by Eric Rajah

Drilling Rig

My day started with Charles Riobaof Solar World to discuss the microcredit program for a drilling rig. We discussed the new drilling rig. He understood our concerns with the costs and will prepare a business plan. I hope to get this before I leave and meet with him.

ADRA Kenya

Next I went to see the new management team at ADRA Kenya. The Director is in the USA and they are looking for a program director. My purpose was to reconnect with them in the light of assisting them through ADRA Canada. I met with the acting program director and the finance director. Tabitha Were, Finance (Left) Stella Wanjua, Program officer, Dick Mochache, ABW Kenya. It was a meet and greet session and also to see what projects they are involved in.

HIV/AIDS Centre

We have been supporting a joint venture between the Nairobi Adventist Church and the Catholic Relief Services in a HIV/AIDS related project. I was doing a program review as well as looking at this center as a possible site for AIM Canada (Adventist International Mission Canada) that is focused on youth mission and for the University of Lethbridge Health students to do field studies. This seems like a perfect place. The centre provides a comprehensive program of counselling and testing, then refers positive cases for a complete test to the hospital for CD count (determining the immunity level for ARV drugs) coordinates a monthly support group called Post test club, as these people face alienation from the community and often go into deep depression and provides the needed nutrition for them. The Centre also works in the community and in the slums for those who cannot afford the transport to come to the city for services.

In 2010 for the first 6 months 1300 people have come for testing – double the number in 2009. The reason for this is the mobility clinics have befriended the people and they are now coming. Of the 1300 tests performed 212 were positive and only a small percentage will go for the CD tests and then even fewer can afford the drugs.

I was impressed to see 26 year old, Janet Oyende coordinating the services. In addition there are two full time trained counsellor and several regular volunteers. Their focus is maternal and child health policy and rural health services.

I also scoped out a dormitory for the students to stay beside the clinic. It is a nice place operated by the Adventist Church as an income generation project for the centre.

Board member Dr. Amayo, Chairman, Dick Mochache and coordinator Janet Oyende.

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Kenya Medical Women’s Association

My next stop was to meet with this group. Four hundred doctors and dentists belong to this association and offer their services to foreigners when they come to volunteer. They will also travel with groups like ABW in the event we need to do medical work. Jessica Nyaribo is the administrator. Jessica worked with us in the Nakuru camp during the Kenya Crisis. She is a very dedicated person.

KickStart

Peter Lacey sent me an e mail asking me if I could pay a visit to this organization. They have a very unique concept of turning small farms into businesses. Their focus is to help families grow food and make money. We were fortunate to meet the founder Nick Moon of San Francisco. Their whole concept intrigued me so we got connected quickly and got right into it. John Deere is a major donor. The JD foundation’s new chair is coming over for a visit this week.

They have two products - they are two types of irrigation pumps. A foot pump and a hip pump. You put the hose into a well or a water source like a river and you irrigate the garden. The pumps are $100 and is sold through retail shops. The organization’s focus is to get this low cost (below their cost) pumps to market. Nick told me that 60% of rural farmers have water 25 to 40 feet below the ground (Our rig should do it)

The donation goes entirely to their operating expenses which is R and D, marketing , sales and keeping the costs low for the pumps. Their expenses for the year including cost of sales is 8 million. Revenue from pump sales is 3 million leaving 5 million to be fund-raised. I asked Nick why the pumps could not be sold for $300 and then the company would be self sustaining. Nick said the people simply cannot afford the $100. So the organization’s focus is to market-market-market so farmers know about it. On Friday, Charles and I are going to do a field visit on our own to see if this is working. They definitely have a track record for their success and they are very open and flexible. I will have a field report on Friday. They will not come with us allowing us free discussion with the farmers. One assumption they have made is that there is water for farms.

Peter and Kathy, we may need to relook at your schedule for the fall trip and spend some time on these types of things.

I was done by 5 PM. A 30 minute trip to the hotel took us 3 hours. Gives you an idea of what traffic can be like. There is no way to re-route traffic. A day like this is what keeps me going even with 3 hours of engine exhaust in your face. Thanks to all who refer me to these places to visit and learn.