Kwa heri Mwanza

On Tuesday Abby and I took Cha-Cha, Angela and Zainabi to the private hospital because we suspected that their constant coughing was a sign of TB. The doctor ran several tests on them and told us all three of them had malaria, a chest infection and worms but not TB. We were completely amazed that the children were so sick - they hadn't complained and it was only because we heard them coughing we thought they should go to the doctor. Joseph told us that the orphanage staff had suspected they (and several other children) were ill but couldn't focus on health care until they had enough money to feed the children. At the private hospital registration, consultation with the doctor, four lab tests for each child and all their medications (3-5 per child) came to a total of about US$30. It continues to amaze me that so little money can do so much here, and really makes you wonder why those that can afford it aren't doing more to help.



Yesterday was our last day in Mwanza. Abby and I took the horrendous falling apart dalla-dalla to Buswelu just outside of town and when it failed to start after it's first stop we decided to get out and take another one. The fare collector completely ripped us off, but after several minutes of arguing we gave up and let him keep the extra 'muzungu' fare, we were thankful to be away from the decrepit vehicle. We jumped on another and ended up walking from the main road to Hisani (the orphanage I volunteered with last year). Despite taking at least half an hour to get there, we noticed the dalla-dalla we got out of didn't pass us at all - very satisfying to know we made the right choice :)



When we arrived at Hisani all the kids came running out shouting my name - I was so suprised they all remembered me after so long! I handed out photos to the children which they were very happy to receive: most of the kids don't have any pictures of themselves or their families. Hisani now has links with Volunteer Africa and the difference in the orphanage was really amazing: the children had tiled floors, proper beds, loads of room and even a computer with internet connection! It was great to see them all doing so well.


Mwanza, taken on Lake Victoria

After lunch we headed back to Fonelisco and said good bye to all the children - they made us promise we would be back and this year I'm sure I will be!

50 kids go adventuring

Yesterday we all got up really early to head off to Saa Naane island, a small island in the middle of Lake Victoria that acts as a miny zoo and picnic point. We arrived at the orphanage around 7 am just in time to see the kids having breakfast. Most of them were tucking into a rather slimy looking gruel made from the same stuff as ugali: maize powder and water, but some of the boys had decided to collect a little protein to along with it.


When they realised how disgusted the muzungus were with them eating grasshoppers, they insisted on posing with their food and throwing grasshoppers at us to hear us squeal!



While some of the other volunteers studiously made hundreds of samosas as lunch for the children and staff in the morning, I played with Happy and the other children. A new boy, Charlie, had joined the orphanage the night before and had been really shy and sticking to himself a lot. I gave him my camera: he soon mastered the art of photography and made quite a few friends in the process.

After 5 hours or so of cooking and preparations, the dalla dalla arrived to take us all to Saa Naane. There were far too many kids and staff to fit into one dalla dalla, so we had to make two trips to the ferry point. Only ten people could (officially) fit in the tiny boat, so we had five (very packed) journeys back and forth to the island until we all arrived. After all that effort, it wasn't until about 3pm that the entire group reached Saa Naane.



The staff and volunteers were totally exhausted by all this, but the children absolutely loved seeing a lion up close and having a picnic with such amazing views. All that hard work was definitely paid off seeing their smiling faces at the end of the day :)

Mwanza revisited

Yesterday Abby and I arrived in Mwanza and were extremely warmly welcomed by Joseph and all the children in Fonelisco. The children at the orphanage (and the staff) put on a wonderful performance singing and dancing for us. At the end Abby and I were forced to get up and join everyone - so it was a good thing we got some rest in Nairobi otherwise we would have been knackered!


the staff performing a local dance

Last year while I was here I took a group of streetkids out to dinner at the local pizzeria that's run by another orphanage in mwanza. Yesterday when I walked into Fonelisco I saw Jimmy straight away, one of the streetkids I had told to go to Joseph's orphanage a year ago. I couldn't believe that he had taken my advice and it was so nice to see that he was healthy, happy and safe :)


abby and jimmy