kibera

Today I walked through villages in Kibera Slums. The urban poor of Nairobi. We were visiting an urban farming project - very innovating and inspiring!

This walk is requiring some processing. I'm not convinced my writing can paint a picture for you, however the picture of the slums which I saw was not allowed to be captured with a camera. I will try.

Garbage lining the streets. Piles of it. Mounds. A smell so strong you could see and taste it.
Open sewage and waste FLOWING between the homes.
Houses made of RUSTY sharp and JAGGED tin. Some made of mud and garbage bags.
Children running barefoot.
Residents upset there were four mazungos walking through their neighborhood - shouting for us to get out of their way.
PUNGENT suffocating smells of feces and burning garbage saturated in the midday heat.

But amidst this disgusting and most humbling picture, there is LIFE growing. New life. Hope. Change. We were gently reminded today that development is a slow process. We must be very patient when working with people and that community exists even in the most inhumane conditions.

The organization we visited is finishing up a two year urban agricultural project that has been very successful. Urban Farming at it's best! They build capacity and train up households to not only provide food for their families, but also extra income, a livelihood, and community support.

Security. In the ngo world when we say "food security" we are referring to securing a food source for people. Simple. But the impact is often greater. It is creating security for households in the source of their food AND in the state of mind that they will not go hungry. That they will be able to eat and to provide produce to sell giving extra money for bread and milk, etc. It's knowing where that next grocery bill is being paid from. It's providing for their family. Example: a mother of five who is participating in the project has been able to cut her food bill in half by growing her own vegetables. A 50% cut in cost is significant. She also receives a small income (approx $5) each month to buy food items and pay school fees for her children. This is a simple project, but the significance of it lies in the space and sanitation of these communities. The space between houses is sometimes less than two feet wide. There is no sewage or waste removal or water system in Kibera - therefore the sewage and waste runs between the houses. It's a sanitation nightmare to say the least. The tin roofs so closely together provide little outlet for sunlight. The success of this project, agriculture in a such small and confined area, is making a significant impact in the lives of the participants, their families, and their neighbors who they are also teaching. It's also pretty darn impressive! All that is needed is a feed sack, soil, a little fertilizer and seeds. Kale is the most prevalent grown, as it is the "appropriate vegetable", the staple food of sukuma wiki and high in vitamins. It grows tall and in between the small spaces. It is amazing where life can grow. Lush and green. What life signifies. Hope. Security. Community.

Photos of the impressive urban farming to come...