How to get around in Kisumu

One way to get around Kisumu is by tuktuk. They are usually Piaggio scooters with a passenger cab in the back that are meant to seat three but as you can tell by this photo, they can sometimes fit up to 5. It costs about 100ksh to get around in one of these (~$1.67CDN).

Pictured are the residents of our 3-bedroom house. Left to right, we are Jenny (North Bay, Ontario), Jessica (Zwolle, Holland), Paul (Ottawa, Ontario), Joanna (Toronto, Ontario) and Alyssa (Toronto, Ontario).

There are a few other ways to get around town (besides walking, of course). A boda-boda is a pretty standard bike fashioned with a cushion over the rear wheel so a second passenger can sit fairly comfortably. People also use boda-bodas to transport goods (commonly bread or water). They use old bike tubes to strap their goods onto the rear seat and can commonly be stacked about a metre high!

Matatus are crowded 11-seater vans that normally hold up to 20 people. Many of them can be identified by their unique decals and paint jobs. There are several that pay tribute to North American musicians like Ciara, Nelly and Rick Ross. We've even seen one with a huge graphic of Barack Obama's face on the U.S. dollar.

In case you didn't know, Barack Obama Sr. is from near Kisumu and is a Luo, the majority tribe in this part of Kenya. In other words, people love Obama here.

Double Mint _______________

Twins!! Marie Clare & Marie Clarette (8 months old) are the newest arrivals at St.Claire's.

Eli & Regan

Stacy Apiyo & Feney Adongo

Hussan & Hussein

Scholastica and Kemuntho, also twins, were not photographed as they are away attending their mother's funeral.

"...these are my friends and I stay with them as one family."

Lorine looking at her photos.

Peter writing in his journal.

Kevin Kangal's journal.  It says, "I like foto because  these are my friends and I stay with them as one family."  We teared up a bit when we read this...

Josephats journal.  It says, "I lal (like) this green grass.  I lal this class be cos it is good school."

Christopher's journal.  It says, I like this photo because "of this house and the boy which sits on the verhandah."  This photo makes me feel "so happy."

Felix Ojuang's journal. It says "1. like this foto because these are my friends. 2. i like this foto because this is the best."

Felix resting after finishing his roll of film.

A whole new set of film ready to get processed.

Wow,

Yesterday was amazing. It was such a pleasure to see the children's faces as they looked at their photography for the first time. What talent! Each child laid out their photos and their group looked them over. It was so fun to ask them their favourites and have them explain why. It gave us an opportunity to hear the stories, feelings, and reasons why they took their photographs. Each child picked their two favourites and glued them in their journals. After that they wrote responses to their photos, and then tore outside to shoot another roll.

Play Time!

We've had lots of time to sing, dance, play games and do crafts at the orphanage. "What time is it Mr. Wolf?" is the current new favourite. The children are very patient and diligent during craft time - not a peep is heard while instructions are given and they clean up without any prompts! A teacher's dream class. :-)
My highlight is when the children break out into song as they are incredible singers and their repertoire is quite extensive. They have led us through many, many songs in Swahili and in English - all involve dancing! They sure can keep a beat! (Hopefully I'll come back with some rhythm!)




James, not only talented at crafts, is a natural song leader. The other kids follow his lead as he transitions smoothly from one song to the next. Much to be learned from this amazing little teacher.

More play time updates to come! - Joanna

First Lot of Film Has Been Developed!!

We developed the first lot of film yesterday from the children's first shoot!! The anticipation of waiting for the film to be developed was huge! We did not know what to expect - but we were incredibly excited by the photos the children created!! We are really looking forward to watching the children's development and progress over the next four weeks.

Many of the images warmed my heart and stirred so many emotions - I am soooo excited for you all to see them as well!!

Our second lesson is this afternoon - the cameras are already loaded and ready to go...I wonder who is more excited...the kids or us?!?!

Stay Tuned...

Warm Wishes from Kisumu,
Jenny

Introducing Blaise

Meet Blaise. Blaise is 12 years old. He is extremely bright, and has skipped a grade at school. He is incredibly respectful and eager to learn about the photography basics we taught on Saturday. Blaise is a natural leader and was quick to help the younger children who needed a little extra help. I am anxious to see his photos from Saturday, which we get back from the lab in an hour.

Tomorrow we will present the children with their first prints. I'm terribly excited.

Lesson One- Photography Basics

Yesterday we went to visit some of the older children at the Primary School they attend, and we gave our first lesson. It was such a pleasure to teach them. They are so excited to practice with the cameras eager to learn so that they could "piga picha"(take a picture). Here is the five finger memory lesson

1. Keep my fingers at the top of the camera.
2. Flash for inside the house, no flash for outside the house, the sun at my back.
3. Frame my photo
4. Stand one arm's length back.
5. Piga Picha!

Here are Lorine, Christopher, Peter and Blaise shooting some of their first photos. My favourite moment yesterday was when Loriine ran up and took my hand. She told me, "I am happy today. I have never taken a photo before. This is a good day." She clasped me hand tightly and then skipped away.

I cannot wait to develop the photos so that the children can see them.

Eve of first 'PIGA PICHA' Lesson

June 27, 2008

So far meeting the 27 Pre-School Children at the St. Claire's Orphanage has been an amazing experience for us all. The last 2 days I have been overwhelmed with so many emotions -that I am finding difficult to express.

At the moment, I am writing this on the eve of our first indrotuction to the Primary School Children and their first 'PIGA PICHA' lesson. We are all filled with so much excitement that we are finally at the stage of diving into our project, as well as curious of how this project with the children will go... I cannot wait to see how the children react to the camera and to see the images they create through their own eyes!

We will let you know how our first day goes!
Take care,
Jenny