Conquering Kilimanjaro!

COUNTRY: Tanzania
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Building, renovation & construction
WRITTEN BY: Sybilla Galvin

Jambo Rafikis,

I write this blog from a completely unique environment (and new country) to where our group has become so accustomed to living in in the past 2.5 months. Tsavo has been home to us for the past couple of weeks and we will be here until returning home or traveling onwards in only a few days time. Our conversations this week have centered around our best memories at camp and the things we are most looking forward to coming home to. Most popular include munching on tacos and slurping chocolate milkshakes, seeing if our dogs remember us and not having to sleep tangled in a fly net.

First and foremost though- Mount Kilimanjaro. Literally the biggest achievement of my life: 5895m of achievement- to be exact! On the Monday, Lauren, Rozi, Beardo, Ella, Rory and myself said a gut-wrenching goodbye to our Mwambani family. We knew it would be hard to bid farewell to the local boys, the Indian Ocean and the amazing staff at the camp but it was almost incomprehensible to the seven of us exactly how hard it would be to not return in the foreseeable future. I am 100% positive that myself and the others in the group plan to return to Mwambani village at the next given opportunity.

I don't have enough time to give a break down of the seven-day trek to the summit, but I can say in short that we all made it. (Hurrah for no awkward side note!)

Summit night was without a doubt the toughest challenge. Trying to hold our cold, underprepared bodies together, we each mustered the strength we had to keep team moral high. I have to admit I spent 75% of the 12km hike alternating between silent and bursting tears. We each had a very different experience that night. 2 hours into the trek Lauren began throwing up. Determined to reach the top, she took a much slower pace and was accompanied by our angel of a guide Robinson who stayed beside her through all 8 vomits to the peak and back. 3 hours into the trek Ella was vomiting, Beardo's fingers had reached a piercing level of cold and Rozi's mental breakdown had her more than ready to accompany anyone back to base camp.

We were told by one of our guides before leaving that night that long breaks would be our demise, and by this rest stop I could well and truly feel myself coming undone. Our third guide Nestory- the cheeriest, funny and cold-resistant guide- stayed with me as I fell behind due to my low level of energy and the intense cramps I felt all over my body. Nestory carried me part of the way up and I know if it weren't for him I would not have made it all 5895 meters. At 5.30am, Annabelle, Rory, Ella, Rozi and Beardo had reached the summit. Due to the cold the group only spent enough time for a couple photos at the summit. At 6.10am (perfectly timed without even knowing) I reached the summit in tears and watched the sun rise above the clouds by myself- the most spectacular and well-worthy view of my existence. 10 minutes later Lauren and I crossed paths and instantly all our emotions welled out into a heartfelt embrace. I could not be more proud of my fellow mountaineers (its official) for getting to the top and for being the most amazing bunch of people to do something so difficult and life changing with.

Tuesday morning was similarly emotional and relieving as we were the first group of the day to get to the bottom. Showering was magical, heat was wonderful and sleeping in a real bed was too good to be true. In the late afternoon the rest of the group (Sarah, Hannah, Matt, Calvin, Elles, Toby and Laura) and leader Eliphas met us at our hotel where we shared our stories of what had happened on the mountain and at our old home. We went out for dinner that night, where I had two main meals and fell asleep at the table.

The next morning we all got in our much-loved bus and crossed the boarder into Kenya where we are to spend the remainder of our trip. We are the first official group to stay in this new camp- erected in March of this year. The camp in many ways is similar to the one in Tanzania, with the two main differences being the spectacular change of landscape (Indian Ocean to vast flat plains) and our two-man mattress on floor tents.

Our itinerary here is very different from the continuous work on the house in Mwambani village, Tanzania (which I failed to mention earlier was completed by half the group while we were climbing Kili). In the short time we have participated in a variety of activities based mostly around construction and animal conservation. We have finished building a long drop toilet for the local primary school, made elephant determent fences with oil and chili, dug a trench in a wildlife sanctuary, made 'elephant dung' paper and spent time with local women's group making bracelets and leaning about what they do in the community.

Leaving Africa is going to be a very bittersweet experience, and we won't forget the incredible memories we've had here anytime soon.

Xo Sybilla

Becoming almost professional carpenters in Kenya

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak UniBreak
PROJECT: Construction, Conservation & Community Work
WRITTEN BY: Laura Somers

Jambo from Kenya! Apologies for the overdue post but we have had a jam-packed week that has seen us go snorkelling, take to the soccer field and even boogie down with the locals at a village wedding. With a moments peace and quiet I will attempt to relay the past week's excitement and scintillating escapades...

