One of the great things about being a Mzungu aka foreigner/european, is that people often stop you randomly just to talk, ask you where you are from, invite you to church, or talk about what they do along with curiosity about what I am doing here. One evening last week, while buying vegetables at a food stall, a guy stopped me and started talking to me. He informed me that he is an event planner and that this weekend they were going to have a Valentine's Day celebration at Kisumu's Women's Prison. I was more than happy to oblige with the request that I come. I knew the experience could only be enriching and I looked forward to it with anticipation.
As in many cultures, Kenyans also struggle with getting things started on time. Hence, we were initially told the event would be from 8-4, yet in actually it started around 2pm and extended until after 6pm. Upon arrival, I noted many little children and that was the first unexpected thing. We were soon informed that though many of the children belonged to the guards, more surprising is the fact that many were children of the inmates, and that these children live in the prison with their mothers. The children are not hindered in life because they go to school, and from my personal perspective they are fortunate because they do not lack for the maternal direction needed at a young age.
I got to sit down and speak with the Madame who has been running this prison for almost thirty years. I questioned her and came to understand that this prison holds a max off 150 women (although they were at 129 on the day I went), and that there isn't much in the way of conflict or fighting at this prison. The women's crimes vary from petty theft and selling alcohol without a license to more perverse crimes such as murder.
Not only is it a great gift that we can choose what brings us joy, but we can bring joy to others. These event planners got to give happiness. What a rare and genuine gift. Afterwards, I spoke to the MC/host who exclaimed how great it was to be invited to come and make these women feel special for a day. He gave them laughter, jokes, and smiles while receiving so much joy in return. He walked away as exhilarated as they must have felt. Some of these faces which appeared so hardened as though their features were hewed out of stone, softened for a few minutes.
Our next focus is getting the house weather proof before the rain comes. This includes getting the glass and undercoat for paint within the next few weeks. This is a job costing over $6000. This is a race to beat the rain, help us make it happen!
Donate Here: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/race-to-beat-the-rain-help-us-finish-this-home-in-30-days/x/6416429