By Debra aka Brique Zeiner | Chairwoman of Live and Learn in Kenya Int'l
It was one of those windstorms, which was swirled up from the devil himself... It blew down the temporary kitchen construction as if it were made of cardboard. The tin roof - wooden planks - shelves - flew all over the place like something out of the Wizard of Oz - and left the Live and Learn in Kenya Education Center without any form of kitchen at all. To top it off, it happened on January 8th - the day before the new school year was to begin. So, how could school breakfasts and lunches be cooked without a kitchen? Not possible... The LLK papas were called for the emergency. They gathered up all that they could find while the project manager, Ken, went to town to buy what was necessary to repair the damages. The dilapidated, but working kitchen was built up in time for breakfast to be cooked the next morning. But then we had to consider what to do next. If the storm had taken place the next day while the children were present and the mamas were cooking for them it would have been very dangerous for all involved. We had to decide - build another classroom or start raising funds for the kitchen construction that wasn't planned for for the next two years or so. We decided to take the leap and build the kitchen.
Letters and e-mails were written and a new GlobalGiving project was launched "Build a Kitchen and Help Feed Hundreds of Smiles". And it is working. Through the GlobalGiving Project site many people became aware of the huge problem and began donating. The online game and platform, Second Life, used the GlobalGiving project site to promote different events including the Madpeas, which were able to raise funds of over 13.000 US$ within just two weeks. Another 7000 US$ have been donated in the meantime - all with the help of the GlobalGiving Project site.
Construction began on February 9th - just a month after the dreadful windstorm. The construction company has agreed to allow us to pay as they build so that the kitchen can be built as soon and as solidly as possible. That's what Harambee is all about - working together for a common cause!
So, now we need to keep the construction going and growing. Let's build the kitchen and keep those tummies full and faces glowing with satisfied smiles!
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