Aafje Rietveld

Mambo! My name is Aafje Rietveld and I am 29 years old. Ever since I was a kid, I have been dreaming about working in Africa, as a doctor for “Médicins sans Frontiers”, following the example set by my aunt and my uncles. When I turned our not to be a talent in maths and physics, I decided to study law and the dream faded. Who needs knowledge of the Dutch legal system, while you are struggling to survive? So what could I do for these people? However, in March 2005 I visited Kenya with my husband and my parents-in-law on a safari tour. Since then, the country has been in my thoughts each and every day. I decided to go back and make myself usefull for the country and its people. I ended up in CRC, because I recognize myself in their principles and in their way of helping people. During the month of September 2005 I have been working in CRC, together with Marieke and the other “September-volunteers”.

Together with the others, I took care of ‘our’ children and visited a lot of institutions in and around Thika (e.g. the School for the Blind, St Patrick’s Special Unit and the Action for Children daycare centre) to see how they handle things, but also to help them take care of ‘their’ children. Next to that, we went to visit Kiandutu, one of Thika’s slums, several times, to bring food and medication to needy families, in order to help them raising their kids by themselves, in stead of taking them in without exploring other options first.

Overseeing my time in Thika, I am amazed what a difference someone with my background can make. As for ‘our’ children, it was so good to see them develop further into healthy, happy, smiling and outgoing children. Not only our children, but all children in and around Thika seemed to be gratefull for my just being there and just spending time with them. They were all so eager to learn about me and my life back home. I have the feeling I really made a difference by just talking with them and playing with them. And even if I didn’t make a lasting difference, I made some of them laugh, which makes a difference at least for that moment!

I had the time of my life, and I am sure my life will never be the same again, if only because I am committed to helping CRC and the CRC-children for the rest of my life! I am sure I will be going back to CRC often, hopefully in 2006, but also while I am at home (The Hague, the Netherlands), I will continue helping CRC by recruiting volunteers. So, if you are interested in volunteering in CRC, please do not hesitate to contact me at crckenya@planet.nl. Although everybody, with his/her heart at the right place, is welcome to join the CRC-family, we would be delighted to welcome people from outside of the Netherlands to help us give the children a broader view on the world outside of Kenya!

Marieke Heijstraten

Hamjambo, my name is Marieke Heijstraten and I am 22 years old. Last September I had a volunteer job at the Child Rescue Centre (CRC). After I got my degree as a social worker, it was my wish to go and work as a volunteer in an African country. On the internet I tried to find a suitable organization and ended up with the CRC. I was interested in it because it was a small home, at the time there were only 13 children.

I left for Kenya on August 30th, together with a girlfriend, Marije and 3 other volunteers, I had never met before. Then everything was very exciting, but it turned out to be an unforgettable experience!
During the day we normally took care of the kids and kept them occupied. It was so beautiful to see them developed during one month's time. One of the children was very quiet and had hardly any contact with the other kids or volunteers. When we left she had become a cheerful and affectionate girl. We saw all the other kids developed very well and they came into touch with us. We were able to buy things for the children and the home. It was great to see them shine when they got new clothes!
Beside that we did a lot of other things. More times we visited the slums where the CRC-kids come from. I was impressed! Large families live in very small houses, children wear worn-out clothes and are barefoot and streets are full of dirt. Children gathered around us and they were very curious. We donated clothes, food and cuddle-toys to a number of families. How glad they were!
Several times we helped at St. Patrickschool, the CRC-children attend this school. There is a special unit, 3 classes for mentally handicapped children. It was very interesting to watch the way of teaching. The teachers and kids liked us to help.
During our stay at the CRC we visited other children's homes and schools. It was interesting to see how they were organised. They welcomed us with open arms and the children sang for us.
We also helped Mary-Ann to cook the meals and to clean the house was one of our tasks. Mary-Ann is the regular caretaker. She loved us to help her. She is a true mum for the kids.

During our stay the Kenyan board members supported us. They created the possibility to see and experience a lot of Kenya. Those men, each in their own way, support CRC.

As I said before, it was a tremendous experience. This made it more difficult to say goodbye to the children, Mary-Ann and the board members. After our time at the CRC Marije and I went to see more of Kenya for about two weeks. Before we flew back, we visited the home once again. It is hard to describe my feelings when the children came running towards us. How I'll miss them! I'd like to go back to see how they are doing.

When you want to read more, please go to:
www.mariekeenmarijeinkenia.waarbenjij.nu

Cathy Jones

I spent a month in CRC during January and February 2006 and it was an experience rich with emotions.

The night I arrived Nelson and (I can't remember the taxi driver's name) met me at Nairobi airport with a big 'KARIBU' (welcome) sign and we drove through the Kenyan night to Thika. All the volunteers got up to meet me, although they must have been tired because of the early start that everyone has. All the children were in bed.

The next morning, the first thing I heard was the sound of the children getting ready for school, washing, dressing, bed-making and getting together books and bags, mostly on their own. We had a quick breakfast and set off to school. Various shoe laces had to be tied, a few books identified and some trousers belts fastened but apart form that everything went off smoothly.

