Archive for the ‘ International Aid & Development ’ Category

My Departure for Haiti (and whatever else I find)

For some of you, this is the first time you have heard from me since I left for Kenya. I have had an incredible five months in a beautiful country that I have started to call home. I arrived in Nairobi to give what I could to The 1010 Project and the people of East Africa, but the people here and their relationships have instead been a gift to me[ READ MORE ]

Field Visit: Potential Partner

Selling water would be a service to this community, an empowering business for the school, and a gift to the disenfranchised children in the area. [ READ MORE ]

Confessions of a Late Night Chef

The late night chef takes a seat next to me & asks how I find my meal, Kenya & Eastlands (the area I am in). I lie a bit and tell him that I love all three. I offer him a smoke and we light up together. I notice two women walking down the street & suggest that it is a bit dangerous for “mamas” to be walking around this time of night. He retorts that business is good for them around this hour[ READ MORE ]

Ok, I arrived

I arrived in Nairobi on Sunday. This is important because I was confident that I was supposed to land on Saturday… …Next time I will pay a bit more attention to the details, especially the 10 hour layover in Amsterdam. I have been staying with the Mulwa family. They are incredibly kind & generous hosts.  [ READ MORE ]

My departure for Kenya (and whatever else I find)

I’m sitting in what is as close to home as I get:  A friends house in the woods of North Georgia a few yards away from the Bartram Trail.  In the late 1700’s William Bartram set off to explore the southern colonies.  He documented his travels & is known as one of the earliest naturalists [ READ MORE ]

Transitions: Six years, but Semper Fi

I grew up with my mother.  A young but impressive single mom with a determination to make it – both for herself & my sister and me.  She taught me a strong work ethic as I watched her put herself through college while working 2nd shift as a police officer in Georgia.  She and my [ READ MORE ]

Almost Gone

Tomorrow is my last day in Kenya. It’s unfortunate that my ability to write has been limited to my second day here & now my second to last. This trip was not what I expected. There was very little magic. I had a few of those energizing moments that I normally [ READ MORE ]

26 Hours Later

26 hours later I arrived in Nairobi.  A long journey; Denver-Detroit-Amsterdam-Nairobi.  Small world though.  I ran into familiar Colorado faces during my layover in the Netherlands!  In Kenya I was greeted by Fred, 1010’s Kenyan Director, & my dear friend Mackenzie. 5 minutes after leaving the airport I spotted a herd of Zebras on the side [ READ MORE ]

1010 Social Media Blitz

(From Adam Delp, COO The 1010 Project, via Facebook) “Today, starting RIGHT NOW, we are throwing a 24 hour online FUN-draiser.  Why? Because the cycle of poverty breaks when creative, caring, and innovative global neighbors learn and work together:  joining hands, resources, and stories. The CHALLENGE: 1. Simply & Securely – Donate $10 bucks https://www.causes.com/fb/donations/new?ts=1257364171&cause_id=1568 2. Post the CHALLENGE [ READ MORE ]

Pre-Africa

I am leaving for my first trip to Kenya on Sunday.  I will be staying in & around Nairobi until Nov 25th.  This trip is mainly a scouting/vision trip.  I will be looking for places to live, introducing myself to 1010 partners, & building out a budget for this next year’s adventure.  I should return [ READ MORE ]