Kenya: Planning and Vision Time for the new Land of OTEPIC

We have crossed our mid-way point, and our time continues strong. Last week we had a four day intensive ‘Integrated Land Use Design’ Permaculture Training and planning time for the new land – the future site of an international permaculture school and eco-village – and we find ourselves inspired by the original dream of this land, and the human excitement that comes when faced with the opportunity to design a thriving model on a ‘wasteland’. The new land has such potential, and also typical challenges based on land and water mismanagement, deforestation and monoculture farming.

Our teacher and guide through the course was Mugove Walter Nikya, an intelligent, connected and calm mature teacher of permaculture, who works all over south eastern Africa transforming barren school yards into thriving models and seeds of change. We were touched by the amount of community members from area surrounding the land that participated, and they were touched when they visited the existing Amani Garden and saw what this innovative youth project is capable of on a small scale. We see this as an important threshold moment, OTEPIC moves from being a youth project to a real community garden, and it is especially exciting how many women are showing interest and coming along side to help. Already we see potential future co-workers, as we are also beginning to see the future water landscape and community buildings.

Today I was especially moved when I went to the local school and looked into a sea of young faces. In their eyes I saw questions, and I saw their life situations. I saw awakeness, and I saw hope. I saw the potential for change, and felt connection to the dream of OTEPIC, and the reality that these children’s lives will be changed for the better by the work that is happening now in their community.

I told them how happy I was to be in Kenya, how I find it beautiful and full of natural abundance, and that when I look in their faces I see the wealth of the human spirit. They laughed and laughed, and contact was made.

I give thanks for the opportunity, and pray for the way to open for OTEPIC in this big time of manifestation!

Siri and the Global Campus Kenya Team.