introductions

Let me introduce you to some of my community and life in Kenya.  Here I am demonstrating how to use one of the latrines that Yang'at constructed just a few months ago.  This is the first time this interior community has had sanitary excreta disposal, which will drastically improve health and reduce prevalence of water borne diseases.

Pini brought us to her home in West Pokot for our internship.  We have been so blessed to be taken care of by her family and community.  Pini is the founder of Jitokeze and spent the past two months researching the impact of food insecurity on women in this region.  Here she is doing a Pokot dance in the traditional beads.

Meet Keela, my classmate and dear friend from Vancouver.  We share the muzungu and Yang'at experience together.

This is Micah, our security guard, and his son Joshua.  We have been blessed to share life with Micah, and he has taken great care of Keela and I. One of our goals is to raise funds to increase the salary of our co-workers like Micah.  He is currently without salary, volunteering full-time.  Yang'at supports him when funds become available.

Here I am interviewing one of the girls that Yang'at sponsors for school fees.  On the right is Deborah Katina, the co-founder and director of Yang'at.  She embodies what it means to be a servant leader, and she has graciously welcomed Keela and I into the Yang'at family.

Lilian (left) and Everlyne are diligent hard-working volunteers that we have come to love at Yang'at.  I will share Lilian's story in a post to come.  Both girls are praying to secure funds to attend University in the coming years.

And our dear co-worker Elizabeth.  She is a field co-ordinator at Yang'at, facilitating construction of sand dams, latrines and teaching on health, hygiene and sanitation.  Here she is speaking to a community where we performed baseline surveys.  Sand dam construction will commence here in the coming weeks. 

This weekend will be a Grand Opening Celebration and Fundraiser for Yang'at.  We expect a large turnout, and are eager to raise support and continue sensitizing this community on issues of water, health and education, especially as they impact girls and women.

Happy advent season to everyone!