This is my first blog post on the CM4K word press, I am trying to re-familiarize myself with the site.

I am really looking forward to the trip on Tuesday, I can’t want to use the skills I’ve gained in helping other people to use communication technologies such as Audacity. The manuals were challenging to create but I think a challenge is a positive thing and the manuals look good! I can”t believe how quickly this has come around but I look forward to being involved in the workshops.

This is the first time I’ve used WordPress so I’m just trying to familiarise myself with it (not even sure if I’m posting this in the right place) but I thought best get to know it before we arrive in Nairobi on Wednesday!

Our meeting on Thursday (2nd) was useful in making a list of things I still need to go shopping for e.g. Insect repellent. But also having sat down with Angela and her detailed training manual on Premier I feel confident that I will be able to use the manual to help train out in Kenya. As I was unfamiliar with the software things that seemed obvious to Angela, Maddy and Lucy weren’t so for me, and this could be the case in Kenya. Angela had to make some amendments, after our dummy run so I think both parties benefited.

The trip really seems to have come around quickly (probably to do with the Christmas break). Having read through the schedule I’m excited to get there and get stuck in, to put faces to names and start turning our ideas into reality. Although we have to get over the first hurdle of the 12 hour layover before then!

For the first time Community Media 4 Kenya’s capacity building workshops form part of the curriculum. This means that the community-based learning that previous students have engaged in after their course has finished has now been formally acknowledged and recognised by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Brighton.

10 students & I leave on Tuesday for Kenya. We will run community media workshops in Nairobi (similar to last year’s work) in partnership with International Youth Council (Kenya), UN Volunteer Programme/Habitat & Accord. We then travel on to Rongo, where we will collaborate with the University College there in facilitating training and Community Media Centre development workshops (and meetings with community leaders and politicians) before returning to Nairobi for a community digital photography and story-telling workshop with marginalised communities.

Please feel free to promote this blog to anyone who might be interested in its content. All comments to our blogs will be welcomed. Internet connectivity in the surrounding villages of Rongo will be limited and so some reports might be delayed during these days but the students will write their blogs up every day and post them when connectivity permits.

Today I have added our new logo to our blog. This will be the logo of Community Media 4 Kenya as we seek to launch it as a student driven Community Interest Company. Thanks go to Callum, one of last year’s students, who came up with the design from one of the photos I shot of some lions on an rocky outcrop in the Maasai Mara. I love the design and the colours. They suit our collaborations and the Kenyan countryside so well. The strap-line – learn, empower, grow was the collective idea of last year’s Community Project module students and I look forward to the same kind of creativity from this year’s students as we are now starting to plan this year’s fieldwork.

Many of my family and friends said before I left for Kenya what an experience it would be and how lucky I was to get the opportunity- and they weren’t wrong! Being able to witness a different culture and be able to play a part in aiding people in the build- up to developing and setting up community media centres was so rewarding. From the teaching module community media, i’ve learned the importance of implementing change through the transferring of skills- teaching the teachers. Simply stepping into an environment and setting up a community media centre would simply not work. However, teaching people the skills they can share between other members of the community provides the people a voice, empowering them through the use of media. The people who took part in the workshop at the beginning of the trip were so passionate about helping others. From day one of the workshop to the last day, their aspirations were clear to see and the work we’d completed showed a clear positive impact on their plans.

Not simply the learning process, but the other adventures we encountered throughout our stay in Kenya were so rewarding too- from the Massi Mara, to going to an orphanage. The Massi Mara was a once in a lifetime experience and I know Peter’s trip was made by seeing his Cheetah- rather than my screaming at the bugs in the tent that same night! I know for sure I never want to see a jumping spider ever, ever again!!! Not to mention burning on the last day and now having tanned legs but only on the front half!

From going to Kenya I think it’s only confused me more. The benefits to both the communities and I are so rewarding in this line of work. However, but visiting the orphanage and the school it has spurred on my passion and love for teaching! It’s put me in a split situation as to whether to follow a career in teaching or make my way into the charity sector…  The opportunity to partake on this trip and gain so many life skills was amazing. I could never have imagined that was going to happen when i started uni 3 years ago! I cannot thank Peter enough for the brilliant work he takes part in completing over in Kenya and the teaching and learning that is undertaken before the trip- your work is so inspiring!

I know for sure I will envy future students’ of Peter’s who get to go to Kenya and I’ll be stuck in the UK!

