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My good friend Janet drove us to the Pearson International airport, toronto, arriving about 3pm. Thanks Janet, I owe you one!!!!! We met 3 of our team members there and left toronto at 6:30 pm. After a four hour layover in London, Heathrow, we set off for Nairobi. We were met by Charles, our driver for the next two weeks, and arrived at Heart Lodge, our home away from home at approximately midnight. Then off to bed--- was nice to stretch out after the long flights!!!
We met with members of the Rotary Club of Nairobi at 9:30 am the next morning, and discussed plans for the upcoming distributions. We then travelled to an upscale shopping centre where we changed money to the local currency of schillings. We had to pass through a security check before entering the mall, a result of the terrible killing of 47 people at a mall, a few years ago. After a nice lunch, we headed out to tour a few business that provided some of the products for the bedkits.
The first was meeting Piscilla who produced 4000 school bags. Her place of business was a 4x6 dimmly lit steel sided room with four sewing machines. She was so proud of her business and we were thrilled to be there. The next place was a large enterprise that made the foam mattresses. We enjoyed an extensive true of the factory and are now much more knowledgable about the foam mattress production.
We the. Visits a business located in a small bungalow that produced the sweaters. Again, the quarters were very cramped but much larger than the school bag business. Finally we travelled through the largest of seven slum areas in Nairobi to visit the site where the bedkits were stored. This was in a large government owned agricultural park. It took us about an hour to an hour and a half to travel slowly through the slums and was unbelievable to our Canadian eyes. We know we are fortunate but this trip emphasized it to words and feelings I can't describe!!!
Back to Heart Lodge, supper and bed!!!
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