SE101~ IN RETROSPECT...

I am back in Vancouver, having spent atleast a month of my 2007 summer in Nairobi participating in the Sauder SE101 project. SE101, a great project through which I met many new fantastic people and learnt alot; about myself and certain aspects of life and society. Alot can be said of the project and Kenya in general. The project is a great opportunity for all participants offering alot of learning experiences with potential for more growth in terms of ideas and delivery.

Fortunately, this year we had two sites that we facilitated and I would not be wrong to conclude that these two different groups of people had had different experiences and challenges. The background information, we (Bahati team) received from KIC-our facilitators on the ground, about our (Bahati) participants was immensely helpful. It also provided the Bahati participants a chance to reflect and comprehend the task that lay ahead of them for the next three weeks. Our participants as already mentioned were really great students who actively participated in the activities we prepared for them. However, I feel a greater emphasis needs to be made to enable participants understand their responsibilities as students. Ofcourse, this being a voluntary project that might be hard to enforce!

All participants, more so those from Canada will/would benefit from fully understanding all cultural issues, interactions and differences. Above all, facilitators need to try and grasp the problems and challenges of the participants to make the lessons more meaningful and effective. For, how can one provide a 'solution' to a problem one does not fully comprehend! Above all, this aids and minimises misunderstanding which can greatly affect efficient project delivery. We carried out a class survey midway through the project and I am sure these will be beneficial to future participants. I also feel this project would benefit magnanimously by having a reliable partner on the ground. This partner would play role similar to that played by KIC or Henry i.e follow up, initiation and coordination of the project before and after facilitators arrive and leave.
More sponsorship and support from student associations(e.g CUS, AUC, AMS, SUC, African Awareness etc) Sauder, UBC, family and friends will/would be a big boost to preparations for a succesful implementation of the project.

It was great being part of the second SE101 team to Nairobi and I look forward to contributing my humble two cents to the project. Business, in my opinion is a great self-empowering activity that has great positive externalities and spill over effects. It is my hope that this project rolls outs to different countries and regions and that Sauder continues to facilitate similar projects.

Ninitz Kerosene Is Launched

Today we managed to clear all of the hurdles to launch Patrick's business, Ninitz Kerosene. For the record, this business was started for 7525 Ksh ($119). Before we distributed the rest of the money, we wanted to see Patrick's receipts for the rent and the tank, as well as get Mma Agnes, owner of Kibera Kerosene, from whom we'd purchase 100 liters of kerosene, to agree to mentor Patrick. The photo shows, from left to right, Patrick, Agnes, an employee filling Patrick's tank, and Henry.

I explained to Agnes how those of us who had been here last year really wanted to help him start his business, but that we were also concerned that he didn't really know how to run a business. Henry explained to her that we wanted Patrick to deposit with her on a daily basis an amount equivalent to the cost of what he'd sold for the day. This would insure that when his tank emptied, he'd already have the money on deposit for his next tank of kerosene. She agreed to do so, offering to write up receipts and keep a book for him to keep him going. I was overjoyed.

Once the deals were completed, we had a wonderful conversation with Agnes about her business. She's been in business for about four years, and is one of the three large suppliers of kerosene in Kibera (otherwise one has to go into town for large amounts). She said that Patrick was lucky because she'd started with a loan that she was still repaying (that said, I think she's actually doing reasonably well--interest can be from 12-18%, which is likely why her loan continues.) She is mainly a wholesaler, and it turned out that she'd actually given us her wholesale price, because that’s how her tanks are set for dispensing kerosene. This was really kind on her part.

Agnes discussed how difficult it had been to start her business. Initially friends had promised to support her, but when she actually went to them, no one would help her. She eventually managed to scrape together what she needed. Once she started making some money, though, her friends started coming to her for money. She said the whole thing taught her a lesson about who you can trust and who your friends are. She also said that the only one you can really talk to about your problems is God, and although he doesn't send an obvious answer, he will listen. It was really interesting to hear her talk like this.

