Visitors to Double Joy: Alan's account

I first went to Kenya in 2002 purely as a tourist. Later that year my friend Eric, Mary's son, asked if I would be interested in becoming a trustee of the Friends of Double Joy. I read the newsletters, visited the web site and talked with Eric and Chrissie then decided to join the trustees. I was keen to go to the orphanage and meet Mary, the staff and the children so I became part of the group visiting in Spring 2004. I had two special interests, which I could look at in person. Firstly as an engineer I was interested in the water supply problems and secondly as an atheist humanist I had a minor concern about religious education and its relationship with AIDS education.

I thoroughly enjoyed the visit, especially the evening’s entertainments in the hall. The very particular character of the Luo dances that the children performed for us was fascinating. Their enthusiasm and energy was inspiring. At the end of every night the six visitors shook hands with each of the ninety children and wished them good night, sleep well, "Lala Salama". That was a lot of handshakes in a week. Trying to identify faces and remember names in the semi-darkness was a challenge and it is now one of my favourite recollections.

The water situation seems to be in hand. Boreholes are not possible in the area so rainwater harvesting from the roofs is the main source. When the holding tanks run dry they can be refilled by bringing water from the lake by donkey. This could be looked upon as "Appropriate Technology". It seems that the children’s constitutions are hardened to the untreated water. A pipe from the local water project that pumps, filters and chlorinates water from the lake is an alternative in dry weather but the supply is metered and must be paid for. I couldn't tell how often it was used.

My concerns over religion and AIDS education were allayed by my realization that the local conditions are a lot more complex than we can appreciate from a distance. Only someone, like Mary, who has lived in the area and has had a long-term struggle with the problems, can really know the best approach.