Go and Do Likewise
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Go and Do Likewise Newsletter
The Second Day
April, 2010
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The reality of poverty
A visit to the Chief
Matagoro Primary
Meeting the kids
Greetings!

I thought this time I would break up our visit in pieces. First we had our greeting and the incredible encounter with the Masai boys. On our second day we visited the chief and the primary schools in the area. Each school has its own needs and they are not incidental. They are basic to the health and welfare of the students. So I hope as you read this you will allow for the reality of the poverty of the rural communities we visit. Yes, we need your help, and yes, you are invited to come with us next time and see for yourself. As the new visitors will attest, this is an amazing place and people. They have hope and are willing to work hard for a different future. Poverty is a fiendish circle, breaking it takes courage, encouragement and support. Please consider joining us.

Bud Potter
A Visit to the Chief
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This is a regular stop greetings and an update are forth coming from the chief and as the official head of the area he extends his assurance that we should feel at home.  More than that though, you see the office, bare, no extra anything, no electricity, just a desk and chairs.  We meet his officers, charged with keeping the peace and watching out for us.  On this visit we brought Solar Lights from New Option Lighting.  As you can see the chief was very interested, the clip lights will help his officers see as they walk at night and not wear down expensive batteries.  The desk light will bring him interior light which he has not had until now and the cell phone charges will make their meager wages go further because they will not have to pay to keep their cell phones charged.  What a great way to start the day, he was very thankful.

The chief receives his donation of Solar Help

Here are the officers and their new lights Solar lights

Officers and their clip lights

Those are smiles and the chiefs is the biggest
Matagoro Primary
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For the new visitors this was the insertion of the awareness of reality.  Here we viewed the dilapidated buildings (condemned but still used) of the only boarding primary school in the district.  We heard from the Principle and spoke with the teachers still on premise.  We met a young man whose parents had both passed away from HIV Aids and who himself has tested HIV Positive. We viewed the dormitories and then we visited the site of their urgent need.  Many students live at this school, they sleep, eat , live here.  Even when the school is out of session many of these kids live here as there is no where else.  So it is easy to understand why they are so in need of a simple shower facility with a floor.  Showers are taken using a pan of water, but dirt floors and little privacy.  Here is the girls shower; This is not a healthy site to get yourself clean.

The open air dirt floor that is the girls shower


For the boys the issue is a little different. The current latrine has been boarded up as it is unsafe. The floor has collapsed and it is very dangerous. The urgent matter here is for the safety of the children.

A dangerous place

Inside you can easily see the reason for their urgency; the floor is caved in.

The broken floor of the latrine

Very soon we will receive a proposal and a request for support for part of the funding of new shower and a new latrine. The school parents will provide the labor and some of the cost. It is hoped the local education office will reconstruct the condemned dorm. We will be requested to provide most of the funding for the latrines and the girls shower. This is significant because the community is accepting GAD Kenya as a potential for all aspects of the community to begin to lift itself up. All will need to work together and work hard for them to succeed and they are eager to go forth. We need our supporters to help us help them.
Meeting the kids
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 If you ask the visitors I think they will tell you the best part is meeting the kids.  They are full of hope and GAD Kenya is a big part of the reason for that hope.  So I will leave you with this pictorial of the visitors and the kids.  Yes hearts were broken on this day as for the boy I mentioned that is HIV positive, you see him here with Julie.  We heard his story and there were no dry eyes.

Julie and the young orphan boy

 Our Chanel greeted a young girl and you can see the girls left hand holds her right arm, this is a sign of respect. You will be greeted many times in this manner. Your heart just goes out to these kids, they are real and they are dear. They don't ask for a hand out but rather a hand up.

Chanel greets a young girl

 Finally, you just never know what to expect with a group of extroverts such as we had this trip.  As I was conversing with a one of the teachers I heard this shout.  "Now Do The Hokey Pokey"  I turned and our team was teaching a new dance, yes, the Hokey Pokey was received with great laughter and fun.  Somethings easily cross through the language barrier.  Thanks team for such fun.

The Hokey Pokey
Quick Links...
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www.goanddolikewise.org
www.gadkenya.org

Contact Information
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phone:714-231-4863
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