Smiles and hugs

Thursday 3rd March
Today was a day that we had all been looking forward to: Community Day. As part of our month-long stay in Nyeri, we had scheduled several visits in and around town to be able to interact with the local community, instead of locking ourselves up in the hotel compound all the time. We had been in touch with these institutions before leaving and some of us had more space in their lugguge for presents for the kids than for their own clothes.
Our first stop was to Allamano Special School, a home for mentally disabled kids. This centre is supported by the government and by several foreign charity organisations. The centre is a home to about 80 kids and they just ran towards us when they noticed our arrival, screaming out of excitement. These children are so happy and I was surprised to see the less handicapped help the weaker with love and care. They also had their own cows, which are fully taken care of by the kids themselves.

Beautiful faces of Allamano

She wouldn´t want to let go of me!

Papa Papetti playing games

In the afternoon, we visited Kieni West orphanage in Mweiga. 40 orphans live here, ranging in age from 9 months to 18 years. They lost their parents from HIV, malaria or other diseases or accidents. These kids are actually lucky to have a home to return to every day. They go to school and have food and clothes. Other orphans end up living in the streets.
We brought loads and loads of presents and spent a wonderful afternoon just playing with them. It was heart breaking to leave them behind.

Dave from DC playing games

Haruta put on her traditional Japanese dress for the occasion

Mama Eva getting a hair-do

Anna Banana showing the wonders of polaroid

Friday 4th March
And our last community visit was to Kimathi University College of Technology. This is the local technical institute in Nyeri and as IBM, we could of course not miss this place. The auditorium was filled with curious students, to whom we showed the 100x100 Centennial video and spoke about Smarter Planet. The break-out sessions afterwards were also filled up, especially with Francesco who taught how to build a smart interactive whiteboard with a Wii remote. More than 100 students tried to squeeze into the room. And in our Career Workshop, we had great fun playing a role play about how not to behave during a job interview.
We left with about 40 e-mail addresses from students that liked to stay in touch for e-mentoring. Who knows if one of them will one day work for IBM?

The whole Community Day experience was very touching and rewarding. I was moved by the gratitude and admiration with which we were received.