Our Most Recent Trip to Africa-6/17/2009
Travel Journal
by Janis Simon
Disclaimer
I tried to write down my thoughts immediately; since I am over 50- my info might not be accurate.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Departure Day:
Lots of anxiety over our 17 hour trip. We prepared, did the jet lagged diet (protein-carbs-protein-carbs), stopped drinking alcohol-increased water intake. After all the worry-plane ride wasn’t bad-going business class helps! Slept for 4 hrs to Brussels, slept 2 hrs to Rwanda, watched two movies, read (thank you Ellen for my book) and played Sudoku. Pierre (thank you Josh and Berna) picked us up on time and brought us to the Serena Hotel. The Serena was a happy surprise-nice as any hotel in America. Light dinner –tried to get on Rwanda time, stayed up until about 10-then fast asleep.
Tidbits
Met the Rabbi from Tufts University (Rabbi Jeff and his wife) they are going to the opening of Agahoza Shalom Youth Village (ASYV). He told us of a previous trip to Uganda- there is a Jewish Village- he coordinated a choir and made a DVD which was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Location: Rwanda
Pierre picked Ronny and I up and took us to the Genocide Memorial. Obviously, not a fun thing to do, but couldn’t miss it. I did skip the room with the bones-too much. The mass graves were heart wrenching. I felt like I was back in Israel visiting Yad V’Shem. Speaking of Israel, there is an Israeli artist who did the stained glass windows at the Memorial. You couldn’t help but relate the Genocide or Jenoside (African spelling) to the Holocaust.
Back to the hotel at 11- Pierre was supposed to pick us up at 11:30-missed communication-we took a cab-off to a wonderful day at Agahoza Shalom Youth Village. We ate lunch on the balcony-peas & carrots with rice and white sweet potatoes. My Dad donated to the village and also donated a basketball court and named it in honor of Majora Carter.
Everyone participated in the Basketball ceremony-it was awesome. Two people spoke-my dad made a speech and Sifa (coordinator of the village) translated. Among other things my Dad spoke about the importance of Planned Parenthood and taking advantage of the opportunities offered there, furthermore he offered an additional $10,0000 if he got 25 responses to either helping Africa or ideas on slowing the rural birthrate.
Dad, Dolly and I tried to shoot baskets then we watched a basketball game-teachers against students. I felt like I was back at camp-the kids were having so much fun. There are 125 students-mostly orphans -they have a chance to learn and be part of a community. It was beautiful to see how happy they are. We talk about Holocaust Survivors or Graduates (Gili). These teenagers are Genocide Survivors.
We did a tour of the facility (houses, school and farm) and last but not least- the female students sang and did a traditional dance for us- they even got us out on the court dancing! As I understand it, if it wasn’t for ASYV -these girls would be out in the streets.
Favorite Moments:
Visiting ASYV - Felt proud to be Jewish and my hats go off to Anne Heyman (the village is her dream) her husband Seth who supported her and helped finance the school and the JDC.
Tidbits:
We saw many workers cutting grass with machetes-the same machetes that they hacked each other up with.
I learned from Nir (the education director) that he enjoys being part of the school – the only thing he couldn’t get use to was cold showers. I learned later on that most people wash with cold water in the sink.
Sad Moments:
Genocide Memorial - It is hard not to notice the poverty on the dirt road leading to ASYV, it is heart wrenching. Both Ronny and I couldn’t sleep that night, we kept seeing images of young kids carrying even younger siblings on their back-yellow cans for water-shacks and clothes drying on trees.
Where I ate:
Dinner was at the hotel Serena-food was terrible-don’t order turkey in Rwanda. Alex from Helpage joined us for dinner he is the representative from Africa for the Nibakure Village. Florianne-Robbins the founder of Nibakure arranged the meeting. Since my dad is very interested in Planned Parenthood he always asks people how many children they have. I believe Alex has two children and his mother who is 75+ takes care of 15 children who have been orphaned from the Genocide.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Location: Rwanda
We met Debrah Harman from Woman for Woman. Debbie was talking to different Ngo’s to compare efforts. My father will try to meet up with her when we get back to the states.
