This is why we like to highlight the different artisans behind JustOne. Because not only did an actual person - like Bosco shown here - make them but your purchase directly impacts them.
When you buy from JustOne, artisans are provided fair dignified work. From that they have been able to send their children to school. Buy land, cattle, food. Build homes. End poverty.
We are so honoured to partner with these incredible artisans and love giving you a glimpse into how amazing they are. Thank you for your support!
The first time I met Damaris was in 2014, and I was completely impressed. Damaris is a mother of 5 and works so hard to support her husband and family. Besides her work as an artist with our group in Kibera Slums, Kenya she showed me how she was raising chickens and rabbits and collecting recycling for additional income. When I went back last year, she showed me some new skills like basket weaving she had learned to also bring in income. This year, Damaris was bursting to tell us of her newest endeavour. She had saved and saved... and had purchased a home in Kibera to rent out. She is renting 2 rooms currently to two tenants and renovating the 3rd room, as she's looking at expanding! She's considering opening a butcher shop in part as well. Damaris has also taken courses in roofing, masonry, construction and painting! She was so proud to show us the painting she had done in the home she purchased to rent out. Here she is in the one room she may turn into her butcher shop - love the fun colours she painted it!
We also love that our group in Kenya - which is made up of both men and women, have elected not one but two women to their leadership team! In a culture that is predominately male-led, we love that they are counter-culture and value women as equals. Damaris' role is Assistant Chair Lady. She says, "They call me Assistant Chairman sometimes; but I like to be called the chair lady." Here is the leadership team of our group in Kenya.
When asked what her hope or dream was, Damaris left us with our favourite quote from the entire trip. "If I uplift family, then I uplift community; if I uplift community then I uplift Kenya; if I uplift Kenya then I uplift the whole world."
Damaris, I can tell you in all sincerity - you have uplifted me. Thank you for all you do!! Happy International Women's Day to you - and to all the women around the world who are making a difference! And a huge shout out to the men who are taking a stand to treat women as equals!
]]>Next week my sister and I are heading back to Africa to meet with our JustOne artists. As always, we are excited to get back and to see what changes there has been - as well as to assess needs, and how we can best support their communities in both Kenya and Uganda.
Over the past several years, we have been overwhelmed by people's generosity. We are constantly asked about ways that people here can help people there. We love the idea of creating connections between our North American friends and our African artists.
Here are some ways you may want to consider getting involved this trip:
1) On this visit, we will be looking to again bring safety supplies to our artists - coveralls, gloves, goggles, masks, etc. as we do not feel jeopardizing their health for our jewelry is right. If you would like to donate in this way, we are happy to deliver it for you as this will fit in our regular luggage allowance.
2) If you would like to write letters or draw photos for a class, child or adult there - we'd be happy to deliver these also!
3) If you have specific questions you'd like answered as we meet with our artists and do videos, please let us know! Is there something you've always been curious about? Let me know, and I'll do my best to get it answered for you!
4) If you would like to give financially for needs we see while there - instead of purchasing gifts here for us to take - you can send a money transfer to hello@iamjustone.ca and make a note it's a "Gift for Artists" and we will share with you how your gift was used!
5) Seed School who we have visited over the years in Kibera slums and love dearly - is having their Annual Walkathon while we are there. They run completely on donations and this is their major fundraising for the year to pay for all their school needs and staff salaries. I will be posting how to donate towards that also!
6) Lastly, but most importantly, we would love your prayers for safety and wisdom on the trip ahead. We leave on Thursday, February 25 and you can follow us on social media on this JustOne facebook page or instagram page - we will be posting as connection allows.
Asante Sana! Thank you very much!
Krista
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan regularly shares an insider’s view on life in Kibera on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
The song 'Mary's Boy Child' resonates into the air. The Christmas feeling can be felt all over the surroundings. It's business as usual and the streets are full of people - all in the rush for last minutes Christmas preparations and the shops in the streets are decorated with fairy lights to attract customers. It's Christmas Eve and both the young and the old are flocking into churches for 'kesha' - this is an overnight time spent inside churches to praise and worship the Almighty in anticipation for the big day - Christmas.
