Lindsay Roberston

Name: Lindsay Roberston
Age: 23
Home Town: Aberdeen, Scotland

Lindsay joined AfCiC as the Communications Volunteer in January 2009. She Graduated from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, in 2007 with an MA in International Management. Since then, she has worked in various roles including a 6 month position as Construction Coordinator for Jobcentre Plus in Aberdeen.

In 2008, Lindsay took part in Global Xchange, a youth volunteering programme run by VSO and the British Council. This meant working as part of a cross-cultural team in voluntary placements in communities both in the UK and in Indonesia.

Her ability to communicate across cultural boundaries and language barriers is fundamental to her success in her role as the communications volunteer. Experience and skills gained both through previous work roles and her degree have played an important part in her ability to take on this project.

Monday

Every Monday at 8.30am, I have a meeting with the Director to discuss what progress I have made the previous week and to allow her to look over any materials ready for distribution. This week I have the March issue of the AfCiC newsletter finalised, just waiting for some feedback on when it can be added to the website. I then spent most of the day working from home on the laptop working on the monthly bulletin. As there is limited space in the office and usually many interruptions with a flurry of people and street children coming in for assistance, I do most of my computer work from the house.

Helen (one of the other volunteers) came round with some juice from Patrick’s stand- the best juice in the world! Had to go to the internet café to send a couple of emails, the internet connection was too slow to upload the attachments- quite frustrating, but something you definitely have to get used to!

Was feeling too lazy to cook today, thank goodness for the toastie maker! We had a very quiet evening in the house watching desperate housewives and had an early night.

Tuesday

Walked up to the ICC bright and early to spend some time with the boys before my 9.30 meeting. The boys were performing dance routines for me while I filmed with my video camera, a very entertaining way to spend the morning! I then had a meeting with Florence (the ICC senior social worker) to get information on some of the boys’ backgrounds for their case studies. This is something I’m working on for the new “Child Sponsorship” section of the website, it sometimes involves learning some upsetting details about the kids but it’s necessary to have all the information if we are going to find sponsors for them and give them a chance at a positive future.

I finally found the bank in town where I can change foreign currency, slight problem- when I tried to exchange my Scottish notes they accused me of manufacturing my own currency! Also had to go to the office briefly before lunch to use the printer, then spent the afternoon in the house typing up case studies. I usually spend part of the day doing computer work and part of the day out collecting information, so that there’s some variety.

Wednesday

Woke up this morning tangled in my mosquito net- not unusual! On Wednesdays I go to Ruiru, a small town half way to Nairobi, where AfCiC runs an Outreach Programme for street youths. We have to take 2 matatus to get there, which is not the most comfortable form of transport in the world. Learning from past experience, when I arrive in Ruiru I hold on to avoid being knocked unconscious when I’m thrown against the window on the bumpy road!

We meet with the boys in a local church, which is basically a tin shack, to discuss any progress made since the previous week. There are usually about 35-40 youths of different ages, backgrounds and experiences who we are assisting back into school or into vocational apprenticeships. Today I went with Anne (one of the outreach social workers) to 2 of the local schools where we met with the Head Teachers to ask permission to take some of the most vulnerable children we have identified into town to purchase school uniforms. We took 15 children of the most vulnerable, whose school uniforms were either falling apart or non-existent and were at risk of dropping out of school. Whilst in the shop trying to find the right sizes, a woman approached us and handed us money to buy one of the youngest boys some shoes. It was really nice to see someone offer help like that.

Although this took a lot longer than we’d planned, it was really satisfying to see the kids all happy in their new uniforms. The days in Ruiru are usually very busy as we only go once a week and, as it always seems to be extremely hot there, I am usually exhausted when I get back. Today I had to make a quick stop at the office on the way home to take some photos off the network for the case studies I’m working on.

