Well its 5am... we are just about loaded up on the trucks and I'm going to rush off for breakfast. We are heading to the airport for a flight to Kampala, Uganda. From there we will take a 7hr drive along reputably bad roads to Kibale National Park, where we will stay for 9 days. The Chapmans have a research centre there and we will start our first real field courses.
The next time we will have internet access is in Jinja, 2 weeks from now.
So this is goodbye for now!
xoxoxo
Marion
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
A day on water and sanitation
Just a brief note to let you all know that I have survive another information-loaded day in East Africa. Today's activities revolved around the themes of water coverage, waste management and sanitation in the city of Nairobi. This meant visits to the Univeristy of Nairobi to hear from an organisation called Majina Ufanisi. This group is all about water and developement, especially in the poor communities of rural and urban areas of Nairobi. Their approach to solving these issues are very interesting and involve placing the communities in a position of partners, as opposing to simply receivers, and transferring responsibility for the building and maintenance of facilities such as latrines and santiation points within their community. Within the training of the people that this involves lies an opportunity for gender equity and empowerment, meaning that women who are trained in the same skills as men receive the same pay as these men, something that is not traditional nor common in these cultures and communities.
We were also entertained by the CEO of Athi Water Services Board- the company that provides water coverage and waste management services for the Nairobi city region. He presented us with many maps of treatment plant locations and pipelines that transport water 40 to 60km from its source to Nairobi. The gist of his story is that Nairobi, and Kenya as a whole, is 10 years behind in terms of water coverage. With an economic growth rate of around 4.6%, but a population growth rate closer to 10%, Nairobi's water coverage is a mere 40%, excluding the slums areas. To this company, it is not even practical to install a water system to slum areas due to so called historical reasons. Out of the 40% of water that goes unaccounted for, 10% is stolen and 30% is lost through leakages. It speaks that the company was much more interested in gaining the income from this 10% stolen water (which is being taken from illegal taps in the slum areas) as opposed to the other 30% which is lost due to poor maintenance of pipelines in the city.
Our day wrapped up with a talk with the Nairobi city council... an interesting insight into the actions of the council and how they make important decisions. The most pressing project currently under way is a river clean up as well as the developement of a recycling station to reduce the amount of waste in the landfills. 2,400 tonnes of waste are generated by the city per day, and of that, 53% is organic waste, 17% paper and 12% plastic. Currently, "scavengers" live in the dump sites, collecting and sorting the garbage and selling what they find to companies that recycle the materials. A composting program is being developed, and a recycling centre is being built. I asked what would happen to the scavengers who depend on the unsorted garbage for income and the city implied that there would be employment options for these people at the recycling location... would be interesting to see how that turns out
Anyways, my friends, it is late here and its finally friday night, with a prospect of a much needed sleep in tomorrow so I'll turn in now
Hope all is smooth sailing at home
lots of love
Marion
We were also entertained by the CEO of Athi Water Services Board- the company that provides water coverage and waste management services for the Nairobi city region. He presented us with many maps of treatment plant locations and pipelines that transport water 40 to 60km from its source to Nairobi. The gist of his story is that Nairobi, and Kenya as a whole, is 10 years behind in terms of water coverage. With an economic growth rate of around 4.6%, but a population growth rate closer to 10%, Nairobi's water coverage is a mere 40%, excluding the slums areas. To this company, it is not even practical to install a water system to slum areas due to so called historical reasons. Out of the 40% of water that goes unaccounted for, 10% is stolen and 30% is lost through leakages. It speaks that the company was much more interested in gaining the income from this 10% stolen water (which is being taken from illegal taps in the slum areas) as opposed to the other 30% which is lost due to poor maintenance of pipelines in the city.
