stonekenyablog: More construction, final visits and goodbye dinner

More construction, final visits and goodbye dinner

Our first major activity of the day was to continue working on the foundation of the new dorm at Kisaruni Girl’s High School. The group got to mixing and pouring concrete. Truly back-breaking work. We did it for 2 hours in complete safety gear. The local fundi (construction formen) were doing the same work with no gloves, no dust masks and wearing sandals. To be fair, I must admit that I personally bowed out of the work, but the rest of the group finished pouring one side of the foundation. It was an absolutely beautiful day with a really picturesque layer of clouds in the sky. I think everyone was proud to pitch in and help build this valuable addition to the school.

Juan gets it done!

Maasai Flincher surveys the work site.

We completed one side of the rectangle that will be the foundation for the dormitory. What looks like a ditch full of mud is actually concrete

Throughout our stay, we were
videoed by WE video team.
Here Prasan gets a tracking shot.

Behind the Kisaruni school there is an interesting rock formation, with what looks like caves. It was easy to imagine leopard lurking up there or maybe this is a place where prehistoric man made dwellings.

The group poses for a picture after a job well done.

We returned back to camp and had time for a quick shower and lunch before heading out to the two solar suitcase installations in Pimbenet. The first stop was a the Pimbenet Primary school . Most of the children in the community of Pimbenet, attend school here. There are about 600 students at this school. First, we attended a ceremony of appreciation that including the students singing for us, and thank you speeches from the principal of the school and the chairman of the district. They presented us with a goat as a thank you gift. Of course we donated the goat back to them. After the ceremony some of us hung out and chatted with students and some played in a soccer match against Pimbenet students.

We arrive at the the Pimbenet Primary School. Note the solar panels on this building.

Students at Pimbenet Primary School come out to greet us.

We left the school and went to visit the two sites where we had installed suitcases earlier in the week. We wanted to check up on how the community was getting along with their new solar power systems. We also wanted to go back and re-teach members of the community on how to use them. We felt that in the excitement of getting the solar power systems, some of the operating instructions might have been overlooked or forgotten. This is very important because if the systems are not maintained and used correctly, it can significantly decrease capacity and lifespan of the system battery. I had a great time teaching the people how to assess the status of the battery and when to use the system and when to allow the battery to charge.

One systes that we installed in Pimbenet

A Pimbenet mama use the solar-charged electric shears on her child.

One of the highlights of my trip: teaching the community at Pimbenet

Pimbenet mama says goodbye.

As we left, we saw this rainbow appear over the building with the solar suitcase. I felt it was a good omen for the community.

Our trip back to camp today would be one of the last times we would get to see all the local kids run out and wave at our bus.

Upon our arrival back at camp we were treated to a celebration dinner of roasted goat, ugali (corn meal bread), rice, creamed spinach and mango avocado salsa. Most of the camp staff joined us for dinner. I was very flattered to be chosen by the group to give the opening round of appreciation to our wonderful hosts. Each member of that staff had worked hard to make sure that our group had a once in a lifetime experience. After dinner the staff sang for us and we all sang along and danced as Emily cut the farewell cake.