Africa Trip 2006

01 December

Jeremy & Pat Nottingham and Ben and Claire Akin-Smith have just returned from an 8 day trip to Kenya and Uganda, and we asked them a few questions about the trip.

Hi, welcome back! I presume you had a good time?
Pat: It was Jeremy's and my first time in Africa, not exactly a holiday but an amazing experience
Ben: Yes it was wonderful; it was a real privilege, but not an easy trip.

Where did you go?
Ben: We spent 4 days in Nairobi, Kenya and then 4 days in Kampala, Uganda.

Why did you go and what did you hope to achieve?
Jerry: We actually set out some objectives before we left; - To see and understand the work at the 2 schools and be able to inspire the AML employees who have yet to have the opportunity to see for themselves.
- To understand the vision of those who run the 2 schools and how we may have a part to play in realising that vision.
- To encourage those we meet at the schools that what they are doing is appreciated (and noticed) and we are committed to being partners for the long term.
- To understand from the experts how more substantial funding from AML in the future could make the greatest difference (e.g. micro-credit model sustainability)
- To witness and appreciate a wider range of HOPE HIV's work and projects and take back ideas for additional partnerships.
- To discuss options for future visits, potentially involving larger numbers of AML employees, maybe with a 'mixed' learning/doing brief.
- Understand in more detail HOPE HIV's vision for the future and its strategic plans especially involving Generation Africa.

What did you do there?
Claire: We spent 6 of the 8 days visiting "projects" that are run by organisations that are supported by Hope HIV. We also visited the two schools, one in Nairobi and one in Masaka (2 hours drive from Kampala) that Add Momentum directly supports. We were there to see first hand the issues that are facing orphans of HIV AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and to see how the issues are being tackled.

What one thing has "stuck" with you since your return?
Pat: For me was the visit to the SAFY (Safe Alternatives For Youth) project. The start of the visit was complete mayhem as the young people were holding elections for different posts. When we met a little later with half a dozen or so young people working within the schools their personal testimonies of what SAFY had done for them was truly inspiring. For many of them they were being helped out of drugs, prostitution etc and testified to how SAFY had made the difference.

Ben: We met a gang of street children in Nairobi, that were living on the streets selling scrap paper and metal to make a living, these guys had nothing, they slept in an area behind a market that was full of rubbish, flies and sewage the gang was around 20 strong including girls as young as 12 that were caring for their babies in these conditions, I had no idea how to react or what to say, the smell and the condition was unbelievably shocking, but what stands out for me were the two guys that worked for the Undugu society that had taken us there, and the way they interacted with these kids. They seemed to be oblivious to the surroundings - all they saw were a group of children that needed love and guidance, the way they spent time with each child, communicating to them and showing a genuine interest in them, giving them time. It showed me that all the money and funding in the world means nothing without people like those guys that are doing the work, to me they were an example of humanity in all its glory. I want to do all I can to make sure that those guys can continue to change the lives of the children they work with.

What are your plans now?
Jerry & Ben: We are looking at how we as a company can increase our regular giving, and where any extra money should be spent. Having spent a week with Russell from Hope HIV we have come away with lasting memories of the transformation which is being, and can be, achieved, the professionalism which Hope HIV bring and the passionate and inspiring people which they partner with. We hope to be able to share what we have seen with family, friends, colleagues and business partners in order to raise awareness of the effectiveness of the projects we have seen and to encourage support for the work of HOPE HIV. As a company we hope to complete the implementation of "a give as you earn" program to enable employees to give from payroll to Hope HIV and other charities of their choice.

How have you personally been effected by the trip?
Ben: Personally it has made Claire and I think about what our response to what we have seen. When on the trip, as a group we talked about the two different responses you have to the situation, the emotion response and the long term considered response. Our emotional response was to sell the house and give all we have to support the projects we visited, while this would make us feel good, once that money had been spent there would be no more, or "it would feed the street kids for a week, but next week they would be hungry". The longer term, considered approach is harder but seems to make more sense. If Claire and I can use our skills to generate money and inspire others to do the same we can offer support for the next 50 years. Its been said "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for ever", but I would add "Equip that man to teach others how to fish and you feed generations".

Pat:I think again similar to Ben, none of the projects we visited gave handouts but sought to empower young people and communities to help themselves. Gut reaction is to help now but we felt very much that the best way to help is to look to the long term; it will obviously take longer but will have a much more lasting effect.

Where there any opportunities to relax on trip?
Jerry: Relax, no not really - but there was time to enjoy ourselves! We managed to squeeze in an over night stay in a safari park (Lake Nakuru), which was incredible - we had leopards and buffalo in the front garden. Lake Nakuru is famous for its collection of flamingos, but sadly the lack of rain has reduced the size of the lake causing the flamingos to drop in number - but it was still an amazing place.

Final Thoughts?
We hope to have a evening in the New Year for anyone (employees, friends family etc) who is interested in finding out in more detail what it is we saw and how we see our involvement with HOPE HIV developing over the next 12 months, we will let you all know as soon as we have set a date.