Mud, Mud and More Mud

Pauline: Today we began with the most authentic and real yoga class taught by Basilio and Walter.  What a perfect start to kick off our work project!  We all headed over to Kibera, the largest slum in Africa with over a million people.  There is no where for people to dispose of their garbage so the streets and alley ways are littered.  There we met Jessica, one of the founders of Shining Hope For Communities.  It is her foundation that AYP has partnered with in the construction of the community centre. 

Jessica gave us all a tour of the community clinics and all girls school that they had built previously.  We were also shown where the new school would be built to service all the other girls that want to attend along with the brand new water tour.

Following the tour it was off to work we went!  And boy do they build differently then we do in North America.  The frame had already been put in place by the Fundis (construction workers) so we began to build the walls with mud.  It was dirty and fulfilling all in the same breath.  The community gathered around and watched as we continued hitting our daily milestone.  We completed all the walls on the lower level, window & door cut outs and are ready to put on the roof tomorrow.

We all sweated together, sung together and worked together to achieve our common goal, phase 1 of our project.  Even some of the AYP teachers popped in to help.  Now we all looking forward to a shower and resting up for some more work tomorrow.  When we had begun our day everyone stated their commitment to the group, Jessica of Shining Hope For Communities promised to make sure amazing things happened in the community centre long after we leave!