Join me and others molding the future of our children!

What can you offer and greatest Christmas gift to our children?

Many people in world believe Christmas it time to celebrate with their family and others believe it time to go crazy drink and eat, what you didn’t have for long time!

What do we need? Of course all children need the basics we all need...a place we can live in dignity, education life skills training, work...ectera...Yet more than this, particular children/youth that are demonstrating an interest in becoming the future leaders of their communities and/or countries...they need people that can help them realize their own inherent, "building capacity" that they are naturally born with.. They don't need people that assume that their capacity is "low emergent or must be "built.

Each one of us has our own talents and skills regardless of our socioeconomic background or the "special population/at-risk" group we may have been stereotyped and categorized into. As part of humanity we have something powerful to offer to the world and to contribute to its development. We just need opportunities that help us to discover what those talents are...

Young leaders need people that believe in them, don't think they know everything, have the courage to take a chance on helping them make their dreams happen, are ready to listen and strong enough to stick around when the going gets tough. For a professional this means learning to be patient, humble, and preferring to be "directed and/or "lead". Not an easy task but it can have amazing and oftentimes transformative results.

One day as I was thinking and looking my life back I did know what I can do to bring change in our society but as proverb says Hucheka kovu asiye kuwa na jeraha as it in English (He laughs at scar who has received no wound) I decided as far am a live I will do my best to help those I can and looking for December holidays as biggest holiday we have in Kenya and from my experience I decided in every year I will try to do something for the children educating them of their future career and making sure they enjoy they Christmas like anybody else.

Volunteering is matter of everybody responsibility we all have special talent and gift which we can use to help those in need this year I was planning to hold two event in Kibera (soccer tournament) and Embu (Hope Children and empowerment center) to have one in one discussion with children while celebrating Christmas together but due to the challenges I have seen in front maybe am going to have only one event at Hope Children center and it my request and my hope I will be able to share with the children my career experience and Christmas together!

Sharing and giving hope to those need it in our society is the greatest Christmas gift we can have, love is matter of showing those need you care and been simple and been there for somebody else does not change who you are and what you believe in! The future of our nation depend with us today whatever we do the greatest wish is to we can give back to our God and the nature for proving us with greatest environment with peace, health wisdom and life is by sharing our love and been compassionate to others.

As I said on the start the words are not enough we need more action we need people who can stand up and be counted in helping our young/youth people in growing up in more than just a world of humanity but the world full of hope and love….

Share with me your thought ideas and we shall make that change we believe in!

True believer never leaves they course!

Whatever tragic loss occurs you either resist or you yield, some people become bitter or deeply resentful, and others become compassionate, wise and loving, yielding means inner acceptance of what is! You are open to life!!

War is a mind-set and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy the perceived evil or if the war is won will create a new enemy a new evil equal to and often worse than the one that was defeated!

Life is full of miserly! But of course different people fulfill different function in this world, It cannot be otherwise, as far as intellectual or physical abilities are concerned –knowledge, skills, talents, and energy levels –human beings differ widely, what really matters is not what function you fulfill in this world but whether you identify with your function to such an extent that it take you over and become a role that you play!!!

Life is messy friends am happy today I have an opportunity to say this with you, have you learnt to be there for others even if they do not care! I have been touched in my life to help the needy and work on myself as much as I can to help those I can but the biggest worries is there is something which I can’t do alone I need people to work with me who can reach where I can’t not.

This year I come up with little solution to try doing things in a simple way which I can handle and manage by myself and get help from little people who still stand with me strong and different community groups in Kenya

Life of my own!! Many people would wonder why do I need to talk of all this in my blog just to say as I said somewhere up there I love sharing my experience and my life and even if there is more people with much challenge than me I still believe there those have not got such kind of life am going though and it good for them to understand how lucky they are in life to have life which moves smoothly not so much challenges...

Starting of YVC and my Work in Kibera!

Everyday I saw children in streets snatching people’s purses and all that I wished to do something which I could help to recruit more youths out there and learn like I did and develop something for themselves rather than wait for the government to come help them or well wishers (donors).

First I tried to help children in Kibera and I knew the only way to make change is to start training these kids when they are young. By the end of 2006 I had a group of about 30 youth and 25 young kids’ soccer team aged between 5-15 years.

