A few things worth to read before reading these articles.

About Korando and Kisumu

• I was located in a village, named Korando. That’s around 12k away from the next city, Kisumu (Kenya), located on a highway between two villages called Otonglo and Kisian.
• Kisumu is located close to shores of the Lake of Victoria, a greenish region located in the western highlands of Kenya. Also, it is the 3rd biggest city in Kenya.
• This region (county) is located in the western part of the country, know as the highlands (elevation of approximately 1,500 meters above the sea level). Thus it is a complete different climate compared to other regions such as Nairobi, Mombasa or Maasai Mara.

About “Better Me”

• The organisation I have worked for is being called “Better Me“. You may read this name often times.
• All stories shared are not only to talk about me and my time in Kenya. It is also about the great people I have met and worked with, about circumstances we (and particularly the locals) have to deal with.
• Never forget, this whole place is based on donations. It is either a shelter for orphans or a (temporary) place for those raising up under difficult circumstances otherwise. Also, the Korando Educational Center, another term that you may read frequently, is a school that is being founded by Mama Dolfine and is being supported by Better Me.
• However, Mama Dolfine has founded and built up all this, with the help of international friends. Some of those, “Toto“, has founded Better Me.
• Anything is being said from the perspective of my environment, for instance the Christmas time (at Korando). And how I experienced things there in general. It does not necessarily apply to Kenya oder Africa in general. Unless stated otherwise.
• Organised by Better Me, the volunteers can go on some individual trips over the free weekends, such as to the Kenyan capital (Nairobi), to the town of Jinja (Uganda) or to the Maasai Mara National Park. Since these weekends belong the story, I dedicate a separate chapter (or post).

About Kenya

• Biggest cities: Nairobi (capital), Mombasa, Kisumu (where I stay)Languages: Swahili, English, tribe related languages such as Luo
• Communication: local SIM card (around 1 USD) plus top-up from 500 KSh (2,5 GB data traffic, phone calls, WhatsApp flat rate)
• Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES or KSh); 1 EUR = 170 KES
  • A bottle of water = 50 to 100 KSh
  • One litre of Juice = 200 KSh
  • 3 mangos= up to 100 KSh
  • A pineapple = 150 Ksh (these are the very best ones I have ever enjoyed)

• Means of payment: Credit Cards, Cash, Wise, M-Pesa (mobile payment via app)
  • Means of payment: Credit Cards, Cash, Wise, M-Pesa (mobile payment via mobile app)
  • requires an M-Pesa account (linked to a phone number, e.g. local Kenyan SIM)
  • send money from own bank account to M-Pesa (via Wise)
  • send and request money to others
  • pay in shops or marketplaces
  • also some Tuk Tuk

• Transportation: left side traffic
  • Tuk Tuk (e.g. to get 12k to town for 50 KSh): follows a fixed route, flexible timetable, mostly starts once fully occupied (min. 6 passengers to start the ride from town)
  • “Piki Piki” (Motorbike): fully flexible, can be taken nearly everywhere, costs range from 150 to 300 KSh (depending on number of persons and distance)
  • “Matatu” (minibuses), travel buses

• Main roads appear on a good quality, mainly in cities or interstate roads; other roads might be less easy to ride on
• Occasionally there are plenty of bumps on the roads, this is on purpose to reduce speed at times where needed (from the government’s point of view)

Other typical things (to be continued)

• Bracelets made of beads and strings is a very common thing, those can be found and market places or you find someone doing some customised. Typically those bracelets feature the Kenyan national flag.

A customising could contain a name or it can be something completely different as shown below.