In Kenya, you can never go a day without witnessing strength in the human spirit

The photos on this page were taken in Homa Bay, Kenya, July 6th-July 29th 2010 where I spent 3 in a half weeks participating in Western Washington's service-learning program working with Ombogo Girls’ Academy, Abba (school K-4th grade, medical clinic, home to many income generating projects which bind the community together, well as take care of and provide a home to some of the 16,000 HIV/AIDS orphans located in Homa Bay). I had the honor to work with members of society completing community service projects such as delivering mosquito nets to elders, educating them on how to properly utilize the nets, along with teaching them basic hygiene, and even cleaning huts and dishes that had not been cleaned for more than 10 years due to the lack of assistance, and poor health of elders, many of whose children have been taken by AIDS. We also happened to be in Kenya when they voted on their new constitution, and stayed with a former member of Parliament who was open to answering all of our questions concerning politics, even about the post election violence that occurred in 2008. Our host provided us with copies of the proposed constitution and was an active advocate for the YES campaign, leading many political riots.
(This area primarily consists of members of the Luo tribe which is one of Kenya's largest tribe)






The following photos are examples of the impromptu campaign speeches, at this particular time we were riding in a bus in front of his car on our way home from an excursion with the Slum Doctor sponsored students who attend Ombogo Girls Academy, when members of the town recognized Okundi, and feeding off of their enthusiasm he stopped to make a speech, in some of the photos you will see him waving a green YES sign which was the slogan for the campaign, similar to our own Obama's proposal that YES we can! When I was shooting the pictures (from the bus window because, well, they would never really let us get out of the bus in villages we didn't know because of safety) I couldn't help but notice all the children, in ratted Sunday dressed: tangible, and mobile scars serving as a constant reminder of  lingering devastation from European colonization. If the YES campaign wins, the children will have a chance, for education, better health, roads, jobs, and hope, something their parents, a generation battered and gone from HIV/AIDS didn't have.


 

I am pleased to share the Constitution was voted on August 4th, 2010 and passed!

Obama played a prominent role in all Kenyan newspapers prior to the August 4th, 2010 votes for the new constitution. All the controversy over particulars in the constitution became a useful tactic for Republicans and their attack on Obama. For he promised if the constitution were to pass, USA would fund its success BECAUSE it is supporting the process of democracy: Obama has been stated to  "support the process, not the outcome". Sadly, we live in a world where the most dangerous thing we can do is listen. Republicans took advantage of that, fueling the internal controversy over abortion rights, and land ownership which were misrepresented by the NO campaign whom consisted of mainly religious leaders. They advocated that the constitution would allow abortion. Having a copy of the constitution handy, I can confidently tell you that it states that abortion can be permitted only when the mother's life is in detrimental danger and the doctor  determines there is nothing else he/she can do making abortion the only solution to save at least one life.Most YES persons consist of religious people against abortion so this misconception was catalyzed and accepted, and kept alive because of the lack of education and literacy of the people and access to accurate literacy of the constitution.