This Christmas day in Kibera it rained heavily for almost over an hour. This was in the mid morning and people didn't really like it. Some people were annoyed saying of how the day had been ruined and of how they won't even go outside but rather stay indoors. All these was later changed in the course of the day and the sun started showing up in the afternoon. It was now dry and the Christmas feeling was well evident among the children of Kibera. Many kids were face painted, wearing new clothes and carrying balloons with them. All roads were leading to Uhuru Park - Nairobi's major recreation grounds. Here merry-go-rounds, boat riding and ice creams are very common among kids. Back in Kibera, many families had cooked lots of food, different delicacies, but the most favourites and common in all households are pilau and chapati. It's a tradition that every house have to cook that.
With all the new clothes and the feeling of Christmas, One tradition has always remained significant in the lives of Kibera residents, this is taking photos wearing the new clothes, new stunners, new shoes, balloons and everything for remembrance. Many people flock instant photo studio for their photos to be taken. It's really a big business for the photographers owning this studios - a Christmas day is never a day well spent without taking a walk to Mtalii or Oceanic photo studios in Kibera's central village of Gatwekera.
This is also one day with lots of dramas, remember it's an open celebration for all and so different people have different ways of celebrating - for some adults, it's a drinking spree. They would flock pubs and bars to enjoy the celebrations of the day with their friends and here fights would always occur - it's a tradition in some way.
Another favourites on this day for the kids is the use of fireworks - there are fireworks or explosives called 'Baruti' and kids really like them, they are sold locally during the festive season and they come in a variety of types and sizes. The bigger ones explode the loudest and they are very harmless. This were my childhood's most favorite.
The celebrations would come to end late in the night because people are very tired, from the eating, going to Uhuru Park, drinking in the pubs. It's always a peaceful and tiresome night on 25/12 /2015. Christmas celebrations has always been fun in Kibera. It's a day that people start to prepare and save money for at the beginning of the year. Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year 2016.
selling balloons for people taking their kids to Uhuru Park for the Christmas celebrations to have fun in merry-go-rounds and boat riding.
]]>
On Saturday I turned 40 (it didn't even hurt). And my birthday wish had been this 40 dress campaign. Raising enough to purchase 40 of our artists in Africa a brand new dress as many had never had one. You can read about the campaign and watch a video of me explaining it here.
At the end of the campaign I added up the numbers and was blown away by your support.
Through your generosity, there was raised enough for 53 dresses. AND.... 14 men's outfits. This is all of our artists in both Kenya and Uganda that we work with! As well new dresses were provided for a small group of HIV+ women that we work with occasionally in Kenya but love dearly!
AND... 58 pairs of shoes! Enough for all of our artists to receive a new pair of shoes!
AND... chickens too!
Seriously. Thank you. But don't take my thanks... let me share some of the words I have received.
"I don't know what God should do the people who donated money for the dresses, l don't have any words except God should bless them abundantly"
"No one has ever thought of buying me a dress, you are like an angel to us, tell them l love them very much"
"first it was fixing my teeth, now a dress n shoes....aahhhh thank you thank you. If you could enter my heart, you would see the joy in it"
"no one is going to laugh at me this Christmas because l will be having a new dress n shoes.... n be like everyone else"
Here is one of the women, Joyce, choosing her fabric. Getting measured by Veronica (the tailor). And her finished product! Can't wait to share all the images!
Thank you can not go far enough! Asante Sana!
Krista
]]>Honestly.
If it was just me doing the work of JustOne it would be nothing. It is each and every one of you - making a purchase, sharing the stories, helping out behind the scenes and contributing where you can with what you can.
So when I posted about the 40 Dress Campaign I shouldn't have been nervous - you are all amazing and supportive and love our artists. But I was nervous. What if people didn't get the vision? What if I announce this idea - and everyone shrugs their shoulders and moves on to the next thing in their newsfeed. What if...
