2018 Project Trip – Week Two Summary
The second week of the 2018 Giving Exchange Project Trip is complete. The team visited several schools and rescue centers to help with projects. A few of the locations the team stopped at include the Gichocho and Stemi Schools as well as a small Massai Village Rescue Center.
PROJECT TRIP – DAY SIX AND SEVEN
The beginning of week two of the project trip involved switching out TGE team members and preparation for the next week. The team also bonded with the Morning Star children over tie-dye shirt making. The kids really enjoyed getting messy and using the tie-dye colors on their shirts. The team spent the rest of the day organizing provisions and traveling to the store to pick up food supplies.
PROJECT TRIP – DAY EIGHT
On August 14th, the Morning Star children helped the TGE team load the truck and van with supplies and activities for the Gichocho School. Many of the Morning Star children accompanied the team to the school to help translate as well as lead some of the activities.
The school leaders, teachers, and parents at Gichocho greeted TGE volunteers. The team moved over to the greenhouse that The Giving Exchange sponsored after lunch. The children and volunteers all helped lay irrigation lines, plant tomato seeds, and dedicate the facility to the sustainment of the school and the children. The work they did will serve them well in understanding the significance of the greenhouse.
PROJECT TRIP – DAY NINE
On August 15th, the TGE team took the road to Stemi, the children’s school in the slum of Satellite in Nairobi. It was exciting and tragic at the same time. The team was excited to meet the children and to dedicate the new water tank that was so needed. The children would no longer have to haul water by five-gallon jugs.
The local water truck came to fill the new tank. The excess water filled their five-gallon tanks and was shuttled by the children up the hill to be used first. The TGE team finished nailing the corrugated tin to the exterior frame of the water tank. The tank was also secured with a lock for security within the slum.
The day ended with the team playing with the children, doing tie-dying with the Morning Star staff. The team also played basketball, soccer, and tag with the children.
PROJECT TRIP – DAY TEN
On August 16th, there were no sounds to wake up to as the team got up at 4:30 a.m. to depart for a small village in Maasai Land, where TGE implemented a greenhouse for the community and a Rescue Center home to underage girls who are forced into arranged marriages or incest. They have 22 girls living there but have room for 50.
The dedication ceremony for the greenhouse TGE built was a sight to behold. Singing, dancing, praying and thanks lasted over two hours. Everyone participated in constructing the facility. The greenhouse was christened with a water pipe that was trenched, laid, and fitted by the end of the day.
PROJECT TRIP – DAY ELEVEN
Day 11 of The Giving Exchange project trip was a free day. Volunteers usually use free days to explore the area through tours and sightseeing. On this day, however, not one single person chose to leave Morning Star. The team stayed at Morning Star and tackled the huge number of tasks that always need attending.
The team went to town to shop for supplies to clean the storage room. TGE also filled the boxes the team would distribute during Week Three with the new volunteers. TGE financial volunteers helped craft a pro forma business plan. Morning Star, as well as other needs in the Kiambu area, will be able to use this business plan.
PROJECT TRIP – DAY TWELVE
Day twelve was the last day for most of the week two volunteers as they departed in the afternoon. The remaining volunteers waited for the week three team to arrive and continued bringing smiles to the faces of the children they visit.
Week three of the service project trip has already begun. You can follow the trip’s progress with daily Facebook updates.