Name: Kirsty Morton
Location: Kenya
Report Title: Off Farming in Kenya
Report Date: 28/08/2009
Initial Report I am going to be working at a children’s home in Isiolo ; a town in the Eastern province of Kenya. This is a last minute change from my original project, which was initially pretty unsettling, however I have got used to the idea of living in a far more rural, arid area of Kenya. I will be involved in teaching in the nursery and helping children with their homework, helping in the kitchen and the farm, and identifying “at risk” children in the community through home visits. I have managed to contact a past volunteer who loved volunteering in Isiolo so much that she now lives and works there. She has given me an idea of what life out there is like, although I still don’t really know what to expect! I am incredibly excited about what lies ahead; a completely different country and continent, experiencing a new culture, new challenges and experiences, and meeting new people. First and foremost, I hope that I can have a positive effect on the lives of the children living at the home. I’m not going to be able to solve the many problems that Kenya currently faces, but I hope to be able to make a difference to the lives of the children I’m working with. Mixed in with the excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead, there is also a bit of fear! I’m not sure exactly what to expect or how I’ll react to being in a completely new environment, with unfamiliar surroundings, different customs, and being hundreds of miles away from my friends and family. I’m keeping this in perspective though – and I guess I’d be a bit worried if I was making a life changing decision and I wasn’t anxious about it! So all things considered, from this year I’m hoping to make a positive difference to the lives of the people I work with. No matter how small, if I make a difference, it’ll be worth it. I’m hoping to learn some things about myself along the way, challenge myself, and enjoy the journey. Hopefully I’ll meet lots of new people, make new friends, and learn from them and the way they live their lives. I’d like to thank Hazel’s Footprints Trust for the kind donation towards my trip, I am very grateful to have this opportunity, and plan to make the most of it!