But I guess that's it. Doing crazy acts of love, moving towards the world we want for our children, and offering a hand up is full of "What Ifs". But there's one "What If" that motivates me more than any other.
What if I did nothing?
What if I saw a need, and ignored it? What if I could make a difference and decided I'd like to watch Netflix instead? What if...
So, I swallowed my "What if no one supports the 40 Dress Campaign" and replaced it with "What if I don't share my idea?" And I knew I had to do it.
And, you "got" the vision. The response has been overwhelming and so beautiful. People thanking us for this opportunity. But wait - we want to thank you. And the artists want to share their thankfulness. But you also want to thank them for all they do. Ahhh - it's a crazy thankful circle!
I have to share with you the response we received this morning from our artists in Uganda. We had waited to tell them that they'd each be receiving a new dress until we knew it would be a reality. Today was the day to tell them - I sent them a video explaining we think they are so beautiful and have such incredible worth and we wanted to celebrate them. I think you'll be able to tell by their response how they feel.... (warning it's loud).
And again thank you. Thank you. For the incredible response. If we go over what we need for all our artists - we will look at shoes and other supplies as well. Stay tuned!
]]>I think back over three years and I think of the countless lives we've connected with in our work in Kenya and Uganda. I think of small victories like... Lucy's teeth , birth certificates for our artists, sending artists for medical care when needed, bringing underwear and washable/reusable sanitary napkins for young women (so they can stay in school), hundreds upon hundreds of Give 5 bags distributed, helping purchase supplies after a fire destroyed 37 homes in Kibera, celebrating holidays with our artists, bringing safety supplies (googles, coveralls, masks, gloves, etc) for our artists, celebrating Fathers Day and Mother's Day, offering a micro financing loan so one artist group could build a new workshop and much more (and most of that listed was just this year alone!).
Looking back at the past three years, we are blown away by the support of people throughout North America. People who have stepped up and said - we want to do something too! Who have given of time, effort and funds. Who have donated items when needs arise. Who have shopped and shared about JustOne. Who have encouraged us. Thank you.
We might not (yet!) be helping thousands, eradicating diseases, or making headlines - but we keep plugging away knowing we are doing what we can with what we have to make a difference in the lives of Jack, Ketty, Grace, Lillian, Alice, Veronica, Jennifer, Oryem, Catherine, Margaret, and .... (the list goes on!) And in return, our lives are being impacted along the way!
Thank you so much for being a part of JustOne over the last three years! Here is a photo of myself listening to a group of former child soldiers we now partner with through JustOne. This is one main goal of ours - to listen to their needs, desires and hearts. To listen. To not assume what they need. To treat each other as equals. And we're committed to continue doing this and seeing where it leads!
Happy Birthday JustOne!
]]>
If you are new to our blog - we are thrilled to have Bryan, a lifelong resident of Kibera, Kenya - blog for us regularly. We were thrilled to hear that a photo of his recently won an international contest. CONGRATULATIONS!
Bryan is a perfect example of "JustOne" person making a difference using what he has! Way to go, Bryan! You continually make us proud! Here he shares in his own words...
---------------------------------------------------------
In late August a friend sent me a link to an online photo contest, the competition was global and open to anyone on Facebook and Instagram. The rules were pretty simple, just take a great photo with a nice story and tag it under the banner of #BeTheChange2015 and that was all. It was all organized by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) a worldwide nongovernment organization to celebrate the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York. About a week into the competition, my photos were being selected among the daily favourites - it meant a lot - two weeks later my photo was selected photo of the week - this was shortlisted into the finals. The overall winner was to be announced at the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in New York. On 28th September, I saw a tweet stating that I had won the global contest, this was in the mid afternoon, I was up to my knees, all jovial and thanking God for this win - walking away with a Canon camera worth 1000$; which was the grand prize in a contest that had attracted over 1000 global entries. I felt really special at some point. This was a dream come true.