Stratton picked us up to take us to Nibakure Village. Stratton is an architect, GC on the job and quickly became a friend. I believe he has three children (who are planning to go to college) and he has legally adopted his brother’s three children (survivors). The drive out to the countryside (Burgessa area) was beautiful-the land of 1,000 hills –very green. At the site we watched the people building the foundation-workers get paid $1.70 a day-tradesman receive $5.00 a day. We gave out tennis balls and soccer balls to the kids in the area. Cute kids-torn clothes-again our hearts went out to them.
Since my father donated to Maryundo Girls School and Stratton was the architect-we stopped by for a visit. Small, beautiful designed building-set up in a circle.
Lunch with Stratton-more veggies, one of the safer choices. Paid to use the bathroom-didn’t include toilet paper. Walked from restaurant to hotel. Thanks to President Paul Kagame, I know the streets of Rwanda are safe. Stratton intends to put us in touch with people on microfinance.
Played tennis from 3:00 to 4:00, even thought it’s their winter- it was extremely hot out. Kids hang around the courts and for $5.00 they will play with you. Dad gave them $10.00-considering how much workers make-that’s a windfall!
Before dinner Ronny and I relaxed on the balcony of our hotel room. We watched workers building the addition to the Serena. It is getting darker and darker out and they are still hand pouring the concrete.
Where I ate:
Heaven- I ate in Heaven. Beautiful-romantic-food presented well-local crafts for sale-best food I have had in Rwanda. Alyssa Ruxin did a great job with the restaurant, local food and employs many locals. Josh Ruxin set up the dinner meeting with Gili. Gili is an Israeli agricultural expert. We learned about the lack of agriculture in Rwanda. Through Josh, Segal Family Foundation is supporting a refrigeration plant. Gili is interested in expanding the facility. He claims that Israeli cows are the best in the world and he can increase crop production dramatically. Gili helped with the farm at ASYV- we thought he could possible help out Nibakure village as well.
Tidbits:
Gili mentioned that he used to work in Uganda- but got out because of the drugs.
Learned that everyone loves Obama- took a picture next to Stratton’s car with the Obama sticker.
Favorite Moments:
Talking to Stratton
Eating at Heaven
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Location: Rwanda on our way to Tanzania
Happy Father’s Day
Gave Ronny a card and picture-gave Dad a card. Played tennis from 8-9 back to the hotel to shower-pack-1:45 departure to Nairobi then a connected flight to Tanzania. Plane was small, but the staff was polite and helpful. When we arrived- Liymo was standing there with a sign with our names on it. I was so relieved! It is about a 45 minute drive to the Ngare Sero Lodge. We went up a dirt road-at one point we thought he was kidnapping us.
We finally got to the lodge-dark-the stars were beautiful-nervous about the place. It reminded me of a country B&B…….like we are in camp. Rooms reminded me of St. Croix- sparse and a little musty. We are the only guest here. Had a great dinner in the dining room-trout from their organic trout farm-lots of veggies.
I’m praying that I’ll be able to fall asleep tonight!
Favorite Moment:
Seeing the stars!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Lake Manyara-Safari Day!
Today we learned about the Maasai tribe from out new friend Liymo. Liymo is from the Chooga tribe- his mother is half Maasai and Chooga. You easily detect a traditional Maasai-they are thin because they eat mostly milk mixed with cow blood. They wear bright red and purple scarves draped around their bodies (men and women dress the same). The only difference is the men carry a big stick! The stick is to help herd the cows and for protection.
Maasais are a male dominated society-when boy’s are13 they have a Bar Mitzvah/right of passage where they get publicly circumcised. They can’t move or cry- they become blood brothers with the people they go through the ritual with. They can marry many wives 2- 10. They live in round huts with their wives-the more cows you have-the richer you are-the more wives. The tribe is nomadic and move when the water source dries up. The women build the hut and do most of the work. If your blood brother comes to visit and your not home he puts his spear at the entrance to your hut and can have sex with your wife. You can’t go into your hut until the spear is removed.
Tanzania:
The Japanese Government, by giving directly to the contractor, built and donated a 65 mile long road in Tanzania. The US gave money and has nothing to show for it. Go Japan!
Tanzania has a socialist government where leaders don’t care about the people-only their pockets. People have many children, so that they will take care of them one day. Aids rate is 5-10%. Average life expectancy is 50 yrs old and the number is declining. Average earning $100-$300 a month.