Agnes also said that she was always very careful with her business, mainly reinvesting in the business, rather than taking out money for herself. I kept looking at Patrick, trying to make sure that he was hearing her messages (because they were definitely better coming from her than from me). We asked her whether Patrick's business could be successful, and she assured us that he should have no problem, as long as he reinvested his earnings, rather than simply spent them. She also said it should be pretty easy for him to grow. We closed on an upbeat note--Agnes asked when we would be back next year, and she predicted that we could have a party to celebrate Patrick's success, and that she wanted to be at that party.

I do hope she'll mentor him during this difficult time. Running a business is not easy, and it requires discipline. I've actually put in more effort than Patrick this week to get his business off the ground, as did Henry. I wonder if he knows that. We should all hope for the best.

NAIROBI......Party Like the Sun Don't Rise!

Jimzy In.......

Would it be fair if we, young energetic able bodied youth visited a new city and did not taste/tempt the party scene or did not write about it? I think not! So, what does Nairobi city look like when the shops close, bankers go home, and children are safely tucked in? A few members of the SE101 team (names witheld on request, and my writing this should/does not insinuate that I am the party animal of the team. It so happens that tonight the blogging duties fall to me) will take you on a tour of the Nairobi party scene.
TACOS: Location-CITY CENTRE. The music is great, some of the tracks were similar to those played in Canada and I clearly recall two memebers of the team singing along to some of the songs being played. This is where Alvina, Kevin and Steven took to the dance floor-details of which may be found in an earlier blog.
PAVEMENT: Location-WESTLANDS. An extremely great and a must go-to club in my opinion. Had what it takes to make a great club scene. Nice music, perfect ambience, crowd that seemed to be made up of passionate club goers and party people. I noticed the crowd was mixed (not unlike a Vancouver club scene) and was clearly a favorite for tourists/foreigners/expatriates or it was probably the theme night that seemed to attract everyone. It was a 2 in 1 club. With one section of the club playing main stream hip hop music and the other playing techno/garage sounds. The only hustle was getting into the club and the line up stretched about a block. Club cover was about 400Kes, beers 120Kes, a gin shot 300Kes.
QUEUES: Location-WESTLANDS. Also a 2 in 1 club establishment. Despite the flight of steps one has to climb to get to either, it is a fairly descent party place. Both clubs play similar genre of music but are manned by different D.J's. The top floor is an open air club/bar/pub allowing you to party alfresco. With the another club on the 2nd floor where you could relocate if you wished for warmer temperatures.
REZEROUS(not too sure of the spelling): Location-WESTLANDS. A 3 minute walk from QUEUES. Extremely jam packed on all occasions one of the team went there. A wide range of music, pocket friendly prices and great crowd. Other than the line up to get into the club, all is well at this location.
CARNIVORE: Location-CLOSE TO NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK. Yet to be tasted/tested.Though it is well known for its theme nights.
K1: Location- WESTLANDS. Excellent ambience and decor. Wood and grass thatch is the predominant architectural design theme. In essence there are close to three different pubs at this location. Fortunately, there is nyama choma and othe fast food should belly make demands for food. Beer and nyama choma is definitely big in Nairobi and a great combination too experience has proven. Highly recommended you carry along a sweater or jacket. Also a great spot on Tuesdays for Karoke lovers.
And that is it for now. Please note more venues may be added to this list in the near future. So incase you wish to stumble home at 5am the next time you are in Nairobi like........................ you know where the adventures lie.

.................Jimzy Out!

12 hours in Dubai

As this is our first blog, I felt it would be appropriate to welcome you all and encourage you all to keep up with our updates for the next three weeks. At the moment, I am sitting at a Costa Coffee in Dubai International Airport with Jessie and Art. We've been here for over 10 hours and have already exhausted all possible methods of alleviating our boredom, which include: spending 2 hours finding each other at the airport, sampling moisturizers and perfumes at Dubai's world famous duty free shops, sitting and lying down in random corners of the airport and reclining in the lounge of the $50 USD per hour hotel in the airport without relinquishing a cent. We did, however, get the chance to get to know each other better since we will be spending the next three weeks working in close proximity with each other. And Art just told the 'funniest' joke ever.

Needless to say, we're pretty tired from the long flights, but we're excited about the project and are looking forward to reuniting with the rest of the team in Nairobi tonight and tomorrow!