Dear supporters and friends of Kale Children's Library,
check out the photos I posted from the December chess tournament. Toto runs three chess tournaments a year, sponsored by the Rotary. Every Saturday, neighborhood childen can come and learn the game of chess from Toto. Even the Kenyan government is in on it. Their sports council donates a small amount of money to Kale Children's Library to teach chess to interested children. Toto started an Art Club back in September, right after he strengthened the walls with a layer of plywood. The reason he did that was twofold. The improvement made the walls more secure against thieves. It also allowed him to place more books on the shelves because they were strengthened by anchoring them in the plywood. Thank you to all of you who donated money last summer. I will keep you informed of any new updates or improvements in Kale Children's Library.
Kale Children's Library, Nairobi, Kenya
Kim and Toto with neighborhood kids in front of Kale Children's Library
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Talented Kenyans
This will be my last entry since I will be leaving Kenya tomorrow. I want to thank all of you who donated money for Biking for Books and who read about my adventures in Kenya.
I have had a chance to see some amazing talent here in Kenya in the past couple of weeks, starting with a storytelling festival at Alliance Francais here in Nairobi. I discovered Alliance Francais this year, a cultural center only five minutes walk from the YMCA where I stay. The first production I attended was an African storytelling festival where Kenyan actors dramatized traditional folktales from Kenya and other countries. Even the dramas that were in KiSwahili captured me due to the incredible acting. I raced home from my bike trip to Nakuru to see a free concert with traditional singing and dancing of the pastoralists of the north of Kenya. The Turkana, with the women wearing thousands of beads around their necks that make a colorful, heavy looking, collar. The Borana also performed in the name of Liban Group. The women and men both dressed in their white cultural clothing adorned with beaded necklaces and bracelets.
Another treat was in Nakuru, where an international music and dance competition was being held. Student groups from all corners of Kenya came to compete in traditional dance, song, poetry, and storytelling. The ones that caught my eye were the groups dressed in colorful traditional clothing. Many of the groups who were practicing outside the hall invited me to come and watch their practice. There were peace dances by the Pokote (the famous cattle rustlers), circumcision dances, and heroes welcome dances.
I have had a chance to see some amazing talent here in Kenya in the past couple of weeks, starting with a storytelling festival at Alliance Francais here in Nairobi. I discovered Alliance Francais this year, a cultural center only five minutes walk from the YMCA where I stay. The first production I attended was an African storytelling festival where Kenyan actors dramatized traditional folktales from Kenya and other countries. Even the dramas that were in KiSwahili captured me due to the incredible acting. I raced home from my bike trip to Nakuru to see a free concert with traditional singing and dancing of the pastoralists of the north of Kenya. The Turkana, with the women wearing thousands of beads around their necks that make a colorful, heavy looking, collar. The Borana also performed in the name of Liban Group. The women and men both dressed in their white cultural clothing adorned with beaded necklaces and bracelets.
Another treat was in Nakuru, where an international music and dance competition was being held. Student groups from all corners of Kenya came to compete in traditional dance, song, poetry, and storytelling. The ones that caught my eye were the groups dressed in colorful traditional clothing. Many of the groups who were practicing outside the hall invited me to come and watch their practice. There were peace dances by the Pokote (the famous cattle rustlers), circumcision dances, and heroes welcome dances.
Monday, August 1, 2011
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