The school I used to volunteer in Kibera

At that moment we wanted to form a grassroots organization which works around Kibera for Kibera children and youth, we helped children by organizing soccer competitions with the aim of bringing them together for a common goal, such as: soccer and education, awareness of drugs abuse, HIV/AIDS and other harmful information or things affecting them in they daily life.

Women group in Kibera slum

In 2007 our friends from other parts of Kenya heard of our work in Kibera and also wanted us to get them involved. From my former organization I had knew so many people from different parts of country and all over the world.

After consultation with members and friends, we decided to extend our services to other parts of the country, and by doing this we had to register our group from CBO to NGO so as to be able to start an exchange program, both nationally and internationally. This is how Youth Volunteer for Change (YVC) was born out of the CBO youth work for change.

Formation of youth volunteer for change YVC was not so easy just like most of the youth we started with could not even manage to donate anything even if I told them to pay registration fee some could not be able to raise little shillings of Kshs of 200 which first we asked to enable us be able to do paper work and other requirement.

Anyway sometime if you really mean of doing something and you really want to you have to work up and down and do anything for it!

For sure we have come from far and still our journey is long to go on I have written hundreds of note books in my house in the field of every little information I need and see hear and understand, from 2007 I met this lady from France and as friend we talked a lot and took her to Kibera where I used to volunteer in school and women group and we become friends, from there we used to communicate a lot every week  by the phone send messages she sometime feel so bad of how Kenyan beg from her or her family or project coordinator did not understand her and so on, but as Kenyan who understand our culture I used to cool her down direct her how to respond to such challenges and move on.

By the end of 2007 we had in Kenya tribal clashes many people lost their life, properties, loved one and opportunity in they working place. I can’t say I was lucky one and also I lost a lot of trust with many who used to be my friends and close work mate. There was a need to help run up and down see how I can help few people I  knew mostly in Kibera where I used to work I went there and everything was dark and scarily the fear of death enmity and been not in the right place.

Anyway at the some time I had this friend from USA she was staying with me at the time in my small house and everywhere every one feared death or been burnt down or beaten or something can happen at anytime we couldn’t sleep well at night fearing somebody can take advantage break our house at the time, after few days things started getting worse every day and I had to organize to take my friend to Westland where life was at list better and save but before the day she got too sick and because of fear and separation of all this challenges we had no money left and to take her to hospital became very difficult no matatu or bus to travel with, but  at God grace we got one when we were almost fed up with waiting which was charging maybe three time more than a normal price which we had no option than to take it and take my friend to hospital.

With the help of friends who were in Westland at the moment we managed to get taxi after she was tested in one of the main big hospital in Nairobi which took her now to Westland where she could stay for while to see what happen, but after getting there they government insisted that all the foreigners must go back to they countries or other countries in Africa until the conflict in Kenya settle down.

After that anyway I managed to help few other foreigners the volunteers who were in Nairobi at time one was in the worse place Kibera and after they were all save I started thinking of my friends and the Kibera mama and children, by the time everything was getting back to normal but there were thousands of internally dispraised people all over the country. That the time as I was in steps of forming organization we talked with friends to friends to see how we can also get involved in helping the needy who needed food clothes and other things.

We organized national and international fundraising from friends who knew us and we managed to get a lot of clothes food and other basic human requirement which was donated to women group in Kibera,

In life you can learn a lot of things and see a lot as well over come so much challenges people are born different every day and we all have different way of doing things but it difficult to understand people and be at list 80% good to everybody.

To tell the truth I got a lot of trust from my friends after all this struggle and I managed to get a lot of support in forming YVC and helping the needy but as I wished so much and I wanted so much to form organization which can empower us and have freedom to work whenever I want under the management of people who I really trust, knew and understand for while it was my biggest dream. 

look out for search of of the truth what man can do................. next

My voluntary work journey - moving toward social life! part 5

After my Nzinia project I went for the training for alternatives to violence project work shop held in friends church along Ngong road in Nairobi which give me a lot of understanding different kind of conflict coursed by human being and how to over go them in non violence way.

This other places I went to volunteer and organize work camp as the facilitator,

2003 – April Participated in international work camp in machakos construction of Community Bridge.

2003- July co-facilitator international work camp Kisumu Dago Thim digging two community road to join them have easy access to market.

2003- August facilitated international work camp kuria (Nyabirongo pri, sch) making classroom bricks & teaching.

2003 – September attended Japanese work camp building water tank for Nzinia community, Kitui.

