Kelly dancing with the Maasai Women

I want to remember that everyone deserves to smile.

I want to remember that it is okay to feel each and every emotion.

I want to remember that sharing is giving.

I want to remember that a group of people is stronger than one person.

I want to remember that a smile, a touch or a hug can be more powerful than words it can say. “I am here for you”, “I love you”, “I care for you”, “feel better” - all in one simple gesture.

I want to remember that kindness comes in many forms - through a story, through touch, through giving a gift, through sharing.

I want to remember that a simple “how are you” can light up someone’s day.

I want to remember that service includes ourselves, so that we may continue to be of service to others.

I want to remember that I am bigger and more powerful than my tapes and stories.

I want to remember that I am powerful and that my power is generated from within.

I want to remember that when I want to run, I need to stay!

I want to remember that dreams do come true through the gift of giving, we inspire ourselves and others to step into something bigger.

But mostly I want to remember that we, hold the paint brush to our lives. We can choose to leave the canvas blank, succumbing to what is thrown our way. Or, we can pick up the paint brush and decorate the canvas using bright, bold colors, choosing to step into the co-creation of our lives.

I want to remember that I am the painter painting my can as with the colors we used to paint the playground in Kibera.

Kelly h. - Canada

Handstand circle during class!

Today is already the end of day 9 of the trip and I’m at the point where I don’t really want to leave. I miss my daughter, my family, my friends…but the passion here is just too infectious to let go of. The people have been more than welcoming and appreciative to our service here in the community. I had a small child run up to me this afternoon and give me a random hug in the street…it was quick, yet incredibly symbolic to me of the society in which we have been visiting.

This morning, like last Saturday from my previous blog, we went to the Africa Yoga Project community yoga class where we shared our breath with another 180 people. The special surprise today was that our fellow Seva Safari teachers tag-teamed the room with their instruction. Paige, Pauline, Luca, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Leigh, Monica, Wanda, Sarah, Kristen, Daniel, Lori-Anne, Meghan and Heather led us through two and a half hours of incredible yoga practice. The spirit was huge, the hand-stands were high, the wheels were powerful and the joy was all around us. I want to acknowledge all of the teachers today who reminded me of my first ever practice 13 months ago…where at the Clarkson Power Yoga Canada, I sat on a mat for the first time, being led by many of my community teachers joining together for that Sunday Valentine’s class.

What Paige and the rest of the Africa Yoga Project community have created is a generator for love and generosity here in Nairobi. Every teacher has been a joy to work with in Kibera, they have all been been so powerful in their teaching and assisting, and always enthusiastic to be involved in creating endless possibility for everyone around them. The AYP leaders here in Nairobi: Paige, Meghan, Pauline, Luca and Billy (“Take a Break”) have all given so much of themselves and I would like to acknowledge and congratulate them on putting together a wonderful service trip and an emotional journey of life design that I want to continue to live when I return to Canada.

Simply what is being created by AYP here in Nairobi is a wave of endless TRIUMPH…and its spreading quickly.

Steve, Canada

Day 3 at the work site began as we entered Kibera with more, “how are you?” from the children. It is as if they are told when seeing any white person to shout at them, “how are you?”. Most of them have no idea what it means or do not even understand the answer. It is very welcoming though to be greeted like that upon entering the Kibera slum. It was also cool to notice all the people wearing the “TOMS” shoes. A brand of shoes int he US that claims to donate a pair of shoes to people in East Africa whenever you buy a pair. Thy are simple canvas slip on’s that cost about $60.00.

Arriving at the roof top playground we finished building rockets, cubbies, painted slides, black tires and put up the swing set. It actually started to look like a playground at the end of the day. We also got to announce to the children at the Kibera school for girls that we were building them a playground on the roof of their school that would be ready by the end of the week. Most of them had no idea what a playground was so we showed them some photos. The smiles and cheers were unbelievable. The children also performed a song for us about how educations is the key to becoming a doctor, lawyer or whatever they wanted to be. It brought tears to my eyes.

On the way home home we had a surprise stop at the elephant orphanage where we each got to adopt a baby elephant. This was one of the most incredible experiences. My elephant is names Ishanga. She arrived at the orphanages when she was just one year old and was rescued from the jaws of a lion by the Ziwani team. she was orphaned due to poaching.

I had the chance to pet her and she drank water from the palms of my hand with her trunk which felt like a vacuum. As a parent I will receive monthly updates by email. Day 3 was an amazing day. Looking forward to what day 4 will bring!

Jodi, USA


Jon, in the blue shirt, celebrating with group and AYP teachers!

When I was approached with this project as director of Playground

IDEAS, USA, I knew this was going to be a different project.   As we

finish our final day on the project, with a wonderful playspace

completed, I know that it has been a project unlike any other.  Lots

of challenges were thrown at us – broken battery chargers, lost tools,

buying a hedge clipper thinking they were bolt clippers.  But LOTS of

things went our way – a supportive school, great weather, and most

importantly, a truly wonderful team of people who were dedicated,

flexible, fun and good-spirited.   Together, we build a really great

playspace with lots of fun, dynamic equipment.  I learned a bunch of

improvements to our designs and some entirely new designs (pinwheel

from a water bottle!).

What a great project to be a part of.  I feel truly blessed to be

included not only in the building of the playground but to be welcomed

into the group.  I have been learning yoga, a little intimidating

considering how good people are, but with the help of some Ibuprofen,

I’ve been able to hang in there.

I want to thank the group and the AYP teachers for all their hard work

in making this a successful project.  Together, we created a very

special space for the kids of Kibera to just be kids.

Jon Racek - Director of Playground Ideas, USA

Penelope and her friend. Head teacher at the school on site the prison

“How are you?”, “How are you?”, “How are you?”  The refrain we have heard all week from the children in Kibera…just words of greeting to white strangers passing by, words without meaning, words not expecting an answer, and yet….

 How are we after our week in Kenya, our five days in Kibera?  What do we think, what do we feel in this somewhat bittersweet moment of finishing, and knowing that we are not really finished with what we have started here; of feeling fulfilled from our hard work, and of feeling, perhaps, somewhat empty as we leave this teemingcity within a city, encompassing some of the most dire poverty in the world?

 Our week together has encompassed many experiences and a roller coaster of emotions, starting with meeting 20 some new people, all with their stories waiting to be told and finishing with a joyous time of dancing with Billy.  For me, watching Billy dance was a highlight of the trip (but then, I probably like watching good dancers more than just about anything).  In between, we have built a playground, gotten sunburned doing so, laughed and cried, eaten lots of rice and beans, or rice and lentils, petted baby elephants and learned how they need us too; we have met children who are as sweet as any in the world, and apparently, as loved; we have worked and practiced yoga side by side with amazing youngKenyans; and we have shared much of our lives with one another. 

 We have questioned our commitments to service and learned that they are strong.  We have worked in the midst of appalling conditions to build toilets for the surrounding community; regardless of our nausea, and disgust that this is what poverty breeds, we have persevered and we have succeeded in helping make a few people’s lives better.  Yes, we will go back to our comfortable homes and our showers with constant hot water.  We will go back to our everyday lives and our work and our families but we will not be the same.  We will return, if not to Kibera, to the neighborhood down the street that needs our help; we will know that we can’t fix the world but that some people are making a difference, a little bit at a time, and we are part of those people.

How are we?  I think we’re just fine.

Joni watching the elephants walk by!