Transforming educational and cultural exchanges
Eldoret, Kenya and IUPUI
For an ever so brief discussion, let's take up the question of your perceptions of Kenya. Not familiar with Eldoret? A western Kenyan city hosting the IU Kenya partnership providing AMPATH treatment of HIV and AIDS, Eldoret is the sister city to Indianapolis. Famous for marathon runners who practice at the Moi University sports field, Eldoret is a beautiful, lush, garden community that suffered most tragically from post - election violence n January and February 2008. You may have heard of a church in which women and children were burnt to death. Unfortunately, this occurred in Eldoret.
Tell us about your perceptions of Kenya and of Eldoret in particular”
Tell us about your perceptions of Kenya and of Eldoret in particular”
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Kamiri on -
I forgot to mention that computer studies is my best subject. I am excited to be join this discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eunice Karanja Kamaara on -
Thank you Bayan for the observation: “The more different people I meet and places I go, the more I realize that people are not all that different in fundamental ways. Cultural norms and customs may differ, but people share similar hopes and desires.” Nothing could be truer. It is because of the common humanity that we share that we are able to understand one another in this forum. If we were fundamentally different, then instead of feeling the pain we from Kenya feel when we remember the events of the post election period, our friends in from the US for example would be laughing at us. Yes Bayan, we have similar hopes and desires. This is what drives us to want to ‘wire peace’ (I love this expression)across the globe. In this ‘wiring’ age we realize that all of us are interconnected whether we are aware of it or not. We are in a global village and therefore what happens in one corner of the village may have serious implications for us in another corner. Here I fully agree with Andrea that we need to care for each other now that we are all living in the same village.
As a scholar of religious studies I like Martin’s sharing especially on the question of the role of the church in building peace or violence. Because about 80% of all Kenyans claim to be Christian, one wonders who was killing, blocking roads, burning houses, raping, among other evil acts. I don’t know if this is true but I heard that some church leaders were blessing young people to go out “fight for our rights” believing that God was on their side. If this is true, the leaders must have been guided by warped theology which seeks to twist God’s thinking and therefore God’s will to be our thinking and therefore our will. The challenge is for us to seek to conform our will to God’s will not he other way round. I think the Church in Kenya (myself included now that am a Christian) needs to reexamine itself and seek to be ‘the salt of the earth’.
Naomi, I shiver to realise that what is not normal can actually turn normal. Some countries have had war over three generations. Sri Lanka for example has been at war for the last 28 years!
Thank you, Michael, for your concern for Kenyans. Yes, the power sharing deal is working out well. The other day I sat with our Minister for foreign affairs on a domestic flight and since this is a very rare opportunity for me to get first hand information on government I decided to chat him up rather than waste the opportunity. At some point I asked him: “Is the grand coalition working”. He replied: “It is doing very well. The thing is that we have no choice; the coalition must work”. I was happy to hear a senior government person say this. So I guess we are fine. God bless our country. National elections in Kenya come every five years and the presidential candidate has a maximum of two terms. This means that our current president will not be running in 2012.
Michael, you are welcome to Kenya. This is so beautiful a country with such friendly people you will be so happy when you land here. We have Sun and Sand throughout the year, we have beautiful snowy mountains, we have the Great Rift Valley, the BIG five (elephant, lion, giraffe, buffalo, and rhino), great cultures, etc. Plan to set foot on this country some day.
Tblazic, thank you also for your concern for Kenya and for your contribution. I see you have some good knowledge of Kenya from your geography class. Lake Victoria is the largest lake and provides livelihoods to many East Africans especially those who live around it who are called Luo. But Kenya has such diverse cultures that some Kenyans do not eat fish!
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Permalink Reply by shane carte` on
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I have a friend that was born in the US but had lived in Kenya for most of his life. From his switch to his Kenyan english accent and the inspiration from Kenya in his artwork were about all I knew about Kenya before being exposed to the news about the violence. The only negative comments from him about Kenya was the corruption in the government, but that it was a tainted drop in how good Kenya was to him.
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Permalink Reply by Yadira Russell on -
Hi everyone
I wasn't really worried about the problem from my black brother's in Africa since I study Anthropology class this summer, I'm afro antillana black women from Panama country and I meet interesting women from Kenya and Simbawe that became to be once's at my best friend. While I get to know them I felt that I want to know more and more above them, hear all kind of stories about their country and share about my country too, and tell them how much struggle I had had went I came to USA just because I'm black latino woman, Althougth (White) and (Black) people treat me better than my own race " Latinoamerican" It's very sad but it was really true story but still my experiences doesn't have anything to do with the news from Kenya or from the eldoret problems. However, make me felt so sadness to read and see by the TV all the violences that they suffers just because they want to vote for their election . I think they have the rigth to be a good citizen and exercising their power for their country which others doesn't accepted . So it's no fair and not rigth for many of are brother's . Also it's very sad that we don't do enougth to help. I know that each country have different Polices but doesn't mean that we can't support them . I wish that many people changes their point of view and contribute for this beautiful country.By the way, we should learn from China, they are doing bussiness with are brother's in Congo!
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Permalink Reply by Megan Lease on -
Being a runner, I've always been aware of and watched some amazingly fast Kenyan runners. I also was aware of the post election violence in Kenya because of news stories. I, however, was not aware to what extent the violence was occuring. This past year was the first time I was able to vote and I did not have to think twice about someone causing me harm for casting my ballot. The ability to vote and have and state my own opinions on candidates is important to me. I cannot imagine having to suppress my opinions for fear of harm being done to myself or my family. All this being said, I think this discussion is a great opportunity to interact with others around the globe and learn about current world issues!