Liymo lives in Arusha Town- because it’s a major hub-prices are more expensive. He has a two bedroom house with a kitchen/den and shares a bathroom with another family of five. His cost is about $60.00 a month. He has two children- his mother had 11. His wife works as a trader- she buys things at one market and sells it at another. Aids, alcoholism and prostitution are still a problem.
We saw lots of sunflowers (for making sunflower oil), coffee plants, corn fields and bananas. Tanzania exports roses, coffee, cotton and the main source of income is tourism.
Where I ate:
A box lunch at Lake Manyara-a little bit of everything-edible. We had dinner at the Plantation Lodge-beautiful country place, white stucco buildings-we shared a suite with Dad and Dolly called The Farmhouse.
Favorite Moments:
Dolly would say the monkey with the aqua colored balls! I loved learning about the Maasai and the safari. Getting close to the Giraffe’s was amazing. We saw impalas, zebras, baboons, hippos, monkeys, waterbucks, elephants, buffalo wildebeest and many birds.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Location: Tanzania –Plantation Lodge- Rift Valley
Ronny would say the best part of the day was when we almost got stuck on the dirt road leading to India’s place (Rift Valley Children Village). He got out of the car, I thought he was going to help the drivers-instead he took a picture of us! Two vehicles were trying to pass in the same spot-we had about a 2-3 inch clearing. Dolly and I thought we were going to go over the edge! Thankfully the drivers figured it out. I think the road left a permanent impression on my body.
Dolly is in love with Gabrielle and her twin brother. They are about two years old. India told us a cute story about Gabrielle-they couldn’t find her one day- everyone was starting to panic-they finally found her in the clothes container that was shipped from the US-she was happily playing dress up and trying on the clothes. When we met her she was wearing an adorable dress!
Rift Valley Children’s Village
I guess I expected it to look something like it did. It’s not a show place but very efficient. Kids leave their jackets and shoes outside. Each house has its own water tower-two Mammas live there-plus volunteers and 12 children. Like the other schools the kids sleep in bunk beds. I believe the youngest orphan they have is 27 days old. Amazing! 50% of the kids are orphaned by Aids and the other half the mothers die in child birth. If the mother’s die they are considered orphans because the father doesn’t want any responsibility. The Mamma prepares the meal-they eat like a family in their houses. All the kids do chores and laundry.
It is important to India to teach these children good values. There are about 60 children in the village-we met Doctor he is one of India’s first kids, he is also a Maasai (FYI- India had him circumcised in a hospital under anesthesia).
We went to visit the school. The kids go to the Gov’t school with the local kids. The school has about 450 kids. Before India got there, they had 7 teachers-now there up to 20. She has a partnership with the government-they pay 9 teachers salaries and she pays the rest. A big problem in Tanzania is that teachers don’t always show up for classes-this is due to the government not paying their pay check on time. India has solved this problem. She pays them a bonus of $25.00 a month for perfect attendance and teaching a full day. Corporal punishment used to be allowed but today teachers are not allowed to beat kids. In addition, she built teachers’ homes on the school grounds with water and toilets-much nicer than most of them have ever had. Due to India’s involvement, the school provides a hot lunch for all students (corn, rice and beans). She is also fixing up the classrooms one at a time-fixing the cracked floors, letting light in and individual desk for each student.
Not that India and the education Director Peter aren’t busy enough-they give scholarships for children to go to High School. Peter is a big part of India’s team. When we met with Andy Bryant, he explained his microfinance program. Andy Bryant has spent two years there under taking their micro finance program. He is working with $40k, charges 2% per month. The average loan is $150, he has 250 clients. We agreed to give him $5,000 now and 20% of his equity in Feb. The same for next year. Andy is leaving in Sept. and they are interviewing for a replacement.
In addition, they have a big garden that feeds them and other people in the area. They also teach locals how to garden. Due to the abundance of rain, trellising correctly is very important. Also, chicken shit works better than cow manure! Dad always had a compost pile- so we were glad to learn that they have the biggest compost area in Tanzania.
The Doctor wasn’t in today but Dr. Frank and his wife Susan come often to check the children and the locals. India’s touch is helping more than just the orphans; she is helping the people in her area with medical, food, education and employment.
