Tuesday 26 March 2013

Kenya in ME

Eyes on me and the world:
From Wang Yi (Eleven)


About the Life
Life in Kenya is a totally different one from us. You can see an extremely new world rolling out nakedly infront of you. The sunshine is naked. The eyesight from pedestrian on you is naked. Tens of thousands possibilities of this country and the breath of development is naked. The poverty, as well, is naked.

In the slums, the so-called houses are made by iron sheet without enough light. All kinds of trash are thrown day after day, making a trash road eventually. Flies are around all the time, especially around those hard and tasteless food.

But this is life.

In Scream Africa, children are mostly saved from streetsI(streetboys). They live in the orphanage together. They go to school every day with their worn-out but clean uniforms, attending classes and doing homework carefully. Their life is a regular one; caring for themselves, longing for more love, never losing hope.
The future exists in someplace...

About the Happiness
But they are smiling all the time. Everyday I step into the classroom and greet them all, I will find their happy and lovely face, smiling brightly, naughtily, timidly or loudly. During class time, they all put up their hands actively, hoping for encouragement from teachers. After classes, they play with a poor football or volleyball, satisfied, asking for nothing more.

I asked them, ”Are you happy?”
“Yes, I’m so happy.” They smile and never hesitate to give me the same answer.
That, I strongly believe, is the beautiful simplicity of lifes happiness.

About the World
What is the world? How big is the world?

  The life of kids is limited within Nairobi; more so within Utawala, within the demographics between Scream Africa orphanage and Vijito School! Some kids are fortunate enough to once in their lifetime thus far, visit Mombasa. So the sea and beach there becomes their proudest and most precious memory, which they can mention for a thousand of times.



Before I went to Kenya, I had taken many photos of great sceneries and wonders of the world. Although those kids seldom have such opportunities, I know very well that deep in their minds, an outside world firmly stands there, waiting and hoping...

However, after spending six weeks with them, I found out that as a matter of fact, those kids have given me an even bigger world.

You are exactly my world.

About the future


How will the future be like? When it comes to us, we may also be confused and not know the answer. We find it difficult to catch up the initial dream while growing up. Or we even dare not to dream under the reality.

But every kid here has a definite dream. I can clearly remember that Anthony wants to be a pilot, Malong wants to be a journalist, Willy wants to be a doctor and my dear Trevor wants to be a tourist. Trevor says he will construct a big airport so I can conveniently travel from China to Kenya every day.

All these are the best dreams I have ever heard of. And those best dreams, must come true, sooner or later.

About the Love
Most kids in Vijito don’t have a complete family or worst still don’t have a family at all. Thus they all lack a kind of love that is meant to be given from their dear parents.

When asked who they love most, their answers surprised me a bit. They said, "I don’t love anyone. I express my love to god.” Then I start to understand why they sometimes seem sad and sit beside me saying nothing; why as soon as they get just a little bit hurt, they shout and cry loudly. They want to get your attention, so as in return to get that ounce of precious love from you.

But on the other hand, the love they give me is much more than enough. A picture, a kiss, a hug, a greeting; All the best of love.

About Kenya
When we talk about Kenya, what comes to your mind? Sunshine, the beach, nature, black people, poverty or conflicts? Here we see a true Kenya and fall in love with this land unconsciously but deeply.

Six weeks’ voluntary work seems impossible to change these kids’ life. So we shall start doing some fund raising program once we get back to China, for starters. Everytime we do some music and make pics, we can feel that the time in Kenya twinkles so brightly in our life. And once we get post cards or CDs made by ourselves, our hearts come to be full of love and warmth. That makes us believe that we are heading to be a better persons, for a better world.

And Kenya, from then on, will no longer be a simple mark on the map. There are the most beautiful smiles, our best kids and friends, the most unforgettable memories and our best of times.