Thursday

Went to the office this morning to check emails en route to the ICC. Then interviewed a couple of the boys to find out more information about their backgrounds and took some photos. Depending on the child, it can be difficult to get them to open up when interviewing them, but it’s always good to have some direct information and feelings from them to put in their case studies. I take professional guidance from the Counsellor Catherine and Florence (the social worker) so as not to ask any questions that make cause upset to a particular child.

Joined the other international volunteers for lunch in Cascade, we are always very well greeted there as it’s our favourite restaurant! We were lucky to find the place unusually quiet, meaning for the first time in a while we did not have to cram on the end of tables (Cascade is very popular)!

On Thursday afternoons I help out with the Children’s Club in Garissa Road Primary School, a programme targeting the most at risk children in the poorest schools in Thika to provide essential life skills education and prevent them from going to the streets after school and getting caught up in drugs and other exploitative activities. We work with children between ages 8-12 who are the most at risk. To get to this school means taking a boda-boda (bike-taxi). I was a bit scared of them at first but love them now, especially the ones with radios! When we arrive at the school we are always mobbed by kids, all wanting to hold on to the mzungu (white people). It makes you feel like a celebrity, although it’s pretty scary when they start trying to hang from my hair! When we finally manage to fight through the crowds, we play games and give life skills lessons to about 40 children. Today we taught them 'Bull Dogs', my personal favourite childhood game! We had a slight twist on it with the children trying to run between 'home' and 'school' with bad guys in the middle trying to tempt them to the street.

In the evening Eleanor (the Director) had the international volunteers round for tea, which was great- always good to be cooked for!

Friday

Can’t believe it’s Friday already! I split the morning between the house and the office finishing off some work. Went to Cascade for lunch again today before heading to Children’s Club at Kianjau School this time, which is in Kiandutu- the biggest slum in Thika and the source of most street children in Thika. The most family problems, the most abject poverty and the most crime happen in Kiandutu. We work closely with excellent local volunteers to ensure good community relations and security.

We had a meeting with the Headmaster when we first arrived to discuss some changes we want to make. He always calls me Wanjiru (a local girls name), probably because he can’t pronounce my real name! Before we started the class, 2 teachers carried a young girl into the office who was unconscious after an epileptic fit. None of the teachers seemed to know what to do, so the girl was left in the office with the AfCiC staff Anne and Margaret and us. We had difficulty getting a doctor, but the girl’s sister finally arrived and took her home. This was not very nice to watch, but apparently epilepsy is quite common in the slums. From this experience the Director has ensured that a teacher from Kianjau and Garissa Road Primary Schools will be able to attend the newc first aid training all AfCiC staff and volunteers are going to undertake in March.

Children’s Club followed the same lesson plan as yesterday, ending with dividing the class into small groups so we could find out more details about the children’s situations. As there were only 3 Kenyan members of staff, I took a group and asked the teacher to translate my questions for me. Most of the children in our club are either orphans or from single parent families with limited or no income.

We always go out on a Friday night but today we opted for a change and went to Nairobi for a night out rather than staying in Thika. One of our Kenyan friends drove us there making it safer and much less hassle. We went out in Westlands, an up market area of Nairobi, which was a big change from our usual night in Porkies. You can dance to music from back home, order any kind of drink you fancy and even stop at the take-away on the way home!

Saturday

Had a bit of a lie-in today after my late night, then took a matatu to Nairobi for lunch. We went to Java, which has all the food you might miss from home, yum! We then went to the Maasai Market, which is probably the best place in the world to buy souvenirs! You have to be prepared to bargain hard as they will more than double the prices for a white person. In most cases, with a bit of work, you can get what you want back down to bargain prices. Although, if you change your mind, you should also be prepared for being followed round the entire market! Today I bought some pictures for my room (the walls need cheering up in the house!), and, of course, some jewelry.

Sunday

Sunday was a bit of a lazy day, which was nice for a change as most weekends we are usually away from Thika. I spent the day catching up with emails to friends and family and even had a browse on ebay to see if I could find any bargains for my friend to bring out when she visits next month. Jo and I made a nice fresh salad for tea and watched a film. A nice relaxing day!