First, I need to mention that I am using a keyboard that is a bit broken, so there may be a typo or two.

The last few weeks have been good. We figured out what direction my internship will be taking which is exciting. LICODEP had identified that they needed help with the micro enterprise and small business trainings a few months ago. They actually have a small micro loan program, MIMA, which was started with the help of another intern from the Foundation for Sustainable Development just over a year ago. It looks like my job will be to help grow the number of clients, assist with infrastructure and help set up some basic small business trainings for their clients. Right now there are other places that are doing trainings, but they are mostly in the city of Mombasa so they want something more local. Details are not yet worked out right now, but I am very excited about the potential of the project and the women I get to work with.
Part of the reason for the internship details not being worked out yet, is because i have been in conflict management and leadership development training with LICODEP for the past two weeks. At the beginning of each fiscal year they have a wide range of trainings to help build the capacity of the youth from all over the area. Then, based on the skills and knowledge presented during the trainings, they put together local action plans on how to educate and organize their communities. The first week was especially challenging because the instruction was all in Swahili. I had a few people to help translate and I followed along in the teachers manual, but i missed 60% of what they were talking about. The second week however, was primarily in English and was held at a beautiful beach resort in Mtwapa, just north of Mombasa.
It was a great program with a lot of helpful information, but the best part was actually having the time to make friends. I was nominated by the other people in the training to be the chair of the week, which pretty much just meant i got to open and close each day of training and make sure people knew where they were supposed to be next. I wasn't a big deal, but it was nice of them and made me feel less like an outsider. We even had some free time in the evenings, and I ended up busting out my old swimming teacher skills, and helping a few fellow trainees learn how to swim a little bit. There were a few tough moments too, when i didn't understand why people were laughing at me (i don't mind if people laugh at me, i just want to know why they are laughing so i can laugh too). Up until about a week ago my closest friend was Suleman, my five-year-old host brother. Now i feel like i have a small network of other 20 somethings to hang out with on the weekends.

I have so many other things that i want to write, but i have not made enough time to really put it into words and get it online. I am thinking of you all often and miss you. More soon, I promise. love, Mary