Too good, it must be true....

My 'maiden ride' on the Syoki train was fantastic! I called my regular bodaboda guy who picked me up at my gate, and rode all the way, across Mombasa Road (something I had sworn I'd never ever do by bodaboda but that wasn't even on my mind,) time was ticking and the train was reputed to leave on the dot of time. (I did however control where and when he could zoom across the road while I held my heart in my mouth determined not to add to the numbers of road/bodaboda causality statistics)

Customers do care for smiling service...

Yesterday morning, I walked into the Nokia Care centre along the Hilton Hotel building, right across from Dedan's statue. The lighting was great, all bright white and blue, lots of space and four ladies seated in a row facing the door. One seat in front of the lady at the corner (she seemed older and bossier) was empty and I, with a smile on my face walking in happy to see no long winding queue marched right up to her and said Hi!

The PAST shall NOT DICTATE the PRESENT nor the FUTURE...

This is what the statistics say:

• That child sexual abuse is defined as “the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or the rape, and in cases of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.”? (as defined in the Afya Kenya Foundation blog)
• That this abuse includes activities such as fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.
• That most (up to 71.5%) of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by people known to the victim, that is, people that the child knows and trusts?
• That the most unsafe venue where this kind of abuse takes place is the home?
  
  Click on this link to find out more about the #Love2Life campaign against Child Sexual Abuse

 

I, and I'm sure many of you parents, remind our children about the dangers of accepting gifts from strangers, talking to strangers, following strangers who promise them sweets, chips and all things sweet that kids often crave. With valid reason, definitely. But what about the 'strangers' we know or think we know well? 'Stranger' because it turns out that we really do not know them at all.

Ask any abused child. Their parents probably knew the abuser well, even trusted them with their children's safety. Can you imagine what position this puts the child in? The parents trust the 'stranger' as a friend, maybe they are even relatives they have out the child in this person's care. What chance does the child have?

Where and how does the child begin to tell you parents that your 'friend' or relative is or has abused you?

Let's be careful. Be constantly aware. Let's open our eyes. Let us look and see. Let us know our children and most importantly let us take time to listen to our children. They do not lie about issues such as this and by listening, you may be able to act before it is too late!

What a terrible thing...

I hold my chubby 3 month old  in my arms, her eyes pure and white, her cheeks shiny and round. I look up to the TV, towards the sound of a child crying...the news anchor had warned that the images 'could be disturbing...There's a child sitting on her mother's lap, hanging limp from her mouth, is her mama's breast...she is so weak, sucking those few drops of milk will take more energy than she has...
As I write this, I hold my baby to my breast. They are swollen full of milk. My feezer is full of milk as well...What a terrible thing, to have so much when there are children dying in this country,with nothing to fill their stomachs with. '...the last relief food came 4 months ago...' they report.
The world is alarmed at the hunger 'scandal' going on in Kenya! How telling that despite the many months the media has highlighted this issue, it is still not a priority for the government even as organisations such as the Red Cross are in the media calling out for help for the children who are dying each day.
Surely! How much more desperate does the government want this to get? This is murder, plain and simple.
So what are you going to do about this?

I expected a lot more...

We happily took the son there. It was perfect! Close to home, a seemingly serious investment, built from scratch, interesting desks and lockers, based on Christian principles. It looked promising! And we thankfully enrolled young Robert there start of this year.
I should have noticed the trend then...end of term one holidays there was talk of tuition...which was not compulsory. Come end of term two, we get a “Dear parents...” note, kindly telling us about some two weeks tuition after the school term, and guess what?! Of course we have to pay some KSH 2,500 for the lower primary classes! Worse still, baby class is also expected to attend.
I nearly blew a gasket! A fellow parent tells me that we parents against the idea of holiday tuition are probably the monority. Apparently, most want their children out of their hair! Hell, what are they supposed to do with them for four whole weeks over August hols? Huh?
And here I am thinking, I get to see my son briefly at the end of the day as we do homework at marathon speed then I hound him to eat and make it to bed before 8pm. And all day Sato and Sunday too. But surely, is this supposed to be enough?
Then, when I’m looking forward to spending each day with him over the hols, doing fun stuff and zurura-ing to all sorts of surprise places with him, they want to take him off my hands! Comón now! That ain’t gonna happen on my watch!
And I thought this money-making venture a.k.a holiday tuition, was outlawed!
I’m very disappointed Madam Principal!