Being in a new county, and environment and living with new people has never been this exciting. I have been living with people of Mutaho sub-location, Kakamenga county. From the moment I stepped into this beautiful county I was blown away by the breathtaking views of natural beauty. The place is green, full of Indigenous trees that produce fresh air, free clean water that flows through permanent rivers, and rich and fertile soil.

The warmth and kindness of the people have given me a sense of belonging. Their enthusiasm for welcoming visitors is very unique. In most homes I have visited I was treated with ugali and cooked chicken{Ingoho}. When it comes to the portion of Ugali it’s really big no wonder most of my community members are strong and energetic. 

One of the most interesting things about my community that caught my attention is the design of their house and how they build their houses. Most of the houses are built with mud and Timber from local trees used for the framework, with poles for the structure and roof. Typically, the house is round or rectangular, depending on the region and family preference. The houses are designed to be compact and practical, providing shelter from the elements while also creating a sense of communal living. Men are the ones who build, after they are done the women now with molding or plaster, the house with specific soil from the river mixed with cow dung, to create a durable, smooth surface. This mixture is used to form walls.

Building a house in my community is a communal effort, with family members and neighbors often working together to help gather materials, construct the framework, and put up the thatch. This process strengthens social bonds within the community. Indeed, the community-based development model is already in rural communities and as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer I want to encourage my community to continue embracing this model and also use the already available local resources to better their lives.