Kibera slum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thousands of crowded filthy slums, unpaved roads, under the dark of night with no power, scarce food and lack of clean water supply,

inadequate sewage disposal ,unbearable smell of rotten food and human waste.

Young kids running everywhere barefoot with ripped clothes and a huge smile…Welcome to the Kibera slum.

Walking through the muddy roads, I recalled the pictures I saw searching the net for Kibera.

Even that could not prepare me for the shock I felt walking in the heart of the slum.

The picture I had in mind when I decide to visit the orphanage/school was completely different than the sight I saw as soon as I opened the door of the “Tunza Orphanage”.

I even had doubts that perhaps we have made a stop instead to a family house. For God’s sake this could not be possible, I whispered to my self.

I froze…..What words can you say to these humans that can make sense?

We had brought food and school supplies in an attempt to help the kids but seeing this shocking site I felt it was like a drop in the ocean.

The smell of the bad human waste first captured me then the children crawling over the muddy floor seized me.

Going through all the class rooms they were all the same: dark, gloomy but full of smiley kids.

The word “school yard” has another definition in the slum

After the orphanage, we visited the brainstorm school it’s a privately owned kindergarden for babies and toddlers 6 months to 4 years old,

and still the situation wasn’t getting any better.

In a big room with no windows nor electricity a group of young kids and their teachers gathered to sing and dance so happily regardless of the awful condition

they live in and regardless of the lack of sufficient food water or hygiene .

We exchanged contacts with George Jarona(below) who is doing everything possible to help these kids.

Very soon I will have a separate post for this school and maybe something good comes out of it that could bring some hope to these angels.

At the power women shop, where a bunch of widowed HIV effected brave women, those women they brought the hope back to me.

Facing their disease, claiming back their lives, ignoring criticism and the society abandonment in order to save their kids.

Running between working to make beads and clothes to sell in a fraction of the price and going for treatment and taking care of the their home and kids.

Kaka brings food in while Kids are waiting to see their photos.As much as I wanted to take one picture after the other, I just couldn’t.

It just felt better to gather the kids around you and see their glowing faces looking at the camera. Nothing can beat the feeling of making these kids even a tad happier.

At the streets of shame

what the Kibera slum is?

Six hundred acres of mud and filth, with a brown stream dribbling through the middle.

You won’t find it on your tourist map – or any other map. It’s a squatters camp – an illegal, forgotten city – and at least one third of Nairobi lives here.

The roads are heavily polluted by human refuse, garbage, soot, dust, and other wastes.

The slum is contaminated with human and animal feces, thanks to the open sewage system and the frequent use of “flying toilets”.

The lack of sanitation combined with poor nutrition among residents accounts for many illnesses and diseases.

It is estimated that one-fifth of the 2.2 million Kenyans living with HIV live in Kibera.

You do not walk in the Kibera without escort. We had Peter a community leader and Kaka (picture below) who also lives in Kibera to guide us in the slum.

Despite the hard edged face of Kibera, its people were  not hostile to us. I was the one feeling sad walking through the slum and not being able to help every one.

But how many can you help? You are simply outnumbered by life itself there.

Still, people were proud enough in their own misery not to beg for help. And even in such a dreadful place… you will get a smile…or two.

Angels live in hell?

Despite their struggle and miserable life condition, their lack of every human need, it blew my mind how happy, playful and smiley those kids were.

I mean, it doesn’t make sense to me…. Living beyond the lowest level of the least accepted living conditions and still you see the most adorable kids smiling at you.

How is this possible? I am telling you these kids are the living proof that hope can not die.

 

Every good story, should have a strong ending. I was trying hard to find an impressive ending but in my mind nothing could top the  photos of those kids full of hope,

happiness and smiles. No words can beat the look of those eyes.