Kariua

We posted in a blog, on February 20th, about a slum we went to. It was the same day we went to Karen Plains and the Twiga (giraffe) Park. This trip to Kariua was our first stop of day and it was truly an eye opening experience. Being in Africa so far we have definitely seen a difference from America. Going to a place like Kariua makes Bosco Boys seem like a 5 star hotel. You continue to be exposed to more levels of "poverty". We had recently also talked to Fr. Makarious about his life travels. He for a while went to a refugee camp in Sudan. He said being there makes a slum like Kariua seem like a 5 star hotel. Amazing.

Kariua, as we found out, was once a street in Nairobi. Over time people began living on the street and thus is became a slum. The entire slum is maybe a hundred yards long and ten yards wide with homes on both sides. In the middle there is a small path way to walk through with a gutter of used, dirty, smelly water. The school there has been there since the slum was built. The Salesians are in good terms with the people and the school is one of the first projects the Salesians started in Nairobi.

We walked all the way through the slum. The entrance is now occupied by other people who needed an area to live in. As you get further into the slum there is the school on the left. It literally is 4 different sheds squeezed together. There is one building for an office, another for storage, and two for classrooms. Once you pass this you get into the neighborhood. There are homes and there is a restroom at the end of the slum for everyone (around 300 people). The water once used in the bathroom just flows down the gutter to the exit of the slum. Literally on the other side of the wall, towards the rear of the slum is the city streets of Nairobi.

We went with Fr. Sebastian, Fr. Harry of Amsterdam, and our friend Ludo. Apparently Fr. Harry has been to Kariua before but maybe 20 years ago. Fr. Sebastian used the opportunity to bring the children some chocolates, check up on the school, and show us this Salesian mission.



This is Kariua slum. In the picture is Patrick (a friend of the Salesians who watches over the school/area), Fr. Harry of Amsterdam, Ludo of Amsterdam, and us.


This is a picture of the slum entrance. Through this window is the classroom the children use.


As we walked in the children began singing us a song. It was something like "how are you? how are you? welcome here" (something like that)


The little girl on the bottom left of the picture (in the gray sweater) was so funny. She had the biggest smile on her face and all the children were amazed to see so many "muzungu" (white person). Fr. Sebastian brought them some chocolates and they were so happy to get some. Each of them took the smallest bites to savor this treat of treats.


Just a view of the walk way through the slum.


Some of the children allowed their picture to be taken. Many times, as we have been told, you must ask before you take a picture of someone. Many people will charge you a fee for taking their picture, if you do not pay they (the villagers) may attack you. Taking pictures of the boys at "Bosco Boys" is free though, they are our friends. The Salesians are in good terms with the people in this slum because they provide schooling for all the children. There are other slums in Nairobi that can be very dangerous due to drugs, weapons, and gangs.


The space between the shacks is only a few feet with a stream of dirty water going through the middle. I (Pat) slipped my foot into the water, twice, accidentally.


We took a picture as we were leaving.


An older painting. "If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else"