Tales of Phone Snatchers & the Needy

 A visit to Kibera - one of the largest slums in the world

 

 

Many thanks to Jeff for his invitation to visit the Soweto Junior Academy in the Kibera slum. I've written about Kibera previously, but it bears a refresh as I too was reminded of the the tough tough tough conditions that persist in this forgotten corner of the world. There's the open sewers, lack of electricity, the ubiquitous crime ridden paths that crisscross a patch of land no larger than an 18 hole golf course -- and within it - around a million people live the best they can. Also thanks to Val Sharp.  She's a person with an inspiring social conscience and extraordinary public speaking skills -- a friendship made at a toastmasters meetings a zillion years ago. She introduced me to Sabine, also a Victoria resident, who is working with Jeff to produce a platform to accept donations. Well done Sabine!!! I'll share that link in case anyone reading chooses to donate.

 

 

Jeff and Hendrica pictured above manage the day to day of this school feeding and supporting 300 kiddilies on a postage stamp piece of land reluctantly given up from a space no where near large enough for a million souls to share. 

Pictured here on the left is the kitchen. My thought is that even Gordon Ramsey would struggle to whip up something delish in this little closet. But - 300 kids and 15 teachers get rice and beans from here when there are donations sufficient to buy the food. Teachers salaries come last -and it's been months since the team saw wages. 

All that said, Jeff and Hendrica were all smiles and jokes as we toured the tidy well laid out little school. Colorful Disney murals drew sharp contrast with the squalid surroundings that are the background and constant reminder of the struggle they bravely take on.

Jeff stands proudly in the center of one of the classrooms. A beautiful safe & clean space

The classic little yellow school bus sits in the middle of the school.

 

I'd like to thank WE Charity (my employer)  for generously donating carrots and and a monstrous pile of wood (2 truck loads) that will keep the fires burning for some time. Gordon - you're more than welcome to pop in any time and cook up something spectacular 😁 Oh my - I do love juxtaposition.

Food for Majengo Slum

Max guards the food .....

Speaking of food and slums - many thanks to my Mom and Cliff (and the rest of the donors) for recent donations that continue to support young Jake in school and the 300 kiddilies at Malezi school. Last Saturday saw another $350 worth of food loaded onto a mkokoteni and maneuvered down the muddy narrow paths to the school.

This will keep the kids bellies full for the next 6 weeks. Grace, the founder is as tireless as she is committed to this little school. She is a modern day angel whose smile never fails to touch my heart whenever we meet. 

Despite the covid19 social distancing suggestions, she always greets me with a smile a great big hug. It's a risk well worth taking as a hug and smile from Mrs. Grace is indeed a lovely thing.

The dreaded phone snatchers

 

My good friend Finn recently (over beers as usual ) told me about loosing his phone to a "phone snatcher". I chuckled at the story as he characterized the event as being entirely his fault. His explanation? As a white Kenyan (meaning born and raised here) - he ought to know better than to have his window open while talking on the phone. Now there's a bit of pretzel logic but that is the reality. 

 

 

"Phone Snatchers"  - scum of the earth cleverly disguised as normal people are often spotted in a traffic jam "resting" on the shoulder of the road. In reality, they are waiting for "Finn" whose window is open due to the hot weather - and not paying attention.

 

 

 

 

Such an event occurred recently as I traveled along the  Thika "super highway"  jammed as usual and was approached by a "snatcher" My phone was on a holder just to the left of the steering wheel. As the "snatcher" tried to distract me with a story about an accident ahead - I noted that he was looking at my phone rather than in the direction of the accident. Hah!!! My Momma never raised no fools -- so I readied myself for what I knew was coming. As his hand darted into the car -- and in a scene that could have been straight our of Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon, I Kung-fooed that fuckers arm leaving at the very least  a bruise that will remind him the real cost of being a "snatcher". Take that ya bastard coated bastard with fuck filling!!

In the battle of smarts between Max the Yellow Lab and the monkeys that share my compound - Max never wins. Not ever. The game is  hilarious to watch and in the end - he's so exhausted, I don't have to take him for a walk. Well worth the price of a couple bananas stolen off the kitchen table.

As always - if you would like to send a donation:

E-interact to Laynemahon@live.com or Paypal laynegmahon@gmail.com

Nothing goes to me - 100% to the kids ... none to single malt Scotch despite the temptation.

 

 

Thanks for reading ....Layno in Kibera!!!