On July 19, 2019 we walked the final 6km from the village of Othoo to Matoso, straight in through the front gates of Lalmba Kenya. We tossed our packs to the ground for the final time, and relished the knowledge that tonight we would sleep in beds! In 10 days, we walked 161 miles through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Victoria. We walked within spitting range of herds of elephants, giraffes, and every other savannah animal you can imagine. One night, we accidentally camped in the middle of dozens of hyena dens, and nervously counted their incandescent eyes reflecting back the beams of our headlamps after dark. In spite of their proximity, quantity, and their frenzied cackles cutting through the night, I slept great! Fatigue from 16-20 miles a day of walking is the perfect remedy for insomnia and fear.
The next morning, we awoke to find that our guides had been awake all night chasing the hyenas away. Those pesky scavengers dodged in and out of camp from multiple directions, raiding whatever they could grab. They decimated our kitchen, carrying away a giant cast iron pot. In the morning we spread out to find what we could, and recovered most of the items, which were only slightly damaged. This trip is nothing if not an adventure!
The best part of all, of course, began when we left the wildlife and solitude behind and began to encounter people. Often we’d surprise the locals by appearing out of nowhere, the heads of 22 camels bobbing on the horizon. A distant school letting out for the day erupted with rowdy delight, a chaotic choir of roaring children fanning out towards us. This scenario played out multiple times in our final 5 days of walking. It was so much fun! Those chance encounters, the symbiotic exchange of joy, and the time spent walking with strangers who felt like friends … that’s the heart of Tembea Na Mimi.
We would not do this great adventure, however, if not for its ability to generate support for Lalmba. The 10 of us who walked collectively raised more than $100,000. That buys a lot of medicines, pays many school fees, and brings such hope to the receivers. Thank you to all who supported us, and to my fellow walkers: Asante sana, warafiki, kwa tembea na mimi! Let’s do it again someday!
If you’re itching for a good service project and a bit of adventure in the process, I might have just the opportunity for you!
Our children’s home in Chiri, Ethiopia is about to undergo some much-needed renovations, and one thing that the compound is missing is a playground. Playgrounds are rare in this part of Ethiopia. Hardly anyone from this area has ever seen one, making it difficult to find a contractor to build one.
I would like to form a team of 5-10 people, both skilled and unskilled volunteers, to travel with me to Ethiopia sometime in September 2020, to build a playground for some of the most beautiful children you’ll ever meet.
SAMPLE. CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT DESIGN
As a group, we will fly into Jimma, Ethiopia. We will travel by land to Chiri, and tent camp on the grounds of the Chiri Children’s Home for several days while we construct the playground. We will also spend lots of quality time sharing language and culture with the children.
When our work is done in Chiri, in true Tembea Na Mimi style we will walk to Lalmba’s newest clinic site in Agaro Bushi, a 4-5 hour walk. The road we will travel to the Agaro Bushi Medium Clinic is the same path our patients travel to Lalmba’s Chiri Health Center when they have an emergency. This is an opportunity for us to understand the difficulty of the journey that so many make daily to find basic health care.
It costs us about $40,000 per year to operate our children’s programs in Ethiopia. For those who sign up for this opportunity, we as a team will use our reach to help raise funds and awareness for this program, as well as for the added costs of building the playground.
If this appeals to you, and you feel you have the time, skills and experience to offer, please fill out the online application, and I will contact you to start planning. Be a part of the first-of-its-kind Lalmba field service project!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
If you were able to join us at The Family Jones event last November, you know how much fun we had. We are lucky to have friends like the owners of TFJ, and are happy to partner with them again to host you for an evening of spirits and tastings. It is a small venue and last year we reached max capacity, so please RSVP to ensure a spot.
Along with food and cocktails, we will entertain you with stories and visuals from our newest clinic site in Agaro Bushi, Ethiopia. Many of you are investors in this project, and we wish to show off the modest accomplishments, as well as next steps.
Looking forward, we have a new service project (look left) coming next year, and I’m hoping to tell you more and recruit some of you to join me. Likewise, a group of us walked 160+ miles this past summer. We have stories and video from that experience to be unpacked and presented with as much drama and flair as possible!