On our last day in Kenya we took some time out to relax in the sun and recount our experiences throughout the trip. We said our fair wells to all the staff at the Hartebeest camp that had taken such good care of us during our visit, but for myself it felt like a ‘see you again soon’ rather then a final goodbye as I thought about how I could continue to contribute to the project beyond the trip. I felt ready to return home and see friends and family, but equally I knew how instantaneously the memories accumulated over the trip would create a longing to go back.

Reflecting on the trip itself and the work we committed ourselves to during the two weeks we were there, I feel lucky and extremely grateful for the opportunity to be able participate in such an ambitious project that has some real potential. I have learnt how important it is to humble yourself before all people you encounter no matter your position or their own, to see and participate in such work in which every individual involved has a say of equal validity and with considerable effect on the direction of the project is exciting and something that I have not seen before in my working life. With no emphasis on status or positioning the ethos of community media for Kenya holds everyone at equal distance from each other, I think that this is were the work gets it’s strength from and I hope that this ideal can be maintained as well as can be as the project continues to grow.

From working with university students in Nairobi to the safari on the Masai Mara each and every experience has been eye opening and enriching. I have learnt more about myself and the world around me on the two week trip than any text book has ever taught me. The skills and knowledge I have learned from this trip will serve me well in the future, but more then that the trip has given me a heightened sense of respectful humility for culture and people that cannot be learned.

Visiting Kenya has been something I have wanted to do for a long time and something that I will not be able to forget. The way in which this project allowed us to do so felt like the right way to approach outreach work, and will be the only way I can see myself working in similar projects in the future. Peter’s mantra of ‘learning from experience’ has proven to be the best way to learn. I hope that my experience’s in Kenya will feed further experiences positively back in the U.K. and I look forward to continued contributions to the project and to seeing it evolve.  

On my last day in Kenya I spent the day on safari with Callum, Rosie, and Peter. It was such a fantastic day to see the variety of the Kenyan wildlife, as well as a way to wrap up my experience in Kenya. It put the opportunity and experience that I have been given and worked for into perspective, as I have been extremely lucky to have traveled to and around Kenya, meet selfless, genuine people, teach university students, seen upcoming development projects, been a part of another culture, and to experience a safari. 

This experience has taught me how rewarding it is to engage in communities, to be a part of growth and development within the community, but also, and maybe more importantly, individual lives. It is individuals who work together to help one another and pass that help on to other people who work towards the bigger picture. It was because of individuals that I met in Kenya and their hopes and dreams, that communities were able to form, grow, and engage with other peoples hopes for their communities, and actually make change for the better.

This opportunity also gave me a chance to go out of my comfort zone, not only in the sense of engaging with communities in Kenya, but also travelling with people who I wouldn’t usually travel with, and being put in a situation where I have to believe in myself. When arriving back from Kenya I started a full-time job. I felt that from going out of my comfort zone in Kenya, I was comfortable going out of my comfort zone once more when entering a new environment – the work environment! This experience has made me believe in myself when faced with an unfamiliar situation, and have more confidence in who I am and what I am capable of. 

Going to Kenya is an experience that I will always remember and treasure, and hopefully apply to my everyday life and future career in helping others. 

Well today is the final day of the trip. We catch the flight to Gatwick (via Dubai) at 10.50 this evening.

Yesterday was a very relaxed day — probably the only one we’ve had on the entire trip. The students grabbed a bit of a lie in and most of the day was spent packing and chilling with a book in the Hartebeest garden. In the evening we met up with Willice & Gordon for an informal meeting to discuss future plans over a meal and drinks. We spent an enjoyable 2-3 hours in their company reflecting on the workshop; the trip as a whole and how to proceed from here. We retuned to Hartebeest at about 9pm — enjoyed our final Tuskers for an hour or so — and went to bed.

This morning has been much like yesterday — finalising our preparations to travel to the airport and relax reading our books. At about 3.30 we will head up to the cinema, which is about 2 blocks away, to watch the newly released ‘The Lone Ranger’ before heading back for a bite to eat and then the airport.

A lot has been achieved during this trip and the students and I will reflect on this in posts from the UK. As with the previous trips the students have behaved impecably and have engaged in the true spirit of the venture. I am extremely proud of them all. It has been a pleasure to work with them!

