And Lollipops!!

A thunderous round of applause please ...

A big thank you to all the people who contributed in helping out the Majengo community. As a team - we were able to contribute almost $3700 in direct food aid the the community. An additional thanks to Peter, our supplier who added a couple bags of lollipops out of his own pocket for the kids. I suspect there will be a pile of smiles from that special treat. He also sent in 10 cases of noodle soup that will be a nice change from the daily rice & beans. While beans & rice are healthy and fill the tummy, I doubt even Gordon Ramsey could make this any more palatable.

The Malezi Technical Education program will continue in January now as schools are closed until then. At that time -- we have negotiated space with the technical college (Strathmore University) to bring the kids there for advanced Computer/ programing lessons. Many thanks to Rose and the rest of the M-TEP volunteers for their work on this.

What now? Well we were able to help the community while they were locked down in Eastleigh and unable to join the informal sector to earn some cash. That situation has improved as the community members have mobility -- though in truth there is less work out there these days. Covid19 is now spreading quickly - and the economy continues to contract.

So if you know someone who has a " ton o' dough" and would like to help out with an annual campaign -- of say $1000 per month - I would be happy to manage that project as a volunteer and ensure all funds are food and delivered directly to the people. At this point - I can't ask friends and family to make any more contributions. You have exceeded my wildest expectations and we should be proud of what we accomplished together. A humble thank you with a Nameste thrown in for good measure. For my part - I'll start searching for a major donor to support.

Who wore it better?

The dude??

Or the Dudette??

As many of you know, I'm a keen (read obsessed) motorcycle dude and very excited to be able to do a bit of exploring on Yellow Thunder pictured above. Many thanks To Michel, my Belgian friend who so generously parted with the machine and did so in such a gentlemanly fashion. You are a class act sir! Esther has tentatively agreed to join in the fun... 😊

Thank for reading.....Layno!!!

Just Fantastic!!

So many to thank!

Lucy was waiting patiently at the Java near the supplier warehouse as I wheeled the Land Cruiser into the parking lot. Her big beautiful smile and hot cup of coffee greeting me on this beautiful Saturday morning. As has become my favorite habit, I'm here to load up the "goods" purchased from the generous donations sent my way and take then over to Majengo where hungry thankful people are eagerly waiting for us. Another 200 families will get a hamper from the generosity of strangers, Isn't that a nice thing?

It's just fantastic that 7 more generous folks sent along over $700 so that I can bring in loads this week  and next.  A big thank you to the inimitable Kimmie Wenner, Ms. Shanen Gerigs, the amazing and amusing Val Sharp, Land Cruiser guy Rob Schultz, Buddy Barry, my lifelong mentor Pat Johnson, and "the warden" Denise Brennan. 

And a particularly special thanks to Peter who spoke with his suppliers to get some free goods and chipped in some of his own funds to help out. "I believe in what you're doing" he said to me ... A very generous and thoughtful man is he! Next weekend we may be able to add in a bit of bread 😊😋

Also a thank you again to Lucy, a long time friend and ally without whom I'm sure I would completely lose my way in this part of the world. She is my Kenyan compass and translator keeping me moving in what I think is the right direction. It was with absolute pleasure that I had the opportunity to meet Lucy's Mom at their home in Kikuyu just outside of Nairobi.

Lucy is a young super savvy professional journalist committed to poking a hole in the social fabric of this country. In doing so, she shines a light guiding youth to find opportunity and purpose in what is a very challenging place. For many, the view of those who have "made it" through misdeeds and thoughtlessness must be very attractive as they cruise by in their fancy Mercedes; Rolex watches casually dangling from their fat overfed wrists. Make no mistake - it's people like Lucy who will make the difference as the culture shifts and those fat fucks look enviously on the industrious youth changing the Kenyan landscape for the better. Too harsh? 😎

Chillin' with Lucy and her Mom  - Kikuyu style.....

Lastly, a comment or two on the organization I work for. This blog is about my own side-hustle Just Food Africa  and other life adventures that I share with a few readers (mostly my Mom 😆 ) and on occasion, I have crossed over to comments about my previous work with Medecins sans Frontieres (Emergency Medical NGO)  and now WE Charity (Development NGO).

