The biggest problem with the school system is that the schools costs a lot to attend and getting in to a university is not so much about grades but money.
After school young adults are facing a hard time finding a job, and the level of unemployment is high. In many families the mum stays at home with the kids and the father works, sometimes even many hours away from the home.
A typical home in Taita consists of many family members, like grandparents, aunts and cousins. The family may have some animals such as cows and chickens. The houses are not that big but fits the family well.
When I did my research at home I understood that one big problem in Kenya is poverty. And the homes here in Taita met my expectations, but the level of education blew me off. People also had a lot of food on the table, so no one was starving. But sadly there wasn't a big variety in the food.
Everything is quite cheap in Kenya, compered to Finland. And many families get their food from their own yard. People don't buy a lot and things, as an example cars are not common, which means that a family can live on a little bit of money. I also discovered that different donations, like clothes, are in good use.
Living in Kenya doesn't give you the same opportunity as living in Finland, thought they have free medical care and some kind of pension system. But one thing I learned on this trip is that money can't buy you happiness. People here have what they need, such as food, homes, school, friends and a tight family. And they appreciate small things in life, something we should learn to do. They may not have the newest phone one the market, or any phone for that matter, but that doesn't mean that they are unhappy. In fact I've seen a lot more smiles here than back home.
Emma Björkman
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