Volunteer Journals
Mama Maria Kenya

Jessica Dudley, July 2006

My experience at Mama Maria in Muhuru Bay is one that will stay with me forever. At least once every day I thought to myself "How lucky am I to be here.to make such wonderful friends.to learn how life is for people everyday.to deal with personal challenges.to survive them. and to laugh and laugh with the friendliest people I think I have ever met". Mama Maria taught me patience and reminded me how important it is to give time to those we love at home.

Every day in Muhuru Bay was filled with new experiences and I will talk about just one day.

On one particular day, I was given the opportunity to visit a monthly community meeting in West Kadem (a local district). I went with the Primary Health Officer from Tagache Health Centre. We had been working together on the Memory Box project. I had no idea what to expect. It was a sight to behold. Hundred and hundreds of people gathered under the shade of a few trees, where the chiefs and elders sat and heard cases of petty crimes and decided on appropriate consequences. The first item was a dispute between a man and a boy who were related. The boy had borrowed 500shillings and had not paid the man back. It was agreed that he would pay on Monday, without interest and the man forgave the young boy. Once this was complete I was asked to introduce myself. Thankfully Tom translated for me. After this a group of trainee CHW's or Community Health Workers, who work on a voluntary basis, began their assessment. They stood up in front of the crowd one by one and spoke confidently about HIV, typhoid, malaria and how to prevent transmission of these diseases. They spoke passionately, with knowledge and answered all questions from the community. It was a wonderful sight, and such an effective way of passing on valuable information to community members. While this was going on, a peaceful queue was gathering for relief food, which was to be handed out after the meeting.

Afterwards we went for a well-needed soda and waited for a car to take us back. The car was loaded!! I was squashed into the front passenger seat with a woman breastfeeding her baby and a coolbox of vaccinations. Tom, the Primary Health Officer, sat in front with the driver (something I cannot get my head around but is common practice here) and the back of the car was full with people, maize, gas, medicine and who knows what else!!

I dropped into the local primary school on the way home, I had arranged to meet with the teachers. They were full of questions concerning childhood development and I was only too happy to pass on any useful knowledge I had. We talked about how food, sleep, bereavement and alcoholism can all have an effect on a child's mood, sociability and academic performance. I was invited to meet with parents the following week to have a similar discussion which I was very enthusiastic about.

I strolled home, tired, hot but full of hope and positivity. It was amazing to see what wonderful work was happening here and to observe the enthusiasm of the youth. They are the future of Muhuru Bay and I witnessed such amazing talent, energy, knowledge and the ability to communicate this to others.

Barbara Nagle, April 2006

I can’t say enough about my wonderful trip. I feel lucky to have experienced life in a rural Kenyan village….one which is small enough that I felt I might be able to make some small difference. The trip was an opportunity of a lifetime and I can’t thank you enough. I would like to continue to help the efforts at Muhuru Bay ( Mama Maria Kenya) and hope you will keep me posted about your efforts.

Lydia Taylor, November 2005, February-April 2006

Out of all the villages I have lived in, this is the one where I feel most at home. Mama Nancy really takes care of you like you were her own. Steve is so funny he’s like a good friend who you can really be yourself around, but who also knows the ropes and can help you out when you need it. Yesterday I got back from my trip to the coast. As I’m walking across the field from the road to my compound, I see someone running towards me. It’s Mama Nancy! I drop my luggage and start running too, and we meet and she embraces me and says “Nagombi” (“I missed you”). It was so sweet it was like something from a movie. Then she hauls my humongous, heavy suitcase on top of her head and walks back to the compound like it’s nothing.