THE END (written June 29, 2009)

Reflecting on the past eight weeks, I find it very difficult to summarize my experiences and emotions and then squeeze them into two paragraphs to be posted on the web. There is no doubt in my mind that the 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has been overwhelmingly successful and in order to compartmentalize my thoughts, I’ve compiled a list of accomplishments and challenges that we’ve faced throughout our journey.

Highlights of the 2009 YESS/QHO Team

-We educated and empowered over 1200 secondary school students with knowledge on HIV/AIDS at five secondary schools in rural and urban Kenya.
-We contributed our unique abilities and cultural differences as Kenyans and Canadians respectively to the YESS/QHO project.
-We organized two simultaneous HIV testing days at Lake Solai and Seet Kobor Schools in which 233 students volunteered to be tested.
-We developed a workshop for prefects and peer-counselors on strategies to deal with abuse at Kiamunyi Secondary School
-We developed and distributed a resource manual of the YESS/QHO curriculum for students at each school we taught at.
-We coordinated a HIV testing and tree-planting outreach event at Mawe Secondary School in which around 200 students volunteered to be tested.
-We facilitated two community clean-up events with students.
-We successfully organized an inter-school football and VCT testing day in which 219 students and community members volunteered to be tested.

Lowlights of the 2009 YESS/QHO Project

-A YESS trainer named Roba never arrived for project for various reasons.
-Vanice was absent for three weeks to look after her mother in the hospital.
-We had to bribe corrupt police officers daily on route to schools.
-Two schools went on strike after teaching at them.
-Rono contracted malaria, but was back teaching the same day.
-Vanice fell sick with a case of typhoid fever but has since recovered fully.
-We experienced 6 flat tires, 1 engine breakdown, 2 wheels falling off the matatu and 1 head-on collision on route to schools.

It is because of these accomplishments and in light of the setback incurred that the 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has been so successful. The goals set in previous years have been eclipsed thanks to the tremendous efforts of everyone involved with YESS and QHO at every level and I am eternally grateful for the support from the family, friends and donors who have helped make this project come into fruition.

Cheers,

Bryan