Callum, Rosie, Laura & Peter – CM4K team 2013

The trip to Ruiru changed and adapted on the run up to our trip to Kenya.  A lack of communication with Kris, due to connection problems, meant the plans kind of fell through. Callum had been in talks with Kris in getting a music session set up with the community members and ourselves- but this was dismissed due to lack of planning and communication.

We still went over to Ruiru for Peter to have a meeting with Mike, Roman, Kris and Vincent about future plans of collaboration between partners and different communities. This was very interesting to sit in on and play a little role of contributing my thoughts and ideas on the subject matter. The plans everyone had in mind were strong. There were many logistics to work out to ensure the plans could be followed through and work to benefit the communities and partners alike. Firstly, facilitating the communities by using accessible technologies was highly important. As throughout our work so far, it is important to ensure alien technologies are not introduced within a community that they will never be able to use again or gain access too. This causes more harm than good, which is why working within their means is essential. Alongside this the importance of long term sustainability was also important.

The meeting was interesting to get a taste of what the future holds for the community partners and the initiatives that want to be implemented to benefit community learning.

Next we moved over to a childrens orphanage. This was a real eye opener- just like Kingsway School earlier in the week. We stopped off to get some lollipops at the shop prior to our arrival (thanks Peter!) to give to the children. This instantly made each and every child happy! The smiles on their faces when interacting with us were so rewarding. Just talking to each of the children, finding out their names and playing some games kept the children smiling the duration of our stay. Inevitably, as noticed this trip, they were fascinated with the digital cameras and we took lots of pictures of the children with their blue tongues from the lollipops all smiling!

The trip keeps getting better and better! Let’s see what’s going to happen next with the Maasi Market and the following remaining days…

Just a quick blog to bring mine up todate.

Yesterday, as we had no more training to do, we decided to take a leisurely breakfast, spend some time chilling in the secluded, wooden gardens of the camp……the atmosphere of which was added to or encroached upon (depending on your point of view) by the Hallelujahs and songs of praise accompanied by a live band coming from the church across the way……whils n ot really my cup of tea I give them A* for stamina and stickability……they were still going strong after 3 hours.

Eventually, we caught a cab into town and were dropped by the Maasai market which was being held in the car park of the City’s Supreme Court. We were to be accompanied by our young friend from Ruiru, Kris Mbogo, who often comes with us on our training workshops. Of course as it was Kris, and Kris is always late, so 15 minutes after we arrived and 75 after he said he’d be there Kris turned up all cheerfulness and friendly as is his way.

We went for lunch first and found a rather nice Tratoria which allowed us a cheap but nice lunch and more importantly 2 not so bad double esspressos, which one of the comforts I most miss on these trips, so this was a treat.

After lunch we ventured into the market and Kris was immediately accosted by one guy who tried to explain that he would be our one guide through the market and that he would secure the best prices for us. He was immediately followed by several others who were intent on taking everyone in seperate directions in order to ply their trade on what they thought were unsuspecting Mzungus (white folk) and in this context what are known by conmen here as ‘Marks’.

I was happy to play along for a while as I ensured we all stayed together so that nothing untoward would happen. However, by keeping this group of conmen together they all started poking, proding and getting in our personal spaces. People who know me know that this is not the best thing to do with me and my hackles started to rise until eventually I had had enough and told them all to clear off! Or words to that effect! The original guy, who had a bit more about him, still tried to ride my ire by congratulating me on doing a great job of getting rid of these ‘bad men’. His attitude changed when I told him that that meant him also and that we were capable of walking through the market on our own. At this point he asked where we were from — he had identified us as Americans — once he knew we were from the UK and clearly possessed some street-wise he departed in high dudgeon muttering about his preferences for Americans who , and aplogies to any US friends reading this, have more money than sense in his eyes! 😉

Of course, this did not end the stream of beggars and stall traders eager to give their new ‘brothers & sisters’ from the UK a very special price……. a price that they would give to no-one else you understand. Lol. If you can think of those David Attenborough nature programmes of seals and sea lions on an overcrowded beach, with gulls and other assorted marine life all biting & snapping aggressively at intruders encroaching on their territory and squarking at passers-by at the top of their collective voices — then double it — and you start to get an idea of what the Maasai market it like. Great fun but definitely not for the over sensitive or gullable because they will be relieved of their cash and anything else that takes their fancy in double quick time.

We all came away enjoying the experience and with what we considered were bargains whilst the traders still made a profit…..just not as big a profit that they thought and the best thing was that the conmen knew they had been given short shrift! 😉