The winning photo was of a young boy called James, 7 years old and studying in Olympic Primary School. In the photo he was all alone, studying really hard inside an empty classroom, his classmates had sorted not to come to school after a government directive to close all public schools indefinitely. Despite all the factors surrounding us, there is always a way out, lying deep within us - all in the mind. Like James he would have decided to stay at home and play soccer, but he knows what's best, for him education rules. Change lies within us. It's either we do it or not.
I was ten when I started experiencing the true potential of a teachers strike in Kenya, it was the time when the government has ordered free primary education in all public schools and some teachers wouldn't buy that - they wanted a pay increment. Now let me take you back to the board. A teachers strike can happen in many ways, for instance teachers can decide to go on a go-slow and never teach, in most cases they would sort to stay at home, all in the plight of demanding for a pay increase. This is something that has been recurring in the Kenya education for several years now, as a matter of fact, it happens at the beginning of every academic term.
This year the strike took a different stance, teachers wanted a 50 - 60% pay increment but the government stood by their stand and despite all the court orders refused to give the pay, teachers became furious and for five weeks the education system in Kenya was in absolute crisis before negotiations were made - something that the government and teachers are usually prone to.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
2. Warby Parker. Super stylish glasses and for every pair you buy, a pair is donated to someone in
need.
3. Bridgewater Candle Company. For every candle purchased, a meal is provided for orphans overseas.
4. Roma Boots. For every pair of Roma Boots sold, a brand new pair stuffed with educational supplies is donated to a child in need. I LOVE the floral boots!
5. Happie Blankies. For every blanket purchased you get to choose where to donate another.
6. This one isn't for everyone (ahem...guys!) but I totally love the idea. Ruby Cup is a menstrual cup. For every cup purchased, one is donated to a girl in Kenya. At first I was a little skeptical because I wasn't sure that menstrual cups were even a thing in Kenya, let alone a device that was deemed socially and medically acceptable. I was happy to see that Ruby Cup did their homework to ensure this would work.
7. Hand in Hand Soap. Beautiful designs and for every product purchased, Hand in Hands's Clean Water Collection donates one bar of soap and one month of clean water to a child in the developing world.
World change doesn't have to come from your wallet. Here are some other small ways that you can have a ripple affect on the world around you:
Intentionally leave things behind – the quarter in the shopping cart (this one made my day once! Saved my trip to the store), money in the vending machine, a finished magazine or newspaper left around the office or places people are stuck waiting – medical or dental office or the car repair shop.
Model and teach your kids kindness and inclusion– this can be a tough one to model at times but if we can teach our kids to be kind and seek out the lonely person in every situation – the new student at school or the kid that no one wants to sit with on the bus. Not only will this bring joy to the person on the receiving end but our kids can grow up to be kind and other-centered adults. Can you imagine a world where we are always seeking to have others included? That would be a wonderful world!
Invite people into your lives - this sounds simple and it can be. I can guarantee there are lonely people in your daily spaces, be it work, school, church etc. Invite them to dinner with your family. We have done this with Thanksgiving dinner in the past and just extended an open invitation at church to anyone who didn't have someone to share their turkey dinner with. It was not your typical sit-com neat-and-tidy dinner (but with as many kids as I have most dinners aren't). As crazy family time can be, I want my kids to be involved in sharing our time and our dinner table with others. The lonely people in your spaces would most likely just like to hang out, nothing fancy: coffee, movie, a walk in the park.
Let's end the list there so that you aren't overwhelmed with options. If you decide to try one of these - buy a product, have dinner with a stranger - let us know!!!
Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
Young boys posing for a photo one evening after playing football among other games along the rail tracks of Kibera's, Soweto West village.
Joshua peeps through a gate, this is what's left after houses in his neighborhood had been demolished to pave way for the construction of permanent houses near the railway line in Kibera.
A web of illegal electricity wires criss-cross each other above the skyline of Kibera's, corrugated rooftops.
It's tea-time in Kibera. This is the typical table setup during breakfast. Mugs full of hot milk tea to push you through the day.
