Global Citizens Network (GCN) Project Site:
Maili Tatu (Rombo), KENYA
Check Trip Schedule for Trip dates
A Maasai and Kikuyu Village
The size of Texas, Kenya is a country of great diversity: plains, temperate forests, grassland and tropical forests. Known for its many wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves, it is home to lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, rhinos and elephants. The two rainy seasons are typically April to June (long rains) and October to November (short rains). Most of Kenya's 27-30 million people are farmers, earning about $370 US a year. Ninety-nine percent of the inhabitants are African, divided among 40 ethnic groups. English and Swahili are the official languages. While many people follow traditional belief systems, there are many Christians and a small number of Muslims.
Rombo is one of several Maasai group ranches in southwestern Kenya, and is comprised of several surrounding villages, one of which is Maili Tatu (in Swahili, "three miles"). Maili Tatu is the village that GCN has partnered with. The village sits at an elevation of around 3700 feet, and is composed of Maasai and Kikuyu families and homes. Beautifully situated at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro near the Tanzanian border, the village of Maili Tatu is rich in breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife and tribal culture. The 1,000 or so Maasai families living in Maili Tatu make their living mostly from raising cattle and goats, though some farming has been introduced in recent years. The value of formal education is slowly taking hold among the Maasai people. In Maili Tatu there is one primary school, with over 400 students, and very few books and supplies. One resource that Maili Tatu severely lacks is a health center. The sick and injured must travel about 30 km on foot to get medical treatment, since automobiles are scarce and roads are rough.
Construction of a Health Center
In recent years Rombo has been hit hard by outbreaks of malaria and cholera. Due to the distance between Maili Tatu and existing health facilities, the citizens planned construction of their own health center. They set aside a 10 acre plot of land for the project. The land is situated in a central location on the main road that runs to Mombasa. It is accessible to water and electricity. A committee was formed to oversee the project and community volunteers got started in January 2000 clearing the compound of trees and scrub so that construction could begin. The clinic today is near completion, and the 2007 GCN teams may be the last to be working on the clinic.
Travel Itinerary
Upon arrival in Kenya, team members will spend their first night in a Nairobi hotel before heading to Maili Tatu. The scenic seven-hour drive follows the Mombasa Road south out of Nairobi. After turning off the paved road, less than halfway through the journey, the group will proceed on dirt roads through the African savannah that Kenya is famous for. Along the way participants are likely to spot wildlife including zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and elephants, as well as Mt. Kilimanjaro looming in the near distance. The next two and a half weeks will be spent living and working with the people that call this magnificent landscape home. At the end of the trip, the team will return to Nairobi via the same route, spending one more night in the capital before flying home.
Accommodation and Meals
Participants will stay in a community house or in a section of one of the schools in Maili Tatu. Meals are prepared by a local cook with assistance from GCN team members. Team members also take turns shopping in the Rombo market and hauling and filtering water from a nearby well. There is no running water or electricity. Team members use pit latrines and often bring solar showers.
Time to Explore
The GCN experience is time in the host community, which allows for plenty of time to get to know the local community in your own way. Often team members like to explore the surrounding area for an occasional day trip. Rombo offers adventure in every direction: Tsavo National Park to the east, Amboseli National Park to the west, and Mt. Kilimanjaro right under foot. Kenya is known for the safari experience; most participants build in a few days before or after the GCN trip to safari at Amboseli or Maasai Mara or any of the other national reserves. GCN participants often make safari arrangements through our host contact in Nairobi, Kentan Safaris http://www.kentansafaris.co.ke
Health Issues
Participants are required to be in sound health. The conditions are often very dusty. Potential participants with significant physical limitations are encouraged to check with their physician and discuss the situation with GCN staff beforehand.
To avoid health hazards, it is essential to drink bottled, boiled or filtered water. All meals for the GCN team are prepared by a local cook trained in preparing food for our teams. Participants should check with their doctor or a local travel clinic for up to date information on required or recommended vaccinations for Kenya.
Costs
The program cost for this three week trip is $2,200. Program costs covers on-site accommodations (lodging and meals), in-country travel, training materials, donation to the project, emergency medical and evacuation insurance, t-shirt, and a portion of the team leader’s expenses.
Airfare to Kenya, and costs relating to activities outside of the village, are additional and the responsibility of the individual participant.
All trip related costs are tax-deductible in the U.S.
Discounts available (one per person/group)
For further information contact us
Global Citizens Network
130 N. Howell St.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 644-0960 or (800) 644-9292
Contact us
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
