Walking in Kibera

Today wasn't so much physically exhausting for us as it was mentally. It included the much-anticipated first-walk through Kibera, the largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa. Beforehand, we visted St. Monica's school for children, which sits perched a stone's throw above the slum. As our walk to the school took us above Kibera, we had a chance to get a closer glimpse of what we had seen from afar all these days. To note, Kibera is BIG with every emphasis of the word. Rusted corrugated steel roofs stretched out of view in both directions.

When we came within view of the school, we were serenaded by about a dozen school children, who sang a charming song calling for world peace (don't worry, we have the whole song on video!). It turned out though that these kids were just the tip of the iceberg. The school contained probably over 50 students in the space of about a walk-in closet! How they managed to all fit in their classroom is beyond me. We spoke with the handful of women who ran and maintained the school. How they manage is a testament to their will and dedication. I am sure each of them are a real light in this dark place. The children stole the show, though. I shook more small hands and did more five-fives than I can count.

One UP dorm actually raised funds for this school two years ago, all without ever getting a glimpse of where their money was going. It'll be rewarding to put a face to the charity.

Our next stop was the Hot Sun Films Foundation, but in order to get there we had to pass straight through a portion of Kibera. Lining the uneven pathways, sewage and trash was mixed into a macabre stream of liquid that pigs still feasted from and the smell was one that I don't even want to begin to describe. Describing the inconveniences, inefficiencies, and injustices in Kibera seem beyond words.

After taking in this one sliver of Kibera, it makes Danora feel homey. Where Dandora at least had roads and permanent housing, Kibera lacks both. Imagine the depths of poverty, and then go one degree further. But really when it comes to levels of poverty, how far is the bottom? I am grateful and humble by my chance to walk in here, but I wish I could swap myself with you; because after seeing Kibera, things will never quite be the same again. The saying is true, "Even those who have nothing still have something to give."

After some short wandering, we arrived at Hot Sun Films, which is a film production company run entirely out of Kibera that trains local youths to make act, write and produce their own films. Building off of their past film, Kibera Kid, some of the staff (predominantly Kenyans) showed us a sneek peek of their next big-ticket film, "Togetherness Supreme. I won't spoil the movie for you, but trust me when I say it's already top-notch! We met one of the main actors, a shy, young little boy probably no older than six. His acting was so real and energetic that it was spooky. It was inspiring to hear about how a number of actors in these films have boosted their lot in life.

As we talked with the group, one of their assistants snapped photographs of us and our conversation. Apparently 'we' were the big event. It seemed funny to be on the other side of the camera for a change.

I personally idolize Hot Films for so completely and fully negating the sigma of people in developing nations as hopeless and talentless. In fact, all the organizations we have seen so far show that such a view -- whether guided by hatred or misplaced compassion -- is dead wrong.

We finished our day with a visit to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), where we talked about seemingly everything from their work in HIV, tribal reconciliation, to current politics. CRS is one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, and it shows. Some of felt like they were the teachers and we were the students. I'm not complaining; there's still a lot to learn here. I only hope that we can bring other UP students here, and turn these photos of smiling children into real faces.