2003- November, training alterative to violence project workshop AVP (friend’s international center Nairobi)

2003 –Nove-December attended international work camp kuria (Kibaroti secondary sch) building class rooms.

2004 – January –February facilitated international work camp in kuria (Wema model academy) making bricks construction of class rooms.

2004 – March facilitated international work camp motherly care children home. Leveling of school compound, IGA discussion, teaching and caring for the children (Nairobi Ruai).

2004 – May attended international work camp & training in Kenya institute of organic farming (Thika)

2004 – June attended international work camp kamae children rehabilitation center, building workshop and class rooms, teaching (kiambu)

2004 –June attended Kenya voluntary development association (kvda) readership training (kamae kiambu)

2004 – August attended international work camp Migori (Oyani bridge orphanage) making bricks construction, education on HIV/AIDS to community.

2005- January- February facilitated international work camp kuria (Wema model) making bricks, teaching.

2005 – March facilitated international work camp Machakos kyeni community digging and putting water pipes.

2005 – May attended international work camp in Uganda Kyamukama community making bricks leveling ground for children home.

2005 – July, KVDA/ leadership training Machakos (Mbuto community)

2005 – July facilitated international work camp kuria (Nyamaharaga pri, sch) making bricks construction teaching and doing clear up in Isibania market.

2005 – September Facilitated international work camp Utajo Rushiga Island digging foundation of church, teaching on HIV/AIDS clean up Rushiga market and planting trees.

2005 – October, international work camp on HIV/AIDS prevention and care in wakiso epicenter Uganda, organized by CCIVS, UNESCO and EAWA. Training theater education and community outreach.

2006 – February attended international work camp Makongeni self help group Machakos, construction of bridge collecting stone.

2006 – June facilitated international work camp in Transmara Shartuka molding bricks teaching.

2006 October facilitated work camp in Wajir north eastern Kenya putting water pipes teaching.

2007 – August attended international work camp in kwale for mentally challenged cost province. Clear up digging latrine educating on HIV/AIDS to nearby schools.

if you love doing something you never wish to stop it.....................

what are we missing?

It just a question of where did we went wrong?

Just the other day our country was hit again with sad news everywhere and I have been following few of things happening today in our country and wondered why God what happening to our country a lot have passing!

• Fuel basting and burning Kenyan to death!
• Road accident overturning bus killing almost everybody in board!
• Kenyan drinking illegal brewers and ending up blind or died!
• Our currency dropping down like nothing!

What the cost, what severing, what evil, can somebody tell me what happening?

This some of story I cut from main news paper in Kenya

The Kenyan shilling fell more than 1 percent against the dollar on Wednesday to hit a record low of 97.20 against the greenback after the central bank moved to ease money market liquidity ahead of two debt auctions.

Four people burnt to death as they siphoned petrol from an overturned tanker near Sio Bridge along the Busia- Kisumu road. Over 40 others were admitted in various hospitals in Western Province with serious burns.

Police have seized 7,500 litres of industrial methanol, a key ingredient used by unscrupulous traders to prepare killer brews.The methanol, which was in 30 drums, was impounded at the Loitokitok border point.This follows an intensified operation against illegal brewers after 22 people died after drinking the alcohol.The drums, covered by maize, were being transported in a lorry which police detained moments after it crossed the border from Tanzania.

The curse of petrol siphoning has hit the country again, claiming at least four lives along the Kisumu-Busia highway on Tuesday night.Some 45 others are hospitalised at the Busia District Hospital and Alupe hospital with serious burns.

All this and many other today what mistake did we make what can we change to reduce all this disaster in our country?

Everybody is great! Believe me you too can make change!

Everyday I woke up hoping to find a new day everyday I go to sleep hoping to have peaceful and sweet dreams everyday I work hoping to find the fruit of my work everyday when I go out I hope to find something new, everyday every one and everything comes and go but life still keep moving.

Only God knows why and when!

Only if I could and wish just not my dream come true but see people following my dream and me counting what I have done and what a new day brought for me!

If you are reading this remember this is my own words I do not expect miracles to happen to fulfil my dream but am hoping somebody like you who is reading here now maybe you are little blessed little different with what I do not have and you can help little, as always I say and I will keep saying you do not need to move the mountain to make change but just little, sharing with me or sharing with someone or donating little anything from children books, pens, toys building materials, computers, little money or anything resourceful to help the needy community your are my miracle which am waiting!

