Sorry it's been so long. I thought I was going to have too much down time coming back to Kenya this go around but that lasted for about four days before things got crazy. Work is really taking off. The protocol we have been working on since May is about to be approved any day now, which could be up in Kakuma refugee camp as early as next week! Also, our toilet designer friend, Mona, was in Naivasha for a few weeks, where we have been running another small pilot to test in-home toilets and waste collection services. We have made more briquettes and this should really take off when we start collaborating with Alistair and his company’s fancy briquetting equipment.
Some photos of the past two months:
Some photos of the past two months:
because you can't have too many photos of puppies
Nancy, Hannah, and Mona
sunset on South Lake
Emily is back, from our grueling two months separation, which means my life just got more exciting... and louder.
Last week we went to a sanitation conference in Uganda, which was a blast. The type of people who work in Sanitation tend to be amazing and have great senses of humor. I got to meet some big names in the poo world as well as just share ideas with people from all over Eastern and Southern Africa. It was also just nice being back in Uganda. Kampala is smaller, less developed, and greener than Nairobi. It is still a city, but there is something about it I love. I also got to hang out with my friend Lindsay who lives in Kampala. She took Emily and me to her neighborhood boxing gym a few nights where we worked out and boxed. It was a really cool experience ad unbelievable workout. I wish I had pictures, but in efforts to not have it stolen didn’t bring my camera to Uganda. We also went up to Jinja on Saturday to kayak on the Nile. This was pretty scary- I do not like the idea of being trapped upside-down underwater, but was also really fun.
Being in Uganda, the hot issue was and is the anti-homosexuality bill that was just signed into law Monday. So I’m about to sounds a bit schizophrenic. Now, honestly I think it is a bit strange how disproportionately large the gay rights issue has become worldwide. Let me be clear though: I absolutely believe in gay rights and think people are really suffering because of prejudice and a lack of liberties. However, it seems to me in the past year that you come off as intolerant if LGBT rights aren’t the highest item on your agenda. There are so many other (larger) groups of people suffering oppression and lack of rights, it seems unfortunate that so many of them have been pushed aside because this issue is the hot topic currently. That all being said, this law in Uganda is ridiculous and really does deserve attention. It is one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world even with some of the strictest clauses removed before signing. Its vague wording is bound to lead to arrests for even the most benign actions or suspicions. Mobs have already started gathering to take “justice” into their own hands. It really saddens me to see a country fall to this and behind it all, claim that this is the Christian thing to do.
If you want to read more about it here are a couple links
"God loves Uganda" trailer - A documentary about the anti-gay movement in Uganda ad its roots in the West’s churches. (This looks so good. I’m trying so hard to find a way to see it while I’m in Kenya)
Ok, I’m off my soap box (but what is a blog for, really).
That’s pretty much it. I’m really enjoying Kenya right now. Last night on our way home from rugby, Emily and I had rented a car for work and gave 7 other people a ride home. It was so funny to see kids and adults pile into our Mzungu Matatu. I will miss little things that that when I leave.
