It is almost impossible to describe what it is like to live in a third world developing country, particularly in a poor rural community like Kakamega Kenya where people struggle each day to survive.  If we lived in a world with no prospect that anything would ever change – would we survive?

Reflecting on the writings of American economist Robert Heilbroner in The Great Ascent : Struggle for Economic Development in our Time, the following describes what a typical Canadian family would need to surrender in order to live among the poorest of the poor in rural Kenya.

• Furniture – everything goes; beds, chairs, tables, television sets, lamps. The family will be left with a few old blankets, a kitchen table and one wooden chair.
• Wardrobe – along with the bureaus go the clothes. Each member of the family may keep the oldest suit or dress, a shirt or blouse. A pair of flip-flops is a luxury.
• Kitchen – appliances have already been taken out, so we turn to the cupboards…the box of matches may stay, a small bag of flour, some sugar and salt. A few moldy potatoes, already in the garbage can will provide much of tonight’s meal. Some maize and a handful of dried beans will create the one meal of the day. There is no meat, fresh vegetables canned goods or fruit.
• Bathroom – now dismantled, the running water shut off, the electric wires taken out. A latrine will be dug for family use.
• House – now a simple dwelling like a shed, grass hut with mud walls or a makeshift structure made of sticks, mud, fabric or other materials such as corrugated tin.
• Communications – no more newspapers, magazines, books, computers, telephones, cell phones, I-pads, pagers or video games.  A one battery radio is allowed since there is no electricity.
• Community Services – gone are mail delivery, social security, utilities such as hydro, water and telephone lines. There is a school, but it is 5 km away and it consists of four classrooms with 80-100 students in each. There are no hospitals or doctors nearby and the nearest clinic is 10 km away.  It can be reached by bicycle if the family has one.
• Money – each family will have $2Cdn or 200 KSh each day for daily expenses.  There may only be enough funds to pay the school fees for the eldest child.
• Household chores – if you are a female you are expected to manage the chores, gather firewood, cook, collect unclean drinking water from the closest stream (2km away) and tend to a small plot of land growing a crop or two.  Once a week you will walk to market to sell what is left over.

 

Question:  If we had to make the transition…would we survive under these conditions?

 

CES Canada is committed to reducing poverty, fighting HIV/Aids and providing hope through education.  Working in poor rural communities in Western Province Kenya, CES provides secondary school education for 160 students. Since 2005 – 650 scholarships have been awarded to needy students. All have been affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic and without support would be unable to attend school.

07.01.12