TGE Trip 2018 – Day 2 8/21
Today, August 21st, we set out to visit the Njoo Dada Trust. Njoo Dada means “Come Sister” and is a home for teenage girls who are pregnant and are no longer welcome at home. Luna, the director of the Njoo Dada Trust and “mother” to the girls and children that live there, tries from their arrival to reconnect the girls to their families and to teach them to be good parents to their babies. Some of the girls that have come to Njoo Dada have since returned home to their families thanks to Luna’s efforts.
In all cases, it is a hard and scary experience for these girls. Yet, one of the girls, Cynthia has had an unimaginably more difficult time. In her introduction, Cynthia, said with a smile, “I’m 13 years old. I had a baby, but he passed. It was difficult, but it is not the end of love or my life.” Listening to Cynthia’s story and seeing her unshaken positivity was truly inspiring. Michael, a Morning Star alumni, shared some wisdom with the group. “What has happened in your past does not carry into your future. It is better to be a dog in the present than a lion in the past.”
After introductions we separated the group into the older girls and the toddlers. To give the young mothers a much needed break, the toddlers went to play with our volunteers. A couple of the toddlers were skeptical of us at first, but the group ended up having lots of fun. The rest of the group was able to spend some time with the girls making craft projects and playing games.
We were met with the delivery of the stove that TGE donors donated to Njoo Dada so they would be able to cook more easily and eventually be able to cook indoors. The funds for this stove were raised in just one day by TGE donors!! They cooked us a delicious meal on the new stove and we got our first introduction to confetti rice (dyed rice mixed with white rice), something I think we will all be doing when we return home now! After lunch, we presented various other gifts to Njoo Dada and in thanks, they gave us each a rubber bracelet that reads “I Support Njoo Dada Trust”.
After departing Njoo Dada we drove to Sunton Medical Centre to meet with Dr. Edward Mogere. The Giving Exchange in partnership with Operation USA delivered 40 basic medical supply kits including stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. Dr. Mogere will be able to deliver these supplies to medical students at University of Nairobi medical program who can’t afford to purchase the equipment themselves. We are proud to be able to deliver this equipment and know that Dr. Mogere will get it into the right hands.
The night ended with a great meal and a movie with the kids!