I am definitely not in Kansas - Construction in Africa

It is whole different world over here for sure!!!  This is scaffolding at the base floor of the building I work at.....small trees and rough timber...amazing it does not fall down. Everywhere you look, there is construction happening. And people walking everywhere.

and here is another one....

AND here is a picture of the slums, a rocky road... I am keeping it simple to show you gently, this is a clean slum! There will be more to come...

I was out in the community all day today...Since I am here for three months, I go with the Social Workers on their "normal" route.....Whew....long walks through some scary parts of the slums...and all eyes were on the "white man" for sure, But the houses we visited were so grateful we came.  Amos, a 5 year old child who is deaf, jumped out of his skin when we arrived at his "hut". He was motioning for me to take a picture, then he lead us all in the alphabet, using sign language. He is fortunate enough to have his parents pay for him to attend a special school for the deaf, virtually unheard of, if you live in the slums, but his mother has a very good cooking business. 

There are no laws regarding disabilities in Africa. Imagine!

Rose, mother and son, Amos

3 Lessons I Learned in the Slums today...

Ok, So this is Mary Kamau, the founder of Missions of Hope schools, next to me; and the other woman is Isabella, a Social Worker who has dedicated her life to helping students with special needs in the slums of Mathare Valley. And it is an uphill battle I am here to help fight....
 But today I learned three valuable lessons:

1.  A Mattatu is a small van or bus with a crazy driver, and a man hanging outside the sliding door, which never closes, hitting the side of the  bus to tell it when to slow done and pick up people or drop them off. along the road, and you pay for the ride! ...However, they rarely stop...and when they do slow down, they speed up very quickly...so....I learned that  after you jump on and as soon as your foot hits the floor of the van, you better hold on tight or you may fall on the other passengers laps (like I did); I am sure they were just saying ,"Look at the Muzungooo (white person)"  

2.  I learned that toilet tank water makes great hand washing water...when you do not have any other running water..I am just grateful for a flushing toilet!

3.  In construction in Africa, nails can be re -used..you just need a hammer, a cinder block and someone willing to straighten nails all day!

Amazing, nothing goes to waste!  We could learn alot from these people...

My Commissioning

My Pastor, Ron Kastens, sending me on my way, commissioning me, Sunday, May 20, 2012.

Day One and Four in Kenya

Derby goes to Nairobi, Kenya, Africa..and you can follow....

        What does Africa have in common with Derby, CT?  A Special Education Director.....my name is Lois Knapton and I am the Special Education Director in Derby Public Schools. I am privileged to have an opportunity to go live for three months in Nairobi, Africa and share my Special Education knowledge base with a country that does not even acknowledge disabilities or  have any laws regarding disabilities. My job here in America is to advocate for students with disabilities, assuring they get the education they deserve.  In Kenya, if you are disabled, you are lucky to stay alive.   On Friday, May 25, 2012, I will spend 24 hours traveling to Nairobi, Kenya, Africa, where  I will be spend three moths working along side staff and students of a private school called Missions of Hope.  It was founded in 2000 by Mary Kamau. She had a dream of building a school in the largest slum in Africa, the Mathare Valley. It is 3 miles long and one half mile wide and houses over one million people. There  is no sewer and no running water.  Until  you have witnessed this kind of poverty first hand,  you simply cannot imagine it. No words describe it.  But there is hope.... The school started with 50 children and has grown to over 7000.
        So how did I get this opportunity?  I went a missions trip with 24 other educators, last summer, with my church from NH. I loved it so much, I wanted to go back. When Missions of Hope called and asked me to come back, I was elated.  But this time I am going alone, with support when I get over there.  I will be posting a weekly blurb and photo, describing the trip from the inside. Please follow my weekly blog as I embark on this profound life-changing experience overseas.



May 29, 2012, Day Four

Ok, SO, I feel like I am trying to make Chocolate Chip cookies by starting with grinding the flour.  I have been in Nairobi for four days, two at work.  Talk about a culture shock….I am so glad I do not have to cook or clean, but that means I eat what is offered……Breakfast was bread, peanut butter, (but nothing like peanut butter from America), bananas, hot milk and ground meal.  Lunch was kale, ugali ( a mix between rice and mashed potatoes, but very thick), mystery meat stew with potatoes and  Dinner was ugali, kale, rice and fish.  Thankfully, I am rationing my chocolate!  Back to the Chocolate Chip cookies….I am working with a Social Worker over  here trying to develop a sustainable system of referral and assessment for students with Special needs.  With no laws to guide the process, I am pulling from American federal laws, IDEA, and my background in Special Education, to shape this Kenyan system.  Let’s see what next week brings!