Sunday afternoon

It is 41 degrees Celsius here today but the breeze off the river Ewasa Nyiro allows for the air to move. I went to Unity Village today with Apin (19) and Harry (15). We walked inland form the river through blackjack (a low bush that has thistles on it and scratches your feet if you brush up against them.

The Village is comprised of women who used to be at Umoja, but have moved to another village as they are more interested in creating cottage industries. Some groups buy and sell sugar, others goats and goat skins that they take to Isiolo - a city about 2 hours away - beads and wire to make necklaces. They pool the profits and then collectively decide what is needed in the village. Perhaps they decide to pay the hospital bill for one of the villagers who has given birth, or they may need to buy a goat in order to butcher and sell it and make money.

I was lucky enough to be there when the women had been able to buy a goat and was present to witness it being skinned.  The blood is stored in a bucket and given out and taken to build strength.

It is so beautiful here and I dread going back to Nairobi. I beleive I will come back and do some work here but I am still investigating!