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Permalink Reply by Ellen on
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I have to admit that before taking this class I had not heard of Eldoret. The information that I have heard in class about all of the post election violence astonishes me. I could not even fathom having to fear for my life after voting. I feel so blessed that I am able to have the right to vote and can do so in peace; it is a shame that the rest of the world can not do the same. I do have to admire those Kenyans that did vote and risked their lives to do so. It is a shame that more people in the US don't vote, after all they have nothing to fear. This was a horrible tragedy and I am glad that Kenya was able to resolve the issues before more lives were lost. As for those that did lose their lives, it is a shame, and it goes to show us that we should appreciate everything that we have and to not take anything for granted.
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Permalink Reply by Gilbert Mbaka Nduru on -
Greetings to you all,
Its great reading what others say about Kenya. I too wish to add a bit to the discussion at least to shed some temporal as well as spatial light from my perspective as a geographer. I have interacted with many people from all walks of life either in Kenya or abroad and the comments I have always heard from them have also added to my understanding of Kenya. Of course being Kenyan by birth has given me first experience on what Kenya and Kenyans are.
As a country on a world map, Kenya is located on the eastern part of the continent of Africa, one of the five major continents or the world. It is bordered by countries including Ethiopia to the North, Sudan to the North West, Uganda to the West, Tanzania to the South and Somalia to the East. The South Eastern part is washed by the Indian ocean, which bequeaths Kenya with beautiful beaches and coral reefs that a world renown tourist attractions year in year out. The equator strides halfway the country, so we enjoy a tropical climate through out the year. For those who love great weather, Kenya is the place to be, especially when you want to be away winter.
Kenya is 42 nations in one state, a country rich with in cultural, religious, economics and political diversities. She is not only home to the native communities, but also to many immigrants from Asia and Europe, who have long lived and some how became naturalized as Kenyans. Besides there is a whole mix of refugee communities from all over Africa. In Kenya you will find the whole of Africa at home. That is why she fits to be described as a land of diversity.
The reasons for this are many and numerous. They are emended in our history and geography, perception we all should embrace if we have to understand Kenya, Kenyans and their strive in life. The natural resource base and the environments created through human interaction with each other and nature, time tested and resilient technologies and knowledge for managing them, have shaped peoples belief systems, life choices, practices, relationships, politics and etc of Kenyans.
to be more spatially specific, let me inform us that Kenya has diverse climatic and relief context. Topographic jointly with climatic conditions form the basis of the major ecological regions including: the Coastal region-a narrow 10km strip on average rising to an altitude of 150m asl. Then we have the Nyika Plateau: a relatively high area to the east and south east of the country that rises in altitude between 150m to 1500m asl. This zone has rainfall ranging on average between 750mm to 1000mm. The other major region is the Mountain landscapes, which compose mot of central and Western Kenya. These are areas that rise up in altitude 0ver 1500m to as high as 5199m and have the best climate in the country as far as rainfall reliability is concerned. They have well developed, fertile soils which make them areas of high agricultural potential. They are divided down the middle by another very magnificent zone commonly referred to as the Rift valley. This is an elongated depression formed between faults in the earth's crust. It stretches southwards from Jordan in the Middle east, along the Red sea, cutting down the Ethiopian Highlands through Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi into Mozambique at a point called Beira. The Kenya highlands are thus divided into eastern and Western highlands.
Beyond the Western highlands is a huge depression covered by a lake called Victoria, the third largest fresh water lake in the world. Many rivers flow from the Western Kenya highlands into this lake. But Kenya and her societies are not, according to a agreement made between Britain and Egypt in 1922, supposed to tap any water from this lake. it is all meant to flow down to feed the Egyptian economy.
Then there is the Northern Lowlands. they generally have altitude ranging averaging 750m, although there are pocket highlands like Mt. Marsabit which rise up to about 3650m. The entire northern Lowland region is generally arid, receiving rainfall on average to the tune of 750mm per year, with most areas receiving lower than 500mm per year. The pattern of rainfall is therefore sporadic and generally unreliable for any meaningful crop growing. water to communities in these areas more than gold. The availability of water is often major cause of conflicts among pastoral nomadic who predominate the region.
And you know what........ I think I need to know whether am pouring too much geo-spatial jargon to us that may be just a bore. I think i could continue next as we cannot exhaust everything there is in this perceptive of Kenya at a single sitting.
Gilbert
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Permalink Reply by Eunice Karanja Kamaara on
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Hi Gilbert,
Welcome to global visits. I am so excited that you have finally joined this forum. Karibu sana. Thank you also for the background information on Kenya. It provides good information to help us understand Kenyan perspectives.
regards,
Eunice
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Permalink Reply by Rev. Dr. Addie S. Robb on -
What a delight it was for me to visit Kenya and to arrive in Eldoret. I was visiting with Apostle Albert Nasiali two weeks before the battles over government. I just to say, I will be back in August 2009 and I just want to suck on more sugar cane. It was absolutely delicious. I found the people wonderful and why not, when I look in the mirror I can see them looking back at me.
God bless and I look forward to my trip in August 2009.
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A 'Wired' Mission
Go anywhere in the world, and we are 'wired' together by advancing technology. But we have yet to figure out how to 'wire' peace. Our mission is to use this technology to leap over vast cultural and geographical divides, linking students and teachers together, to talk with each other, laugh together, collaborate in a project, share pictures of our families, our favorite songs.....to be friends.
For several years, Global Visits was a pioneer using modern communications technology to linking people together from diverse cultures. We called our efforts 'non traditional' student exchanges.
Now, we join the world of 'social networking' with a serious purpose: peace and understanding.
For several years, Global Visits was a pioneer using modern communications technology to linking people together from diverse cultures. We called our efforts 'non traditional' student exchanges.
Now, we join the world of 'social networking' with a serious purpose: peace and understanding.
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