Blogs

This is the story of Everlyne, who lives in Kibera and heads Women's Power Group, one of the co-ops supported by HARAMBEE.  I got a big surprise when meeting with Everlyne.  She'd come to deliver skirts I ordered.  If you like them, you can purchase one for $30 including postage.  Email me:  keen@harambee.lorg

We are so proud of our student Samuel, recommended to us by Sister Florence Muia of Upendo Village.  He successfully completed his first year of the clinical officer program at Kenya Methodist University in Meru, Kenya and has distinguished himself as a leader.  Giving this wonderful young man a future, a future serving others, was possible through your help.  When we visited Meru last February we met with him and heard his story.  Here it is for you, just click here.

A child was kneeling in the dust on the dirt floor of the school next to Adonai Children’s Home. With head bowed her gesture was saying “thank you” for the small gift from HARAMBEE she’d chosen. Every child did the same. I asked who taught them to do this. Our host Aloysious Luswata said “It’s a sign of respect.” OK. “It dates from colonial times.” Not OK. Clearly a symbol of subjection and subservience, it made me very uncomfortable. Anthropologically correct or not, I showed an alternative and we all happily switched to a “high five” ‘til day’s end.

The following is an email received from Stephanina Kuria, who administers our projects at Upendo Village in Naivasha, Kenya. 

Lack of access to medical care is a very serious problem in many African countries, where large populations live in rural or bush areas. Some have never seen a medical caretaker; disability and death commonly occur  from medical problems considered minor or nonexistent here in the U.S.

 “Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.”
                                                      Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

Who am I before the face of God? What am I known as? How will God define me as unique and yet as one with all? What is my significant feature in the mind of God? 

    
To see this report with photos, click here

Each year of HARAMBEE’s short existence has been different from every other; flexibility & openness, after all, are gifts of being young and small.