And on the subject of my work -- I believe I have a pretty good sense of the world and "read" on people, nevertheless, I am shocked and stupefied by the comments people are making about our organization. Serious allegations of shady dealings populate social media like free chocolates too delicious to pass by without a taste and exclamation of ahhhhh - " I told you it is tasty"!!

WE Charity is an organization that has spent overv25 years improving the lives of people who need a helping hand. In my time with the organization, and within our operations in Kenya, always - yes always our team chooses the path of integrity. From my perspective, It's a well-worn path despite those who would say otherwise. I have no reservations about the organization and stand proudly to continue the good work we are doing.

Thank for reading ....Layno!!!

Worth doing something about

Nairobi National Park -again

My friend Esther and I rose at 5am and filled a thermos with hot coffee provisioning for a morning at the park. A 20 minute drive and $15 USD finds us creeping along dusty dirt roads in search of Kenya's famed game. Not much searching really -- as the animals are everywhere. The flora and fauna are breath-taking in every direction and as the early morning mist lifts off a pond ,only slightly obscured are 5 hippos hippoing in the shallows. 

A Rhino waits impatiently for us to finish checking him out as the back birds flit about enthusiastically enjoying what I remember from 10th grade biology as a commensual relationship. Moments later a couple Jackals slip silently by likely lured by the scent of a kill not far away.  The buffalo stand resolute protecting the land and daring anyone to come close like some school yard bully who has earned their rep for violence. In the distance a heard of heart-beasts graze content with one eye wide open in case of the most feared predator of them all  - Simba!!!

A heart-beast poses majestically for the camera

I love everything about the park though in truth - it's the lions that really get me going. And as we  crept

along suddenly a couple lionesses walked slowly toward us down that dusty track. Mesmerized and stupidly I shut off the engine watching breathlessly as they approached.

Now  - a quick note on mechanics - once the engine is off - rolling up the electric windows is not an option without starting the engine.  As the lions were obviously walking toward the truck - it would have been smart to roll up the windows but so engrossed was I just watched them walk toward me. Slow - majestic - so powerful.

Of course she stopped beside my open window looking around thankfully oblivious to me -- or my elbow sticking out of the window only foot or so from her mighty head.  It was a long minute as I pondered the stupidity of my situation and hoped that my arm didn't appear delicious at that point in time. Maybe she'd already had breakfast -- so as she moved along we re-positioned and watched her and her friend for the next 20 minutes as they chilled on the savanna.

In all we saw 8 lions on the day and many many other beautiful things. I'm grateful for the gifts I have been given in life and this was certainly one. Protecting animals is worth doing something about!!

Cheeky or stupid? I snapped a picture from my window...

Delivering Exceptional Goodness

Grace and I get the load ready to take down into the slum.

The gang of 22 helpers grows to 26 as the Majengo community extends their thanks for the generous

donations from my very cool brother John, awesome friend and dude Fergus , amazing friend Ksenia and my Mom's close friend Jill. Many thanks for your donations.

In all we have helped about 800 families over the last 4 weeks providing much needed Covid19 protective gear and food.  A special note of thanks to our supplier Hemu at Marketways who not only provides us great quality food at wholesale pricing but this week added some sodas free of charge for the kids. Awwwwww!!!! Hemu has operated this store since independence in 1961.

This good work also has a lot to do with the excellent service Peter the sales person provides for us taking my calls at any time and making sure everything is ready in time. Thanks Peter.

And as always a thank you to Grace for organizing who gets what and dividing the supplies accordingly. Sadly, last week -- while we provided food for 200 families, 400 showed up hoping for a hamper. It's tragic knowing that only so much can be done - and at times it seems that there is such an unequal distribution of wealth that it can never be addressed. The only bit of good news is that the barriers within Nairobi have been lifted allowing people to go and earn a bit of money outside the slum. Lillian talks a bit about that in the video below. This situation is worth doing something about.