The children safely at school, the day in Thika CRC began again. There were a number of things to do. You could take a look at the vegetable patch, give a hand with the cleaning, decorate the living room or go to the construction sight to help out. One could also visit an internet cafe and catch up with home or do a bit of shopping.

There were also visits to other organisations like the Thika's excellent school for the blind or the Red Cross and every week we would take a walk round the slums with Nelson taking food for some of the people. These visits showed me a part of Kenya that as a visitor I wouldn't otherwise have had the chance to see. The slums for me are places full of people fighting for life and creating spaces like schools with free meals and AIDS help centres, full of hope and determination in spite of great difficulties. The children of the slums are like children everywhere, bubbling with life and curiosity and mischief.

The most important part of all this were the children and the co-volunteers at CRC, who radiated affection in quantities difficult to take on board for a jaded European. I had almost forgotten how much joy children have inside and that joy is very infectious.

Evelien Zielschot

Habari!

My name is Evelien Zielschot, I am 22 years old and I am from Holland. After finishing my studies I went to the Child Rescueing Centre Kenya in October and November 2007. I had two wonderful months!

On Friday the 27th of September I flew to Nairobi. Nelson, the manager of CRC was there to pick me up. This was nice, because otherwise I wouldn’t have had a clue about how things work in Kenya! Already during my trip to Thika I was really amazed about the crowdedness on the road and about the reckless driving of the Kenyans! The first month I kept on surprising myself about how things are in Kenya! But since my second month I was more known with all the habits and customs and since then I really had the feeling that I was at home in Thika.

My daily duties were in the morning helping with preparing breakfast for the children, helping them with showering and dressing and bringing them to school. While the oldest children were at school, the youngest children were still at home, so then you had time to play with them. At 3 o’clock we went to pick up the kids from school and then we helped them with their daily routine: showering, putting on the pyjamas, washing the school uniforms and cleaning the school shoes. Of course the children also had to do homework so we helped them with that or we played and made fun with them! After dinner we did put the kids into bed and we read them a story. It was great to just live with this daily routine, because already in these daily things you could see a lot of the Kenyan way of living.

The contact I had with the children was really great and ever since I am back, I think about them a lot! The children have been through a lot of pain, but still they are all very energetic, happy and easygoing! It is really incredible how disciplined the children are. The older children do help the younger ones, everybody is listening very well and all the kids become happy with very small things! In two months you can get a really good relationship with most of the kids. And you can get really attached to them. It felt great to make the kids smile and to have fun with them.

Volunteering in CRC meant that we were very free in the things we did on a day. Very often I went out to go to town, to just do some shopping, to go to the internet café, etc. Also we went several times to slums to share food packages and we took the children out to have fun in a playground!

Next to all the serious, but very special things, I went several times to Nairobi to see the city and also I went two times on safari and I climbed Mount Kenya! All were very special trips! Kenya is beautiful!

Altogether I can say that I had two perfect months in Kenya. I loved my life there and the only thing I can do right now is to say to you that it is a great experience to stay in CRC and to try to make a difference!

Kwaheri!

Hi.  My name is Karina, I am 29 years old and come from Newcastle, Australia.  I currently live in Edinburgh, Scotland and have done so for the past 5 years.

Volunteering at CRC Kenya is the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.

I had been looking to volunteer for about five years, but always put it off as other things came up. In January 2006 I decided it was time to take action and began the search for a volunteering organisation. Finally, in December that year I found CRC Kenya. Reading the experiences of previous volunteers, I made an instant connection with their stories and made contact with Aafje. I thought it  might be difficult to get more information and to organise my stay, with me being in the UK, Aafje in Holland, and the centre in Kenya, but I was happy to be proven wrong. Aafje was very helpful and in no time at all, everything was organised and I just had to book my flights!

I arrived at CRC on a Sunday afternoon in December 2007. Nelson came to Nairobi to meet me and take me back to Thika with George, the taxi driver. I was quite nervous and had little idea about what to expect, but the guys made me feel welcome and excited about what was to come. When we arrived, the children were playing happily and welcomed me immediately with a game of cards.

Life is busy at CRC. As a volunteer, the day starts at 05:30, by which time the children are already up. Showers, breakfast and some chores for the children start the day, then it’s off to school for the older ones. The younger children spend the morning playing with the volunteers. In the afternoon the volunteers pick the children up from school, after which there are more chores, dinner, then bed. The days are so busy that in the evenings, I spent most of my time reading or just relaxing. On the weekends when all of the children are home, they tend to occupy themselves, so the opportunity can arise for volunteers to go into town.

I enjoyed my time at CRC so much, and my only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer. Even in the short time I was there I noticed the development in the children which is very satisfying. One little boy who was rescued from a slum could not even stand when he arrived at CRC, but after physiotherapy and a lot of effort from all of the volunteers, he was beginning to walk (with support) when I left. I visited other children’s’ homes, attended church with the children, and visited the slums where we delivered food parcels to families who were in desperate need. I also visited some of the projects that have been set up by previous volunteers to CRC.

 You really get involved in the lives and culture of the children while you volunteer at CRC. I feel privileged to have had this opportunity and along the way I have made friendships that I am sure will last a very long time. I will always remember my time in Kenya, and hope very much that I will be able to return before too long.