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With Joseph, the secretary of the Lakeland Youth Group the wonderful hosts at Uhundha, Priscah and Charles with the volunteer teachers at the Orphan Center, Phoebe and Pamella John and David

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AVIF is an innovative online charity, assisting with sustainable development via online & onsite volunteering in rural Kenya, East Africa. We work with partner communities in the Brazilian Amazon and Tibet too. Being virtual means negligible administration costs for worldwide impact. We believe in efficiency, honesty and transparency. WE DON'T CHARGE FEES.

simong storm kenya

 

 

 

 

 

[Panorama shot above by Simon Gardner, a volunteer, taken minutes before the storm hit him while cycling through Kenya on the Tour d'Afrique. His full journal and pictures are here].

This is the spirit of volunteering; Ben & Jason with friends raising money in the week-long Mannequin Challenge which raised over £15,000 for St Michaels Hospice in Harrogate. Incredible vocals by Annie Drury.

 

 

Wishlist for Summer 2007

Written by Alison | 28 June 2007


On the advice of Nancy, currently in Maseno, Western Kenya, at the Jehovah Nissi Mercy Childrens Centre, here are a few items you might consider bringing to each of our hosts.


Items can be purchased cheaply in Nairobi or brought from home and all are relatively small :
  • Solar Mobile/cell charger (the whole group could share the cost then donate to your host)
  • Simple diaries for the older children
  • Big bottle of Advil / Nurofen for common cramps/ headaches (esp for the older girls during periods)
  • Spiral notebooks, pens
  • Umbrellas - the kind that fold up small - "it rained/poured the other day and the children all just got soaked with only thier sweaters"
  • Rubber bands for holding up school socks - "can't find any in market)"
  • Simple cloth book bags
  • Toothpaste
All these items are easy to carry and much needed. Many thanks to you all.
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Security issues

Written by Alison | 26 June 2007

In answer to concerns of a volunteer in relation to recent killings in Nairobi (sect killings) ....

.. these occurrences happen in Kenya a lot and will possibly get worse as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer .. hence the need for our work in providing sustainable development.

Kenya is a high risk area, though developed far more than its relative neighbour Darfur.... AVIF will catagorically state that we cannot guarantee your safety 100%, neither can the United Nations, as they advise here on their website http://www.unon.org/unoncomplex/security_advice.php

All AVIF can do is our utmost for your safety, and give you plenty of information and advise you to use common sense and abide by our advice. Volunteers travel all over the world every day. Taking a risk is part of living, or you will never get to experience life other than in your home town or country.

No insurance policy in the world can protect you from the ravages of poverty. If you truly believe the risks are too high then please do not take part in AVIF's onsite volunteering. It would be a shame to travel all that way only to be worried every day for your safety. I know many people who have lived and brought their children up in Kenya. Nairobi is like any city in a developing country with sharp contrasts between wealth and status. Some Kenyans will obviously be angered when a tourist walks past wearing jewellery worth more than their life's earning potential .. we simply have to fully understand what we are doing in Kenya and be extremely sensitive to the situation.

Most people are good, hardworking, honest people, some aren't. We use our common sense, stay in groups and heed the advice and hospitality of our hosts. Please remember that rural life is far different to urban. People do not have the harsh realities of todays world thrust in their faces all day long and are open to sustainable development.

Please add any comments, this is an important issue and one we take seriously, but not enough to stop progress. The world needs risk-takers like AVIF volunteers.

Kindest regards
Alison Lowndes
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Weather

Written by Alison | 25 June 2007


The UK (Yorkshire especially) is having an unprecedented lapse in Summer conditions !
However, if this persists you will at least be acclimatised as the Kenyan winter has begun, temperatures today are around a similar 11 celcius. Don't forget to pack fleeces !




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Another fantastic idea brought to you by AfriGadget

Written by Alison | 22 June 2007

AfriGadget h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;}

AfriGadget


The knife-sharpening bicycle

Posted: 21 Jun 2007 11:57 PM CDT

Peter Kahugu of Banana Hill just outside Nairobi makes a living using his bicycle.

And no, he is not a professional cyclist.

AfriGadget reporter Afromusing and I had an opportunity to interview Peter who has modified his bicycle with a belt, a set of tensioning pulleys and a grinding stone to make it a knife-sharpening machine. By kicking the bike up onto its stand and engaging a gearing system, he is able to use "leg-horsepower" to drive a grinding wheel and sharpen knives while "on the move".

Peter has been at this for 2 years now and he makes about Kshs 500 ( app. 10 US$) a day by riding his mobile workshop from client to client sharpening all their knives as he goes. The grinding stone he uses has lasted an astounding 2 years and he has had to replace his drive belt a couple of times but that is as simple as cutting up a long strip of rubber from an old car or bicycle tire inner tube.

Be sure to click though on the image for video on YouTube of the Peter and his bike in action.

The knife-sharpening bicycle

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Note from Nancy in Toi Primary, Kibera slums, Nairobi

Written by Alison | 22 June 2007


...Wish list: calendars and maps of world, africa for classrooms.Nothing on walls or for reference. As we made the dolls and the boys made animals out of the material I brought- along with needles thread, embroidery thread and yarn for manes or hair- the students took the opportunity to sew the many holes in their sweaters.
I left needles and thread, etc with those that wanted it. - hope I have enough left for todays class.
I brought the beach ball world globes - one per class and they were wonderful for them.
They have nothing as you know.
All were very excited to learn to make better dolls/animals in hopes of selling them one day.
So, material and supplies for a classroom would be good. I might see if I can get more material for the teacher who is now turned on with the idea.
My class yesterday had 83 students - level 7 and always that many- it was a normal size class and incredible!
The children were beyond wonderful. Must run - ha no time.
Nancy
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