Amid the fight against our excess food waste on home turf, Stefan Elswood, from Eternal Kitchens, embarked on an African adventure to install some much-needed kitchen facilities.
Stefan undertook a challenge for Akamba Aid Fund, a local charity, based in Somerset. The word Akamba comes from the ‘Akamba Tribe’, which is the fourth largest of 42 tribes in Eastern Kenya. This region is one of the most arid parts of the world and its inhabitants are some of the poorest in Africa. Akamba Aid has been working since 1999 to help provide water, food, education and health care in this area.
The Project
Following the development of a new eye clinic at the Gai Health Centre, the four new consultation rooms all required kitchens. This is where Stefan stepped in and got involved to help with the general logistics and installation of the kitchens. The units were ordered months in advance before the trip from a local kitchen company in Nairobi.
All the other components required for the installation, including tools, taps and even four kitchen sinks were transported to Africa by Stefan and Colin Martin, a founding trustee. Luckily, they were not stopped and searched at customs – a few jokes to be had (everything including the kitchen sink).
Stefan and Colin set off on their adventure with just 6 days to complete the project, including the hire of vehicles to transport the kitchens and themselves to the site. Staying with one of the Akamba families in their shambas, there was no running water or food, which made the project that much trickier.
The kitchens were provided in a flat pack format – not what Stefan is used to – but thankfully most of the components were supplied with the kitchen, despite a last-minute run around for some items – not an easy task when all the roads are dirt tracks!
After a lot of hard work and with the help of some local volunteers the kitchens were eventually completed. Stefan noted; “This trip was unforgettable and a real challenge; it was exciting, rewarding and very humbling, and the local people were fantastic, especially the wonderful children who always had a smile on their face!”
www.akambaaidfund.org