ThirdWorldFootsteps: Some New Challenges

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Dave Gallagher, who runs along with his wife the Open Arms Village in Eldoret, Kenya.

He was sharing some really positive, amazing stories with me about the children who live in the village. Which filled me with hope and excitement at the prospect of meeting them all.

It was great to ask questions, and understand more about the culture, and the potential issues we may face whilst we are out there.

As a first time traveler, and a constant worrier, I felt the need to ask really trivial questions like, can I bring food with me and what’s the likelihood of snakes in the village. Which, afterwards when I tell you what Dave had to say, I felt ridiculous about asking.

Dave went on to tell me about the struggles of the Street Vendors and Street Children under the new governments “Clean up the streets Act” where Tear Gas is being thrown at will and children as young as 4 and then brutally thrown in to the back of a lorry and placed in a remand centre.

A remand centre that normally houses around 70 children has over 200 children currently living there.

Dave and Rachel decided they could not see this happen. Being so young meant that the 4 year old children would be more prone to abuse by the older children and young adults.

They thought that some children were there because of Kidnap, Trafficking and other organized crime activity.

One thing Dave did say was that traveling to Africa and seeing such things, that I’ll have the pleasure of having my heart broken. As then, it is my on-going support to the charities that helps me to mend it.

Very true I thought, and realize that it does take a broken heart for you grow and learn. They say there are no mistakes in life, just lessons.

Don’t forget, whilst I am out there I am asking for donations, of any size - £1, £10 whatever you can afford.

Click the link below if you would like to help

www.justgiving.com/Gem-Vaughan-Heys