On Sunday some of us were treated to a snorkelling excursion with the additional option of going scuba diving for the more skilled and fearless divers. Those of us who decided not to go enjoyed the days warm weather at the Blu Marlin beach resort, treating ourselves to the local seafood and Swahili cuisine. On an Arabic Dhow (a boat rumoured to have been used by Arabic traders), we were taken out on the water and given appropriate equipment. After reaching our destination, we jumped into the water and saw a wealth of coloured fish, eel and Wasini island's famous coral. After two snorkelling sessions, we travelled to a small beach resort located on a side of the island. With no dock in sight, we jumped into a smaller boat which took us closer to the island cliff, we then waded through the water to reach a small staircase located in a small crevice within the rock cliff. Lunch was certainly a clear highlight, consisting of traditional Kenyan food including a seaweed salad, crab, coconut rice and a sample of Kenyan wine for those who felt brave enough to try some. After lunch we headed back out on the boat. Whilst the weather was beautiful, the water proved to be unfortunately rough and choppy which left many feeling sea sick and taking positions near the edge of the boat. Nevertheless, the return to camp left many with a great story to tell and pass on to the others and a great day was had by all.

Monday saw us return to our project work. Somewhat daunting seemed the 5 day haul as the previous week's two days of work had been quite exhausting. Despite this, the weekend had revived our energy levels and we were rearing to go. Over the five days most of all the projects were completed or nearing completion and we were all immensely pleased with our progress and the outcome of our hard work, more so due to the impact we know it will have on the local community.

Those of us who were building furniture saw to the completion of 6 tables and 6 benches which would be used in the local youth centre located just outside of camp. We initially struggled to saw wood and nail pieces together but by Wednesday we were flying through the work and Robert even remarked that we would return home as professional carpenters. This was perhaps made sweeter by the fact that we were an all girls group...wait until you see these biceps folks. By Thursday the building of all furniture was complete which left us with The fun yet messy task of painting. Whilst the most challenging part of the task was getting the paint on the wood as opposed to our skin/clothing it was great fun and during the day locals and members of the youth centre would walk past, faces lighting up with excitement and gratitude. It was lovely to see how greatly they appreciated such basic furniture and their response was most humbling for us all.

The building of Mama's house has carried on smoothly and with huge success. This involved building the walls, an arduous task. We had to dig large amounts of clay and load it into wheelbarrows before wheeling it to the house located ten minutes from camp. Thankfully the muscly Canadian Jackson provided the much-needed brute force to make the walk much easier. When we had reached the house we unpacked the clay and mixed it with water, rolling clumps into balls to then fill in the walls. This was enabled due to the wooden pole structures we had previously built the following week made of sticks and bamboos. The walls took a considerably long time to be put up but the following day saw Jericho make the roof out of leaves from a palm tree. Although the house was incomplete by Friday, we were able to view the progress of our hard work each day and enjoyed a mud fight to celebrate the sheer success of our creation. With mud covering every surface of skin, the showers at camp soon resembled mud baths (much to the delight of everyone else). As we leave for Tsavo the British campers will complete the house which will be a rewarding site when we return and we hope Mama enjoys her new home.

Those building the library had a tough but rewarding week. The library was located fifteen minutes from base camp and to kick things off we had to wheel wheelbarrows full of stones . When we had reached the library we unpacked the stones and, using machetes we had to hack them into brick sized stones to be laid down with cement. This task was hard on the arms and thankfully, a mostly male-dominated group (besides the all-powerful Mel) succeeded with no complaints. When we had cut enough bricks, we then got bags of sand and mixed cement. This provided the foundation for the library and walls were soon put up swiftly. We nailed wooden planks to make doorways and managed to complete majority of the building by Friday. With the primary school next door to our building site, we watched many a school football game and began to grasp the sheer skill of the Kenyans, fearing the strike who possessed more power than Beckham without the aid of soccer boots. Each day we heard chants of 'Jambo! Jambo!' and waved excitedly at the school kids. We look forward to the completion of the library when we get back from Tsavo.

Whilst walking through the village and to and from camp, we met many locals and soon enough an organised football game emerged on the agenda. After work on Thursday we gathered on the school field and waited for our opponents. After ten minutes of standing we began to think the reputation of the crocodile-crazed, dingo hunting Australian (and the few Poms that joined us) had reached the Kenyan team and forced a no-show. It was only when photographer Markus began surveying the area that we realised the team was in fact present and had already spent fifteen minutes running laps around the oval....brilliant. As the game kicked off we were in for a rude awakening. For those watching it resembled the under 7s division Cs playing against the World Cup champions and sadly, we were the former. Even the dirty tactics of stepping on bare feet proved unsuccessful and we were soon panting, sweaty and left looking left and right for a glimpse of the ball. Whilst the boys Dylan, Alexi, Ben and Markus set up a strong forward attack, a handball from Robert meant we lost 2-1 (and yes, our goal was scored by a Kenyan substituted in the final minute of play).