Our day wrapped up with a talk with the Nairobi city council... an interesting insight into the actions of the council and how they make important decisions. The most pressing project currently under way is a river clean up as well as the developement of a recycling station to reduce the amount of waste in the landfills. 2,400 tonnes of waste are generated by the city per day, and of that, 53% is organic waste, 17% paper and 12% plastic. Currently, "scavengers" live in the dump sites, collecting and sorting the garbage and selling what they find to companies that recycle the materials. A composting program is being developed, and a recycling centre is being built. I asked what would happen to the scavengers who depend on the unsorted garbage for income and the city implied that there would be employment options for these people at the recycling location... would be interesting to see how that turns out
Anyways, my friends, it is late here and its finally friday night, with a prospect of a much needed sleep in tomorrow so I'll turn in now
Hope all is smooth sailing at home
lots of love
Marion
Thursday, January 22, 2009
some pictures to relieve your thirst?
hello all
not much time to write today, but i'm going to try to post a few pics of the past few days.
today we had some lectures from some men who work at ICIPE to hear about their studies on malaria and also introducing training for beekeeping and silk moths for rural farmers to help decrease the number of trees cut down
we also went to the Canadian high commission in kenya to hear from a man from CIDA and a political- economic officer. very interesting. the high commission is amazing... tax dollars at work to support a tennis court, two pools and gorgeous grounds. but nowhere near as ridiculous, ugly and unnnecessary as the USA embassy near the UN site.... ridiculous.
It's Laura's 21st birthday, though, so I will post these quickly and then rejoin the group for beers, Uno, and journal writing.
lots of love to all
xoxoxo
B&H- sorry i didnt say hi earlier! thanks for following my blog, hope all is well at home!!
one of the crazy matatus that are driven here as a means of large taxis... they are all totally bling-ed up with celebrity posters stuck on them and hilarious gangster things written on them. this one is my favourite so far
Some children who live in the Kibera slums. Most of them only know how to say "how are you?" in english, and all really want their pictures taken so they can see themselves in the digital screen. real heartbreakers.
The Kibera slums. This picture doesn't nearly capture the whole of it. I have more that show more of the place and the amazing community. But this is a pretty good representation of the amount of garbage there is (flying toilets) and the corregated tin houses that fuction as homes and/or stores for millions of people.
not much time to write today, but i'm going to try to post a few pics of the past few days.
today we had some lectures from some men who work at ICIPE to hear about their studies on malaria and also introducing training for beekeeping and silk moths for rural farmers to help decrease the number of trees cut down
we also went to the Canadian high commission in kenya to hear from a man from CIDA and a political- economic officer. very interesting. the high commission is amazing... tax dollars at work to support a tennis court, two pools and gorgeous grounds. but nowhere near as ridiculous, ugly and unnnecessary as the USA embassy near the UN site.... ridiculous.
It's Laura's 21st birthday, though, so I will post these quickly and then rejoin the group for beers, Uno, and journal writing.
lots of love to all
xoxoxo
B&H- sorry i didnt say hi earlier! thanks for following my blog, hope all is well at home!!
one of the crazy matatus that are driven here as a means of large taxis... they are all totally bling-ed up with celebrity posters stuck on them and hilarious gangster things written on them. this one is my favourite so far
Some children who live in the Kibera slums. Most of them only know how to say "how are you?" in english, and all really want their pictures taken so they can see themselves in the digital screen. real heartbreakers.
The Kibera slums. This picture doesn't nearly capture the whole of it. I have more that show more of the place and the amazing community. But this is a pretty good representation of the amount of garbage there is (flying toilets) and the corregated tin houses that fuction as homes and/or stores for millions of people.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Day Of Contrast
This morning we got in our huge trucks and made our way past beautiful and impressive embassies towards the UN headquarters in Nairobi-- the second largest headquarters in the world after that in Washinton. We were given several lecture presentations regarding the land use and city planning in Kenya and other parts of urbanizing africa, and the use and distribution of water to the rural areas and also about the levels of safety vs crime in the major cities of Africa and the world. The statistics were staggering, and it was also good to have a presentor that recognised that many stats we (and even the important contributors to this part of the world) are presented with are very biased, incorrect and poorly measured. He showed us the different levels and factors that are considered in his projects regarding water coverage and it was a relief to see that at least someone was aware of poor statistics, even if the ones he presented may have also been inaccurate for our benefit. All the presentors were from the UN-Habitat project and it was all very interesting. In 2008, a partnership between the worlds universities and UN-habitat was begun, and McGill is one of 25 universities world wide to be a partner.
