SWAG Talk. Some Background - Kenya ● 34 million people ● Many tribes in one country (around 50 in total, 8 or so 'main' tribes) ● Around 80% Christian,

SWAG Talk

Some Background - Kenya● 34 million people

● Many tribes in one country (around 50 in total, 8 or so 'main' tribes)

● Around 80% Christian, 10% Islam and 10% Traditional beliefs.

● English spoken by all primary school educated people, Swahili still very important. Tribal languages still used in their areas.

● Oldest groups in country are the Maasai and the Swahili (coastal Arabs people) both been there for 1000+ years.

● Neighbouring countries (Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia) have had significant conflict problems, Kenya relatively stable.

● 60% unemployed, many who are employed living on less than $1 a day. Huge inequality between 'elite' and the 'average' Kenyan.

Some Background - MCF● Children's home started in Eldoret town in

November 1989.

● Begun by Charles Mulli a business man who had started his life as a street child.

● Over 600 children now part of the home, with ages varying from months old through to 25 years old.

● Main home in Ndalani, technical school for girls in Yatta, day school in Vipingo and currently under-renovation Eldoret home.

● MCF has facilities such as a farm, high school, primary school, training workshop, technical school, library, small medical clinic, chapel, soccer field and many dormitories.

● There is deep thankfulness in the children for what they have received.

MCF NdalaniYatta

HIV and Aids● Currently the killer of ~25 million over 25 years● ~2.8 Million in 2006, half a million of which were

children● Has not peaked yet, the worst is yet to come.● A major problem in Kenya, with around 10% of people

infected● Those infected may be orphans, women forced into

commercial sex work, commuting workers and widows.

● Much of the damage it does is reducible with more and better used funding.

Employment● Half the world earns less than $2USD a day, which

can be labeled moderately poor. Of that ~1 billion earn less than a dollar a day, which can be labeled extremely poor.

● In Kenya million’s live in extreme poverty, often facing job insecurity even in the little they do earn.

● This sort of money doesn’t get you much. This is somewhat obvious but something people often seem to think.

● Often this money is needed to support family, elders and the sick. Leaving very little for the individual to survive.

Kibera

• One of Nairobi’s many slums.

• Largest and home to around 1 million people.

• Small geographically; only around 2.5sq/km (half of Nunawading)

• Has all the major people groups contained in it. Which has caused some conflict in recent years.

• Practically all living here, live under the absolute poverty line.

• This poverty leaves them without access to some basic needs and vulnerable to disaster.

• Nonetheless Olympic receives some of the highest marks in the country (5th Nationally).

Africashare

• A microfinance group working with those earning $2US a day or less.

• Small loans at interest, around $150AUD at 16%.

• The poor are actually really good credit risks!

• Works in some of the slums in and around Nairobi

• Helping the poor help themselves

Poverty as Violence● Although we love positives, I want to share with you a

challenge I felt while I was in Kenya.● What challenged me is the damage and injustice

which is done to the poor.● Poverty acts as a violence which kills many, causes

most of our world to suffer pointlessly, and is like all other violence in that it is due to causes which we have opportunity to change.

● While other causes such as war do horrible things, I believe poverty to be one which we can do much to prevent.

● Australian is still trying to find identity, its without direction and so we now live in a time of choice about where we are heading. We can choose as a people to become a society which values all people and to live in such a way which protects most vulnerable.

Any Questions

Have a look...

● Http://www.mutunga.com/ - Microfinance organisation working in Nairobi slums

● Http://www.mullychildrensfamily.org - Caring for over 600 disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

● Http://www.unicef.org/ - UN body set-up for aid and development of children's basic needs.

● Http://www.micahchallenge.org.au - Christian campaign for debt forgiveness.