SWOPblogger

Hi everyone!

So sorry it has taken me so long to write! I tried three days ago but the computers are really really slow and it would not send. I am also sorry to say no pictures this time I will try to work it out to send some in a few days. None the less Nairobi is an amazing experience let me start with my first few days.

First of all, everyone should check out the Grassroots Global Justice delegation blog at ggjwsf.blogspot.com where you can find more info and pictures!

Well the first few days were so overwhelming. We had orientation then on the second day we went to a site visit in the what folks around here call "slums" of the city. There are many slums, about 1/4 of a million people live in them where an average weeks pay is about 500 shillings equal to about 7 US dollars. We visited Karagocho (not sure if I spelled that right) where at first I was devastated to see the conditions they live in, 10x10 shacks built of tin, metal, wood; whatever materials are around. In these houses about 8-10 people live with no sanitation, electricity and so on. The streets are filled with sewage and trash because a dump site is in their backyard.

My devastation soon changed after meeting the people and hearing about their programs. They have organized their own schools, recreation programs, art programs, cultural programs, health care, and radio. I can't explain in an e-mail how much I learned about what organizing really is about. This was true empowerment. People can provide service, and advocate or donate money but the real change happens when the people come together and change their environment themselves. They still live in terrible conditions but they are creating their own solutions around many of the same issues we are working on: environmental justice, education, health, and women’s issues. I guess the basics of organizing span continents but so do the issues.

We have met many people and organizations that I have learned so much from. I will have to tell you all more when I get home.

The Social Forum started with a little disappointment. There was major confusion about the opening march and the GGJ delegation missed it. It was no fault of GGJ, the local committee organizing the Forum has major flaws. The first day of workshops was also a little rough. Today ROCKED though! GGJ did a workshop about movement building in the US with 10 panelists and some small group work. Celia spoke for SWOP on youth and electoral work and I facilitated the workshop. It went so well and the youth we met are now meeting again tomorrow to further discussion forming a strong global youth movement.

There are so many things to tell you all about and so little time plus the computers are on a 20 second delay where whatever I typed doesn't come up until like half a minute later, it is very difficult. I am gonna wrap up even though I have so much more to say. Again I will try to write again very soon! I miss you all.


Mónica Córdova, Youth Coordinator

SouthWest Organizing Project


1-19-07

Hey Guys,

Our trip to the safari was canceled so I have some extra time. The site visits have a real kick to experience. The slum Korogocho was again difficult to put into words. All I can do is pass on some facts. A shanty town pretty much fulfills the description. Living spaces are 6X6 to 10x10 accommodating 7 people! No services so of course no bathrooms. Cars go thru there but not very often. Mostly just a lot of people milling a round. The pathways which are a better term than streets are rimmed with people setting up stalls to eek out a subsistence of sorts. They say 85% of the people work in Nairobi. The land was government trust land but people have to pay rent for the so called structures, which were put up in some cases by outside owners. Driving in was weird because it felt like we were gawking at their poverty. A lot of piles of garbage were piled to the side next to the road. What I am assuming was raw sewage flowed to the side of the road. Saw only one pipe of flowing water. They said the human waste is dumped into the river. Right across the river was a huge city dump together with illegal dumping as well.

Hooking up with the community organization totally changed the experience. They have organized self help projects to provide employment for instance to teenage boys and young adults. Their businesses consist of providing services that the city does not provide. Like garbage collection, public toilet maintenance, setting up shower stalls, and providing security for the area and selling water all at minimum prices. They are working on setting up a recycling business i.e. cleaning up plastic bags from the dump and then selling them to recyclers (talk about cleaning up and eliminating the dumpsite creates a dilemma for them in this regard.) After the tour through the area and discussions with the different groups we were treated to a cultural performance, music dancing, drumming... all of this was really uplifting and inspiring. People were very warm and welcoming. I think they were so glad to see people from outside their slum come to visit them. Their comment was the people from Nairobi never come to their area. All in all a very heartwarming experience but heavily saddening that people are forced to live in these conditions. They said a policy of government exclusion is what has created their difficult and hard existence. About 300,000 people live in this particular slum and there are others slums larger and worse apparently. The 'informal settlement" has grown up only over the last 40 years.

Well I am stopping for now and will continue my report about the following day’s site visits later. Generally all is going really, really well, but I often think about you guys and wish you could have been here with me. For sure, you have to have a similar experience. It is very heart wrenching and at the same time heart warming.

Ilsa Garduño

SWOP Member

wsf 2007

# posted by karlos @ 10:35 AM