Meet Jackline Awuor Ochieng, a tailor from Matoso, Kenya. Her story is an inspiring example of a widow determined to see her children escape the poverty into which they were born. After her husband died in 2006, Jackline was on the verge of withdrawing her 4 young children from school. She no longer had the means to pay their school fees, and if they were going to eat, she needed their help in the fields.
She heard about Lalmba’s RCAR program (Reaching Children at Risk), and taking a chance, she went to see the children’s director for assistance. Soon, all 4 of her children were enrolled. Lalmba paid their school fees and helped the family with health care and nutrition support.
The lifting of this worry gave Jackline the time and courage to pursue a career as a tailor. She knew how to sew; her mother had taught her. But a sewing machine and fabrics were out of financial reach. Tailoring, however, can be a lucrative skill in this rural community. There are no clothing stores — people visit a tailor when new clothes are required. All Jackline needed was enough money to buy a sewing machine and some fabrics to get her business started. Getting a bank loan for the supplies wasn’t possible; she had no credit or guarantors. But a Lalmba microloan was, and that’s how she started her business.
Since taking her first loan, Jackline has received 2 more Lalmba loans, allowing her to expand her business by adding machines, and increasing her supply of fabrics. She rents a storefront in the center of her village now, and she independently sends all of her children to secondary school and college.
If Jackline’s story ended there, that would be enough to inspire us to emulate her determination. But there’s an added twist to her story, in which her path by chance intersects with a quilter from Canada. This chance meeting gave birth to the Empowered Seamstresses of Lalmba cooperative, and the idea for Lalmba’s 2019 Christmas item. It’s a very inspirational story that I will share with you in full in the Christmas edition of our newsletter, December 2019 … so STAY TUNED!
EMPOWERED SEAMSTRESSES OF LALMBA
… and a couple of Canadians!
Lalmba has been serving poor communities for 56 years this September 21! With your help we make a monumental difference in the lives of the people who are touched by our services. Our model of development relies on the help of dedicated, compassionate, and experienced volunteers — professionals who act as expert mentors to our local staff of 50 in each country. Our volunteers deserve much credit for Lalmba’s successful development model. Their professionalism has informed and defined the best practices of our work.
We currently have the rare opportunity to recruit enthusiastic volunteers who may not have advanced degrees in medicine or extensive experience in project management. We are looking for 2 volunteers who are interested in spending 1-2 years in Kenya or Ethiopia developing our youth programs there.
A love of children and adventure, lots of patience, experience with youth and good organizational skills required for 1 unforgettable year of your life.
This could be YOU!
Youth Programming Consultant
Chiri, Ethiopia
CALLING ADVENTUROUS LEADERS! Lalmba seeks a youth programming consultant for an orphan’s home and program in the remote southwest highland rain forest of Ethiopia. This role requires some experience in the developing world and good intercultural leadership and management skills. The setting is rural, in an area without modern amenities. This is a rare opportunity to improve a children’s project in an area of great need and breathtaking beauty.
The role requires a 1-2 year commitment. You would be living on the grounds of a convent run by medical mission sisters from Mexico. Lalmba pays no salary but covers all expenses related to travel to/from Ethiopia, and working and living in Ethiopia (visas, immunizations, airfare, room and board, medical & life insurance). With a 2 year commitment, we will also pay for roundtrip tickets for a visit back home after one year.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Children’s Programming Consultant provides guidance and support for our local leaders in Ethiopia and will mentor local leadership in how to run the project themselves.
Youth Programming Consultant
Matoso, Kenya
Lalmba’s program in Kenya, over 30 years old, operates a Health Clinic, HIV Treatment Center, Dispensary, Public Health and Education program, orphan programs and community development programs on the shores of Lake Victoria. We are looking for a volunteer who will serve as a coordinator for our Teen Health program.
This position has a particular focus on targeting risky behavior, health and good choices for young people. Experience leading youth groups, teaching or public health a plus!
QUALIFICATIONS: Qualified candidates are those with experience working with teens and young adults, especially in an intercultural setting. Public health professionals are also encouraged to apply. Must have good organizational and leadership skills. Must be willing to work in a very rural location.
If you have often thought of volunteering in Africa but didn’t meet the language or advanced qualification requirement, this is your chance! Give us a call or fill out our online application.
