CYEC

"So what exactly are you doing in Kenya?" 

I have been getting this question a lot the past few months, so I figured I would dedicate a post to answering it.  By the way, I think it's a great question, so don't feel bad for asking! :)

While in Kenya, we will be living and working at the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre (CYEC).  The CYEC was started in response to a national problem: the rapidly growing number of "street-dwelling" youth.  

Since 1990, the number of orphaned and abandoned children living on the streets has grown at truly disturbing rates, so the Kenya government established a fund that would oversee different programs aimed at helping street-dwelling children.  The CYEC is one of these programs. (Although it now functions as a non-profit organization).  

Planning for the CYEC started in 2003, and the first 8 children arrived in October 2006.  What a day that must have been! 

The CYEC is truly an amazing place.  It is a place for homeless children to call home.  I explain it to people as a mix between an orphanage and a school...but it's so much more than that.  The CYEC takes a holistic approach to finding solutions for these youth.  They look at all aspects of human life and attend to each need.  For example, there is a medical center on site where the children are treated for any medical conditions.  There is also a program for psychological health that focuses on strengthening the children's emotional well-being and self-worth.  The CYEC also offers education, vocational training, and clubs/sports activities for the youth.  They focus on life skills (i.e. tailoring, gardening, carpentry) and entrepreneurship training.  In essence, the CYEC offers the whole package deal to the youth who live there.  The end goal is to send these youth out into the world with the necessary tools and skills to be productive members of their communities.  

The CYEC offers hope and a future to children who once had nothing.  It is both overwhelming and humbling to think that I have the opportunity to be part of something so amazing.    

Our team has been in contact with the staff at the CYEC, and we have a few ideas of things we might be doing this summer (although nothing will be official until we arrive and complete a needs-assessment).  Some of the jobs include working with agriculture programs, developing an art curriculum for the education department, creating a leadership-development program for the primary children, and developing a counseling facility. 

I could talk about this all day, but I will close for now. :) I hope this answered some of your questions and gave you a clearer idea of the work we'll be doing.  

until next time, 

-br

"... by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35

Team Tumaini Video Part I

Hey y'all!

Here is the video I promised you!  We worked SO hard on this video, and it was quite challenging at times.  I am continually overwhelmed by the work ethic my team displays.  We are all high-achievers, and we go above and beyond all expectations given to us.  At times, this can cause a lot of tension, but in the end, we have a product that we are all proud of.  

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOA-rypTCII&feature=youtu.be

-br

Quick Update

Hi, friends! 
Just wanted to post a quick update: things have been crazy!  We are leaving for Kenya in 32 days and the "to-do" list is still a mile long.

Today was K-State's Open House, and the International Service Teams program had its official "Send-Off" event for family and friends.  Each team (there are teams going to Brazil & Mexico, as well as my team going to Kenya) got to introduce themselves and show their video.  We worked hard to create a video that really portrays who we are as individuals and (more importantly) as a team.  I will post a link to the video within the next week--I encourage you to check it out! :)


Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting me.  I have been overwhelmed with gratitude by your financial support as well as your prayers and encouraging words.  

I can't wait to share this experience with you!
We're headed down the final stretch--hold on tight!

-br 

Gallery for Peace and Justice

I was recently awarded an international service grant from the Gallery for Peace and Justice!
A huge thank you to Cindy Burr and the board of directors at the GPJ! I appreciate you so much.  I'm thankful for your continued dedication to helping fund students' service trips.  I'm honored to be one of your selected recipients.  

The Gallery for Peace and Justice is a non-profit organization located here in Manhattan, Kansas.  They provide grants to applicants who wish to serve on humanitarian projects that focus on education, health, social justice, and other basic needs. Funding for grants comes from several sources, including the sale of art, antiques, fine collectibles and artifacts from around the world.

You can learn more about the Gallery for Peace and Justice at their website: 
http://www.galleryforpeaceandjustice.org/index.html 

Their art pieces can be found here:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/galleryforpeace/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25

The Gallery for Peace and Justice is a great organization, and I would encourage you to support their efforts if you can!

With Gratitude,

-br

Meet My Team

I would like to introduce you all to my team!

 

On the far left is Bailey.  She is a junior in Secondary Education with a focus in Biology.  She is wonderful!  She has a great source of internal motivation, and if you ask her to do something, her answer is: "Oh! I did that last week!" She never complains and is willing to help out whenever you ask.  Her background in education will be really helpful while we are in Kenya in case we get asked to teach after-school classes.

Next is Chance.  He is a freshman in International Business.  Trust me, you want to meet this guy!  He is positive, optimistic, and funny!  He is our business-minded team member and always has great ideas.  I'm excited to watch the kids at the CYEC interact with Chance--they are going to love him!

In the middle is Nick.  He is studying Agriculture/Business.  He grew up on a farm in western Kansas, and truly has a passion for agriculture.  This guy knows his stuff! :)  He is also very resourceful and enjoys logistical planning.  The teenage boys who live at the CYEC do a lot of work with crops, so Nick will be able to form an instant connection with them!

Then there's me.  For those of you who don't know, I'm a sophomore majoring in Family Studies with a secondary major in International Studies and a minor in Non-Profit Leadership Studies.  I am the "relationship" person on our team.  I absolutely cannot wait to arrive at the Center and hold all those sweet children.  I have taken on (or been assigned!) the "mother" role of our team--I'm the one who sends out e-mail reminders about upcoming deadlines, etc.

Finally, there is Kenna.  She is a junior majoring in Family Studies and minoring in Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies and Leadership Studies.  Kenna wants to work in Public Administration, and she will be great at it!  She knows how to take on a task and get it done.  She keeps us all focused at our team meetings. :)  Kenna will have a strong role while we're in Kenya: she has an uncanny ability to think outside the box and come up with creative ideas and approaches to normal things. 

As you can see, our team is incredibly diverse: in our backgrounds, our majors, our areas of interest, and our personalities.  Despite these differences, we share a common desire for social justice, and we all have hearts for service.  We definitely aren't perfect--trust me, we've already had our fair share of conflict-resolution meetings. :)  Conflict is to be expected, though, especially when we spend so much time together.
  
We aren't blind to the fact that this summer will be hard: we will have fights and we will disagree on things...but we will get through it.  We already love and respect each other.  Our different strengths all combine to make an incredible skill-set that has the potential to accomplish great things this summer in Kenya.  

Until next time,
-br

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10