Christmas gifts for the Kibera family...

Today, Chloe & Halle (on behalf of Debbie Riopel) and the Munro family (on behalf of Elaine Munro), donated towards the project...and we have decided that this will go towards the family we have been focussed on in the slum of Kibera. In particular, we have asked Silas (16), David (15) and Wyclef (20) to get the costs (with our Kenyan based helper) of attending high school in 2007. These boys have just finished free primary education...and there is no way they can go to high school next year. They are amongst the 9 orphaned grandchildren living with their bed-ridden grandmother and they are beautiful boys...who with education will do so well in life. I know it may sound as though i think everyone is wonderful, but in reality, there are always a handful in life like this whom helping really does feel right for.
We cant help the whole 800,000 in the slum, but we can help a few...and we will.
So Debbie, Elaine, and Nina, your donations will go towards covering the costs of school fees. In general we estimate one High School education to cost Ksh50,000 ($1351.00 NZD) per year...so eventually we hope to be able to help all 3 boys.
Their story is complex, and interesting...and you'll see for yourself in the film. But for now you may have to trust my word that they are worth it :)
Thanks so much - and to my family who are thinking of buying me anything for Xmas, please don't! I have enough. Just donate to this family - that will make my 2007 worth starting on the right foot.
Love the AGT team.

Kibera, Africa's largest slum

After only ONE day so far filming in Kibera, African's largest slum, I can tell you that slum life really is something to be experienced. I have to admit that before we started this morning, i felt some angst about entering this home to 800,000 people after three people were killed there in a political dispute yesterday. But politics is a far cry from the world the poverty stricken people move in...they live in basic conditions...today we spent the whole day with a granny and her 9 children who live in the space of about 2 x SUV's put together. I dont know how they fit! But they do, and they are amazing people - not becasue they survived, but because despite the horrific conditions they're in, they dream of education...becoming doctors and pilots...they define love and hope for us as soon as we ask, and they are perfectly in tune with their situation. The only thing I am left wondering is how they can be helped...and I am convinced that through our contacts here, we can help them go to school. The teenage boys especially, can literally be saved if we send them to high school! Sounds crazy, but school saves kids totally from getting into the wrong hands...gangs, drugs, alcohol and it goes on. For the rest of the week, I'll keep researching the "how" - it is the beginning of an interesting journey in slum life.
Love the AGT team