On Friday we had a mission in the slum of Kisumu. I was surprised when I first came to Kenya how much poverty it actually is here. Sometimes when you visit a country, when it is only vaction, you dont really see the real life of a country.
We were supposed to visit a few families and see the slum life. Some of the girls that is living at Familia, the girls home I have been working at, are coming form this slum. They came from very poor circumstances. In many cases there is singel moms that need to take care of up to 6 children alone. Often the husband (if she had one) could be dead from HIV, be an alcoholic or don't be around. And the only way a mom can then feed her children and get money to provide for them all, is to get into prostitution. This will also put her in a risk of get HIV and be sick and then cant take care of her children, and will also lead to more children. Kids that loses their parents or get abandon from their families as a result of little money, become street kids. It is a very bad circle.
This is not the life of everybody in the slum, but for many it is. In families it could be living a mom, dad and 6 kids in one room. The houses are mad of mud and cow poop, and get easily ruined in bad weather. They live with no electircity and have so limited resources. It is hard to belive this is their everyday life.
We bought a lot of groceries and gave it to all the families we could. They were very thankful. That kind of action may not solve long-term problems, but it does make a difference in their life for a few days. It gives them some home and a little more to live for.We also bought some candy and ballons for the kids to play with - They loved it.
I am still overwhelmed about the life we saw in the slum and it has made huge impact. I can not come back to Norway and not think about this. I dont know what to do for now, but something needs to be done for these people.