Kids playing at the banks of one of the rivers that passes through Kibera, most of these rivers are now contaminated with human excretes and other toxic materials thus creating a breeding ground for various infections.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>Street foods are a commonplace here in Kibera. They range from a variety such as roasted maize, smokies, bhajias, chips, mandazi, chapatis, samosas, et al being sold in open air or displayed in transparent containers. The list is surely endless. Street foods are easily available and one can find them right outside their doorstep. There prices are totally different depending on what you want, but one thing stands out, they are very much affordable. The one thing negative about street food is that they can make you sick if you are not very careful. This is especially for those that requires to be cooked then displayed on carts for customers to see and come buy. For instance in such a case then one should always buy from a vendor with so many customers because people believe they have the best service and that their food is the best. But one thing remains clear, street foods are always yummy and super delicious.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
This goal is comprised for four targets:
2.1 billion more people now have access to drinking water sources which exceeds the goal! As well, more than 1.9 million people gained access to a toilet, a latrine or another type of improved sanitation facility. More than 2 million slum dwellers now have access to clean water and sanitation facilities which is more than double the target. 14.6% of the worlds land surface is now protected and marine protection have doubled.
What's Still to Be Done
2.5 billion people still do not have access to a toilet. Open defecation is still common and needs to be stopped as it poses serious health and environmental risks. The number of people living in urban slums is rising due to the fast pace of urbanization. Marine species are are becoming extinct at a continually faster pace and forests are disappearing rapidly despite increased laws and policies regarding forest management.
Examples and Stories of Progress
In Panama, safe drinking water has been brought to nine indigenous communities in the Ngöbe-Buglé territory. Members of each community has participated in all phases of development from design, construction and management. Committees have been created within the communities who are trained and provided with technical equipment to maintain the system's infrastructure.
Supported by the World Bank, India has introduced a sanitation campaign called “No Toilet, No Bride” (or, nicely dubbed, no loo, no I do). It has educated rural villagers about proper waste disposal and encourages families of marriage-age girls to demand potential suitors have a working latrine and if not, to construct one. A 25% increase in latrine construction has occurred in families of marriage-age boys.
2015 and beyond
The post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals greatly expand on environmental initiatives. New goals include the conservation of forests, land, oceans, seas and marine resources. It calls for urgent action to be taken on combating climate change as well as ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Calls to halt desertification and land degradation as well as biodiversity loss are also included.
The official website for the MDG's contains plenty of information and encouraging stories: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
Continuing with the UN Millennium Goals series, today we are discussing #6. The UN Development Goals (MDGs) which were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000. It's comprised of eight international goals that were agreed to by 193 countries aiming to meet the needs of the global poor by 2015.
This goal is comprised of three targets:
The target of halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV has been met! New HIV infections declined by 44% between 2001 and 2012. Antiretroviral (ARV) medicines (that suppress and halt HIV progression) were delivered to 9.7 million people in developing regions as well as 900,000 HIV+ pregnant women in 2012. 3.3 million deaths from malaria have been averted and treatment for tuberculosis (TB) has saved 22 million lives.
What's Still to Be Done
Education and awareness around the transmission of HIV/AIDS and condom use among young people remains low. Globally 2.3 million people are newly infected by HIV each year; 1.6 million of those living in sub-Saharan Africa. Drug-resistant TB is a huge challenge. More cases are being diagnosed and reported than before but access to treatment is slow.
Examples and Stories of Progress
The Ministry of Health in Zambia is increasing access to HIV treatment by creating 68 new ARV therapy sites as well as supplying drugs to the already established 454 ARV sties nationwide. The UNDP Global Fund support provided ARV drugs to close to a quarter of a million people in both 2012 and 2013.
Part of the fight against HIV/AIDS involves preventing infected mothers from passing the virus on to their babies. In Ethiopia, 2,000 nurses and midwives are being trained on emergency newborn and obstetric care as well as the prevention of transmission from mother to baby.
2015 and beyond
The post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals call for increased health financing and the recruitment of, developing and training of of healthcare workers in developing regions. It's ambitious goal is to end the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria as well as hepatitis, water-borne diseases and communicable diseases.