Where I ate:
We had lunch at the volunteer building also known as the kid free zone. We ate grilled cheese/pizza, potatoes and watermelon. I learned that Tanzanian’s and most Africans eat with their hands. Had dinner at the Plantation Lodge and we met Janice Lahern. She owns an IT company in NY, visited Africa, like many fell in love with it and is now bringing technology to schools. She has many ideas for micro-financing- what fit for us the most was her interest in computers, solar energy, and teaching typing. Possibly she could help India bring computers into her school.
Favorite Moments:
My favorite moments were watching the kids have relay races, shaking hands with the children and meeting the wonderful staff and volunteers.
Sad Moments:
We saw small brick houses/huts. India calls them squatters or refers to them as a workers camp. Kids dressed in rags and since school is out they are just sitting around. Again, like ASYV, Rift Valley Children’s Village employs many of the parents.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Location: Ngoro Ngoro Crater-Tanzania
Liymo picked Ronny and I up at 8:00 AM to see the crater. India told us to go to the first observation point-look across- and we could see the green roofs or the village……..so we did! Lake Manyara is lush-NgoroNgoro crater can be described as a plain- we drove down into the bottom of the crater. The crater was once a big volcano as large as Mt Kilimanjaro. We finally got to see a pride of lions and a black rhino! Learned a lot about the circle of life. Jackals and hyenas are scavengers. Zebra and Wildebeest hang together-one has good eyesight one has good hearing. Baboons travel in troops –they clean and eat the flies off of each other. Ostriches’ feet and nails are so strong they can kill a lion. We saw the remains of a buffalo near the lions…..yuck!
Lemala Luxury Tent
We thought it would be like the pictures my brother Brad and Melissa showed us of their tented camp…………….it wasn’t! Accommodations were fair, and to be truthful I felt a little nervous. Good thing we had Maasai warriors guarding our tent. We had cocktails around a camp fire……..I saw the most beautiful African sunset-the type that you see in postcards. Since I can’t remember names, we met a group of four American men from California, an American couple and a German couple. Everyone was traveling around Africa for weeks and doing safaris in various areas. The camp director Francais is from the Maasai tribe, he is college educated and wears Western attire. When he goes back to his family, he wears the traditional Maasai clothes. More and more Maasai are embracing the importance of education. I think it is important for them to keep their culture but I do think the treatment of women needs to change! Again, education is the answer.
Where I ate:
Box lunch at the crater- getting good at the cheese and tomato sandwich
Dinner at Lemala- lamb- other people ate it- Ronny and I just ate the veggies.
Favorite Moments:
Seeing the lions and the sunset
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Location: Tanzania-Kenya
Today is a travel day. On our drive, we notice a lot of unfinished brick homes. Liymo explained-people start building then they run out of money. Banks interest rates are high about 22-24%.
We flew Precision Air to Kenya. The button to recline on my chair was missing-the armrest was duct tape. I was wondering what else was duct taped! Auntie I would definitely not get on this plane!
My first impressions of Nairobi:
I couldn’t believe the traffic! I am used to seeing people walking around with items on their head and an occasional safari vehicle……………..can’t remember the last time I saw so many cars! Nairobi has traffic circles that were inherited from the British-the 10 kilometer drive took us over an hour! Nairobi reminds me of a Western City-skyscrapers-construction-real sidewalks- and people wearing business attire. We saw a kid walking with his earphones-listening to music on his IPod……felt like home. We finally arrived at the Intercontinental Hotel, what hit me first was the four security guards and the big gate painted with black and white stripes. They were serious, they looked in the trunk of the car and used mirrors for the underneath carriage. Instead of a beautiful entrance way, the hotel had a metal detector. When we finally went to our rooms, there was a guard on our floor. This reminded me of the Bradco trip to Acapulco-there were guards by the elevator and beaches. Instead of making me feel safe- it made me nervous. Later we learned that the security was due to the 1998 Al- Queida bombing and was a necessary precaution.
Kenya:
Life expectancy is 46, food-maze, 7% HIV/ AIDS, five kids per family (number had been declining), poverty about 60%, unemployment 70% not including farming, Farming, horticulture and tourism main occupations, average salary is $100-$300 a month.
Habitat for Humanity Kenya
Due to the traffic we got to the hotel at 7:00 and we were supposed to meet Simon from HFH at 7. Quick shower and off to dinner. I felt bad for Simon, all four of us were exhausted and he had so much information to share. In America I think of Habitat as a bunch of churches, synagogues and corporate volunteers getting together to build a nice house for a deserving family.