A tour of the grounds soured our opinion of the UN. Outrageous use of water, and land seemed disgusting after our talks about intense population denisities (200 all the way to 90,000 persons per square km in Nairobi, for example) and lack of water for the people of this country. While it is understandable that places like this are needed to attract the trained and experience people who work for the UN, as well as for diplomatic reasons, we all felt strongly that the grounds were incomprehensibly affluent against the backdrop of its setting.
Lunch in the UN- subsidized cafeteria and then back into the trucks to head for the much-anticipated Kibera slums-- the largest slum in Africa. UN-habitat has been very active in building some low income housing and important sanitation/hygiene stations to replace the abundant "flying toilet" problem in Kibera, where 65% of Nairobi's population lives on less than 10% of the land. The place was stunning--- corregated tin roofs stretching from horizon to horizon, with the train track running through the centre. 3ftx3ft shacks are home to large families, some times 2, and they sleep and work in shifts. While the UN protrayed the slums as a dormatory living place (a place where people came only to sleep while they were not working in the city) the place was very much a city in itself, and was teeming with children, adults, stores, pharmacies, hair salons, shoe makers... it was ultimately self contained. There is no way for me to describe fully this place, so you will have to wait for me to come home and tell you about it. There are the good, impressive and inspiring sides, and also the extremely depressing and appalling sides to the place and I could talk forever about what I saw and learned from the Kibera-community committee members who showed us around and introduced us to the very proactive youth group that is growing in the slums, which are actually made up of 12 villages and several different tribes.
At this moment, that is enough. We all need some time to internalize today's places and information. But all is well here and things are running smoothly.
Mum- yes I did know about the location of Nairobi... we are 140km south of the equator, in fact!
Rissa- thanks for your email, it was great to hear from you! Glad you are enjoying the snow as much as possible. Its hard to remember that things are still happening at home in Montreal while I'm here so its great to hear about things!!
Nick- hope the soccer is going well, give my wishes to Eric and say hi to the fam in Toronto for me. I'll ask Laura about what Adam's mum did with CIDA... Adam's family still lives in Rwanda, and Laura intends to go there for a bit after the trip ends and has asked if I would be interested in going with her and staying with the family. Will see out things pan out.
Alix- miss you too! hope you and Dan are holding the fort without me and you have met Jordan by now!
lots of love to all
Marion xoxo
A tour of the grounds soured our opinion of the UN. Outrageous use of water, and land seemed disgusting after our talks about intense population denisities (200 all the way to 90,000 persons per square km in Nairobi, for example) and lack of water for the people of this country. While it is understandable that places like this are needed to attract the trained and experience people who work for the UN, as well as for diplomatic reasons, we all felt strongly that the grounds were incomprehensibly affluent against the backdrop of its setting.
Lunch in the UN- subsidized cafeteria and then back into the trucks to head for the much-anticipated Kibera slums-- the largest slum in Africa. UN-habitat has been very active in building some low income housing and important sanitation/hygiene stations to replace the abundant "flying toilet" problem in Kibera, where 65% of Nairobi's population lives on less than 10% of the land. The place was stunning--- corregated tin roofs stretching from horizon to horizon, with the train track running through the centre. 3ftx3ft shacks are home to large families, some times 2, and they sleep and work in shifts. While the UN protrayed the slums as a dormatory living place (a place where people came only to sleep while they were not working in the city) the place was very much a city in itself, and was teeming with children, adults, stores, pharmacies, hair salons, shoe makers... it was ultimately self contained. There is no way for me to describe fully this place, so you will have to wait for me to come home and tell you about it. There are the good, impressive and inspiring sides, and also the extremely depressing and appalling sides to the place and I could talk forever about what I saw and learned from the Kibera-community committee members who showed us around and introduced us to the very proactive youth group that is growing in the slums, which are actually made up of 12 villages and several different tribes.