The official website for the MDG's contains plenty of information and encouraging stories: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
1. Construction of the road connecting Kibera's, Bombolulu and Lang'ata began yesterday with this tractor flattening the road. Many families living near the road reserves have been evicted to create space for the road construction.
2 . Kibera is developing really fast. The road from Kianda, Bombolulu to Lang'ata is now under construction.
3. More construction work still ongoing along the Darajani to Lindi Road. Drainage trenches are being dug along the road which was completed in late last year.
4. More demolition and more construction work still ongoing in Kibera's, Soweto West and Kianda village. Kibera is developing really fast. I'll keep you updated every step on the progress.
5. Young kids at the remains of what used to be classes of Soweto Academy in Kibera. The school's classes had to be demolished to pave way for the road construction linking Lang'ata and Kibera.
6. Demolitions of houses along road reserves in Kibera's Soweto West and Raila villages still ongoing. Evicted families are also constructing houses from what's left on top of other houses. Population pressure is real.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
1. The amazing cityscape of Nairobi bordering the ever-sprawling Kibera slum from afar. Photo taken in the early morning of June.
2. Kibera is home to lots of roaming dogs. A few dwellers make friends with some of these dogs, but most inhabitants do not really like dogs. But whether or not they like or dislike these dogs, everybody in Kibera is used to them. These animals are that common, that everybody in Kibera would recognize them only when they would have disappeared. This picture shows a very typical scene in Kibera.
3. Kibera kids swimming in a obscure pool formed as a result of the ongoing road construction in Langata.
4. A woman frying fish in Kibera. Most businesses in Kibera revolves around selling of ready-to-eat delicacies such as samosas, fish, bhajias, et al.
5. Little kid with so much dreams posing for a portrait. He said he wants to work in an office when he grows up.
6. In Kibera many (or maybe most) children grow up without a dad or completely without parents. Without a chance for school. Without a peaceful environment. Without self-esteem. Without a hope for a better life. So is there any other situation where a child can find a reason to smile? Yes, there it is. A small spherical, leathery or polythene-weaved thing can bring fun, happiness and cohesion for many hours. This is the power of team sports. This is the power of football!
7.
Children will always play wherever whenever, regardless of the risk involved. Kibera kids playing right next to a railway line while a train is passing at a high speed.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
Examples and Stories of Progress
Bangladesh is being supported by the UNFPA in training and sending out of 3,000 midwives by 2015. Midwives receive classroom and practical training in line with international midwifery standards.A RapidSMS app system in Rwanda has helped community workers track and report on pregnancies as well as ensure women can access emergency care if complications occur.
2015 and beyond
As with last week's goal, Every Women Every Child is spearheading a global movement involving leaders from over 70 countries, various organizations and private sectors working to save 16 millions lives of the women and children that are at risk every year. Commitments from over 280 partners have been made. The 2015 Sustainable Development Goals include working further towards universal access to family planning services and information and education regarding reproductive and sexual health as well as achieving universal access to effective and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.
The official website for the MDG's contains plenty of information and encouraging stories - LINK
Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
In Kenya...
Our one group we work with in Kenya has both men and women working there. In our visits, we have seen some great examples of loving dads among this group. Let me introduce Kennedy...
Kennedy is a father to four children. He is shown here with his youngest son "Bill Clinton". And yes, he also has a daughter named "Hillary" (and children Claris and Lizzy).We asked him why he named his children after US presidents. He named them after people he respected - and also because his own name is a US president (Kennedy). His hopes for his children are that they will receive a good education so they can reach their visions. His favourite thing about being a father is seeing his children do well. Kennedy is often seen with his little shadow, Bill Clinton, and is always smiling and laughing alongside his children. We love his happy spirit and love for his children!
Our good friend Jack has always impressed us with his love for his children, Wendy and Prince. We would be going to run errands or to visit people with Jack, and he was always happy to bring his kids along with us (as you can see in this photo). He also hopes for better education for his children so they can have a good life with their families. Jack says that playing with his children helps takes the stress away and makes him very happy.
Jack said: "I would say my greatest achievement in life right now - my greatest achievement period is - and I'm still trying to achieve it - is to be a wonderful father to my kids."