In an effort to recover from the football match whitewash, the weekend promised two days of rest and relaxation. On Saturday we went to Blu Marine resort which brought us amazing food and seafood and delicious mock tails consisting of fresh coconut juice and exotic fruits. Some of us chose to wander along the beach in the group and tested our Swahili by bartering with locals for souvenirs. After a restful day we went back to camp, got freshened up after a big feast and headed out to the discoteque: Shakatak. The strobe lights were intense and whilst the dance floor was devoid of people we certainly woke the DJ with our loud and out of tune singing. At 11pm the party had certainly arrived and it was great fun enjoying the music and breaking a sweat on the dance floor, our moves greatly inferior to the locals who showed us what rhythm and coordination really look like.

Whilst some had a hangover come Sunday, it was another beautiful day which we spent getting dressed up in sarongs and local clothing. The local tailor, who many of us have visited to get custom made pants and shorts, invited us to his daughter's wedding just up the road from camp. It was a festive occasion with loud music and dance. We got to spend time with the local children and older women and enjoyed dancing with them during the day. Tired and worn out from dancing, we were treated to a beach BBQ in the evening. The chefs cooked us a delicious assortment of food along with a top notch desert. It was a fun way to enjoy the end of the weekend yet also sadly marked the last weekend spent with British gappers as many would stay on at Muhaka whilst we left for Tsavo, the next leg of our Kenyan adventure.

Until next time,
Love from all at Kenya

Jambo, Kenya!

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak UniBreak
PROJECT: Construction, Conservation & Community Work
WRITTEN BY: Jessica Campbell

Jambo! Mambo Rafiki? (Hello! How are things friend?)

We arrived in Mombasa and were greeted by views of beautiful, blue skies and green fields. We could feel the humidity immediately with the airport recording a temperature of 38 degrees. As we navigated our way through the throng of taxi drivers we were welcomed by Yusra and our leaders who showed us to the taxi bus.

Driving through Mombasa gave us our first insight into Kenya. With no lanes or marked street signs the dirt roads were bustling with locals. Each side was lined with market stalls selling fresh, local produce or vibrant fabrics and crafts. Motorbikes weaved in and out of traffic and cars constantly tooted their horns. After crossing the ferry taxi we arrived at our camp, nestled within the heart of the community. As we pulled up local children ran past waving and yelling loudly, 'Jambo! Jambo!' It was certainly a very warm welcome.

Our placement projects began the following day. A big breakfast proved well needed as we began work in the warm climate. Split into three groups, each worked on a different project. These included building tables and chairs for the local school, building a library and building a house for a local mother who, due to divorce, had nowhere to live.

Camp staff taught us the various skills required from chiseling wood to cutting bamboo and making mud bricks. Robert, the local carpenter said after two years of training we too would be professionals, alerting us that "even the trees" feared him.

At lunch we congregated around the large table, making fun of the British accent and sharing stories of our days work. Some of us were keen to show forming blisters or muddy hands, a sign of hard work. We were served huge helpings of a delicious meal consisting of spiced rice and curry masala and thankfully the hour break was spent recovering from eating too fast.

With greater knowledge of what we needed to do, we returned to work at 2pm and worked solidly until 4pm. We heard the giggles of school children who, on their way home, passed through excitedly laughing and running. Their vivaciousness was contagious and a great afternoon pick-me-up.

After afternoon tea we ventured from camp and around the corner to houses within the village. With the sun beginning to set it was a photographer's dream as it cast a beautiful glow on the thatched roofs and coloured mud houses, parked motorcycles and the long village road ahead.

The children were excited to see us and were quick to teach us some Swahili. They showed off their flashy soccer skills and we played games of hide and seek which they enjoyed. Little girls and boys played in the sand and we were struck by just how little they had yet how happy and enthusiastic they were.

That evening as we headed back for camp and sat down for dinner we were all smiles, exchanging stories and cameras. The children had made such a big impression on us and were an indication of just how friendly the Kenyan people are.

We spent Saturday and Sunday relaxing at the beach and at various resorts. The sun was hot and it was a lovely day to enjoy the white sand and clear blue water as camels plodded past and Masai warriors strolled along. We ate amazing seafood and checked out the various items being sold by the 'beach boys'. After some practice most of us were experts at the phrase "hapana, toka" ('no thanks, go away').

With some of us sporting fresh sunburn (mainly the Brits), we headed out to the Forty Thieves nightclub. We were all quite exhausted so we spent most of the time chatting but as the DJ played some African tunes it was hard not to join in the festivities and dance. On the way home we drove past a village wedding. The road was blocked with people as all the locals came to take part. It was a beautiful scene with candles everywhere and the smell of incense and food. Our taxi driver explained that the couple was a prominent family and the occasion allowed people to celebrate and get free food, which was a huge thing for families in such a poor area.

With so much happening and only 5 days in, it is hard to imagine just how much Kenya has in store for us but we are looking forward to it. Please know parents that we are very well, safe and extremely well fed here and having the time of our lives.

