August Outreach

Due to our busy schedule in the month of July, we were unable to have our monthly outreach in Oyugis. This was accessioned partly by the summer holidays and us going for the No- Ego retreat in South Africa. On the Thursday of 26^th we were on the road again to Oyugis for our monthly outreach work.

Hill Breeze Orphan School

The first day we went there, they welcomed us with presentations performed by the students. The guardians and the teachers were also in hand to receive us. Unfortunately time flew so fast that by the time they were done with their presentation, we were already getting late for our meeting with the Kokech women support group. It’s sometimes hard sticking on a schedule when dealing with this community. We decided to return the next day to have a longer time with the children. We were there from 11am- 1pm. The yoga session with the orphans was done in a different way. Fazilah infused storytelling with yoga poses to keep the children on their feet. This was a way of teaching yoga to children in a way that will keep them interested and have fun at not only listening but also doing the poses and relaxation thereafter. She awarded small gifts to children who excelled in their exams last school term. This was meant to motivate them for their efforts and to encourage the rest to work hard. Those who were most active during the yoga session also received small gifts. Fazilah met in private with the physical education teacher and gave him practical lessons on how he could incorporate yoga into the PE curriculum. This way the children wouldn’t have to wait until we came back visiting for them to keep up with their practice. She left a write up on how the teacher could assist them in their practice.

Kokech Women Support Group

We had to rush from Hill breeze orphan school on the first day to catch up with our meeting with this group. We found them patiently waiting for us when we got there. After exchanging pleasantry they shared with us on how they were fairing with their own home practice. Before starting the yoga session they all changed into the track bottoms trousers, which holistic community had given them from the donations of well wishers back in Nairobi, ready for the days yoga session. They were new women who had joined the group who had been introduced to yoga by the other members. They too joined the session. And what a great session it was for them doing each pose gracefully without limitations of movements as a result of the track bottoms. In this community, women are not exposed to wearing trousers. Way before the donation of the track bottom trousers, the yoga session was limited to a few poses which dint requires lifting and spreading of legs. Now that was a thing of the past for those who received the track bottoms.

Imani Youths

Some of the youth group members are already partaking in sewing lessons thanks to a sewing machine donation procured by Cindy Kerr. They showed us some of their work. They had made stitches on dress cuttings made from paper as their practical lessons. Afterwards we had a yoga session in a beautiful open field.

Home visits: Janet

Janet is a single mom living with HIV/ AIDS. She is paralyzed from the waist going down. As result of this, she is not able to walk and crawls on the floor for her movement form point A-B.  Due to her condition, she receives home-based care from Imani caregivers on regular visits. We do visit her for moral and motivational supports since we cant do yoga or any form of exercises. This is part of our home visits to bed ridden people. Since the last time we visited her in May, her condition has worsened. She can no longer crawl on her knees. They have become weak and painful. She has been confined to her bed where she is attended to her every need by her mom and sister in-law. One thing that always encourages us when we visit her is her strength and positive outlook towards life despite her condition. She is always jovial and happy to receive visitors. She just emits such great determination and strength that just admirable. All she asked for is that we remember her in our prayers and keep her in mind every time we are in the area.  Its just amazing being with her sharing her stories

We were on the road again back to Nairobi on Sunday morning having done our part with satisfaction. This work can only get better with each passing month. If you are a Holistic practitioner or well wisher and would like to partake in our outreach program in whichever way you can, you are welcomed to talk to us. Get involved as there is always something that you can do to better the lives of others