Oryem is the only male member of our paper bead group in Uganda. He is a former child soldier who lost his leg when he stepped on a land mine while in the line of fire during the war. Today he's a great leader and kind soul. He is gifted in making our paper beads and instructs the women on how to make them too. Him and his wife (also a former child soldier) have 5 children to care for.
We are thankful for all the Fathers working with JustOne. To celebrate them - we sent gifts of food and supplies to them all. Happy Father's Day!!!]]>
Chambray shirts from the Gap
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
The official website for the MDG's contains plenty of information and encouraging stories: LINK
Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
Coral is a superstar of a colour. It has become a popular shade the past year, and my guess is that we will see a lot more of it thanks to Anna Kendrick and her stunning soft coral dress that she wore to this year's Academy Awards.
Coral is a great shade for all skin tones, and can really add some dramatic pop to a simple out fit. It can be a bit tricky to know what accessories to pair with coral, so here are a few tips to help you out.
Shoes: a great nude shoe is a wardrobe must have. My favourite nude heels are the Steve Madden “Stecy” Sandal.
Jacket: Coral is great with any shade of beige or brown jacket. For a more summery vibe, throw a denim jacket on.
Jewellery: My favourite part of any outfit. Jewellery that looks great with coral is always yellow gold. Being creative and adding pops of turquoise blue and white. (Katie is shown wearing our white and gold beaded bracelet set from Kenya)
Recently, Bryan asked if there were specific topics we would like him to blog about. I asked on social media - and the first question he received was about tourism in tough places like Kibera and how it is perceived.... here is his response. If you have a question of your own - please message us!
For residents its normal life but for visitors there’s more to Kibera than just being Africa’s largest urban slum. Kibera has over the years established itself as a tourist’s favorite’s destination. More and more tourists flock into Kibera every year to see and capture the daily lives of the residents. Slum tourism has however been a subject of debate with two parties concerned; the tour operators and the slum dwellers, however there are those who totally support tourists flocking into Kibera but also there are majority who critic their visits.
Advocates say the visits are an economic base to Kibera since it is defined that Kibera has been abandoned by the government, for the residents to take care of themselves. They would go ahead and say the visits encourages developmental growth and raise awareness of the slum all over the globe thus attracting investors, well-wishers and more like minded individuals willing to help the people of Kibera in one way or another. Most youths who are jobless get jobs as tour guards and operators and the proceeds from a day’s activity is enough to push them through the week. Most tour operators would charge between 25 to 30 dollars for a 2 hour walk around the slum and this money would go to the development of the slum by either paying school fees or aid in the construction of a new community toilet.
However not all share the same concept behind slum tourism despite its innumerable positives, critics deem it as despicable, contemptuous and a degrade to the people of Kibera. For some reasons it has turned Kibera into a zoo where tourists mostly foreigners from the west would
come with big cameras and take photos typically focusing on the negative side of Kibera, for instance drunkards lying in the streets and dirty trenches, children walking in the streets with tattered and dirty fabrics, women selling groceries. Residents, especially the children, however love tourists visiting the area but the moment they see them with cameras then they would frown because at some point they believe that the tourists will come here take photos of them and then live them just like that, struggling to survive. These are incidents that have dubbed slum
tourism as tourism of poverty and Kibera is a human settlement and not a Masai Mara or Serengeti [Masai Mara and Serengeti are popular tourist attractions in Africa].
(Image is of graffiti in Kibera done by local artists who are against what they call "slum tourism")
Despite all the factors, Kibera residents are however very happy and hardworking individuals. They treat every visitor with all the respect and honor they deserve and as you walk around the streets of Kibera, you’ll see the peace and unity that exists in what is preconceived as the world’s most entrepreneurial place.
Krista asked Bryan a few more questions about this topic...
Krista - Do you have suggestions on things visitor should do and not to do when visiting places like Kibera?