Until next time,

Kwa heri!

Planting trees in Camp Kaya, plus wine and cheese nights!

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Community & Conservation
WRITTEN BY: Ella scott

Their weekends have included wine and cheese nights, without the cheese, and massages on the white sandy beach of Diani, however during the week, our lovely Kenya Gappers have been working their socks off as well as experiencing lots of cultural experiences and this past week they have been busy planting trees in Kaya. Ella brings this weeks update …

In the past three weeks we’ve made huge progress on our project work spending two more weeks working on the Emergency Ward at Muhaka and the past week in Kaya doing environmental conservation work.

Week 5 was bitter sweet as we welcomed three new members to the group and said goodbye to two of our ‘family members’.

In week two and three our group was divided as half set off for two weeks of project work and safari in Tsavo and the rest of us stayed in Muhaka and continued work on the Emergency Ward. Considering there was only five of us we were really proud of the work we did, making 9 windows by sawing metal and wood, plaining wood and hammering all the planks together to create a stable window frame.

In week three we began fitting the window frames to the building and plastering the windows in, a harder job than we expected as the edges had to be perfectly smooth and it became slightly laborious by the end.

It was really rewarding to welcome the rest of the group back on Thursday and have them ,tell us how amazing the building looked and how much progress had been made.

We have spent the past week at camp Kaya, 10 minutes’ walk from Camp Muhaka. Here we met our project leaders Mzee (old man) Sururu and Moses, elders fromt he Kaya Muhaka Elders Conservation Group, who introduced us to the camp and its purpose. On Monday we spent the morning getting acquainted with the new camp and settling into our tents. That afternoon Mzee Sururu took us on a walk through the sacred Kaya forest which was an amazing experience, made even more fun by the torrential rain that began half way through and the two meter snake sighting along the way!!

Over the next three days we got to work, clearing large fields of grasses and digging 100 holes followed by planting 100 trees. It was tiring being out in the open under the sun doing work that was physically very toughas we had been used to the shade of the emergency ward but extremely rewarding knowing that we were increasing the amount of trees for the forest.

On our last day in Kaya we went on a village tour which Mzee Sururu lead. We were taught the customs and traditions of the community and how they utilize the land in order to live. We got to try all of the fruits and vegetable that are grown and shown how and why they were used. We then visited a household where we were taught by two mamas how to make Ugali, the traditional staple food of many Kenyan households maid from matured maize.

We returned to Camp Kaya for lunch then packed our things and headed back home the Camp Muhaka. In the afternoon we were given the opportunity to visit a local Witch doctor, a strange but worthwhile and amazing experience.

Before we entered the premises, we were dressed in traditional clothing and were asked to take of our shoes and remain quiet and respectful within his presence.

We were welcomed with a traditional welcoming song which was followed by an example of how the Witch doctor would perform essentially what we would call an ‘exorcism’. Having finished the example and explaining how the process worked we were sung a farewell song which we all danced to, along with some of the local children and women which was an incredible experience.

While some of us found the simulation somewhat scary and unusual, we all agreed that it was an amazing thing to see and we were so glad to have been a part of it.

Once again the past three weeks have been absolutely amazing and the time has passed so quickly. We are all looking forward to the next few weeks which will be filled with more new and exciting experiences.

How did 72 toothbrushes land on the beach?

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Community & Conservation
WRITTEN BY: GapBreak Kenya 2013

How on earth did 72 toothbrushes end up on the beautiful golden sands of Diani beach? That is the question our Kenya gappers were asking when we participated in the annual International Beach Clean Up alongside the Diani coastline last weekend…

We prepared ourselves with black bags, gloves and a smile on our face as we walked a distance of 2km collecting all sorts of ‘taka taka’ along the way. Toothbrushes, razor blades, dirty nappies, bottle tops, flip flops and more random pieces of plastic than you could think of were picked up by our staff and volunteers.

We met school groups, conservation groups, locals, and holiday makers alike, all getting involved and making every effort to educate others whilst doing so. Those more interested in chatting up the gappers were swiftly told to get picking the trash rather than talking it! A fantastic group we bumped in to called Green World are bringing conservation education to the younger generation in the area and we are hoping to join forces with them to spread the word further into the interior areas such as where our camps are based.

 

We did get a little over enthusiastic and tried with our might to remove a huge tyre that was burried into the sand, only to discover (we were quickly told) that it was the landmark for the hotels volleyball court and the volleyball post holders were firmly wedged deep in the sand! Woops!!

In total we weighed 190Kg of waste and 25kg of that was flip flops. It proves that flip flops are still an issue, although less so than previous years, and we will continue to utilise them in a creative way by joining forces with local artist Benson Gitari who teaches our volunteers how to make juggling balls, key rings, jewellery and all sorts of weird and wonderful bits and bobs from the discarded flip flops.