My life has been blessing and rewarding for some reason few years back I did know if I can be able to do anything to anybody until I started, you too do not wait for the right time coz the time you think of any noble thing you wish to do that the turning point for you!!!

Here is my contact (yvc.ben@gmail.com) anytime you wish to ask anything or feel you like to comment just feel free to do so… and I will looking forward to hear to see who out there with noble heart to support me fulfil my dream and help those in need from little child in the village to the street kids who are moving up and down wish to have just left over as they food to mothers and youth who are in the village who wish to do something to support they family and friends!

It only you and I can bring little change to this life of this people in need do something today and tomorrow will be a different day!

Be blessed

Uncle Ben

My voluntary work journey - moving toward social life!

In 2003 April I went to participate in work-camp in kathuni primary school in Machakos district Eastern province, the area is belong to Kamba people one of the most dry areas in eastern province the Kamba are known of they culture of long distance travelers and good wood carving.

Going to this place was another kind of culture shock for me and realizing how different people over go on their different challenges.

In July 2003 I was given my first opportunity to facilitate a work-camp in Dago Thim community in Kisumu district, the work camp was huge too with about 35 participant national and international this was my first time I had to stand in front of group and made a speech or make announcement in English, it was a big challenge for me and another eye opening moment for me, the community here are Lou and it was my first time to see the different kind of challenge which every one all over the world have this idea the Nyanza province is one of the most highest province in Kenya with many people affected or infected with HIV/AIDS virus, women been the most affected in community and majority surviving after they lost of the loved one’s been taken by epidemic disease we had an opportunity to share and discuss with many of women on they daily life challenges.

For the first time I go an interest in supporting women group activities and working with them hand to hand for their success, before the end of this work camp we had formed a Dago Thim women group and I was part of it and been the first heart project I got two sponsors a couple of my friend who were part of the work camp participant. I worked with the group for two year moving and coordinating from my friends who formed an NGO in France and the other NGO I was working with in Kenya.

The women had two kind of project to empower themselves by farming and poultry keeping which was sponsored by the French association(daelindia association France)

In the same year (2003) I got another promotion from my good impact of last work camp and I had to facilitate another work camp alone in Nyabirongo primary school in kuria district (August) which was not so big, but with group of 15 participant from Nairobi and other part of the world. The work camp give me an opportunity to understand the human in different angle, as the leader you have to look many things and listen to everybody idea better or worse and you need to be in the first line of everything.

In September 2003 I attended another work-camp organized by my organization and Nice Japan organization in Nzinia community Kitui district which  turned out also to be challenging and different from other works camp I attended, the focus was to help the community build about 50 water tanks, sure this area was defiantly perfect for such project if you have ever gone to Kitui district you agree with me the community here need a lot of support in coming up with way of serving little water they get in rainy seasons.

Reaching in this community we were hosted in an Anglican church which was the first conflict in community. The project was aimed in support the everybody in community who could not be able to build their own water tank.

But one of challenges is the kind of tank which was proposed was to stand by the house and collect the water from the roof of the house but do the most poor people have a house with nice roof to collect the water?

We spend our first week arguing and trying to come with solution of where to build the tank and how the tank will be build because, one. The 50 members of community were expecting in three weeks to have tank and those 50 members were the only member selected by team of committee which even today I do not know how it formed it self.

The condition to have tank was you have to pay some contribution and the other challenge was most of the members the community who were involved were only the Anglican Church members so this was another conflict in community.

To get all this information I had to talk with few members of camp to join me and move in all the community talking and explaining to the community of the idea project which nice Japan and my organization had promised to support.

At the end of the second week it was agreed we build one tank which will server all community and which will not favour one side or a certain group and after evaluating our research we couldn't build a tank in chiefs camp some people in community believed the chief will favour some people, the church was not good idea because not all people in the community belong to that church market place was not fair because anybody can take advantage of the tank.

So the tank was to be build in dispensary which was sponsored by the church for community health center

By the end of the third week we had the first tank for community which we managed to build and the truth is everybody in community was happy and we didn't manage to build fifty tanks as they wished but the truth is there was miscommunication between the three partners which even today(2009) no other tank was ever build but community enjoy the one tank and go for water there and the health center have enough water for the sick people.

thanks for your time look out for more my voluntary experience .........