Finally unloading the kidstokids Container

rs. Yesterday was the moment to unload the many school supplies that were sent to us through the kidstokids organization in Switzerland. Our crew was amazed to see them. They have never seens such quality school chairs. First they thought they were all for our office. Then I explained them that they will be given to our Kenyan schools in the region. They checked out the chairs themselves and couldn't believe that the height could be manually changed. Tegla Loroupe who will get part of the equipment for her new Peace School in Kapenguria can only organize the transport to her place in 2 weeks, so we brought them to a tent to store them in the meantime. The rest stays in the container for he moment until we have made the plan how to distribute them to our schools in Thugunui.

kidstokids Container opened

rs. Today we opened the container that we recently got thanks to the help of the Swiss kidstokids organization, a department of the International humanitarian organization "The Oneness-Heart Tears and Smiles". The container is full of school supplies and packages that were collected by children from Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Finland, for their little Kenyan brothers and sisters. Tomorrow we will start unloading the school banks and chairs that will be given to Tegla Loroupe for her Peace School in Kapenguria. All my crew is eager to help tomorrow because it is a special day for them to help unload the container and discover all the things she normally only dream of.


Mama Matata (Ruth Schäfer), director of the Rhein-Valley Hospital climbs as the first onto the gymnasium mattress in the container.

Container after long waiting on the way

rs. Finally we succeeded to get the final permissions for the long awaited container with school supply material and gifts for the Kenyan children. The container was organized by our partner, the kidstokids organization in Switzerland together with the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation and was blocked at the customs in Nairobi for many months. Countless telephone calls and personal visits at various offices were needed. Now, the truck is on the way but due to the heavy rain (see picture) and bad road conditions it could not make it up the mountain to Kasambara. After many tries the truck driver decided to wait until the sun will dry the muddy street - hopefully tomorrow! We will keep you posted.

Invited by Mr.Muhia and his family

sh. After enjoying our Sunday morning in the Nakuru park we could meet Mr. Meina Muhia (UN World Food Program) and his family in Nakuru town. We had lunch together and also could talk about the current situation in Kenya and tomorrow's food distribution to the IDP's - as we call them. Interdependent displaced people are in fact are not refugees. They will get again the portions for a full week. And Mr. Muhia promised that the sanitary installations also should arrive at the hospital by tomorrow. Although Monday will be a long working day I plan to go to Nairobi again to check the situation with the Container from kidstokids Switzerland who is blocked there since months. Perhaps we also get the licence plate for Mama Matata's car. We asked for it more than two years ago... Strong nerves are a big advantage in Kenya.

All those who are using Apple's new
OS X Leopard operating system;
this is a real one, taken in the Nakuru park by Stephan Holderegger

Kenya, also a paradise for zebras

270 water containers and 300 blankets arrived

sh. Today was a multifaceted day - regarding our work as well as the weather, which presented itself from the very hot to a fairly cold side. Early in the morning we got a call from Mr Meina Muhia (UN World Food Program) that he wanted to discuss the latest details about the sanitary installations and that 270 water containers for the refugees waited for us to be transported to the hospital. Then we controlled the last works to dig the necessary wholes for the toilets and showers. And finally the 300 blankets donated by the Swiss Red Cross arrived! Many thanks.

Mama Mata just got the promised 300 blanket from the Red Cross Switzerland through the intiative of Heinz Heer of "kidstokids".

Italians bring pharmaceuticals and more...

shh. We had a hard working day. Mama Matata and our book- keeper Niaga got a visit from a Government agent because of the papers for our container. In Kenya you learn to be patient. Today we also got a visit from three Italian friends: Enio, Gabriella and Gianni. They brought several pharmaceuticals as well as food and clothes for the refugees. Our Italian friends were enthusiastic about our work at the hospital. Last October they organized an exhibition with drawings from Italian children for their Kenyan brothers and sisters and are helping the "kidstokids" organization in Italy. The drawings should be in the big "kidstokids" container that is planned to finally arrive next week. We also installed the first 10 tents; we hope to finish the camp by the end of the week.

Hoping for some help from the Red Cross

sh. There were again a lot of activities at the Rhein - Valley Hospital today. The situation is not improving and again thousands of refugees came for their food portions. Thanks to Soyana and Hero we could offer them soya protein, milk rice, bananas and cookies. The people were all very patient although we suffered from the heat at 50° C in the glazing sun. The faces we met were still sad but they are all happy to get something to eat. The work volume is increasing every day and we hope to get some help for Ruth Schäfer in the near future. Tomorrow the head of Red Cross Nairobi will visit us thanks to the assistance of Heinz Heer from the KidstoKids organisation in Switzerland. Kennie from Holland and myself (Stephan) will have our last mission before we return to our countries in Europe.

Interview with Stephan Holderegger online

km. Through my connection with Kids To Kids (a Humanitarian Aid Programme inspired by Sri Chinmoy) I met 60-year old Stephan Holderegger from Switzerland. Since his childhood he has been handicapped by a severe immune deficiency disease that destroys the lungs. Two weeks before his predicted death, he got a phone call, inviting him to the main hospital in Zurich for a lung transplant. He grabbed his prepared suitcase and jumped into the ambulance. He called all his friends and told them if he survived the operation he would open a hospital in Kenya for the poor. Stephan got a second life and started his ambitious project right away. Not only did the hospital open in 2004 under the guidance of his partner Ruth Schäfer, but Stephan started various ventures promoting the hospital and donating organs. First he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, then he ran the New York City marathon. If you want to know more about the founder of the Rhein-Valley Hospital, watch this interview of LIFE Voices, a monthly podcast presenting fascinating people from around the world. Just click on the image and the video will start! The HD broadcast version can be seen on srichinmoy.tv and soon also on vimeo.