Last weeks in Kenya

Almost 7 years I'm involved with Macheo. I came in the past for a short time and went back to my Dutch life and job. I lived and worked since 2013 here in Kenya at the compound of Macheo, Time was flying and I really could stay longer but its time to move on. A paid job is very necessary after 3 years. WIth very mixed feelings I move back to the Netherlands. I'm sure I will go back to Kenya but when is only the question. Life is one big journey full of adventure and experiences for me. And it's me to move on even when it's not easy. Kenya is really my new home. I'm used, very used to the culture, local life. Even when I'm in Nairobi or in a mall there it feels I'm not in Kenya because I hardly did such a things. I love the country because of the great nature, many lovely journeys full of adventure. Kenya is a big country so even going to friends its normal you drive 1-3 hours just for a short visit. I had already a bike. But I bought last year a Beetle to create flexiblity because in the dark it's not easy to move myself anywhere. In the day there is for me nothing what stops me to take public transport or go anywhere. In the dark that's not that easy without a car. Still I never, ever felt or found myself in a situation where I thought this is not okay. And never ever something is stolen from me. I can say I'm lucky because everywhere they are trying to get something of a mzungu (white person). I knew the tricks and also how to act in Kenya and I felt at home. Driving with a Beetle through Kenya was a great expierence. Anywhere in the world it's great to drive a Beetle but in Kenya on the very bumpy rough roads its even better. Driving through streams of mud yap I managed also no mountain too high with the Beetle. Through Nairobi between all the 4x4 BIG cars from expats I felt good with my Beelte. I was always happy when people appoached me as a local, the Beetle made that also possible. As a lady driver in Kenya it's already fun to drive, also as a mzungu lady it's fun but driving a Beetle is briljant everywhere cheers and many nice thumps up! Unfortunately because I leave August 5th I had to sell the car. First big step of a process of leaving Kenya. It's not easy leaving Macheo. Still so much to do. And still I could add so much extra as a bridge between my 140 Kenyan colleagues and mostly the western donors. I know Macheo will continue doing very good things. Many great plans and things are happening. I will follow Macheo from a distance and try to do whatever I can. Also when I have other jobs like I did in the past. I will miss so so so many people. I will always come back home in Kenya.  Moving back to the Netherlands is not easy for me. It's weird because the last 3 years I had sometimes hard times in Kenya because I missed my family and friends . Now it will be the opposite I will miss my Kenyan 'family' and friends a lot.

I learned so much by living in a totaly other culture. Also I saw daily with my own eyes that things in life are not for everybody the same. Where you are born is seriously not in your own hands. You can only make the best of it with the things you have  Taking things as they are is the only way sometimes. But helping children or people who really don't know or have the possibilities to change  things is still the only way how we all can change the world in to a better world for everybody.
Yap, I'm still passionate to do thing for very vulnerable children. I'm very, very lucky that I found a chance to work with the same target group in Kenya and Uganda from Amsterdam.  Also a NGO called Join for Joy. They organize summercamps and games for very needy children. Macheo helps them to select and organize things in Kenya. So somehow I stay in tough with Macheo. At least because I have found such a new job - the landing in the Netherlands will be easier. I know that i will be very happy to see everybody again and I can cope with any situation also back in the Western world.

Next blog more details about my moving back and next steps. For now I try to do as much as possible in Kenya and try to enjoy the time I'm here.

Cheers Maaike

Challenges all over

Being a NGO means making choices all day. When you just visit Kiandutu Slum or government Primary Schools you see everywhere challenges. Struggles for individual children, struggles of teachers, struggles of the school. Some examples; there is a lack of classrooms, books, desks but also there is no water in schools. When there is no water, there is no hygiene and children have to carry water from ‘ home’ that means, they have to walk far to collect (dirty) water out of a river or anywhere where they can find water. Also some children in government schools don’t get breakfast or hardly something to eat. Macheo helps 20 government schools with all kind of interventions to bring them (back) to school and let them finish school. Providing porridge to all children in the morning is 1 of the interventions and for the most vulnerable children having a feeding program. Also for these activities (clean) water is needed. Government schools are mostly struggling with a lack of money for basic things. Somehow there must be money for things but in the end the conditions are very poor.  Sometimes there are ways the government or well-wishers who can invest in things like water harvesting, building a classroom but its very rare and also never enough to supply the whole school. Also parents are trying to assist on things but they are already fighting to get all the things paid to keep all children in school. The basics in life are not common for many children. Like the way we are used to running clean water , electricity in the house are not available for many families. Even not all my colleagues who work for Macheo have running water in the house or a toilet or shower. They have to share these facilities with many people who are living in their compound or community. Also access to internet or wifi is totally not common in the whole area where Macheo is working. Even for me its not that easy to get somewhere wifi or internet. At Macheo we have internet but there are (almost) daily power cutoffs or problems with internet. Im so used to all of these things, you have to be inventive to work here. Not everything can be planned that tight.

