In a country once noted as a beacon of hope and Africa’s best bet for democracy, residents look to better themselves and recover from the surge of violence that hit the area due to election controversies last December.
According to Knoxville Sentinel reporter Lola Alapo, a Nigeria native who recently went to Kenya for a mission trip, the county’s people are not looking for a handout. But a helpful boost to reestablishment would be nice. After traveling to Kenya’s big cities and staying with a family in small town Malo, Alapo experienced the country in transition.
“I think what people are trying to do now is ethnic reconciliation,” she said. “Here in the states we have racial issues. In Kenya, they’re mostly black so it’s not a matter of race, but it’s more ethnic.”
It’s hard for Americans to understand what Kenyans went through to get to this point. There’s a big picture that many can’t grasp.
Alapo said she always wrestle with people who see two extremes of a country. They either comment on how beautiful the scenery is and how amazing the safaris are, or people focus on the nation’s strife and how people are suffering.
But, Alapo, says, it’s a combination of both views that create Kenya’s reality.
“It’s a beautiful combination of both,” she said. “Yah, things are hard, but people are thriving. They’re doing well. People are resilient. They’re not begging for handouts.
“I want people to realize, where ever you go in the world, even if people are poor and they’re suffering, they’re not always with the flies on their eyes and the potbellied babies,” Alapo said. “People are suffering, but they’re thriving. They’re doing well.”
To aid small town Malo in their recovery, Alapo suggested a Knoxville group making a difference in the area. The Knoxville News Sentinel wrote an article about local Becky Rukeyser’s effort.
Contact Rukeyser at: beckyruk@aol.com to find out more information.
RELATED LINKS:
Knoxville effort aids displaced Kenyans
Experts say Kenya reconciliation will take time
Kenya diplomatic push for peace
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
KENYA SERIES: Kenya needs help, not handout
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7 comments:
It would be nice if the United States government would invest more in helping nations recover from tragic and catastrophic situations than on war.
Interesting to read a point of view we don't usually read about here in America.
I wonder what, if any, impact Obama's presidency will have on U.S. aid to Kenya and other African nations. With the economic crisis, I fear aid will be cut to developing nations.
If a country like Kenya is going to receive true and honest help, it must come from the American people, not the U.S. gov't. Politicians (i.e. Congress) are too concerned with getting re-elected than helping those who cannot vote for them. Cyncial? Absolutely. Realist? Ditto.
Well done on shedding light on this issue. More attention and aid should be paid to developing nations.
great blog!
Bill said...
When news organizations place a spotlight on developing nations that continually struggle for economic and civil independence, those nations have a better chance at achieving those goals.
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