This summer we made money boxes in the shape of turtles that were decorated in wasted flip flops to highlight the danger that plastic has on marine life. These little turtles are now in the schools that have joined us on expedition in order to raise awareness of what we do at Camps International and to raise funds for the Camps Foundation which will enable us to continue to assist with marine and environmental conservation.

For those of you who have come scuba diving with us, you will understand, even more so, the importance of keeping our ocean clean and free from plastics and rubbish that harm marine life. If we can spread the word to youngsters and get them involved from an early age that will actually create a change in behaviour with regards to waste management then we are onto a good thing.

Snorkeling, camels, and a week of project work

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Community & Conservation
WRITTEN BY: Ella Scott

We arrived in Muhaka camp, Mombasa on Friday the 6th of September after a number of long and restless flights from all parts of the world but the excitement of where we were outweighed any tiredness we may have been feeling. As we arrived in the camp we were greeted by our camp coordinator, Eustace, with a hugely welcoming smiled stretched over his face. After being served our first incredible meal by our amazing chefs Tom and Tytas, we spent the afternoon being briefed by Eustace on what was to come in the following weeks and getting acquainted with one another as well as the camp.

Over the weekend we spend our days at the beach, swimming in the crystal clear water, riding camels and frying ourselves most of the day under the African sun. It wasn't until Monday that the real work began. We started our day at around 7.30am ready for work by 8.30am where we were greeted by Sam, Yahya and Rob, our crazy but incredibly dedicated project leaders. We lugged 50kg bags of concrete, litres and litres of water and wheelbarrows full of tools to the Muhaka medical centre where we were to begin work on the new emergency building. The foundations had already been laid so our job was to begin plastering over all the walls so that they were even and smooth, a job that initially did not seem as challenging as it turned out to be. After mixing up our concrete using barrels of sand, concrete mix, water and a spade, we got to work.

For the rest of the week the plastering continued. Our days are constructed around 3 hours of work in the morning from 9am until 12pm followed by a two hour break and lunch and then a final 2 hours of work from 2pm to 4pm. Over the first few days we were all pretty much in bed by 9pm with muscles aching after a hard days work. The first week proved to be quite a culture shock but it was also a test of how well we reacted when crisis arose, we proved less than adequate when it took 8 squealing girls and 2 fairly hesitant boys to capture and get rid of the palm size frog terrorising the girls bedroom. While the first week was definitely tough and took some getting used to it became obvious that everyone was already making the most of and loving the experience.

By the time the weekend came we were all so excited to have a day off and get some tanning time in at the beach. On Sunday we went on a snorkelling trip where we swam with dolphins and explored the coral reef which was followed by the most amazing seafood lunch of lobsters and crab.

The weekend came and went in no time and soon enough we were back to work continuing with our plastering but by now there was obvious progress being made. We ran into our first real hiccup on Monday. After sending two girls to hospital we all realised just how important keeping ourselves hydrated really is and I think we all learnt a pretty big lesson. Despite this minor incident we continued work and by Thursday we had finished plastering the inside of the emergency centre and had begun fitting door and window frames. Although we've only completed 9 days of work the difference we have seen in the building is immense and we can't wait to keep working and see it finished before we leave.

Today it's been two weeks exactly since we arrived but it feels like so much longer. We spent today at the markets followed by a huge family dinner with all the staff consisting of traditional Kenyan dishes which we all helped, or at least attempted, to create. It was a really nice way of thanking the staff for all they do for us and an opportunity to get to know them even better.

We are all really looking forward to a relaxing weekend followed by another tough but rewarding week of work which I'm sure will be filled with more laughs and fun and once again the time will fly by and we will be writing another entry wandering where the time went.

The spirit of Kenya and my incredible GapBreak

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Community & Conservation
WRITTEN BY: Aram Geleris

I will be perfectly honest with something. I have not looked forward to writing this blog, and as a result have procrastinated in writing it for several days now, and for that I apologise sincerely. The reason for this, however, is due to the fact that this blog heralds an event that I simply have no desire to write nor think about, and that is the impending end to our incredible journey here and the conclusion of Camp Kenya 2013 for us. I write this final blog with the intention then, of capturing everything that has happened in the past three months, though I feel words cannot truly express the feelings, sights and experiences we have shared on this trip. I will, however, do my best.

To begin with, I shall recount quickly what has happened in just the past two weeks here in Muhaka. After spending so long working in the arid desert conditions of Tsavo, it is almost refreshing to once again be swamped in the cramped, humid air of the south-east coast of Kenya, where 5 minutes of light work is translated into a face mopped with sweat, and one is constantly harassed by the constant bombardment of mosquitoes, bees, and on occasions, monkeys.

Like I said, almost refreshing.

