We got the grant!!

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire! I blink my eyes and it’s almost June! The time has gone so quickly lately. It’s hard to believe I haven’t set foot on American soil for nearly 10 months. I’ve recently collaborated with Dr. Jim Lemons, one of the neonatologists at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, on a grant, which was my first grant-writing experience. I’m SO excited to say that we received the funding for 10 Kindle Fires, as well as support to purchase many game and song applications. The Kindle Fires are very similar to iPads, but are a fraction of the cost.  Many Child Life workers in US hospitals use iPads for therapeutic purposes to distract patients from IV pokes, dressing changes or other painful procedures throughout their hospitalization.  I’ve really seen a need for something like this here in Kenyan hospitals where there are often no anesthetics available for the painful and traumatic procedures that the kids go through.  Tending to hospitalized children’s emotional and psychosocial needs is so very important, especially in a setting where they are often abandoned, neglected, or forgotten.  The timing of receiving the funding coincided perfectly with my Dad’s recent visit to Kenya. We were able to have the 10 Kindle Fires shipped to my parents’ house in Indy, then my dad brought them over to Kenya.  Many an hour has been spent setting up the Kindles—registering them, downloading and organizing apps, etc.  It hasn’t been easy considering that the internet is still shaky ever since a ship’s anchor hit the fiber optic cable under the Indian ocean back in April and messed up the internet connection. That still boggles my mind.  This week I’ll be presenting to the Kenyan ward workers about the best ways to use the Kindle Fires therapeutically, what games/apps are best for which age groups/developmental needs, etc.  It’s a bit strange to step into this “techie role,” but I’m definitely giving it a shot! Anyway, just wanted to share that exciting news.  I’ll keep you informed as we move forward. It makes me so proud to know that these 10 Kindles will stay behind, and that hospitalized kids will continue to benefit from them even after I’ve returned to the states. 

I realized I’ve never had courage to take my camera out when I go into downtown Eldoret.  The streets are very crowded and there are pick pocketers.  And further, my run-of-the-mill digital camera, which your average American has, costs more than most Kenyans make in probably half a year of work, so I just never thought it was a good idea.  But when my dad visited we were driving instead of walking, so he was able to snap some really great photos that may give you a feel for what Eldoret is like.  Another blog post to come soon about dad and my adventures earlier this month!

These are boda boda drivers, they're like a bike taxi. You hop on the seat behind them, hang on for dear life, and they take you where you want to go.

Lots of people making their way through town.

It's common to see someone pushing a bike loaded up with TONS of things: charcoal, wood, chickens, bananas, you name it.