Norwegian donation benefits 10 family in Kibera

By BENNETT ELLIOTT
February 7, 2010

(Kibera, Nairobi) - For many, Christmas is a cause for celebration. In the case of those around the world living, working and raising children in underprivileged areas, however it is often a difficult time. With one of the largest below poverty-level populations in sub-Saharan Africa, the slums of Nairobi are home to many families that endure this harsh reality. On December the 10th, Explore Kibera Tours helped provide a portion of these impoverished families with the offerings of goodwill that are too often absent from their Christmas holiday.

With a staff living and working in East Africa’s most crowded and underprivileged urban neighborhood, Explore Kibera Tours found itself in the unique position to help connect international donors with some of those most in need.

Working in conjunction with donor Ellen Paalgard of Norway, Alistair Amendi from Explore Kibera Tours helped distribute donations of gifts in the form of holiday meals to 10 Kibera families. In addition to Detol soap and cooking oil, a combined total of over ten and a half kilos of food—maize flour, chipati flour, sugar and tealeaves—were provided by Ms. Paalgard for families selected with the help of Explore Kibera Tours staff.

‘The main idea,’ Mr. Amendi said of Ms. Paalgard’s donation ‘was that instead of going back to her country with souvenirs for her friends, she was going to help a family in need. And that was something that we, as members of Kibera’s community, wanted to be part of.’ Asking first if the families would accept her gift, Ms. Paalgard distributed the food with Mr. Amendi.

‘We were flattered by the offer to partner with Ellen on this project,’ says Explore Kibera Tours founder Albert Chi. ‘When she approached us about helping select recipient families within Kibera, we said ‘Yes’ immediately. This is just the sort of initiative we look to promote: coordinating assistance from international donors for Kibera residents by people living and working within the neighborhood. This is definitely something we want to continue with Ellen and other donors in the future, and not just at Christmas.’

Asked about his thoughts on the initiative, tour manager, Alistair Amendi is even more direct. ‘'If you need to know how successful the donation was,” he smiles “ you only have to see how the beneficiaries of it treat me whenever we meet one another on the street.”