Author: elixirkenya

The shelter tries to be as self sufficient as possible.  Everything is recycled and re-used.  Yesterday we ran out of gas which is made from the by-product of the cows …. yes their poo.  It’s a timely process: The poo is mixed with an specific proportion of water: Large particles and undigested food, like grass is removed by hand: The mixture is poured down a drainpipe where the magic occurs: Covered by a closh the sun heats the contents which makes the gas 😀.  The slurry, pictured above, is used as fertiliser on the kitchen garden.  The gas, fed by a pipe, feeds a 2 ring hob, enough to warm water for tea and milk for the babies in a reasonable time.

As I said yesterday we did not produce enough gas (it was overcast with a cool breeze).  Our evening meal was cooked on homemade briquettes moulded from soaked cardboard and charcoal chips.  This was sucessful as in we all ate (very well as we had the slaughtered rabbit) but there was some smoke and lots of ash.

I plan to do some baking with the ladies on Saturday afternoon so hope the end result is not affected by the cooking method.

I decided in going to try going natural with my hair as water is such a precious commodity here.

I have been asked to deliver crafts, yoga and baking….fantastic all my favourite things!  I was set to work straight away as Wednesdays session is arts, crafts and yoga.  I had to pull something out of the hat so I started looking at the resources available.  Luckily someone had already bought a pack of Anitas Cards and started to create lino print templates.  I wanted to get the ladies involved and add my own twist by using fabric and lino print borders.  I had a few issues, all of my own making (see image) and now I have identified skills and development needs of each of the ladies and will start a production line!  We may need more cards quite soon 😊.  I didn’t get round to any yoga on account of my back being a bit sensitive at the moment (a high density foam mattress would be gratefully accepted 😀).

I had my first cold wash today … yes first since I arrived!  (For those who have lived with me you know I’m a 2 showers a day girl, and guess what I still havn’t washed my hair.

One of the ladies and her baby will be leaving AAH tomorrow.  To mark the occasion one of the rabbits was slaughtered.  Watching the ladies work together preparing the meat was a privilege.  I have learnt alot about animal care, especially chickens, and seen how much time and devotion is given to make sure the animals are in tip top condition to sell…. there are another 17 rabbits earmarked for slaughter which will bring much needed funding to the shelter.

To do list for tomorrow: wash hair and gentle yoga session

‘You must be the change you want to see in the world’ Mahatma Ghandi.

Each day we share a thought at breakfast and reflect on it in the evening.  Today’s share was one I am very familiar with and of course have my own interpretation of its meaning.

The day starts at 6am with daylight.  I overslept and woke at 7am in time for breakfast.  Ugi, a thin sweet porridge and Mandazi, doughnuts.  Duties then continue, tending to animals and babies and for one of the ladies school and a vocational workplacement in the town some 30 minutes walk away.

Today I will meet with the refuge coordinator and get my instructions.  I am looking forward to being able to contribute to the development of the individuals here and the bigger plan for the shelter.

Incase you were wondering the relevance of the image, the slippers (flip flops) have been loaned to me as I stupidly left mine in Nairobi!