Galana Ranch Project

The Galana Ranch Project is a missionary project supported by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. Grenville and George, a very enthusiastic Irish couple, are over at the moment running the project from here in Malindi.

I was first introduced to this project the last time I was here 2 years ago, then by Derek another Irish fella, over doing his bit.

At that time, Derek had just started teaching the community, former hunters(which is now illegal) farming, using irrigation techniques. He also had the vision of a school and clinic, to serve the 10 or so communities in the area.

Now 2 years on, I went up again to see how it all is, and see how the donation of money for a diesel water pump and my bike had helped.




To get over to the community land one must drive across a river, always good fun.
Here the water level is actually quite low!
When the children were going to their old school, they would have to cross this river, at least once on their weekly trip, having walked the 20km in the hot, lion filled bush, they would then wade through the river, hoping the crocs and hippos wouldn't get them everytime they did this.

Once on community land I got to see the dream, the school is now built, which I still can't believe. These massive buildings are in the middle of nowhere! The bush just clears away and there it all is.


The school has 8 classrooms, and having been open only 3 months, already has 150 primary school pupils.
The diesel pump, which was originally used by a farmer to irrigate 2 acres of land, supplied all the water needed to build the school. A proud realisation for any pump buyer, which some you guys were, as it was bought with some of the money raised for my last trip here.
My bicycle was given to the pastor in the area, but he now has a motorbike to keep communications flowing in the area, and one of the villages have the bike.


The clinic, which will the finished very soon, is going to be powered by solar energy, sponsored by fantastic friends of Hilary's. I'm currently looking into erecting a radio mast, so to be able to have communications with ADC government centre in the area, if and when help is needed. There ain't no mobiles in this town!!

This project is going from strength to strength, and it only officially gets opened next February! Keep the diary open!


Lindsay

Posters in Schools

Full steam ahead!

Right.....eh well, should probably have writen before now, as now so much has happened and I'm thinking there's a lot to say.
First of all, I have a great house to myself now, think colonial Africa, not Africa Africa, white folk are expected to live in a big house with security, so that's what I'm doing. I have a 2 bedroom house, which is fairly big, but safe, which always helps. It's in Malindi, which is the centre of it all here up the coast from Mombasa. It's a great place and even has a mango tree in the front garden which is getting nicely weighted down with fruit!

On the PC front, it is all go. I've been to visit a few schools, unfortunately some visits have found that computers are not being used at all or badly, and I've taken action to fix all that.
We now have clear rules as to what a school must provide and adhere to. Most importantly UPS's, a battery backup device. Power here comes and goes everyday, but also surges and this destroys the computers when they aren't connected through these.
This has been happening a lot at one school Baranni Secondary School and today I came and took away 20 broken and used parts. They now have to buy the correct amount of UPS's (1 per 2 computers) to continue getting any more computers. They are using 19 already, without the correct backup, and its a tough one to be hard on them. But they are causing a lot of damage to their(our) equipment.


I have set up one new school with computers so far, this is Gede Primary School. Myself and Hilary installed 6 computers and a printer last week, and then got them going with software etc.



They will then qualify for more computers once they get a computer teacher and the next school year starts, and they show interest and progress.

It's great the see, not just the kids but the teachers as well taking such an interest in the computers. When we started the installation in Gede, people just kept coming in and using the computers straight away. Working out how to type and trying the work out how to double click.

With programs like Encarta Encyclopia there are just wide eyed stares, it's brilliant to see!!!

A shortage I have over here is parallel printer cables and computer mouse. So if anyone has any spare lying around, a friend is coming over in a few weeks, and he could bring them over! Hint hint! Email me if you can help! Thanks.

It's going well over here, trying to keep up with computers plans, find schools and equipment and then go adventuring as well. Heading for an adventure to Mombasa tomorrow for supplies, local buses are SOOOOO much fun here, anything can happen!!

Kwahare!

LindsayBaranni Secondary School.
The pupils are sitting their state final school exam in computers this week.

Arrived and settling in......

Hey! I made it!..... I have much longer arms than I did before from carrying 15kgs of hand luggage in shopping bags, but all is good! NB if you want to bring loads of extra stuff with you when flying, just stick it all in shopping bags, and no one thinks twice! That 23kg limit is so ickle anyway!

I arrived in Malindi (Kenya) on Wednesday afternoon, having got 3 planes and wondered around numerous terminal buildings. I'm staying with Grenville, George and their 3 kids, (an Irish couple who were here last time I was) in "moderite" accomadation. But this is only a short lived affair, as I'm going looking at houses now for myself today.

Weather here is nice and hot, lots of sun, and I've been told that it rains in the morning, but haven't noticed that time of the day yet.
Meeting with lots of people, getting to know what's going on in the town, people call this networking, I call it having a drink!

Confat came up from the LoveSHACK in Nairobi, to collect all the goodies I brought over from Sam, and also to leave Nativity sets that are being brought over to Dublin to be sold at christmas stalls. These funds are then coming back for the LoveSHACK to keep them going and growing!
Its great to be involved in all these linkings of people!
Hilary (big chief of PCs for Africa) and we are planning what my exact course of action will be to help with this project, will keep you posted on that!

Right so!

Keep them emails coming to me, its a little quiet here compared to Dublin life at the moment, so it's nice to hear the chat!

Below are some contact details for ya!


Lindsay


Lindsay Rountree
PO BOX 1530
Maindi
Kenya

+254 736 560999 - Mobile

lindsaysafricaproject@way-out-woop-woop.com