KARIBOU 2006 AN INTERNATIONAL CROSS-CULTURAL PROGRAMME

July 2006 was going to be a very difficult time for me. I had just wound up a forty year teaching career (thirty eight of which were spent in the Abbey) and was suffering withdrawal symptoms. Then I was offered the opportunity of taking part in a Cross- Cultural Programme in Kenya! I jumped at the chance of doing something very different and very worthwhile but had some reservations. At my age I wondered if I could stick the pace of an intensive programme and I was apprehensive about going to Africa! I was delighted when I heard that Miss Mulgrew was also going from the Abbey The programme allowed 34 participants to experience cross-cultural living and community service in Africa and to situate life and work in a Global context. The month long residential programme was based in Nairobi and involved 8 Irish, 12 Australian, (one of which was an Aborigine), 4 African, 2 from the States, a young married couple from Canada, 4 Indians and 4 English.

We had lectures, with speakers being invited from the local Catholic University on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we were out on Immersion work. We were divided into small groups and some were involved in Schools, Orphanages, Women’sAid Centres and street kids centres, (Most of which were in the slums and the conditions were horrendous). The abject poverty of the area presented a real cultural shock and it is hard to believe that there are places so very poor in the world in 2006. People lived in small tin shacks. The sewerage was flowing down the middle of the narrow laneways and the smell was abominable. The people however were wonderful.

They were so delighted that we would come to their homes. They considered this an honour and asked us to tell the “outside world” about their plight; they were invariably in good form always laughing and making the best of what they had. They were particularly delighted to talk to Irish people. We must have done something right in their country. There was one particular example of the Irish being singled out for special treatment for whatever reason! On one weekend the group travelled to Tanzania to visit the Tarangara Safari Park. At the border all the Nationalities with us (Australians Americans English Canadians etc), had to queue for Visas while the Irish were issued through-no Visa required!!! While we were on this particular visit to Tanzania we were invited to visit a local Masai chief we met his 9 wives and some of his 70 children!!!! His children were educated by the Christian Brothers in Arusha and were doing particularly well and he was very grateful.

There are a number of very good schools started by the brothers and they are really well run. In fact Edmund Rice is a very Big Name in both Tanzania and in Kenya. I was astounded on one occasion while walking in one of the very poorest slum areas to suddenly to come across an Edmund Rice Community centre! It was quite Surreal!!! On another occasion I saw a sign for a Brother Beausang Catholic Education Centre. I was amazed to find that this centre was named after “our” Brother Beausang.

My experience in Africa was truly wonderful and I really would like to set up some Market for the goods produced by the workers in a Woman’s Centre to which I was assigned. They prefer to get markets for their enterprise rather than depending on charity. In any case I have loads of food for thought. I am so grateful for the experience .It is one I will never forget.

Oonagh Byrne