Self Help groups First Yr Graduation

On day 2 of our return to Najile, the MCC project that we are supervising had the graduation ceremony to honor the 10 community groups that had completed their first year of trainings and re-organization. Their trainings this year were on governance, mission and vision.  Our project manager had pulled the whole thing off and all we did was show up and say hello. It was an exciting welcome home. The church was packed with folks that had walked/traveled from hours.

After all the special guests, local chiefs, sponsors, etc gave speeches, the chairpeople of the ten groups gave small speeches.

The "best" group, aka most active and strongest at working together, was a group that was unique in that it consisted of nearly all women- with all women leadership.

Everyone received certificates, but the "best" group got to possess the "best group of the year" trophy until the next year is finished. The smiles were huge when this piece came out! And the celebration rivaled the super bowl when they receive their cup- at least I knew it rivaled it - they are a more reserved people in expression, but happiness and pride was exploding out around the edges of their reserve. It was so fun to watch.

I particularly loved the look of satisfaction on the chairlady's face after everyone sat back down.

A group member greeting me.

Our bosses, the country reps for MCC are finishing their term of service this month and returning to Canada so they were decked out in hours and hours worth of beadwork by the ladies from each group. Even multiple layers of fancy beaded shirts covering lower layers of beads!

Our project manager, Ann, on the left, delegated and organized and ran the whole show. It was so impressive. She was supported by her family- the daughters told me they did not lay down to sleep the night before because they were peeling potatoes and making chapatis all night. Since it was the group's day, Ann organized five members from each group to come the day before and help butcher the 7 goats and to help cook. She designated cooking and eating areas and supervisors of each area. It is not a small feat to cook a meal for 350 people outside on fires under the trees!

A year ago when the idea of this day was conceived, Ann began planning to have special Maasai beaded clothes made for Doug and I, for she and her husband and also our MCC supervisors. It was a very special gift. They sacrificed and saved to make this happen for us. 

And lastly, as the old saying goes... when life gives you lemons, make lemonade... The same goes for when you return and find your garden looking like this, then...

...Make hot sauce!