In the beginning...
on Colm in Kenya (Kenya), 02/Mar/2009 21:56, 34 days ago
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Here we goTwo years. 24 Months. 104 weeks. Many days. Many, many nights. But to what end?For the past two weeks, longer even, I've been asked more or less that question - 'And what are you going to be doing out there?'. And it's a very good question. I cant help answering it without vomiting out a string of buzzwords -HIV/AIDS Programmes, Diversified Income Streams, Meet Fundraising Objectives, Access to MicroFinance etc. But essentially it's this - Small, developing businesses including Community Based Organisations (like Scope) need income to help them achieve their objectives whatever they maybe, commercial or social - they need to provide a value added product or service to a market with little or no income. Essentially, my role is to assist them develop their business plans with the aim of helping achieve their objectives. Our specific objectives is to combat the yoke that is the HIV/AIDS virus.This to a market with 42% living on a dollar a day, 58% on $2 a day, highest female illiteracy and lowest secondary school attendance in Kenya, and with 2 million people threatened by Famine....the challenge is enormous. But it's part of a greater challenge, a challenge that none other is more important. It is Fundamentally an Essential One. My challenges of living in a different environment with a different culture, cut off from the usual amenities that my current day to day activities are based pales into almost meaningless significance. But of course, it feels anything but meaningless. I will have immense personal mountains to climb, peaks to enjoy, celebrate and aspire for evermore to scale. But also deep, dark, horrible valleys to endure. The challenges both personally and professionally are Massive. I'm looking forward to dealing with them. Both successfully and inevitably, at times, unsuccessfully. And I will certainly appreciate comments from the 'outside world' throughout my time in Kenya that will make the peaks more enjoyable and valleys more endurable.Win Win. Fail Fail. Either way - Two years. 24 Months. 104 weeks. Many days. Many many nights.Ambulance by Blur.
