Day 37: Mainland Lamu

We were taken by boat to the Mainland. As we sailed through the mangroves so many ideas start flowing and Chelsey and I can’t stop talking about Mother Nature and her beauty. The mainland was a surreal experience. There are no cars in Lamu, just donkeys and footsteps. The architecture looks like something out of Disney’s Aladin fairytale. The doors are exquisitely carved with welcoming designs. The energy is alive and the people all stare. We go by foot between the tall buildings in search of Mohammed Ali. He is on the community of the Lamu Conservation Trust and we want to work with him to cover their story. We climb the stairs to his house and in the distance there are the faint sounds of Muslim prayers and screeching donkeys. The sent is spicy and the feeling is safe.  Mohammed and his big belly greet us with a smile, “Karibu” he says, “sit, welcome.” Mohammed is a good man. His ancestors lived off the land he wishes to preserve. At the end of our surprising conversation, Mohammed quotes the Koran by telling us that the best gift to give someone is water. One day we will all fight for water. He explained that as a human race we were given nature. If we don’t respect the land given to us Mother Nature will take its revenge on us all. We must preserve our land.  Within the infinite African landscapes, great regions of wildlife and indigenous forestry grow gradually scarcer. Abundant acres of precious land bordering national parks and reserves are slowly being demolished. It is up to us to make a change!

Day 15: Tambuzi

The name Tambuzi comes from the mixture of two driven, hardworking and unique characters, Maggie and Tim. The word buzi is the Swahili word for “goat.”

From this unique blend stems the magnificent rose farm. On the foot of Mount Kenya Tambuzi- stop and smell the roses. Rose farming in Kenya is notorious for its negative impact on the environment. I decided it was something we had to see for ourselves. We arrived at the farm and on the first tree is a sign saying, “Protect our environment.” This farm is as beautiful as the flowers it produces. At the moment there are 230 employees, this can double according to the seasons. After spending time with some of the staff members, it was clear that the farm has a healthy working relationship, it is not only the fresh smell of roses that puts a smile on everyone’s faces but the directors of the farm care for their staff and their environment and thus listen to the peoples needs. With companies like White Rose Foundation, who give a percentage of each stem bought back to the employee, these needs can be answered.  According to Christine, who runs HR on the farm, when all the percentages were added together, the staff compiled a list of requests for how the funds should be used.  Tambuzi and White Rose foundation joined forces and introduced a solar lighting project that was the most urgent need.  This concept has revolutionized how the staff live. Before people would be forced to use paraffin which is not only eco-destructing but also expensive and not easily accessible. Paraffin burns quickly and thus kids could not do their homework and would spend the night in complete darkness. The solar lamp has four lights with extension cords and can light a small home for seven hours. At the base there is also a connection to charge a mobile phone and play a small radio. The solar light has made such an impact, that families of the staff members are desperate to have them in their homes. Tambuzi arranged a special price to ensure another, approximately, 250 solar lamps. 580 people in Kenya now used solar lighting. Not only is this a huge improvement on the carbon footprint but it also saves people time money and energy.  “I was using three litres of paraffin a month, my children could not do their homework. I had to walk 8km to charge my cell phone. My kids can now do homework up to 11pm at night and I can charge my cell phone. I am so happy for the solar lamp” was the response from Regina (Tambuzi rose picker) when we asked her about the lamp. At the coffee shop today I saw Tambuzi roses; there was a warm feeling in my heart when we purchased a bunch. I have a new appreciation for roses and the people who cultivate them.