Ties of Friendship

Iftin Friday Gathering
Every Friday, the Iftin ladies gather for a fun activity at the community centre. This week, Brianna led a class on making friendship bracelets. It was a huge hit as the ladies laughed and made many bracelets to give to friends.

Tristan & Erica

With our kids on summer break,

it was fun to have them all take part in

the fun activity with the refugee women.

Emma helping one of the Iftin ladies make her bracelet

Ava receiving a friendship bracelet from Farhiya

Ava making friends with a group of girls

on lunch break at the primary school

Ava telling a story to children gathered at our van

in the parking area of the community centre.

Afterward, Ava had fun sharing a bag of

lollipops with her new friends

During the activity, I think Erica made the most bracelets with dozens coming from her little work station. She left with a handful of yarn from an Oromo student, "Please teacher, make me one too!"

Friendship is one of those universal experiences that crosses cultural and religious boundaries. As part of the activity the ladies discussed what it means to be a friend: sharing, trust, keeping secrets, laughing, crying, having fun and, the greatest of all, love.

Farhiya giving Aaron a friendship bracelet

Stars of Peace

The Stars of Peace Youth Alliance

We met with a very excited Abdi Aziz earlier this week, as he was on his way to pick up the registration certificate for the Stars of Peace youth group -- now the Stars of Peace Youth Alliance. The group has formed a constitution and has expanded to include a diverse membership of young men and women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Along with participating in World Refugee Day held at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi on June 6th, the group has been invited to send delegates to the Global Youth Summit this October where they will participate in the World Youth Parliament.

"Exciting things are happening!" shared Abdi. "We have begun our alternative to violence project and together we are planting trees to help our environment." Within the Eastleigh Community Centre, the Stars of Peace have also joined our Iftin women in urban gardening with the addition of trees. We are very proud of these young men and women as they develop into great community leaders!

Laura Muema and Abdi Aziz

at the Eastleigh Community Centre

To learn more about the Stars of Peace Youth Alliance, friend them on Facebook or check out their websites at:

www.starsofpeaceyg.blogspot.com

www.starsofpeaceyg.spruz.com

Love and Affection

Eastleigh Community Centre

Today was the first day for Brianna to travel into Eastleigh with us, where they will be volunteering for the next two weeks with the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program at the Eastleigh Community Centre. Along with teaching in the English literacy project, they will be volunteering with the children's program in the kindergarten. Today the girls were greeted with hugs and high fives as the kids circled them with love and affection.

The children within the three pre-school classes are from the communities of Eastleigh and Mathare Valley. Although the children live in an impoverished part of the city, they are very energetic and happy kids. During their recess breaks, the sound of laughter and play is wonderful.

Today, as we were leaving the kindergarten section of the community centre, we were blessed by the sights of kids drawing in the sand; chasing after old tires; helping friends catch a bug; running and holding hands; and even one little boy trying to braid a little girl's hair.

You could not help but be struck by the images of both gentleness and playfulness.

Later in the day, on our way out of the community centre, I noticed another young girl comforting a friend with tears in her eyes. I have no idea the story behind those tears, but the tenderness and compassion of the little girl's friend was a beautiful thing to witness.

There are some universal gifts that God has put into the hearts of his children. We pray that where ever you are today, that you may have eyes to see the simple signs of the master's hand at work in the life of another.

Welcoming Brianna Crowe

This weekend, we are welcoming Brianna Crowe who will be a volunteering with us over the next three weeks in Kenya. Brianna is from Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada, and excited to be in Africa for the first time.

Ava feeding a giraffe

We had a fun time seeing elephants

and giraffe with the girls

Curious Warthog