The girl who cried “Zanzibar”

Season’s greetings from Nairobi, Kenya! It’s the season of family and friendship; the season of charity and renewal; and the season of ditching your Zanzibar relocation plans.

Let me back up.

I arrived in Nairobi last week to volunteer at the Emmanuel Boys Center over the holidays. But upon arriving, Daniel Nduati, a Rotarian who founded the center, told me about a new center he was opening.

The Emmanuel Youth Empowerment Center is a drop-in center as opposed to the Boys Center, which is a residential home. EYEC is located in Dagoretti, an area of Nairobi known for its butcher shops. Unfortunately, it’s also gaining notoriety as a place teeming with orphaned youth whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS.

The mission of the center is to equip street youth (boys and girls) with the skills necessary to gain employment and rise above the violent criminal and sexual activity that plagues millions of Nairobi’s youth. EYEC will provide more than 200 youth with computer training, literacy programs, workshops and counseling on HIV/AIDS, drug rehabilitation, a healthy lunch five days a week, and more.

After seeing Daniel’s vision for the youth of Nairobi, I’ve decided to stay here for the duration of my scholarship term. My role is to produce a promotional video for the center. It’s my hope that potential donors will see the video and feel compelled to give their time and/or money.

The center is still in the process of being repaired and renovated. But it’s getting done quickly thanks to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of the Dagoretti youth. They’ve come out in droves every morning to help paint and clean. The center will be fully operational by January.

In addition to my work at the center, I’ll be attending classes at Catholic University of Eastern Africa. (Private school = no student strikes.)

In other news…

They say Christmas just isn’t Christmas in Kenya without slaughtering a goat. And making soup with its head. And drinking its blood. I wish I was joking. A few of my friends from Dar es Salaam will be joining me for what will be undoubtedly be an unforgettable Christmas with the boys from the rescue center.

(Stay tuned for my next blog post, which will announce my move to Uganda. Kidding... I hope.)