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Karura Forest and Mwelu Foundation

by Nolen Brann

Today was the second full day of our trip. We started out early this morning with a beautiful hike through Karura Forest. The forest was filled with trees and wildlife, both native and foreign, as you walked through it felt as if you were changing between different ecosystems. We saw two different types of antelopes native to Africa, as well as a monkey swinging up in the trees. As the hike went on we saw one of the oldest trees in Kenya, which is around 250 years old. Next to it was a cave that the guide let us go into and we were able to see a group of bats huddled together on the roof. This was followed by a nice waterfall that we all enjoyed going near and seeing. The guide we had was very insightful and showed us a lot about Kenyan wildlife and the ecosystem here.

Following that we headed out to the Mwelu Foundation in Nairobi. The Mwelu Foundation works to give kids who grow up in the informal communities of Nairobi a chance to learn skills such as photography, videography and editing, while also stressing the importance of education. It was a truly incredible experience, the students were so passionate about their work. The joy that they expressed as they showed us their work was really amazing to see. They were showing us much more than a picture, each one had a specific story or very thoughtful meaning that brought another level of depth to each photo. We also got to interact and play with some of the younger kids that are a part of the foundation, and they quickly opened up to us. The joy that you could see on their faces was infectious, and the room became filled with laughter and smiles.

After that we hopped back on the bus, grabbed a nice lunch at a local restaurant, before going to Fairview Coffee Estates. Fairview Coffee Estates is a single source coffee producer and estate that works to create a sustainable and ethical production process. We got to meet the Director, Michael, who was very insightful and knowledgeable. He taught us about the history of the business and the future of the company as well as the economy in Kenya as a whole. We were then led on a tour of the farm and their production facility. We learned about the whole coffee making process and some of the science behind it, and then they let us taste test their different types of coffee. Following that we got a further chance to engage and learn from our partners at the Fairview Coffee Estates before heading back to the Homecare Retreat Center for a delicious dinner and wrapping up our night.

For more information, visit the Mwelu Foundation website here.

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