Working in Somali-land highlights
During 2002, I was part of an International team of aid and relief workers who worked for an NGO, HOPE Worldwide, in Hargeisa, Somali-land. We were involved with educational and health care projects and partnered with other NGO's such as UNICEF, UNDP, and WHO.
We also conducted minor trips and outreaches to Nairobi, Kenya, and also Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Read about my experiences in Somali-land during 2002.
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| Somali-land is an independent country in Northern Somalia |
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| More about Somali-land |
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| More about Hargeisa |
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| Education specialist for Hope Worldwide |
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| The Hargeisa children's home, our main project |
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| Hargeisa Children's Home scenery |
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| Hargeisa Children's Home scenery |
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| Educational programs |
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| Construction of the UNICEF sponsored playground |
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| Volunteering for other NGO projects |
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| Our partners & supporters |
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| The HOPE team |
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| The HOPE exploits |
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| HOPE support staff |
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| More about Hargeisa |
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| Somali newspaper |
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| Somali Shillings |
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| Dressing as the locals |
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| Local travel experiences |
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| Life in Hargeisa |
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| Interaction with the community |
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| Life at home |
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| Home entertainment |
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| The romantic side of things. A bit like 'Out of Africa' |
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| Rural Somali-land |
My favorite pics of Somaliland.....uniquely Somali
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| Goat waiting for the bank to open |
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| Transportation Somali style |
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| Remnants of civil war littering the landscape |
Working in Nairobi (2002)
About Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. It is famous for having the Nairobi National Park, the world's only game reserve found within a major city. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to "cool water". The phrase is also the Maasai name of the Nairobi River, which in turn lent its name to the city. However, it is popularly known as the Green City in the Sun and is surrounded by several expanding villa suburbs. Nairobi was founded in 1899 by the colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway. The town quickly grew to replace Machakos as the capital of Kenya in 1907. After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya. During Kenya's colonial period, the city became a center for the colony's coffee, tea, and sisal industry. The city lies on the River Athi in the southern part of the country and has an elevation of 1,795 meters above sea level (Wikipedia).
Read more about BuruBuru, the suburb in Nairobi where I lived with 7 Kenyans.
Read more about BuruBuru, the suburb in Nairobi where I lived with 7 Kenyans.
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| living in Nairobi |
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| My home |
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| In the yard, enjoying some sun |
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| Uchumi supermarket in Buru Buru, where we shopped |
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| Our house in Buru Buru |
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| Nearby homes and street scenery |
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| Nairobi scenery |
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| Downtown Nairobi |
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| Stanley and I exploring Nairobi |
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| Downtown Nairobi |
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| The colorful Matatu buses |
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| Sidewalk markets and informal trading |
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| Nairobi streets |
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| Lots of these children begging There are of many of them who specialize in pickpocketing |
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| Nairobi |
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| The financial district |
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| Downtown Nairobi |
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| Bustling Nairobi |
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| A matatu bus at night |
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| Inside a matatu bus |
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| Hope projects, raising HIV/Aids awareness in slums |
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| Information and informal talks about HIV/Aids |
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| Poverty in Nairobi |
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| Slum scenery |
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| Housemates, friends & colleagues |
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| Lunch with colleagues at the YMCA in Nairobi |
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| Making coffee at the ICOC & Hope office |
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| Freddie, a housemate, and friend |
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| Stanley, also a housemate and friend |
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| Jared Odwalo, the house leader and a very good friend |
Working in Addis Ababa (2002)
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| Addis Ababa |
About Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa "new flower"; "Natural Spring(s)") or Addis Abeba , is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It has a population of 3,384,569 according to the 2007 population census, with an annual growth rate of 3.8%. As a chartered city (ras gez astedader), Addis Ababa has the status of both a city and a state. It is where the African Union is and its predecessor the OAU was based. It also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and numerous other continental and international organizations. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the political capital of Africa" for its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent (Wikipedia).
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| Engaging with locals and friends |
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| With some of the neighborhood kids |
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| After I had an Ethiopian haircut |
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| With church members |
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| These handmade traditional shirts were given to us after a church service |
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| Chris in conversation with Solomon, with whom we stayed |
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| Dinner with church members |
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| Addis streets |
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| Addis Ababa |
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| street scene from a market rooftop |
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| Addis street scene |
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| Bus station |
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| Street scene from a market rooftop |
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| Poverty in Addis is quite rife |
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| Street scenes from market roof |
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| Ethiopian market |
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| Addis scenery |
After 5 months in Somali-land, Kenya, and Ethiopia, having the adventure of a lifetime, our project was cut short by geopolitical circumstances, such as 9/11 beyond our control. Sadly,due to safety and security reasons, our project was brought to a halt quite prematurely, and we returned to our respective countries.
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