling and development among local youths) based in Thogoto, Kikuyu town which is a few kilometers from Nairobi’s CBD. As I came to learn during the event, Thogoto is the home to Kenya’s number one cyclist, David Kinja! Not only that, the town boasts of memorable historical figures and occurrences. It is where the first church was set up by missionaries here in Kenya. The first president of Kenya, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta attended his elementary education at Church of Scotland Mission in Thogoto. It has the 2^nd largest swamp in East Africa. There are more facts about Thogoto the small town and the much history it holds, I can only mention but a few. 

AYICC is a network of various youth groups embodied. It creates a platform where environmentally passionate youths can voice out an agenda to address environmental challenges facing our globe.With just one and half months to RIO+20 summit, there have been a lot of efforts by youths and governments and major stakeholders in Africa to come up with a strong agenda that will be voiced by Africa in Rio. Africa for a long time has always been left out of the main negotiation table when it comes to addressing sustainable development and adopting of clean development mechanisms. Having more youths take up serious retrogressive confrontation points is a key pathway to creating the environment we want. Youths may not have the capital base needed to engineer sustainable models, but they definitely have the ideas that if implemented can contribute unanimously in saving Mother Nature.  Across continents, it is evident that youths have decided to take upon themselves the responsibility of addressing climate change and creating SD. Among the activities that youths are involved are advocacy and awareness sessions. And April 22nd Saturday was a small but yet a powerful way of really making an input in the environmental challenges puzzle.

The cycling race brought together over 150 cyclists; professional and non-professionals, children and youths, geographical factor notwithstanding. The theme of the day was “RAUKA!  Youths for a sustainable future”.  Among the activities done was tree planting at a local school (300 seedlings were donated by the Greenbelt movement). To also grace the event was the local councilor to Thogoto ward. The day was kicked off by tree planting and thereafter the flagging off of the cycling race. Competitors were expected to pedal 7-rounds of the marked track. Youth volunteers marshaled the track. The weather for the day was conducive. It being a rainy season, the temperatures ranged from cool to mild warm, and no shower drops beckoned during the 7-lapse race. A few words to sum up the entire event: “relaxing, entertaining and informative”. 

But somebody would ask, “How does cycling connect to earth day?” The answer is simple. According to a UNEP report on green Economy, to achieve a green economy, nations and thus economies will have to invest massively in various sectors including health, transport systems, waste management and energy production (a copy of the compiled document is available on the UNEP website. It outlines various ways that economies can “really go green”). Our earth day was focusing on transport systems, it was all about promoting a society where people dwell more on cycling than driving. I have read about Netherlands and its citizens cycling to workplace. I know my country is striving to acquire electric commuter trains commonly known as metro-services. This will obviously reduce emissions caused by automobiles to the atmosphere. But before we get there, why can’t we start making tiny steps of contributing towards clean energy use while enhancing our transport sector. One cyclist by the name Sammy said he is tired of hearing about green initiatives that don’t achieve more than they beaker. He prefers cycling and wouldn’t mind doing it often to run errands in town. But just how ready is our country ready to support cycling? He gave me a good example of why he thought it would take forever to have such ideas on the roads…..”Look at the newly constructed roads by the Chinese companies, there are no lanes for cyclists! That means no one thought about the idea of cycling of the roads during the planning process.” I was left agape. So simple yet so real, in as much as we want to have all these green initiatives implemented, we need to think about them in our development and urban planning.

Promoting cycling and perhaps making better models of bicycles at consumer friendly prices would be helpful. That way, we may only need vehicles and such like when they’re very necessary. But weekends especially, when families drive out for outdoor activities could be spared for cycling. Cycling fosters good health; it is therefore an efficient green mode of transport which promotes health living as well. After the cycling race, I think I’m heading on a mission to learn how to cycle and thereafter acquire my ride…..but we need an enabling environment created by the government. Next time we think about constructing a new road, let’s have a lane(s) for cyclists. And let’s promote cycling 

                "Cycling is not poverty…..it means you understand your environment and the efforts you need to put to conserve and rejuvenate it."