At this moment, that is enough. We all need some time to internalize today's places and information. But all is well here and things are running smoothly.
Mum- yes I did know about the location of Nairobi... we are 140km south of the equator, in fact!
Rissa- thanks for your email, it was great to hear from you! Glad you are enjoying the snow as much as possible. Its hard to remember that things are still happening at home in Montreal while I'm here so its great to hear about things!!
Nick- hope the soccer is going well, give my wishes to Eric and say hi to the fam in Toronto for me. I'll ask Laura about what Adam's mum did with CIDA... Adam's family still lives in Rwanda, and Laura intends to go there for a bit after the trip ends and has asked if I would be interested in going with her and staying with the family. Will see out things pan out.
Alix- miss you too! hope you and Dan are holding the fort without me and you have met Jordan by now!
lots of love to all
Marion xoxo
Monday, January 19, 2009
JAMBO!
Hello all!
Just a quick note in the morning before breakfast, taking advantage of the internet provided at ICIPE. Yesterday we drove through Nairobi, past the Mathare slums and through the metropolis centre, and out the other side to Nairobi National Park. Considering the jetleg, our profs had kindly granted us a day for easy discovery, and we set out on a driving safari through the park. We saw much much more game than expected: buffalo, ostriches, girraffes :)!!, zebras, hartebeast, eland, huge black kites, white backed vultures, common spotted eagles, and the ubiquitous LBJs. I'm sure I'll be reeling off all the bird names by the end of the 2nd module since I'll be taking Ornithology.
Associated with the park is the Nairobi Safari Walk: sort of like a zoo but no where near as well- developed as the Belize National Zoo. It had cost 140 million shilling (around 2 million US) to build and houses mostly animals that are indigenous to Kenya, with the exception of the white rhino and the pygmy hippo, which are native to south africa. Walking around with our guide, we saw both of the above, ostriches, hyena, black and white colobus monkeys, white zebra (albino, with brown stripes instead of black), hammerkop birds, saik (blue) monkeys, hadada ibis, a bongo, a unicorned oryx, and a sick and whithered looking cheetah. As well, 3 spectacular and huge black-and-white-casque hornbills (in the wild, from a boardwalk). There were also lions in the safari captivity, but we didnt see them. Hopefully in the Masaii Mara...
For Dad: I was on the look out for and was rewarded with several signs you would find amusing: "Kenya Flying School: for those who defy gravity safely", "drive it like you stole it" (on the back of one of the many hilarious matatas), "warthogs and children have right of way"... there are many and I'll keep recording them.
It was a hot day but the trucks that drive us around are open air, with massive open sides
that put all us white people on display. But its a much better way of getting around than being inside AC-ed busses.
Today, we will hit the town, heading over to the Nairobi University to have a few lectures, and walk around the city with Kenyan students in the Geography program. It will allow us to approach the city on foot, exchange some money, pick up books and extra supplies and check out the places the students here hang out. It will also be a big day here in Nairobi as the inaugoration of President Obama, a Kenyan, has been all the talk in this city. It will be interesting to watch the dynamics and ask about the event in town. In 5 days or so, we leave for Kibale National Park and will not return to Nairobi for a month.
I hope all at home and school is well! This may be the most extensive blog I can afford, but I will do my best!
Lots of love and wishes to all.
xoxox
PS: Mum, I'm wearing my money belt and I remembered to take my Larium! I think of you when I see the umbrella trees.
