Dave's East Africa Blog: July 31, 2011

Greetings

It’s been almost two weeks since arriving back in the states. Why is it? Two weeks here in the states seems like no time at all but in Africa two weeks seemed like a really long time. The ten weeks I spent in Kenya seemed like two and a half monthsJ. Ever take a vacation for two weeks and wonder where the time had gone? I did not get that feeling when I was away. However I do wonder where the last two weeks have gone.

For the next few days I thought I would try to update my blog with a little update of what we were able to accomplish and how it is progressing so far with each project. In the next couple of weeks I will try and paint a better picture of what we plan to accomplish in the next six months or so.

Our first project that we got involved with was the ground nut and simsims at the United Methodist Church in Matasia (Ngong Hills) in the suburbs of Nairobi. This five year old project helps support eleven or so orphans by providing funds so they can be fed, clothed, and pay for boarding school at various locations in Central Kenya. Essentially all the product that is made for the day is sold out nightly. The constraints are raw materials, roasting, packaging, licenses, medical inspections, and labeling. We provided a donation to the UMC Nairobi District Headquarters to add money to their micro-finance operation to help fund and expand this project for the Matasia church.

Ground nuts and simsims ready for packaging

With the money the church has purchased raw materials, a new bag sealer, and new Jiko. They are also working on getting the license and medical inspections to operate legally. On top of this they have now rented a store with two employees on the main road from Ngong Hills where they are now selling various raw materials to help fund this project even more. I am told that the daily profits are about a thousand shillings and with time the profits will be much higher now that the local residents do not have to travel as far to get their grains. The store sells cereals including the ground nuts, maize, rice, beans, and even eggs. The store has electricity and the next expansion is to start making cookies and cakes to sell too.

Some cereals