Jokes aside it has been a real treat being able to work so hard on the projects that we started so soon after we arrived in Kenya; with the two groups working hard on the Trust House Youth Group and the Dispensary. The Trust House Group, knowing they had a deadline, worked furiously, often working past the allotted hours in order to finish the very first project we started work on when we arrived here in Kenya.

Because of their commitment and dedication to see a job done both well and fast, the job was completed last Friday, and we were treated to an amazing handing over ceremony, with wonderful speeches from Eustace, as well as the young men and women from the group thanking and explaining the significance of what we’ve done.

We were told how the youth centre is a quintessential element to the Muhaka Community as it provided training to the local young men and women, usually in skills they can use in order to avoid being forced into less reputable professions, such as illicit drugs. Computer skills, carpentry, masonry, sewing and drama are just some of the programs offered at the club, and the added building will allow more classes to be run throughout the day, and for the classes to be run more smoothly as there will be less people crammed into a single room. The official ceremony of us physically handing over the building (as we technically still owned it, according to Eustace) was followed by a wonderful morning of plays, music and dancing.


The drama group at the club first put on two shows for us, the first was a comedy in English about an old man dealing with his cheeky daughter and her several boyfriends whom she disguises as pieces of furniture, and the second was a mixed English/Swahili play about a not so intelligent salesman who’s ability in English is lacking. Naturally, both were hilarious, and we all had a wonderful time. We then were all given soft drinks, as the custom in Kenya when handing over a building is to share a drink with everyone. “That way,” Eustace tells us, “even when you are gone, a part of you will still be here, with us.” After that we put on some music and danced until lunch. A truly marvellous morning that summarises our experience in Muhaka.

At the dispensary, we have been hard at work to get as much done as possible before we leave. This means that we have put of the final layer of bricks, done most of the slappy-slappy, started the pillars out the front, and even begun the roofing. As a result, the building, which was nothing but a foundation when we arrived, is now on its way to being a fully completed Medical Dispensary with separate male and female dorms, an entrance foyer, and toilets. I am again struck by how much work this group can do with such a positive attitude that focuses not just on speed, but on producing work of a high practical and aesthetic quality that continues to impress.

Before I go on, I feel I must briefly touch on something that was, whilst slightly more personal, still worthy of merit. Congratulations to everyone who has braved a mountain in the past couple of weeks; going up Mount Kenya myself I can accord what for an incredibly challenging but rewarding experience it is. Thank you to the group that helped me make it; James, Julia, Rhian and Lucy (and Lucy’s dad, Gav) for making what could have been a horrible experience into something truly incredible. Kudos also to Courtney and Sam for making it up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, and to our friends who did it before they left Kenya: Becca and Pete up Mt Kenya, and Yadu up Kili, it deserves a mention. Also a big welcome back to our friends from the Maasai Mara who had an incredible experience living there for a week experiencing everything the Mara has to offer.

It is hard to sum up the past three months now into the short space I have left. I suppose it can be talked about when one calls to mind the spirit, or perhaps more fittingly, the Spirit, of Kenya. The Spirit of Kenya is this incredible unseen force that lives in anything and everything that exists in this country, and is brought out in so many different forms all across the land:

It is seen in the bright, white grins of the locals as they greet you walking down the street, in the vibrant colours of the clothes and jewellery of a traditional Maasai warrior, and in the endless, flat stretches of the blood red sand that is seen in every direction in Tsavo, only interrupted by a distant mountain, or a proud, resilient baobab tree on the horizon.

It is heard in the distant cackling of hyenas descending on a fresh carcass, in the screaming and bleating of horns in the busy, wild and yet somehow beautiful chaos of Nairobi and Mombasa, and in the gentle fall of the light rains on mud bandas, followed by the dull thud of a mango not a metre away.

It is smelt in the incredible cocktail of meat, sweaty Kenyans and cigarettes that dominates the senses in the markets of Voi, in the tide coming in at Diani Beach, and 4000m above sea level on Mount Kenya, where the air is so clean and fresh it feels like you are the first human being to ever be graced with breathing it.

It is tasted in a bowl of fresh ugali or chapati’s served with a dripping lentil sauce, in the rancid, choking cup of coconut wine that defies all preconceptions as to what one can define as ‘wine’, and in the hot, dusty, desert wind that bites your entire mouth with an intense dryness.

And it is felt in the hospitality and the generosity of the Kenyan people, who really have no room for either for group of invasive mzungus in a country that is already struggling, or in the warm embrace of a giggling, bright eyed child with all the love in the world to give.