Macheo makes a difference for so many children and their families. Only because of donors from all over the world.  Anything it doesn’t matter what, it will always help somebody.

Greetz Maaike

Why & how to help Macheo

My 1^st blog in English and also my 1^st shameless fundraise shout out in my blog. Small note for the new (English) readers, I’m writing this blog from the 1^st moment I knew there was no way of return to assist Macheo. At that time - more than 6 years ago I had a very comfortable life in Amsterdam and a good joh at the Dutch Cancer Society. I volunteered many years for Macheo next to my full time job. In 2013 I decided to quit my job and go to Kenya to volunteer for Macheo.

During the years I was involved with Macheo I saw things growing. Met so many great passionate people. There was a big learning curve, we started projects, we stopped projects. And we focus since a few years only on a few big programs A Childrens Home, Primary School- and Secondary School Program, Family Empowerment and a several Health project.

Its wonderful to see how many people, friends, family, companies are believing in Macheo. Also the selling of bags and kikoys works very well, big amounts of money could be transferred to Macheo. Only because of well wishers Macheo can help so many vulnerable children and their family of a safe home or a chance to follow education. Thanks a lot for given donations or support in the past. Macheo could support over 14.000 children.

Primary School Program needs funding

This year Macheo celebrates 10^th anniversary. Still the dream is alive to help as many as possible needy children. With a team of 145 professional employees Macheo works on many projects. Macheo is happy all donations already but we are still in need of funding. Highest priority is the Primary School Program. Over 13.000 children get daily porridge and a meal at school, this to motivate them to come and stay in school. We don’t want to create dependency so only the 10% who are really in big need get the meal for free the rest have to pay a small amount. The primary school team of Macheo is divers. Social workers, counselors, cooks, fieldworkers working in 20 government school  Macheo also provide all the 20 schools + may others with Sanitary pads and dewormers. At the moment we have funding until September to roll out our feeding Program. Who can help a lot of Kenyan children to get a plate of food at school until the end of the year? Donations can be sent to NL80ABNA0413232506 Stichting Macheo Nederland subject PSP 2016 (all donated money will 100% goes to Kenya).

Many possibilities to help Macheo
Macheo is helped by in kind donations of (used) laptops, shoes and clothes for children, cameras, phones, towels, underwear etc Transport to Kenya is a challange  but with support of Wings of Support, crews of KLM carry sometimes things or volunteers coming to Kenya are overleaded with things for Macheo.

Whomever is considering to start fundraising for Macheo - we can assist contact me where you want. Anybody who knows a company, school, family trust fund or foundation, contact us we appreciate any lead or future donation. And if you are able to donate in person any amount, also great off course. Every donor will get a report with financial explanation and to show the impact.

Macheo works with many social workers in all different programs, who are mostly working in the field. But also we have an office where we have colleagues from financial department, HR, communication, Monitoring&Evaluation, reporting, fundraisers etc it is based on the compound of the Childrens Centre from Macheo.

Macheo will never say we are perfect - we can be only successful to work together with stakeholders, government and the schools together to succeed in our mission. We involve parents/family/guardians/school/teachers and government to make sure we share responsibilities for long term sustainable support. Still hugh challenges for so many people in this part of Kenya - so there is still a long way to go. 

Spread the word with us, any donation through Macheo will help very vulnerable children (and their families). Every child deserve every day a plate of food and a chance to education, isn’t it?

Check out more about Macheo on www.macheo.org or like our Facebookpage 

Questions, leads, cheers can be sent to maaike@macheo.org

On behalf of everybody who is involved with Macheo, thanks a lot - asante sana!
Maaike