Bryan - They should not just take random photos of everything and anything especially humans. They should ask for permission before taking photos, however they can take as many photos as possible of the landscape and general view of Kibera. And, the photos they take, they should not keep all the benefits for themselves, however they can help the people of Kibera in one way or another. Taking photos of the bad side of Kibera - the open sewers and everything, shouldn't be their first priority, we have heroes over here with awesome projects and stories to tell. People should spread the gospel of how friendly the people of Kibera are.
Krista - We try to operate under the philosophy "a hand up rather than a hand out" - if you just give someone money, it helps them today but not tomorrow. If you contribute to their community or organizations or providing them a job ... that helps them long term. Would you agree?
Bryan - I've always encouraged people, especially those interested in helping Kibera, not to give money. Instead buy food items, clothes, or other tangible stuffs, for instance paying fees and requesting for receipts if need be.
Krista - Is there a way you'd suggest for visitors to help those in Kibera that they visit?
Bryan - if maybe a tourist is interested in helping the people of Kibera in one way or the other, then being a partner with local CBOs would be a good step towards bringing hope to the people of Kibera. CBO means Community Based Organization. These are set to help the community in one way or the other. One can help an individual or a selected few friends the community.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>
What's Still to Be Done
Access to secondary and post-secondary education is still very imbalanced. Poverty is the main cause of the eduction imbalance, particularly for girls of secondary school age. Women and girls in many parts of the world are forced to spend hours fetching water and girls often do not attend school because of the lack of decent sanitation facilities. Child marriage and violence against girls are also significant barriers to education.
Examples and Stories of Progress
In Somalia, a UNICEF-supported program offers a compensation package for girls enrolling in school, participating in class and staying in school.. The package includes funds for registration fees and school uniforms, bus fare, supplies, textbooks and more.
Through UN Women, women farmers in Rwanda are participating in a great capacity with 15 co-ops. Women are being trained in budgeting and men are being encouraged and provide for women. This has led to many couples sharing agricultural and financial decisions and larger crop yields.
2015 and beyond
For post-2015, The UN has created a new more comprehensive set of goals: The Sustainable Development Goals. It calls for the empowering of all women and girls and for full gender equality. This includes the elimination of all forms of discrimination and all forms of violence against women. Eliminating FGM/cutting and all harmful practices, such as child marriage, is also called for. It will also work towards increased access to paid employment and payment for now-unpaid domestic work. Family-friendly policies would allow women a better work-life balance.
The official website for the MDG's contains plenty of information and encouraging stories: LINK
Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
Bryan Jaybee was born and raised in Kibera slums where he still resides. He is 22 years old and a journalism student at Multimedia University of Kenya, currently in his final year. Bryan will be sharing an insider’s view on life in Kibera every Tuesday on our blog with his photos and words. You can follow Bryan on instagram at @kiberastories for daily posts on life in Kibera.
]]>Sarah lives in Northern Ontario with her family. Sarah and her husband have four children, and one grandson. She is an avid reader and learner. In 2012, Sarah launched JustOne with Krista and travelled to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa together. Sarah has a blog we love to read called "Recipe for Messiness" that is about finding beauty amidst our messy lives.
White is definitely the new essential for summer 2015.
We are actually seeing a lot of white on white, which is gorgeous and chic, but not something most of us are willing to brave (I can't even imagine the dry cleaning bill).
But if you are looking to add more white to your summer, here are a few essential wardrobe items you should get your hands on soon.
White bathing suit. Finding a great little white bathing suit will have you feeling super chic at the beach, and it looks great paired with a patterned coverup and sun hat. (Bathing Suit from Forever 21)
White jeans. Every outfit can be kicked up a notch with a pair of white skinny ankle jeans that fit perfectly. You can dress them up for work or a night out, and they are also great for cooler summer days with a breezy aztec print top. (Jeans from the Gap)
White sweater. A beautiful white sweater, knit or cashmere, is great to have for cool summer nights.(Sweater from Zara)
And if you are going full throttle and wearing white on white, pair it with a gorgeous handbag, strappy sandals and a few statement jewellery pieces. Be sure to choose jewellery with gold hues or a pop of dramatic colour.
]]>