Handmade fleece pillowcases given to kids in Kenya (photo: Boyznberry)

I happened to notice a blog post by an aid worker in Ethiopia that recommended that you NOT bring gifts for kids when you visit him. Rather, he suggests, you should make a donation to Save the Children or another charity working there. I think I understand where he’s coming from. He likely realizes that resources are extremely scarce, for instance the space in your luggage is quite limited, yet the social challenges we face in Africa are tremendous. This makes people want to economize, optimize, and maximize! People want to squeeze out every last drop of value and see that every last bit of space is purposeful. However, I cannot agree that someone traveling to Africa, or Ethiopia, shouldn’t bring gifts for children. In fact, I would think that would be one of the most important things. (more)

Opinion

Kibera Soweto, East

The Kibera slum is slowly upgrading its housing from mud, dirt, sticks, and rusted tin to ominous concrete. Above is a view of Kibera Soweto we took while visiting last fall. In the skyline you see the houses being constructed by the Government and UN Habitat; below lay the rooftops of the slum residents that are to move into the new houses.

The idea is that as they move out and into the new houses it frees up more space for the Government and UN Habitat to build more housing under a program called KENSUP, Kenya Slum Upgrading Program. Ideally, the process continues until Kibera and other slums throughout Kenya are no longer a slums. The Government has long claimed that all residents in Kibera – what’s thought to be around a million people – are squatter on Government land. For nearly 50 years the Government has largely abandoned this land and now is beginning to reclaim the land and provide affordable housing for the residents. (more)

Kenya

In a previous post I expressed my shock at that lack of media coverage over deaths in Mt. Elgon in favor of covering the latest scandal within the Kenyan Government. Since 2006, hundreds have been killed at Mt. Elgon and Human Rights Watch raised concerns of war crimes. Now it appears the rein of the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) rebel group is over due to a heavy military presence in the area.  And with this restored peace, the Kenyan media have begun covering the healing process of this war-torn community in their four part series Caves and Skeletons. (more)

Kenya