PPS: Glen: I forgot to wish you luck in the last term of grade 12!! You dont need luck, but I can't wait to see you graduate!!
Just a quick note in the morning before breakfast, taking advantage of the internet provided at ICIPE. Yesterday we drove through Nairobi, past the Mathare slums and through the metropolis centre, and out the other side to Nairobi National Park. Considering the jetleg, our profs had kindly granted us a day for easy discovery, and we set out on a driving safari through the park. We saw much much more game than expected: buffalo, ostriches, girraffes :)!!, zebras, hartebeast, eland, huge black kites, white backed vultures, common spotted eagles, and the ubiquitous LBJs. I'm sure I'll be reeling off all the bird names by the end of the 2nd module since I'll be taking Ornithology.
Associated with the park is the Nairobi Safari Walk: sort of like a zoo but no where near as well- developed as the Belize National Zoo. It had cost 140 million shilling (around 2 million US) to build and houses mostly animals that are indigenous to Kenya, with the exception of the white rhino and the pygmy hippo, which are native to south africa. Walking around with our guide, we saw both of the above, ostriches, hyena, black and white colobus monkeys, white zebra (albino, with brown stripes instead of black), hammerkop birds, saik (blue) monkeys, hadada ibis, a bongo, a unicorned oryx, and a sick and whithered looking cheetah. As well, 3 spectacular and huge black-and-white-casque hornbills (in the wild, from a boardwalk). There were also lions in the safari captivity, but we didnt see them. Hopefully in the Masaii Mara...
For Dad: I was on the look out for and was rewarded with several signs you would find amusing: "Kenya Flying School: for those who defy gravity safely", "drive it like you stole it" (on the back of one of the many hilarious matatas), "warthogs and children have right of way"... there are many and I'll keep recording them.
It was a hot day but the trucks that drive us around are open air, with massive open sides
that put all us white people on display. But its a much better way of getting around than being inside AC-ed busses.
Today, we will hit the town, heading over to the Nairobi University to have a few lectures, and walk around the city with Kenyan students in the Geography program. It will allow us to approach the city on foot, exchange some money, pick up books and extra supplies and check out the places the students here hang out. It will also be a big day here in Nairobi as the inaugoration of President Obama, a Kenyan, has been all the talk in this city. It will be interesting to watch the dynamics and ask about the event in town. In 5 days or so, we leave for Kibale National Park and will not return to Nairobi for a month.
I hope all at home and school is well! This may be the most extensive blog I can afford, but I will do my best!
Lots of love and wishes to all.
xoxox
PS: Mum, I'm wearing my money belt and I remembered to take my Larium! I think of you when I see the umbrella trees.
PPS: Glen: I forgot to wish you luck in the last term of grade 12!! You dont need luck, but I can't wait to see you graduate!!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
In Nairobi!!
Successful arrival at ICIPE in Nairobi... huge converted army trucks picked us up from the airport after we collected all of our boxes of clothes and books and only had one broken-in bag for the whole group!
5.5 hr flight to Amsterdam, 8 hr flight to Nairobi... KLM is great and looked after us well
ICIPE is great... staying in dorms in 2 person rooms
Looking forward to exploring Nairobi tomorrow morning in the daylight
Lots of love from AFFRRRIIICAAAA
xoxoxo
5.5 hr flight to Amsterdam, 8 hr flight to Nairobi... KLM is great and looked after us well
ICIPE is great... staying in dorms in 2 person rooms
Looking forward to exploring Nairobi tomorrow morning in the daylight
Lots of love from AFFRRRIIICAAAA
xoxoxo
Thursday, January 15, 2009
With 2 Days left
Hi Everyone!
This is a bit of a test to see if this will get to all of you. I have 2 days until departure and I think this might be a cool way to keep in touch with you while I'm away! Check here for updates!!
This is a bit of a test to see if this will get to all of you. I have 2 days until departure and I think this might be a cool way to keep in touch with you while I'm away! Check here for updates!!
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