We are tentatively planning another catalyst trip to Kenya this year.  If there are enough people interested, we will embark to Kenya for another two weeks in August!

The first trip in May/June earlier this year was an unforgettable experience.  Check out a video below and listen to what some of the first participants had to say about the trip.

If you’re interested in the August 2010 trip, please visit this link and get in touch.

After a lot of sweat and tears, the short term trip to Kenya is finally ready!

With avenues to serve the local community.. explore the beauty of East Africa.. and grow as an individual.. these 14 days in Kenya are sure to both challenge and inspire.  Take a look..

• View the Summary and Photo Gallery
• View the Detailed Trip Information
• Download the Calendar Itinerary
• Download Application Form

If you have any questions or would like to submit an application, please direct them to autumn@theworldawaits.com.  Looking forward to journeying together!

the Masai

I went to another fundraiser focused on Kenya last night. This one was put together by an organization called Operation Eyesight, and they were raising money to build wells in Kenya. They’re a Canadian NGO and have been around for over 45 years. Their vision is “That all people of the world may enjoy the gift of sight.”

They showed us a documentary of the Masai people, and how the scarcity of clean water is resulting in many people going blind.  These two things may not seem connected, but as we learned, contaminated water is the greatest cause of an eye infection called Trachoma.  It’s the the most common infectious cause of blindness and the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. It is responsible for more than 6 million cases of blindness, and more than 400 million people are believed to be affected by the disease in some way.

And a clean source of water can change that.

I remember a few years ago, when I got a serious eye infection.  My eyes were sealed shut in the morning, and when I could finally open them, even the slightest trace of light was incredibly painful.  (more…)

flyer for Brazil/Kenya fundraiser

A few of us attended a fundraiser in Toronto last week. It was hosted by Schools Without Borders and the EMERGE program.  The goal was to raise funds for grassroots initiatives they partnered with during their time in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was a concert with local artists and they had silent auctions for photography, artwork and souvenirs from Kenya/Brazil. The event provided a lot of ideas for potential fundraising initiatives with The World Awaits.  There was a lot that worked really well (the Kenyan music, the videos of the programs, the silent auction and photography exhibition) and a lot that didn’t (the constant sound/mic problems, some of the music/artists seeming to have different agendas and a young crowd who seemed more interested in being entertained than in supporting the cause).  All things considered though, it was a great event and I learned a lot.  The world of fundraising and non-profits can be overwhelming.. so it’s inspiring to see a few people making things happen at a grassroots level.