These are the things that make Kenya so special, and I can say that without a doubt, I will remember, and cherish, this place for the rest of my life. There are so many people I need to thank that made this experience possible. Firstly, Eustace, who has been a father to us in the time at Muhaka, thank you for your reassuring smiles and hakuna matatas that put us at ease. To Peter, Ken and Kristin, our wonderful Camp Managers from Kaya, Makongeni and Tsavo: you have collectively made this a better time with your energy and care for us and the communities in which you work. To our chefs, Titus, Tom, Abdul, Julius and the guys from Tsavo: without you, there is no work, there is no energy, there is nothing – you are the backbone of everything we do, and your smiles at lunch and dinner make for better, brighter days. Yusra at the office, for organising everything when we couldn’t and making sure we never got stuck in Nairobi, for too long anyways, thanks. To our project managers: Yahya, Sampuli, Robert, Abdul and Ibrahim for making even the most boring jobs fun and exciting.

I can’t even begin to thank everyone from home, but if you’re reading this, then thank you, as you probably directly or indirectly have contributed to this adventure.

There is one last group of people that I must thank however. To my group of exceptionally talented beautiful people, from the bottom of my heart thank you for making the most out of this experience. Thank you for working hard whilst still having a great time and helping me have a great time. Thank you for being the best you can be.

With that, my final blog comes to a finish. I apologise for its seemingly endless stream of information, but there simply was too much to write so little. In closing, Eustace just tonight disclosed to me that upon leaving everything we had done here, it was alike to an animal leaving the remains of their passage in the ground.

What a beautiful Kenyan compliment.

Asante sana and kwaheri,

Aram Geleris.

Mt Kasigau climb and more in Kenya

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Community & Conservation
WRITTEN BY: Aram Geleris

Jambo once again! As always the past two weeks have been full of exciting new experiences, but also comforting familiarity. After finishing our Mt Kasigau climb, we spent our final week at Tsavo mainly working at Sasenyi Primary School as well as clearing the roads around the sanctuary, making it easier and safer for rangers to get around.

Our work at Sasenyi was by far the most rewarding, however, and at the end of our time it was difficult to say goodbye, both to the kids who were so enthusiastic about our being there, and the wonderful principal of the school, John, an amazing man who obviously gave his all to the school.

As part of our farewell, Ryan and Sam collectively donated several boxes of exercise books, pencils and pens, unknown to us, these gifts came just in time, as the school was just leading into exam season and the supplies were much needed.

Another generous donation was a container of female sanitary items courtesy of Emma Wilkinson.

Those supplies will go a long way for a lot of the young women at Sasenyi, and they were extremely grateful. I am also proud to say that thanks to the generous donations that we received whilst fundraising, James, Bri and myself were able to purchase a 10,000L water tank for the school, and while it hadn’t been bought physically, Peter assures us that it will be a huge asset to the school. So again a massive thank you to everyone that made that possible. On our last day we were treated to a beautiful farewell ceremony, where we handed over the gifts. The school then sang to us, and in return we then sang to them one of the few songs we all knew, One Thing by One Direction, we like to think it was a hit, although they may have simply been laughing at our improvised dancing…

One last thing that we did was spend a day at the Imani Womens Community Camp, where we spent the first half of the day painting a local classroom, and the afternoon we were taught how to make bracelets by the local women. It was a fun end to a wonderful day.

As our time in Tsavo drew to a close there was certainly an air of sadness around the camp. It had been an emotionally draining week and a bit, we had said goodbye to so many friends, first to those who were leaving permanently, and then to another nine who were spending a week on a Masaai Mara Adventure, although we will see them again soon. However, breaking through the gloom was a bright ray of sunshine. “We’re going home guys!” was the phrase often heard in the final few days. Home is of course Muhaka Camp, our first camp and most beloved of all places in Kenya. After leaving the dust and elephants of Tsavo, we returned to the humidity and mosquitoes of Muhaka… KEEP TUNED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THIS EPIC JOURNEY

Bye for now

Aram Geleris

Kenya Gappers celebrate the fruits of their labour

COUNTRY: Kenya
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Community & Conservation
WRITTEN BY: Aram Geleris

What an incredible and busy two weeks it has been here in Kenya! Last week was for some, the last they would spend at Camp Muhaka. Because of this, we were determined to make the most of our experience, and this attitude was reflected in our work.

Yaya and our team continued work on the dispensary, making good progress on the walls and polishing the walls with cement, adding that extra touch that makes the building just that much better. However, it truly was the week of Baba’s house (Father house), with its completion by Friday, and then a truly wonderful and moving handing over ceremony. Our group took part of the morning off and went to watch, and we were amazed at the effort and care that Sampuli and his group put into making this the best experience possible for Baba. There were flowers, an arch of vines that Baba sat underneath in his brand new chair, and the words “Karibu Baba” (Welcome Dad) written in stones out front.

The group also wrote a small song to the tune of Happy Birthday essentially welcoming him to his first ever house. It really was just one of those moments where you know that you’ve made the right decision being in Kenya.

As I looked around the group I could see the same expressions on their faces; this was a perfect example of pure charity. We arrived in this country, started from nothing, and built something for someone that will last for not just the remainder of his life, but for generations to come, and have a lasting impact on the community.