In Kenya, Simon told of two projects that HFHK is tackling, they are planning to build 1,500 homes this year. Due to the recession-they may do only 1,000. My dad always says that the Segal Family Foundation is looking for causes that get “a bang for your buck” this definitely describes HFHK.
The first project is a micro-financing initiative. A group of about 30 people-buy land and HFH gives them loans at different phases of their building. The group is important because it keeps everything honest- they are building a community together. The cost of the house is about $3,000 - the people are paying an average of $40.00 a month for their home- it cost about the same as they use to pay for renting. Now they have a place where their kids can play, they can have their own gardens, water, plumbing and electricity.
The second project is for IDPS-Internally Displaced People. As I have learned there are about 45 tribes in Kenya- during the 2007 election, violence erupted and as a result, 630,000 people were displaced from their homes. HFHK are building these homes for free, the only two conditions are the homeowner must own the land on which the house is constructed and must provide the unskilled labor. The cost of the house are $2,300.00- does not include plumbing, electricity or water.
June 26
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died today.
We haven’t been near a TV or a newspaper in over a week this is the first news that greeted us.
Visiting Habitat for Humanity Homes
Simon and Amos from Habitat for Humanity Kenya picked us up at 1:00-still amazed at how modern Nairobi is, as we drive out of the city the sights begin to change. We pass many African villages-then we came to tall trees-wind around country roads and see a lake in the distance. Ronny and I are happy that we are able to see part of the country. We arrive at the HFHK micro-financing projects. Simon has shown us the pictures of the houses the night before-but it is hard to imagine how small they are, small but sturdy. I’m embarrassed to say this but I can fit two of their homes in my Master bedroom. I’m equally embarrassed to admit, that I couldn’t tell from the pictures which were the new homes. The houses have one bedroom- indoor toilet -familyroom/kitchen with electricity. The people also have an opportunity to add onto their homes. Many had vegetable gardens, yards and animals. We walked into two homes and met the “house girl” A typical house girl makes about $20.00 a month –but receives free room and board. The homes had black and white TV, a microwave and were decorated with love and care. We met a lovely man who is 24 years old-he loves his new house and is extremely proud of it. He has one daughter and says, “That’s enough!” He works at the flower plant on the docks and makes about $100.00 a month, his wife works as well. His loan to HFHK is about $30.00 a month. He is thrilled to own his home and is very happy living in the community.
The Internally Displaced Peoples camp was something else-we have seen a lot of poverty in Africa but nothing like this. The world should be ashamed of itself! The tents the UN donated, people have been living in for over a year. Families are living in tents that my son might take on a simple overnight. You can see the despair on their faces, I was happy I still had a couple of soccer balls left to give out to the children. I believe in HFH philosophy-everyone deserves a home. So for, $2,300 you can help make a family warm, healthy and happy. If you are looking for a tzedkah project or an act of kindness………….this is it!
Sad Moment:
Seeing all those tents!
Tidbits:
My Dad’s other favorite question:
Who are the three most important people in Africa?
President Paul Kagame was everyone’s favorite pick.
What I learned about Dolly:
She likes to drink with a straw and carries her own
She’s a backseat driver
She likes her food hot! Not spicy, temperature wise
Environmental info:
Plastic bags are not allowed in Rwanda. Gili hates that rule because he needs plastic for his greenhouse.
In the hotels you put your key card in to turn on the lights and AC-take your card out –everything is off!
Words we learned:
Jumbo-hello
Asante-thank you
Karibu-welcome
Poli,poli-slowly, slowly
Recommendation:
If your traveling to Africa, please bring inflatable soccer balls- the smiles they bring to children’s faces are priceless-thank you Melissa Segal for that suggestion
*****
BARRY SEGAL
*****
Janis did a good job. I’ll try to finish the journal. Dolly and I arrived in Eldoret, short flight. Kevin Thompson and Kip Keino met us at the airport – amongst other things we kept to Kip’s agenda: a nice breakfast at his country club & off to his facility.
We toured his training center, his high school, then his elementary school. The kids were all in uniforms, sang and danced for us. Kip was in charge, involved with everybody personally.