Attached is a video note of thanks from Lillian "in Swahili" but thanks to both Grace and my good friend Lucy have attached a translation.

My name is Lilian Mueni. I am a parent here at Majengo. Since the disease came, we've had a lot of problems with work because where we used to go for informal work didn't have any tasks for us to do. But right now we are very grateful for the people who have donated their own money which had catered for food. We have been given food and we are very happy.We also thank God for the people who have given us this food, may he continue to bless them with more and also with the grace to keep helping those in need.

Other voices: slowly slowly please. Ensure to maintain social distancing.....

Thanks everyone for your help with this. I'm out of money now and while I hate to ask - if you do want to share a bit more - I'm sure the folks at Majengo will be grateful. Good news is that our admin cost to do this is zero :)

If you would like to e-interact to Laynemahon@live.com or Paypal laynegmahon@gmail.com

A little from my job job....

We Charity continues to do really great work throughout the world and despite recent controversy as Canadian Prime Minister Justin "steps in it". The org does good work as shown below as WE facilitated a donation from World Medical Relief to a county in Kenya. In total 8 40ft. containers of medical goods will be delivered into the country. The goods range from wheel chairs to examination tables to face masks. These goods are going to do a tremendous amount of good for the people of Narok county, Kenya.

        WE Charity

Hard at work supervising :)

Thanks for reading....Layno!!!

A gang of 22

200 families are a bit better off this week!!!

Last night -- Saturday June 6th -- most Kenyans sat optimistic and nervous awaiting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to either kick-start the economy or leave Kenyans feeling like they've been kicked in the ass again. This morning, Sunday June 7th - bums are sore and so is community spirit. The news that the lockdown will continue for another 30 days was not well received though impressively delivered with a clever mixture of fact, fiction and a bit of hocus pocus. It's not easy to steer a path through these unchartered waters and I believe the decision to remain vigilant is a good one in the face of a very uncertain future for Kenya. This disease is going to be hard on Africa in the coming months.

The continued lock down means food supply continues to be a major issue for folks throughout the country but mainly the poorest of the poor living in the unauthorized settlements.

Enter, with appropriate fanfare --  the Gang of 22 -- that being all of you who read my blog and kindly and with great generosity sent me money to buy some much apprecaited supplies. Also a big thank you to  Deedee & Parsa, Kath and Karl for their very generous additions to the kitty this week.

.

Good news - a local supplier, Marketways who I've worked with for years, (mostly in my MSF days) matched and even improved upon the wholesale prices I was receiving from other suppliers. As a result our dollars went a long way. Your dollars had a direct impact.... no admin ... no middle men .... just straight to the people who needed it. Wonderfull!!!!

Also a thank you to WE Charity, my employer, who are kind enough to let me do this "side hustle".

The truck loaded - I headed for Eastleigh and Majengo slum in particular. I knew there would be road blocks but I was surprised to have to contend with 5 of them before getting to Majengo. I hate roadblocks ... though I have to admit that once I explained our mission and parted with a few face masks - the grumpy police officer merrily waved me on my way.

"Nienda Wapi" (Where are you going?) said gruffly with menacing AK in hand.  "Oh" says I cheerfully and non-menacingly - "to Majengo to deliver donated food for the community". "How about a face mask and some hand sanitizer" he asks. A fair bribe to pay in my mind I think the Gang of 22 would let this slide.

Once at the drop point, we loaded the the Mkokotenis as a large and slightly menacing crowd gathered. Not surprisingly -- they wanted a bit for themselves. Hmm - I thought a couple times - this could get ugly - but Grace kept the tranfer civil barking at the assembled to mind their manners as only a school teacher can. 😏

Only a couple hours after the Mkokotenis rolled into the slum,  Grace had everything packaged and ready to serve a que of folks who really apprecaited this helping hand. They all maintained social distance and their cool as they gladly accepted the offerings. Great work again by Grace and volunteers doing the hard work and keeping it well organized.

I don't know that our efforts here have changed the course of history - but I'm sure there are many sleeping a little easier this month -because of our work,   Well done Gang of 22!

Thanks for reading.....Layno!!!