Time has flown since we came to Nairobi. I love the city, it is a very busy place .Today we visited a clinic in the Kibera slums. I was in complete shock at the mass of humanity you can find. We were the only white faces ad therefore we were stared at constantly. The slums, while they are horrid living conditions, are actually communities unto their own. People tend to gather in their language group and religion. The streets/paths through the slums are lined with shops. We saw restaurants (which consists of one woman frying beef on a skillet over an open flame), a shoe repairman, many hair salons (for cuts and hair braids) and many, many others. The kids all come up to us with their Kenyan accents and ask, “how are you?” It is the only English thing they know how to say. Not one person begged or asked for money while we were in Kibera.
Tonight, we were walking through a portion of downtown Nairobi and two little girls came and followed us begging, I mean literally begging rather than asking, for shillings and food. It broke my heart. Not because of their individual need but because of the pattern of society that causes them to do this. People can often make more money begging than they can working, especially the crippled, the mothers with their babies and the kids. The parents had trained these two girls to go out and make a living for them. A common reasoning among the missionaries we have met is, not to give the beggars money because it only reinforces their reasoning in continuing to beg rather than working for their wages.
However, my being a gullible and naïve person, it breaks my heart each time I see someone begging. However, I do realize that my money can be put to much better use through organizations that are working with and helping nationals to become self sufficient. And so when I buy souvenirs, I am trying to buy from places where the proceeds go to paying decent wages for Kenyans who are doing honest work. This is a hard thing to come to terms with: how can I best help that will make the most lasting impact.
Posted by dani at June 22, 2004 10:35 PM