We slept in a lodge, ok to drink the water and had our meals at Kip’s house. Spent quality time with Adam and Aaron, two runners from Cornell’s track team who were teaching kids how to handle the SAT’s. Also spent time with Andy and another runner from England and Wadka-he is an Israeli marathon runner 2:15 to 2:20 area. He trained by running 190 K in the week.
We saw a lot of the country more developed than the others but still too many people at the poverty level. We visited a tea factory and Kip’s tea farm – very interesting.
For dinner Kip had a big group at the club. He said the town gave him 100,000 shillings (about $1,500) and two 6 week old babies to take care of they were left at the side of the road. They became part of his family. The man is amazing, about 95 orphans are in his “family”. Kip claims foreign adoption is easy in Kenya, not so in the other countries.
The next day (our last in Africa) was great. Didn’t expect it but we played tennis at the Eldoret club. Stella – Kip’s daughter said she played, Sheila – Martin’s wife also plays. We had Adam & Aaron, plus Michelle & Kevin. Everybody was playing and we only had 4 racquets. I played with a broken one until it collapsed. Everybody elevated their tennis quickly – easy when you start from a low base and run like a deer. Kip’s 7 kids are super; one of them is a captain on Tiger Wood’s boat. Martin was a great college runner in his own right. Didn’t do the Olympics but won many races, beat Kip’s times.
Sue (23) Kip’s youngest - game over. With two kids 7-9. She played tennis with them and then with us. She really caught on quickly. The kids are orphans. Kip’s kids treat them as part of the family. Kevin and Michelle are excited to play. We’ll send Kip some balls & racquets and hopefully they will be players when we return.
Kip has one story after another. He beat Jim Ryun in the Olympics while he was having a gallstone attack. Dr’s told him not to run. Nike brought in electricity to his schools. Somebody he met at Nike was drilling water in the Sudan. Kip convinced him to stop by & he now bottles water. With Kip there is so much more. He’s my age, good shape, up at 5am to milk the cows. He’s a “get it done” guy and my hero.
Kip had Ian bring us to the airport. Ian is about 41 and with Martin’s help will run Kip’s many operations. We promised Kip $10,000 if he named the basketball court after me and another $10,000 if he named the tennis court after Dolly. We also promised him another $5,000 (the same as ASYV). Ian wrote as per below:
-----Original Message-----
From: kipkeino@kipkeinofoundation.org [mailto:kipkeino@kipkeinofoundation.org]
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 5:31 AM
To: Barry Segal
Subject: Visit to Eldoret
Dear Barry, Dear Dolly,
It was indeed a great pleasure for all of the Keino family to have been
able to have met both of you. We are very glad that you were able to take
time from your busy schedule to visit our projects in Eldoret.
I particulary would like to thank you all very much of the assistance you
have give the Kipkeino High School in the construction of tennis court
and Basketball courts. This shall go along way in assisting the students
of the school to be able to particpate in these games.
I will, from time to time keep you updated with the progress of the
construction of the same.
My Dad told me that you had requested for 15 students to write emails on
Good birth control (8 students) and help in Africa (7 Students). I kindly
request you to clarify on the help for Africa, is there a specific topic
or agenda they should focus there attention to? I would be very please to
rely the same to school soon.
I thank you once again for all your doing for the school and moreso what
you are doing for Africa in general. May the Lord continue to bless you in
all you do.
Best regards
Ian Keino-Director
Kipkeino High School
*****
-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Segal
Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 2:13 PM
To: 'kipkeino@kipkeinofoundation.org'
Subject: RE: Visit to Eldoret
Ian,
Appreciate your e-mail. Let me respond to your question. First, I would have given the money anyway. But I want the kids that are old enough to visit our website & try to understand what we are trying to accomplish.
Then let them focus on
1) East Africa possible subjects: better roads between countries, better trade barriers, less corruption, sporting events, possibly common currency, effective leadership
2) the importance of planned parenthood. All children should have an opportunity. Both parents must want to have children, they must have a plan, and be committed. I heard Paul Kagame is trying to limit to 3 children - that is a good move. Let them focus on ways to slow down childbirth rates, the women to be mature enough to handle it, less babies left on the sides of the road.
I don’t really care about their answers I just want them to focus, spread the word, and be aware of the problems.
Barry
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