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Shelley Osterloh Reporting A group of Utahns is dedicated to relieving the suffering of women and children in Kenya. The group called "Africa is Life Changing" recently returned from Kenya.
Two times a year, the non-profit Africa is Life Changing takes about 20 volunteers to Kenya to do service work. Projects like training women in life skills so they can care for their families, educating children, and teaching the truth about AIDS/HIV.
The volunteers believe they are changing the lives of Africans, but in the process say they change their own lives as well.
African Woman: "There is no drainage system, people live in unbearable conditions."
AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa. Many mothers have AIDS. Many more children are orphans whose parents have died of the disease. Volunteers from Africa is Changing Lives teach AIDS prevention and teach life skills to the women.
Goria Terry, Co-founder Africa is Life Changing: "With a crochet hook and pair of scissors, as simple as this we can go to Africa and change the life of woman."
Gloria Terry is a co-founder of the group. One of their projects is to teach the women to cut plastic garbage bags into strips and crochet them into bags which can be sold at the market.
Goria Terry: "A dollar 40 cents is a lot of money in Africa; it can feed a family."
In another project, they bought and gave ten women each ten chicks that they carefully raised to lay eggs.
Goria Terry: "They valued these chickens because they knew that it was going to give their children life. And they'd never dreamed of that before."
The group purchased land and built six classrooms that will open for school next month. They plan to add a dormitory to house and educate 1,000 children.
More than 2,500 people went through their medical screening clinic. The people are grateful for the help.
African woman: "When we see you coming to such a dirty and stinking place we don't look you as ordinary people we see you as angels. You have been sent to come and uplift the lives of the desperate people of Nakur."
The volunteers may go to Africa to change the lives of the people, but find it's an experience that changes them.
Shelly Tripp, Volunteer: "Things that bothered you before don't even matter because you see the world differently through different eyes."
Rachel Bigelow, 17-year-old volunteer: "But now when people sit there and say, 'I need a new cell phone, oh my gosh my iPod it drives me nuts.' So I guess I don't take things for granted like I used to; I'm more grateful."
Preston Tripp, 19-year-old volunteer: "I'm just grateful for cleanliness and my own bed, just running water."
The volunteers say they love the people of Africa and the empowering feeling that they are able to make a difference in the life of someone else.
Goria Terry: "In the end it's about love and how we love one another in simple ways. It doesn't have to be huge, just simply love one another."
Africa is Life Changing is planning another three-week expedition to Kenya in the spring. If you would like to go or to contribute money or items like, school supplies, yarn or crochet needles go to the link provided above.
