David Goddard reports:
"I have returned from my travels in Kenya. An incredible life-changing experience - it taught me so many lessons about life and myself. The people were so welcoming and friendly and they looked after me very well thanks to Moses' family. I am a blacksmith, and amongst other things I was working with blacksmiths in Kenya - a huge contrast to how I work here - and seeing what areas they wanted help in and finding out their needs. I also shared new techniques and products to make. My gratest thanks to Moses for making it possible!"
Click on the thumbnails below to view an enlarged version. Remember to scroll down the page for lots of pictures.
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Nairobi - first impressions - not an easy life! |
Keen to learn - at St Paul's School in Ishiara near where we were staying |
Walking into Ishiara - this is pretty much what most roads are like |
Typical blacksmith's workshop - a few kilometres from Njarange |
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A group of blacksmiths and their families - a wonderful day! |
The toilet |
Gwen and me - the kids are all singing for us! |
Fitting water pipes - before this pipe was completed, these villagers had up to a two hour trek to fetch water |
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Disabled blacksmith - hours from anywhere - still trying to make a living for his family |
Someone's house - one of my more artistic efforts! |
We managed to find time for a short trip to a game reserve |
Giraffe (you probably guessed that!) |
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Near Archer's Post Isolo - children playing in the river near a herd of camels |
A more organised metal workshop in Mombassa, where I also spent some time working with smiths |
Back in the rural area, this is a typical fire setup. Note the bellows made of a sack and a piece of pipe |
Demonstrating some techniques for tong-making |
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Street kids in Makutano - we played football and cards together - what a hard life they have - but they still manage to have fun |
Two of our new friends making bags for us to sell here in the UK on their behalf |
Closeup of bag-making - one bag like this takes many hours of work |
They have a sense of humour here too - but it's pretty accurate |
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More smithing - note the bellows and the use of a length of railway track as the anvil |
Boys' toys! |
Ishiara market - hectic, exciting and very important for everybody |
The main blacksmithing products are arrow heads and spears for protection. I was able to give them ideas for new products to sell |