Maji Mazuri

Many of us in the US, Canada and Europe have been impacted over the last couple of years by the economic crisis. Some have suffered serious financial setbacks, and most of us have had to tighten our belts somewhat.

But imagine being an average Kenyan, who is already living right at the margin of financial ruin, and is now facing higher food prices, higher gas prices (therefore higher bus fares) and higher unemployment.

Even just this last week, thousands of Kenyan farm workers were going without wages as the chaos in European airspace caused by the Iceland volcano led to the cancellation of dozens of cargo flights from Nairobi loaded with perishable fruits, vegetables and flowers destined for European markets.

You can help by sponsoring a child at one of the Maji Mazuri schools. Just $30 per  month for an elementary school child, or $70 per month for a high school student, covers all their expenses and provides the school with a predictable source of funds.

This is very easy to do - just take a look at our “Become a sponsor” page for more information.

Kevin

Friday April 23rd 2010

I am not very tall – 5 feet 5 inches if I stand up straight! But, for some reason, I have never seen myself as short.  Other people my height appear short to me, but I seem to have exempted myself.  As Wanjiku’s daughter, Wandia Chiuri,  says:  “Life is too short to be small!”

Back in 1987, my parents-in-law Gordon and Orma Walls spent 2 years working with the Maasai in a community outside Nairobi, Kenya.  They helped build a clinic, school rooms and a demonstration farm. It was there that they  first met Wanjiku Kironyo, who was later  to become the Founder and Director of Maji Mazuri, but was at that time providing counseling and family therapy to the Maasai women.

A firm friendship develop and 17 years later, in 2003, my wife Lyny and I travelled to Kenya to see her parents, who were on one of their many extensive repeat visits to work with their Maasai friends. Gordon introduced us to Wanjiku, and she immediately took us to visit the Maji Mazuri programs.

Lyny and I will never forget our first visit to the Mathare Valley slum to see Maji Mazuri and meet her team; then on to the Children’s Centre in Kasarani which cares for physically or mentally disabled orphans and abandoned children. We were overwhelmed!

Sadly, later that year, Lyny’s father, Gordon Walls, died after a short illness. Although he never said so directly, we felt that he wanted us to continue the family tradition of helping in Africa.

And, that is what we are doing…..