There was laughter and tears from us, Baba and Eustace who was just so proud of us and what we had done. That by itself was reward enough and true acknowledgement of a job well done: that sort of talk from Eustace means so much to us, and he really took on a father figure for us over the first month in Muhaka, and it was with such a heavy heart therefore when so many of us had to say goodbye.

Even though most of us will be back for another three weeks, even being Eustace-less for that long will be a considerable struggle.

Wednesday was also a big day as it was the arrival of the new group. We were excited to meet new people and it certainly was an experience having another 22 people sharing our camp, however we soon adjusted and bonding came quickly and naturally. This was however, disregarded when it came to the sports competition the following weekend between the Oldies and the Newbies.

The first game was an exciting and fast paced football game in which the Oldies won a decisive 4-0 victory with James and Connor scoring one apiece, and Joe coming painfully close to a hat-trick several times but only managing to put two away. We then moved to the volleyball pitch, where the competitive nature of the two sides came to the forefront. After coming back from a difficult 11-17, the Oldies managed to take the first set 25-23. After another nail biting set in which there was another impressive comeback from the veterans, the score unfortunately finished 27-29 to the new arrivals. After that we called it a day, and headed back to our respective camps.

Another momentous occasion this weekend was the event that everyone has been waiting for. After weeks of practice, the stage was ready for the Battle of the Bands. Although there were impressive performances from One Direction (James, Joe, Shane, Paul, myself and Connor making an appearance as DJ Burns), Jay-Z and Kanye West, (Sophie and Grace), Ke$ha, (Courtney), The Spice Girls, (Becca, Sally, Emma, Becs and Eliza), Olly Murs and Flo Rida, (Eliza and Lana), and the interesting Destiny’s Child/Macklemore crossover, (Julia, Lana and Lucy), even the enigmatic and buoyant hosts Bri and Gabby, none could stand before the awesome force of the incredible awesomeness of Beccy and Rosanna’s ABBA. Performing an edited version of “Gimme Gimme Gimme” with a Camp Kenya twist to it: “Gimme gimme gimme chapatis at midnight, oh won’t someone help me chase these cravings away.”They were met with rapturous applause and demands for an encore which we gracefully were granted. Cheers to the two of them for putting on a truly amazing show.

There was still much to come however, with us leaving for Camp Kaya the following Monday. It was, to our surprise, just up the road, and yet right in the heart of the sacred and incredible Kaya forests.

On that same day we were introduced to our hosts, namely Ken, the Camp manager, Peter, our wide eyed and ever grinning Project Manager, and the quiet but immensely powerful Mzee Sururu(Elder Sururu), who is in charge of taking care of this area of the Kaya forest, and his love and reverence for this place.

He explained to us several times how quintessential this place is to Kenya and even the world, as it is one of the few forests in the world that has retained the majority of its indigenous fauna even after extensive contact with humans.We also took a tour through the forest on the same day. It was a truly humbling experience having Mzee Sururu pray to the ancestors at the entrance to Kaya to ask permission for us to enter. They must have said yes, as we went walking for almost two hours though this incredible place.

We stopped for several places for Mzee Sururu and Peter explain the significance of the forest, its history and the history of the Swahili people. Throughout the week we took part in several different kinds of project work, including clearing around young native trees in order to let them grow faster, finishing a grey water system that a previous group started, working on a future chilli plantation, and a tree nursery.

We were also able to go on a cultural tour through the Kaya Village and experience how it is that the locals manage to be self sufficient. We learnt how to create dried leaves mats, coconut oil, and maize flour that can be used to make ugali, the staple food for Kenya. A small, yet extremely significant detail was something that Peter mentioned. He said that the more love and friendship within the people that made the coconut oil, the more oil would be created. I am proud to say that there was plenty of coconut oil, a testament to how well our group gets along.

The final cultural activity we did on Friday afternoon was Julius, Kaya’s boisterous and booming chef, teaching us along with some local women, how to make chapati’s, our favorite meal when served with any sort of sauce. Because of this, the chapatis tasted even sweeter with the taste of success.

We have had a phenomenal time here at Kaya, and it will be tragic to leave such an incredible place after just one week, but we depart for Camp Makongeni this Saturday, and because of this, excitement is running high in the group. After Kaya we are excited to see another aspect of this multi-faceted and incredible country.

We had the large community feel in Muhaka, and the far more intimate and spiritual side in Kaya.Hopefully Makongeni on the coast and Tsavo in the desert will live up to our expectations, although I seriously doubt they won’t.

As strange as it is to say this after five weeks, we already feel very much at home in this country and the idea of home across the seas seems a strange and fantastical idea, as do some of the things we do. Is it necessary to flush the toilet every single time? Perhaps not. Can we put our recyclable goods to better use? Absolutely !