We did not know what we would be able to achieve, but in everything we would be doing sustainability had to be emphasised we agreed. We did not want to start something that would collapse after we left. This proved to be easier said than done. So having read the reports, had the security briefings, gotten the contacts and had the trainings, it was now up to us to create our own path.

Mutual learning

The main objective of the youth delegate programme is mutual learning between us, the delegates, and our host Kenya Red Cross. We are learning about all the programmes and activities of Kenya Red Cross so that upon return to Norway we can share our experiences and help develop practices in the Norwegian Red Cross. By being here the local branches and volunteers can also take advantage of our experiences and skills from Norway, so the exchange is a win- win situation in many ways.

Intro to Kenya Red Cross

Two of our nine month mission was spent at the Headquarters in Nairobi. Apart from getting introduced to the various departments, we were learning Swahili, we assisted in the organisation of an International Youth Camp, visited various branches. We spent considerable time ain Nairobi Red Cross participating in cleanups in the slum, blood donation sessions, first aid and dissemination of the Red Cross movement at various places.

The actual work

We are currently placed in Thika, just outside Nairobi, for three months and in March we will move to Bungoma, a township bordering Uganda. When we arrived in Thika we wanted to spend some time to get to know the branch, its activities, its strengths and weaknesses. We wanted to avoid the impression of two whites coming with a fixed programme of how to revolutionise the branch.

We therefore had a meeting with the youth volunteers to discuss what activities the small budget that the exchange programme came with should be used on. We decided on also focusing on capacity building of the youth volunteers and developing income generating activities for the youth department. We have therefore organised various trainings on International Humanitarian Law, disaster management, leadership and teambuilding skills, report writing among some.

The aim is to equip the volunteers with skills that will enhance the way the branch conducts its activities. The two main income generating activities are selling of Red Cross scarfs to the Red Cross school clubs and Red Cross charity bands. In addition we are visiting schools as hiv/aids peer- educators and establishing Red Cross school clubs.

The unpredictability of disasters

Disasters don’t take holiday. During Christmas President Kibaki declared the famine, that affected and still affects 18 districts and 2.5 million people, to be a national disaster. We were able to visit some of the drought stricken areas and observe the work Kenya Red Cross conducts. On January 23rd when a five floor building in the centre of Nairobi collapsed we were part of the rescue team, working day and night trying to save the lives of those trapped under the rubble. Unfortunately Vigdis and I were only able to pull out three dead bodies and no alive ones. It was quite an incredible experience being at the forefront of a disaster. So the “be flexible” part of our job description proved to be very applicable.

Open job description

As youth delegates we are free to form our work within the frame of ‘developing youth activities’. It has been challenging to find out how we can make a long term difference in a branch we are only placed at for three months. But at the same time it is liberating as it leaves space for creativity and personal initiatives. Because it is difficult to predict the needs of our allocated branch and the wants of the volunteers walking the path as we go has been essential to our work.

After work

Being a youth delegate is more a lifestyle than a 8-4 kind of job. Many activities and trainings take place during the weekends and we spend a lot of time at the branch up till late in the evening. Most of the branch management and volunteers are youth so they are our close personal friends. However we also enjoy free time outside Red Cross as we have made friends with many Kenyans from various places. We have also travelled around the country, to the coast and gone on safari which is a must whilst staying in Kenya.

However movement around the country, and especially in Nairobi, is restricted because of strict security regulations. Insecurities and threats of mugging, carjacking, rape and other crimes is something we have had to get used to and be prepared for.

Culture differences

Kenya is a country with a variety of cultures, traditions and religions. The multi- cultured country has over 40 different tribes with each their own language and culture. Quite different from the one-tribe-only-country that Norway is. Practices such as dowry (that is, paying to get a wife), polygamy, wife- inheritance, circumcision and various rituals are quite foreign to us. Although we don’t necessarily agree with all of them, we still respect our cultural differences. However Kenyans are very hospitable and sociable and very interested in getting to know ‘wazungu’.

Kenya face a range of different socioeconomic challenges which makes the Red Cross active in other ways than in Norway. If you are considering applying as a youth delegate, Kenya is a great country to be placed in as the work is extremely varied and different from back home. These are the realities we face as youth delegates and some which you will face if you decide to apply.