KANYAWEGI CHILDREN'S HOME IN KISUMU, KENYA

SOME NOTES, VIEWS AND ADVICE FOR POTENTIAL VISITORS, BY JIM DAWE

Kanyawegi is situated on the main highway to Uganda (70 miles), ¾ mile from Lake Victoria and 5 miles from the Equator.
The temperature is between 27c and 34c, but usually around 28-31c all year. There are normally two rainy seasons, March - June and November, but like seasons in other parts of the world it is now unpredictable. It does not usually rain before 4pm, so it does not affect the day. During the time of rain it gets much cooler. It gets light at 6.30 am, and dark at 6.45 pm.
All medical precautions should be taken as Kisumu is a high Malaria area and there is also Typhoid around, so care is needed. Check with your doctor and listen to the advice. There are good private hospitals and dentists, but they all cost money, so travel insurance is essential.
Cost for holiday - Return flight to Nairobi £350 to £450 including airport tax (if you avoid August and December). British Airways and Kenya Airways go direct from Heathrow. KLM, S N Brussels (who also fly from Bristol), Gulf Air, Emirates and Swiss Air have one stop. From Nairobi you can fly to Kisumu, which takes 50 mins. and costs £39, or a taxi to town (£7.20) and then a coach to Kisumu that will take 6 hours and costs £4.50. You will see a lot of Kenyan life from the coach, including the Rift valley, villages and slums. There may be the opportunity to catch sight of zebra, baboon or other wild life, but the journey is tiring and the roads are rough.
A visa is currently needed to enter Kenya, which costs £30. These have been available at the airport on entry, but it would be wise to check as the rules are always changing.
The only other costs are lodgings and food if you would rather stay in town, a little for transport and any personal spending money.
Accommodation at the home is safe (there are three Maasai night watchmen on duty), but very basic. You are very welcome to stay at the home if space permits, there are bunk beds in the two visitors rooms, mosquito nets and bedding. We have flushing toilets and safe water from our borehole. The food is African and is prepared under hygienic conditions (by African standards), although it may take some getting used to. Electricity is the same as the UK, the plugs and adaptors are also the same. Our telephone, 00254-57-2022932 (from England), is available for incoming calls and there is an E-mail bureau in town. The mobile phone network in Kenya is now quite good.
If you prefer to stay in town which is 5 miles away. Lodgings will cost you about £3.70 a night and a hotel £6.60 - £12.00 a night.
Toiletries, special foods, medicine and some very nice craftwork are available in town, along with most things found in England (except snow).
Otonglo, where the home is situated, is not safe outside the home after dark. Town is mostly OK providing you take reasonable care. Most of Kisumu is safe during the day.
Transport is plentiful and cheap. A bus to town will cost 22 pence, and a taxi is around £2.00.
There are plenty of English food places in town. Two sausages and chips cost about 60 pence to 95 pence, Coke 19 pence and chicken and chips in a good hotel will cost £1.70, although I don't think you will find any roast beef or toad in the hole.
Visitors are at liberty to come and go as they please. They are welcome to join in any events of the home as they wish, or create new activities. Manpower in Kenya is very cheap, so we
don't encourage visitors to work. The greatest impact you can have is with the children, just talking, showing photos, going for walks, helping with homework, sharing at our meetings - just anything that involves the children will be appreciated. They, and the adults, are very interested in things we take for granted, like flying, central heating, washing machines etc.
The day's programme (schooldays) is breakfast at 6.45, lunch 12.45, supper 6.30. Children leave for school between 6.15 and 7.00, returning at 4.45 to 6.30 (nursery and standard one normally have the afternoon off) After supper we have our evening meeting, which lasts for 15 to 40 mins. Bedtime is 9.30, except for the older children who are allowed a little longer.
At weekends and holidays we have breakfast a little later and have our meeting at 5pm. There is football, games, swimming (about 4 times a year), skipping, walks and TV of course, to entertain them, but most of the younger children make up their own games.
The school year is three terms starting in January, with their longest holiday at Christmas.
Tourist attractions around Kisumu are limited, there is hippo point where surprise, surprise you can see hippos, we have a museum, a park and some very nice views. There are regular coaches to Kampala if you fancy a trip to Uganda, although you will need to pay $15 for a visa.
If you want to visit a game park, we should make arrangements before you arrive - as most tours start from Nairobi.
Care should be taken in Nairobi, it is not safe at anytime or anyplace-except the airport.
The currency in Kenya is shillings. At the time of writing there are 140 shillings to the pound. There are places to change money in Nairobi airport and Kisumu
There are 42 different tribes and languages in Kenya, but the accepted national languages are English and Swahili. You must remember to speak slower and pronounce every letter, otherwise they will not understand you (although they will always say yes when you ask them). Avoid double negatives or you won't get the right answer.
There are no laws on any form of dress, but unless you want people staring at you, avoid "short" shorts, skintight things, jeans (for ladies) and anything that shows your leg above the knee.
Kenya is predominately a Christian country, but other faiths are plentiful and there are almost no problems between the different religions. We as a home attend the A.I.C. (Africa Inland Church) on Sunday mornings, where some of the older children take a big part in the service.
Like all developing countries, there are plenty of street children. In Kisumu they are not normally a threat, but they can be a nuisance. Giving them money or food will ensure there is always a crowd around you, but if you refrain from giving you may get to know them better. Some street children speak good English and good conversations can be had if they feel that they can trust you. Use plenty of wisdom when dealing with these unfortunate children. Also be sensitive of pleas from older people, and don't give false hope. "I will see what I can do", or "I will ask in England if someone can help you'' means, "YES" to a Kenyan. Remember almost everyone in Kenya has a need or a problem.
A.I.D.S. is a vast problem in East Africa, be aware!
If you have not been to Kenya before, come and enjoy the experience, it is something you will never forget and you will make a lot of orphan children feel even more wanted and loved.
Everyone who has visited Kanyawegi so far has, or intends to make a return visit.
If you would like to know more, or speak to someone who has visited the home, please phone, write or e-mail.
Updated June 2005

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