The last week or so in Kenya proved a bit challenging technologically. A power problem at the AACC guest house in Nairobi meant there was no internet connection. I then went on my safari, and there was no internet connection there either, so I got thoroughly behind in posting even before I left Kenya. The return trip, getting caught up with work, finishing my last papers for my course, topped with jet lag, have all conspired to make it the best part of two weeks before I've finally been able to get back to this. Thanks for your patience, and continued interest in following my blog!

It tends to be one of the rules in church-land that when money has been spent getting people somewhere, you should work them hard to justify the expense. We do this at national meetings a lot (although we’re getting better). I’m only here for about eight days on the ground, so we’re trying to make the most of it, but another 5:00 a.m. taxi to the airport is, well, ‘a challenge.’ Still, I’m up and ready when Lauren and James, her favourite cabbie arrives.

Lauren Hodgson is a candidate for ministry from BC Conference and is doing her student internship here in Nairobi with Kenya Association for Advancement of Children. She and I are going to Kisumu to visit KAACR (the original name was Kenya Association for Advocacy of Children’s Rights, but the government wouldn’t allow that; so, they changed the name but curiously kept the acronym). BTW, check out Lauren's blog about her internship here.

It’s a short 40 minute flight to Kisumu, where we’re met by Philip and John from KACCR. Tim Ekesa, the director, is coming on the next flight, about 30 minutes later. We end up waiting about an hour; the plane arrived on time, but the pilot ditched the plane into the field (instead of Lake Victoria) when he ran out of runway. Tim got some great pics of it, as everybody disembarked and milled around the plane waiting for buses to take them to the terminal.

KACCR represents 12 different organizations that work with children across the country. They’ve been instrumental in getting children’s rights enshrined into the Kenyan constitution and legal system. Tim says “Our motto is ‘Nothing for the Children Without the Children,’” referring to the importance of including children in the process of developing legislation and programs for children. “Our main purpose is to get children’s participation in every forum that discusses children’s issues.” KACCR has worked in Kenya and beyond, including at the U.N., helping form the declaration of the Rights of the Child.

Working directly with children, KACCR’s main program is children’s rights clubs in schools. This struck me as quite odd, as I can’t imagine what the attraction would be for children and youth to join a rights club instead of soccer or drama or music. Nevertheless, there are about 200 clubs in primary and secondary schools throughout Kenya. The clubs focus on learning their rights, promoting those rights, and peer support. The clubs often have other activities as well, such as food drives, hospital and orphanage visits, and environmental days (cleaning up litter in Kenya could be a full-time program).

Lauren and I met with three clubs that represented different stages of the children’s rights clubs: primary, secondary, and ambassadors (club members who have graduated from high school, but maintain a relationship to the clubs).

Friendship Gavula Primary School, in Wedenga is tucked away in the hills about an hour outside of Kisumu, and draws students from a wide surrounding rural area. The teachers are very positive about the influence of the clubs, how the students are focused and dedicated to the rights movement, but also how they’re more disciplined and achieving better marks. I get the impression that order is very important here and part of the perceived value of the clubs is in how it contributes to school discipline.

After talking with the teachers we get to meet the students; about 30 are gathered in a classroom and seem eager to talk to the visitors. The children are soft-spoken, extremely polite, and deferential. They know their stuff, though, and talk about their rights, how they support each other, and have raised funds to help fellow students buy their uniforms or pay fees. Their isn’t a lot of affluence here, but they’re dedicated to sharing what they have – this is a recurrent theme at all our meetings with groups here in Kenya.

I invite them to ask questions of us. They're hesitant and shy, but after the first one, the questions come thick and fast. What’s our church like? What rights do Canadian children have? What are Canadian schools like? Is it really cold all the time in Canada? Are boys circumcised in Canada (that, in fact, was the first question!)?

Lauren and I do our best to answer, and then suggest we go outside for some pictures. The formal order of the classroom gives way to total mayhem in the schoolyard, as everyone wants their picture taken and to see their image on the camera’s LCD display. I hear ‘What about me?’ – code for ‘take my picture’ – over and over as I rapidly snap away, spawning gales of laughter amongst the kids. Just before we leave, the children offer us a gift of fresh-laid eggs to send us on our way.

The Kisumu Girls’ High School is on the main road in Kisumu, opposite western Kenya’s largest open-air market. Everything from cauliflower to coffins is sold at the open-air kiosks, and the banter of business penetrates the school walls. Most of the girls are gathering in the courtyard for assembly as we meet the members of the club. I’m unsure whether the formality and order arises out of the nature of the club, or is just simply normal in Kenyan schools (I’m inclined toward the latter), but we’re introduced to the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer, and a very sincere and earnest presentation about the club – its history, values, purpose, mission statement, goals, and achievements-to-date – ensues.

It’s obvious this is important stuff for these kids. Cynthia, the chairman, says the club’s goal is “creating an environment for children’s rights to be recognized around the world.” Although nervous about speaking in front of an audience, her enthusiasm comes through as she describes the weekly meetings, visiting orphanages and children in hospital, organizing clean-up days. The club, she says, has also changed its name from the Children’s Rights Club, to the Children’s Rights Movement, a significant choice, we all applaud.

Helen takes over, and speaks about the challenges they face as students, members of the club, and as African children. HIV-AIDS, poverty, nutrition, child-labour and abductions, drug abuse and social stigma are stories they are deeply aware of and affected by. The group is as much a social network and support system as an advocacy movement.

We’re running short on time, so when they’ve finished, I quickly turn it back to them to ask questions of us. After a round of questions about Canada and us personally, the kicker comes when Cynthia stands up and asks Tim about his absence at the club’s annual party, and whether he will be compensating the club for their disappointment. Tim’s a little taken aback and promises to ‘get back to them.’ It seems they’ve learned their lessons well – maybe too well from Tim’s point of view.

Earlier in the day we had met at KACCR’s new office; a converted house a few kilometers out of Kisumu. It’s in rough shape and needs lots of work, but they’re confident owning this is better than renting in Kisumu Town. I’m less convinced, as it’s a long way from town and the road in between is rough and steep; accessibility could be big problem. We gather there to meet with six young adults who are KACCR ambassadors.

Some of them were in clubs almost throughout their school years, and that’s left an indelible impression. They’ve all kept connections to their former clubs, and some have extended their involvement to helping to start new clubs in other schools. As mentors, they try to be supportive and helpful but also are aware that their roles are different now than before.

All six echo the values and purposes that we’ve heard from the kids at the primary and secondary schools. But, as well as being committed to children’s rights and doing good works, it’s clear these young adults are ambitious, high-achievers, and future leaders. Stella is studying business admin while working in Nairobi. Emmanuel is planning to study law, and David (the oldest in the group) has attended bible college and is now a pastor in a small church in Nairobi.