At The Orphanage II.........

Friday at the orphanage was a good day.......photos to tell the story.

Lots of big siblings taking care of little ones

Thanks Ithaca Creek for raising funds and sending messages

Tony feeding the kids

Kids lining up for an energy boost

Kids showing off the mural

The well point that will be enclosed by by the new fence

This spot is a cholera risk - raw sewage seeping out

Septic tank that needs replacing and extending

Area to be used for crops and to be enclosed by fence

Orf and some of the kids

Some of the stationery

The hall that needs separation curtains so they can run multiple classes

At The Orphanage.........

Today.......

20kg of Thobwa (Soya Powder for making hydration drinks)

Buckets to flush the toilets

Padlocks to protect valuable gear from thieves

Boxes of Pens and Pencils

Boxes of A4 Exercise Books

25kg Maize Seeds

Pumpkin seeds

Okra seeds

Text books for several grades

We also paid a deposit of 2.5million Kwacha to have the septic system upgraded immediately. It is currently a cholera health risk – the upgrade will only take a few days and cost just over ZMK 5million in total.

Tomorrow......

A simple irrigation system to allow planting all year round.

Internet access

Photocopier (possibly on a lease plan)

Renovations including roof repairs, broken windows and room partitions

Quote to install a boundary fence to protect the crops from theft

Beyond.......

Self sustaining/income producing programs that will also double as vocational training - We need direct donations of, or funds for...

Half a dozen retired laptops (ex govt stock would be perfect)

Half a dozen old sewing machines

A welder with kit

Within three years.........

In three years, the community building “free lease” from the Livingston Council will expire. Despite current assurances that the lease will be automatically renewed and continued gratis, governments and attitudes change and the insecurity is not productive – all the hard work could come to an abrupt end.

The Linda Community School needs its own piece of land, which it can improve with a school, and sustain with crops and other income producing activities.

Catherine, the Principal and the Glue that holds the whole show together has her eye on an 8.5 ha patch of dirt beside a permanent stream. At $800miliion Kwacha ($160,000) it is perhaps the unachievable dream but maybe with some government assistance and support from the charities connected to the community, the dream could become reality in three years.

OrfAid is keen to give it a go......even if we fall short, there will be other opportunities for land that could achieve the goals of security, education, opportunity and self sustenance.

Stay tuned..... photos tomorrow

Kilimanjaro - Done and Dusted!

The first thing we found out of course was that our catch cry "Ni tu ya Kilima" was wacky Swahili......so, it should be "Ni Kilima Tu!" - It's just a hill!

Good for a catch cry but far....so very far from the truth. We all made it and had the most unbelievably rewarding time but are shattered....

Read below for a FB summary of the days and I will fill in the gaps over the next week.

Off to Livingston tomorrow and catching up with the orphans 12/10....stay tuned.

The Team warming up at the hostel the night before.........."Ni Kilima Tu!"

• L to R... Tony Tharenos, US/Beijing - David Moeller, Melbourne - Orf - Richard Gillis, Bowral - Mike Sneesby, AUS/Dubai - Gordon Kudelka, Brisbane - Martin Hoehener, Africa/Switzerland/London

   
• Shelley Gillis Great to hear from you on FB Orf !! Enjoy those beers and I look forward to seeing an 'after' shot of you all. Well done xx  
• Chris Orford About an hour or so and there will be reunion beers and photos Shell ;-)

 

Day One - The flat trudge into Camp 1.

 

 

• 
  Day 2. Great view of Uhuru Peak (The Peak) as the grade starts to increase on the 8 hour hike to Camp 2 at 3670m.

 

 

 

 

• • Shelley Gillis Looking good boys!

     

Day 3. Our only wet day - a short but steep climb to 4300m

Day 4. A bit of up and down - across the saddle to Camp 4 - 400m lower than Camp 3.

 

 

 

Day 5. From 3900 to 4700 at Camp 5 (Pre-Summit Camp)

 

 

 

Day 6 (Summit Day). Starting at midnight on the way to Gilman's Point for sun-rise......

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 cont..... Gilman's Point 5700m. Kili's second highest point - 70% of all Kili climbers turn around from here rather than attack Uhuru (5895m), another several hours of climbing.

 

 

 

 

Day 6 cont..... Uhuru 5895m - The Peak of Kilimanjaro! 10.04 local time and absolutely shattered - barely able to stand for photo!

 

 

 

 

• • Lily Baniriah to be so close to the blue sky.

    Chris Orford The air is very hard to catch up there Lily...... but the sky is just beyond fantastic!

Day 6 cont..... Unable to descend on my own steam, I am at first supported by two porters, then later, stretchered down the mountain - 7 hours of bone crunching, kidney bursting descent in a three wheeled stretcher over the rough Kili terrain. Local doctor later confirms minor pulmonary oedema.....

 

 

 

• Rhonda Kortum Oh my god when will you learn??? Glad your fine, I love how much drama finds you

  Lily Baniriah what an ACT! :))) didn't feel like doing the boring bit of walking downhill? !!!!
• Cheryl Mleczko OMG! hope you are ok!
• Chris Orford Yep, although seven hours on a three wheeled stretcher bashing down the hill at 6km/hr over a dry river bed wasn't that much fun on my kidneys ;-)........ Still, I am drinking beers whilst the other boys are currently trudging out the last 20km down :-)

  Megan Moore A whole new event, 'The Kili Mountain Bash' has been pioneered by Orf!Take care and enjoy those beers x

 

 

Day 7 - FOR ORF........ ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now just waiting for the rest of the boys to join me here at the hostel where there will be a fair bit of celebrating........

 

NI KILIMA TU!

 

Orf