Kibera, Lodwar, Kitale, Malindi
October 2014 Kenya
Our hearing mission and community-based hearing training took place amidst the hustle and bustle of the Kibera community. Sounds of pounding metal, friends chatting and loud bass music filled the air. Although Kibera is one of the poorest places on earth, the patients and their families were all laughter and smiles. It felt as if we had joined the spirit and energy of the incredible landscape around us. The joyous spirit and unique energy of Kibera’s people will stay with the team until our next visit.
After Kibera, we traveled to Lodwar, Kitale and Malindi to give the gift of hearing to more than 1,300 patients.
Lodwar is in the northwest corner of Kenya and known for its high temperatures and a desert environment near the shores of Lake Turkana. It is also home to St. Benedict’s School for the Deaf, the site of our hearing mission. Whenever we provide the gift of hearing in schools, we work with the teachers to identify young leaders to serve as student ambassadors. These ambassadors are fit first so they can work with us throughout the day, receiving extra training and helping us fit their schoolmates. As mentors to their peers, ambassadors provide incredible support to ensure sustainable hearing skills for the future, and we were fortunate to have many of them at St. Benedict’s.
Bill Austin believes that everyone should have access to the connecting power of hearing, and in Kitale, we put that belief into action. A busload of 23 prisoners arrived, and we did what we do best — reflected caring through hearing. After the fittings, Tani Austin presented each of them with “hearing champion” medals and made them promise to do some good in the world.
The team spent Halloween in Malindi, located on the Indian Ocean with aqua blue water and white sand beaches, and held the fittings at a primary school. We provided the gift of hearing to hundreds, shared candy and laughs, and trained new student ambassadors. We concluded with a celebratory dinner complete with Halloween costumes, dancing and gourmet pizzas made by Tony, our data analyst.
Each city in Kenya brought a unique experience, but the happiness and joy of the patients and team was felt throughout the journey.
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