KISUMU NEWS

From August 2011 Newsletter:

"Hometown "Harambee" Spirit"
By Betsy L. Graves

This past summer, daily headlines were filled with news of extreme drought that attacked the Horn of Africa. Lack of basic necessities - especially food and water - severely impacted lives and livelihoods of people across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. By end of July, the UN declared five of eight regions of Somalia in a state of famine; by early August, it reported that hundreds of thousands of people throughout the region had left home and were fighting for their lives against the harsh drought conditions. In light of these recent events, the Roanoke-Kisumu Sister City Committee (RKSCC) held a ‘pocket change’ drive for direct drought relief provided via one of our Kisumu Sister City partners in Kenya, the New Life Home Trust (NLHT)

On Saturday, July 30th, Committee Chair Marylen Harmon, along with members of the Roanoke- Kisumu Committee and other community volunteers, collected pocket change and cash donations outside the entrances of the Cave Spring Corners Kroger. Shoppers had the opportunity to donate pocket change to support drought relief efforts, and did so quite generously, so that together the cash and change donations totaled exactly $280.* In addition to collecting funds, the Committee also set up an informational display of posters and photos outside the store. Several people had opportunity to learn more about Kenya, as well as our Roanoke-Kisumu Sister City program. Many individuals showed interest in the cause, and RKSCC was grateful for the high rate of participation in this event.

All of these pocket change donations were sent to the New Life Home Trust, which has operations based in Kisumu, Kenya, as well as in multiple locations across the country. The NLHT, through a partnership with Barnabas Ministries Africa, has been operating in the region for over twenty years, and is able to provide a timely response to the drought crisis. Their emergency relief primarily focuses on assisting orphans, the elderly, and members of marginalized communities that have been severely impacted, which include those residing in the north-coast and north-eastern regions of Kenya.

News of these drought relief efforts were first brought to the attention of RKSCC by Dr. Ruby Sokwala. For over a decade, she has served as a primary contact for our RKSCC programs in Kisumu. Since the New Life Home Trust has also been a respected partner to the Roanoke-Kisumu Sister City Committee for more than thirty years, the we felt that it was important to pursue support in this acute special need. Fortunately, in addition to the ‘pocket change’ drive, the Committee received several generous private donations and additional financial contributions. We were able to send over a total donation of $600* to the New Life Home Trust for drought relief.

The funds drive event was an example of “Harambee” Spirit, a word that means “to pull together” in Swahili. Its importance is confirmed since it is written in the Coat of Arms of the Kenyan Government! It is a word of encouragement spoken and exhibited throughout Kenyan culture and society. The concept of “Harambee” is deeply rooted in Kenyan community. Collaboration --- pulling together --- can triumph over most natural and human disasters. In particular, “Harambee” recognizes that every contribution, ‘the widow’s mite principle,’ how ever large or small, helps. We proved this with the ‘pocket change’ drive. Just a few coins – added up quickly and will make a difference in lives of some desperate refugees caught in this East African life-threatening drought.

Our RKSCC wants to express gratitude for media coverage provided by WDBJ-TV Channel 7, The Roanoke Times, and to thank Cave Spring Corners Kroger for providing a location for the funds drive. We salute many magnanimous people who graciously shared time and resources for drought relief, our own ‘hometown Harambee!’ You can learn more about New Life Home Trust &/or contribute to drought relief; please email us at: rvsci.kisumu@gmail.com. BLG

University of Virginia blg3q@virginia.edu

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust

	Betty Waldron, Betsy Graves, Marilyn Harmon
Betty Waldron, Marilyn Harmon, Delroy Rose	Betty Waldron, Marilyn Harman, Delroy Rose