Less like a dream, more like a reality...

Things are starting to gel.  Or maybe I've thrown out so many hooks that sooner or later, I had to get few bites.  Just the other day somebody said to me, "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to get your Prince" good analogy.  It seems like I'll be doing one hell of a lot of frog kissing to get my fairy tale ending, so pucker up....

This morning I received an encouraging email of support from the founder of Education For All, a truly inspirational gentleman that I feel so lucky to have had the good fortune to meet.  He reconfirmed a very generous offer, of a donation to my auction of a piece art by his wife.  I know I keep saying it, but people are just so giving. I can't ever repay people for all they are doing to help me, I can promise to try my hardest to not let anybody down.

Yet another great donation from an Auckland icon today.  SkyWalk at Auckland's Sky Tower, have generously donated a SkyWalk gift voucher to the value of $145:00 to my auction.  How cool would that be, looking down on the Auckland CBD from 192meters above the ground? 

To make this feel real, I have started to price up my flights for December, it seems my options are Emirates or Etihad Airways, both fly through Dubai and it seems the norm is between 34 and 38 hours traveling time to get there.

And to also get the ball rolling, I put a call through to the Travel Doctor to make enquires about the vaccinations required to travel to Kenya, the list though extensive doesn't seem unnecessary and better safe than sorry in my opinion.  A nurse explained the procedure of an initial consultation to determine what vaccinations I requirand what I have already been received.  It would seem I need to budget in the range of $600-$800, I had estimated $1,000 so I wasn't too far out.  

I'm starting to see this as a reality, and less of a dream now.  The confidence people have in me is so encouraging, I feel humbled to think people have that much faith in me.  I was reminded today by my youngest daughter, that I need to make a conscious effort to not talk to everybody about Kenya and fundraising.  I know it's hard to believe but apparently it isn't as all consuming to others as it is to me, as she so kindly pointed out.

So I do apologise if I'm boring the pants of people in the real world with my constant talk of Kenya, but if you've stumbled across this blog, I make no apology, as this blog is designed solely for the purpose of my ranting.

Asante
Jacq

PS: I have just been invited by Hallertau Brewbar to be the Quiz Mistress (heaven help me) for their Tuesday Quiz Night in an effort to raise money.  

Inspirational - Education For All

I received an email yesterday, from a local man who had read the article in the Western Leader about my planned trip to Kenya.  Via email, he outlined that he and his wife support a high school in the Huruma Slum area of Nairobi, and would be interested in meeting with me to discuss my plans and what I'm doing.  We exchanged a couple of emails over the course of the day, and agreed to meet for a coffee on Sunday morning at a local cafe.

Wow, what an inspiration!

Not unlike myself, he too he had an "epiphany"where it became apparent that if you want to make a difference, if you want help, you actually have to get off your backside and do it.  And yes, it is hard work and nobody is going to hand it to you on a plate but the rewards far outweigh the effort.

The backstory to this mans achievements is far to in-depth for me to do it justice in this simple blog.  But I assure you, from the donation of computers, creating of computer labs in this poorest of schools, establishing and facilitating the instillation of the internet into the school and the provision of e-Learning facilities, are just the tip of the iceberg.  Couple this with his passion to take a similar model to Tuvalu later this year.  And why Tuvalu? because as if he isn't doing enough, he has been part of a mentor programme in an Auckland school and has developed relationships with a number of people within the Tuvaluan community.

I urge you to take a look at his website for the organisation he founded, Education For All.  As I scroll through his website I quickly come to realise my plans pale by comparison. The good this man and the team he has created are doing, is phenomenal, I left the cafe inspired knowing now that my dream is totally doable.  I was humbled that he asked whilst in Nairobi, would I visit the Ndururuno Secondary School on his behalf to reconfirm that his project is still in place, how could I say no to such an honour?

And to top of one of the most inspirational hours I've spent in a long time, he then tells me his wife is an artist and they would like to donate one of her pieces to my Silent Auction.

How blessed am I?  Since starting on this journey to Kenya, so many wonderful people have already crossed my path.

Asante
Jacq