Still today, people with disabilities in Kenya are shunned from society and viewed a curse to their families. Fortunately, there are a group of people in Mombasa who are working together to change people’s view of the disabled, and also working to help them change their views of themselves. We had the opportunity to visit Bombolulu Workshop and Cultural Centre, which enables person with physical disabilities to overcome their limitations by empowering them economically and socially so that they become fully integrated members of their communities. Bombolulu was established in 1969 as a project of the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya. The project trains and employs over 170 people with disabilities in handcraft production.
We were greeted at the center by Ali, who was a true example of the mission of Bombolulu. Although he is visually impaired, he happily showed us the workshops including jewelry making, leather working, textiles, wood carving, a nusery, and a cultural center. As we walked through each workshop we were welcomed by the warm faces busily working of their craft. Each person in the center has been trained in a specific skill, and for 8 hours a day they work to create beautiful handicrafts that are then sold to generate money for the center. As a team we were very impressed with their ablility to overcome their disability to create pieces of art and jewelry that surpass the skills of our own.
If you would like to learn more about Bombolulu, check out their website at www.apdkbombolulu.com
I would also just like to say hi to my 5th grade students at San Onofre School! I got to feed a giraffe (they have very long and sticky tounges!), see the Indian Ocean, taught some kids place value, and shook my booty with Swahili dancers! I hope you are all well and I miss you very much. P.S. – Kole, the ants out here are huge just like you said they would be!
Love,
Ms. Just
Jessica and team,
How very humbling for everyone! I wish you could share everything you are doing over there because it sounds so rewarding! I wish you all continued safety and may you make a difference in their lives by being there. I know they have already changed your lives!
God Bless You!
Krissy
Ms. Just,
It looks like you are having a fun time! We hope that you learn alot. We are learning alot by reading the blog and taking notes! The pictures of the wild life we printed out look pretty cool. We can’t believe you fed a giraffe! We are curious what the places that you are staying in are like. Have you worn your bee catcher’s hat yet? Kole thinks it is really cool that you saw the ants! We miss you, but Mrs. Bowser is awesome too (They made me type that!)
Love,
Your rockin’ Just kids
P.S. Have a good time traveling to Nairobi
Ms. Just,
It looks like you are having a fun time! We hope that you learn alot. We are learning alot by reading the blog and taking notes! The pictures of the wild life we printed out look pretty cool. We can’t believe you fed a giraffe! We are curious what the places that you are staying in are like. Have you worn your bee catcher’s hat yet? Kole thinks it is really cool that you saw the ants! We miss you, but Mrs. Bowser is awesome too (They made me type that!)
Love,
Your rockin’ Just kids
P.S. Have a good time traveling to Nairbi
P.S#2. Sorry if we posted this twice! We were not sure if it posted the first time or not!
Ms. Just,
We have tried to post a comment a few times, however for some reason it is not showing up! We thought we would try again. How are you doing? Thank you for writing us a little personal note in your post. We really enjoy following you by tracking you on the blog and taking notes on each entry. We can’t believe that you fed a giraffe! Have you worn your bee keeper’s hat yet? What are the places you are staying in like? We miss you, but Mrs. Bowser is taking good care of us (The made me write that!
We hope to hear from you again soon!
Love,
Your rockin’ Just Kids
Hi, Miss Silva
Is Africa pretty? Do you see a lot of animals? Do you see some giraffes? I miss you for RTI. I wish you’re having a good day. I wish you’re having a good time at Africa. Are you Starvin Marvin? Do you like Africa?
Love, Cassie
Hi, Miss Silva
A’marie and I miss you a whole bunch! We talk about you all the time after school. I hope you stay healthy!
Love, Megan
Ms. Just,
Keep shaking that booty and making a difference around the world. I am glad to hear things are going so well! I look forward to hearing more about it! Be safe.
Besos de la jirafa,
Ms. Abbie
Aunt Kelli,
We hope you are having fun in Africa. It is nice to see other kids around the world going to school. My Dad tells me that being a student is my job and I have to work really hard at it. I try and I also have fun with all my friends. We are tracking you as you move around Africa. I don’t think Madison understands when I tell her where you are. She just smiles and says Da-da. She is silly. Please say HI! to all the animals but don’t get to close to them.
Love,
McKenna and Madison
Hi Liza-
OMG- I am so impressed with what you are doing! So many times people talk, but so few do….you are one of the few. I am proud of you and I all of HMS is proud. We miss you so much……the ASB is not the same without Ms. Flowers. I can’t believe the odds that both the teachers and the students have to overcome in Africa…it is definitely a humbeling moment for us to remember how fortunate we are in life and not to sweat the small stuff. I wanted to say “Hi” and to stay safe and you are thought of daily. See you soon!
Julie HTM History Teacher
Heyy Ms. Flowers!!! Its Kassy and I writing to you. So far everything in the ASB is going very good. We are all doing good. Well actually April had a little incident in PE. She hurt her ankle but is doing better. We are all so proud of what you are doing. It’s sad what those children have to go through to get an education while we get ours free. It really makes Kassy and I grateful for being able to go to school. We really miss you but are glad that you get such an AWESOME opportunity to observe the kids in Africa. Tell them all that we say HI!
MISS YOU LOTS && HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!!!!!!!