Based on my conversations with LECDEN members and the emergence of "third world technologies", I propose Kiambiu be developed as a "model slum community." Why do I say
“model SLUM community?” Well, I doubt that the slums are going to be leveled
overnight, replaced with big, beautiful low-rent high rises. It may take years
for the Kenyan government to grow into a mature democracy. In the meantime,
people are starving and dying. Their beautiful kids are being orphaned and
abducted. There must be something that can be done in a short time with
relatively few funds. What if Kiambiu
could become a template for slums all over the world? Sure, slum dwelling would never be
optimal but maybe it could be improved enough to be livable until the government
catches up with its democratic ideals.
In a model Kiambiu, all the adults who can work are employed in
some fashion. Some of them have been given low interest or no interest loans to
set up small kiosks within the community. Some are employed by the community to
run coop enterprises like a pre-school, water and sanitation provision and a posho
mill.
Ecological and sustainable principles are employed. There are square foot
gardens in every arable spot. The walkways are clean and bileveled with gravel
to prevent mud and standing water. Well constructed composting latrines are
available at intervals throughout the slum. Each home has a slop pail, at the
very least, that can be emptied into a latrine in the morning. Each home has
been improved as much as possible to make the spaces more hygienic and
habitable. There are banana and other fruit trees. The water supply is safe and
readily available. All the kids are in school and have uniforms, shoes and school
supplies. They each have a crank laptop from Negroponte and Intel. Every home
has a crank radio and a solar flashlight. The kids sleep on mattresses off the
floor with bed nets and warm blankets. Everyone has access to the medicines,
immunizations and hospitalizations they need. Porridge and at least
one meal a day is available. The children have milk and infants have adequate supplies of
safe water and formula to further decrease HIV/AIDS transmission after birth.
The elders are not burdened by raising and supporting their grandkids by
themselves. Most importantly, the remaining parents or guardians all have income
generating activities according to their health status and capabilities. There
is dignity in work. In this model community, the availability of work allows
elders to be taken care of by the community and utilized for their wisdom,
honored for their sacrifice, source of love and generational connection for the
children.
I imagine, somewhere in Kiambiu, a wonderfully spacious cement block building
which houses the LECDEN Office, Community and Child Center. There are programs for
adults and older kids that teach a variety of skills, school subjects, job
readiness classes, HIV/AIDS and health education. There is an active, fair and
progressive Executive Board, composed of LECDEN members. Eventually, the
community becomes a self-supporting cooperative and is able to use the skills
and resiliency of its members to build for the future. Since the members have
been taught methods of sustainability and healthy ecological practices, they can
teach other neighborhoods. Their success builds and supports their education,
education supports political activism. Soon Kiambiu is a social force for
positive change in Nairobi that works substantively with local and national
government.
One would also see that the children are healthy, sponsored and have access to
adults and elders who care for them and love them on a daily basis. This helps
process the horror of being orphaned and allows the children a resumption of
their emotional and developmental growth which would have suffered without the
addition years of parenting that their folks would have provided had they lived.
I would suggest a pen-pal program so the children could have connections with
their sponsors and with university students in the US. It would be one more way
to increase writing skills, but it would also provide an avenue of
encouragement. Pen pals could remind the children through the joy of receiving a
letter that they are valued and lovable. LECDEN staff members who help them
write back encourage a literacy and human connection, while providing parental
guidance and love. This sort of activity would support their education and
fosters even more hope for a better future.
And here’s a big piece of my imaginings- I dream of a vehicle: one that could be
readily repaired with parts that already exist in Nairobi. I am almost gleeful
envisioning people getting to the hospital, church or appointments and the staff
to where they need to go! Can I envision a recognizable LECDEN vehicle, even an
old beat up car that serves the community? Oh, yes I can!