Thursday, 27 March 2008

Introducing Harriet Kibichi...

I've become much more acquainted with my surroundings here in Naivasha, but still every day I see someone who lives in an impossible situation and requires much needed help. I find it very frustrating that it is not always possible to help in a significant way. Although the work of the Sunshine Rehabilitation Centre does an amazing job, giving hope, education and opportunities to some eighty boys, there are still so many boys on the streets, who I see every day that I go into Naivasha Town.

In fact, with the recent troubles in Kenya, and the subsequent financial pinch affecting most families, more and more boys are going to the streets to survive. Last week, I went to visit them, in order to buy a dog. Selling dogs is one of the few businesses with which the boys can be inovlved. I thought that buying a dog from the boys would be a good way to start bridging the gap and building relationships - or at least get myself known by them and gain some notoriety. Seeing where the boys are living - the rubbish, the constant solvent abuse, the malnutrition and dirt covered faces - continues to take my breath away. Although they boys were a little surprised to see me, they are quite friendly. So I bought a dog - a female German Shepherd puppy - and named her Harriet Kibichi. Kibichi is "green" in Swahili and also means "cabbage." Harriet Cabbage is settling in well and I helped build a kennel for her. She will grow up to be a sturdy guard dog, I'm sure.

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