International Award a tool for the realization of a united East Africa: -
By Ochoo Ronald
Author Ochoo Ronald
The preparation for my journey to Kenya for the expedition
started as early as two months before the event’s day. It was quite demanding
and hectic being the team leader of the Ugandan team. The real day for the
event started on Saturday evening with boarding of the bus from the Simba Coach
station.
The purpose of the
expedition was to fulfill the requirements of Gold participants under the
Source of the Nile Award Uganda, which is under the International Award
Association of the Duke of Edinburg’s Award. The expedition involved walking
for over 80Km in four days and three nights. The journey started at about 7:30
pm in the evening at Simba Bus Station in Kampala Uganda, where we were seen
off by Kenneth the operations manager of Nile Awards, Uganda. It was an
exciting moment for me and the team owing to the fact that it was my first time
across the border to Kenya and more so out of my country, and this time by Bus.
All went on very well with a little delay at the border for clearance of entry
that saw some of us almost forgetting to clear for the entry to Kenya.
Sunday 01/07/2012
We arrived in Kenya at about 7:00 am and the team of six
were picked up by Mr. Malenya Harat from the bus station, along Kumasi Avenue
and taken to the head office of the President’s Award in the Upper Hill of
Nairobi, where we started experiencing the real Nairobi in our nerves and
blood.
On arrival at
the Simba Coach bus station.
At the P.A
–Kenya Office
We had breakfast and then later Brunch then headed to
Nairobi town to tour, we visited markets and shops, we had a chance to go to
Kyriako Market 
…and shops where there were lots
of African crafts, and we also had chance to hope on the Matatu’s that saw us
enjoy every bit of it and couldn’t get enough of it owing to the difference in
their ways of travel and the loud music in them, under the guidance and
leadership of Mr. Charles Muendo our guide of the day and later one of the
assessors.
…and shops where there were lots
of African crafts, and we also had chance to hope on the Matatu’s that saw us
enjoy every bit of it and couldn’t get enough of it owing to the difference in
their ways of travel and the loud music in them, under the guidance and
leadership of Mr. Charles Muendo our guide of the day and later one of the
assessors.
P.A Kenya
C.E.O Edwin Othieno Addressing the Ugandan team, at the Board Room.
Group photo
with the Ugandan team and some of the assessors with the C.E.O P.A Kenya, at
the extreme back, in Black shirt.
We were officially welcomed by Mr. Edwin Othieno C.E.O of
the President Award (P.A) Kenya; he also lectured us on the expedition and about
the P.A-Kenya. Its structures and how they have been able to spring above the
tides of life. 
A plate of
foo foo dish one of the foods in Kenya.
We later had an amazing Kenyan cuisine for lunch at the head
office and foo foo was the most
exciting of them all having had it for the first time in life and more so in
Kenya, it was very amazing because the food we ate really made us feel welcomed
and I thank the team that was behind that, eventful lunch.
Ngong Township Primary School where we camped on Sunday
preparing for the first day of the expedition on Monday.
We then headed to Ngong Township Primary School where we
spent the night before starting the Gold Expedition. We were grouped up with
the N.Y.E.I.S team under the leadership of Joseph, as per the directives of
Miss Wangari of the P.A-Kenya.
Monday 2nd/07/2012:
Learning how to use the compass and the map under the
supervision of Joseph a.k.a “Finjey” one of the assessors.
Learning how to use the compass and the map under the
supervision of Joseph a.k.a “Finjey” one of the assessors. 
Learning how to use the compass and the map under the
supervision of Joseph a.k.a “Finjey” one of the assessors. 
Photo pose with Mr. Charles Muendo our Guide and later an
assessor.
The expedition started early in the morning at about 8:00am,
we climbed 8 peaks of the several hills in Ngong walking for more than 20 KM in
different groups of about 7 to 9. My group
was Spider under the leadership of Silas Musoyoka my role was to be the
Public Relations Officer with Milka Wambui, below is a picture taken when I was
doing some bit of my work as a P.R.O, 
… and the friends I
had with me were Alex, Vicent Kiplagat, Marlene Feng, Francis, Moffat, Ochieng,
Owino, Owiny and the assessors whose
names I really recall are, Mr. Charles Muendo and Mr. Malenya Harat, Evelyn,
Isaac, Bernard, Tony, Milka and Joseph . 
Above
one of the steep hills and below deep valleys of the Ngong Hills.
Above
one of the steep hills and below deep valleys of the Ngong Hills.
We walked and camped at Olooseos Primary School. 
Sleeping time at the camp site at Olooseos Primary School
Monday was the most hectic day, I really felt the pain
almost every part of my body and almost gave up I had not really climbed such a
hill and couldn’t believe it was just the beginning. The greatest moment was
reaching our camp site and wow! It was a tiresome Monday coming to an end as we
slept off in the cold of the night, as we wait for tomorrow.
Tuesday 3rd
/07/2012:
We left Olooseos
Primary School and started off walking to the different places assigned and
all had to meet at the Murram Pit. 
The
Murram Pit at Kiserian, Ngong Town
The
Murram Pit at Kiserian, Ngong Town
The terrain was a lot better than that of Monday except the
part where we had to slope through stones and crawl through shrubs. It was
amazing to see large herds of cows, donkeys, sheep, and buffaloes and also
chanced to see an antelope across the vast Masai land.
Cattle
grazing nearby Olooseos primary school.
We walked for more than 20Km and camped at Ole Polos Primary School. I was very
tired with serious muscle cramps and all I wanted was to go back to Uganda, I
had blisters on both of my feet and the pain was breath taking and to make
matters worse we were in charge of cooking so there was no way of avoiding the
activity. 
Preparing skumawiki for the evening and the next day’s Lunch
Soon later I realized some of my teammates were in the verge
of giving up and this demanded my intervention owing to the fact that they were
tired and felt enough was enough.
Wednesday 4th/07/2012:
We left Ole Polos, however this time round I was
put in a new group altogether of John Walker and I became the group leader a
role I played till the last day and headed out to walk for more Kilometers. I
was very tired and my feet were swollen but I kept on moving forward. 
My blistered and swollen feet that
still trekked till the finishing line.
We walked
and had our lunch at Ocolo Irenyo Boys
Primary School, where I was interviewed by KBC and K24 all broadcasting
corporations in Kenya. We later walked and had a stopover at the memorial stone
of the Late Josiah Mwangi Karukui, former M.P of Nyandurwa, whose body was
found at that spot in 1975. We later walked to our camping site at Olosho Obok Primary School.
A
bond fire
I
participated in cutting of the cabbages for the next days for supper and the
next day’s Lunch, a bond fire was made
were we all participated in dances, music, drama and jokes, it was a wonderful
night. As the Ugandan team we presented a dance to which everybody cheered us,
and this graced my day as I was really feeling pain so I later rushed straight
for my sleeping bag. 
This was our last night of camping in
Kenya. (Silas, Marlene Feng, Bonita)
This was our last night of camping in
Kenya. (Silas, Marlene Feng, Bonita)
Thursday 5th
/07/2012: 
The Ugandan Team at the Kipruti Peak where we had our last
lunch of the expedition. .( In order, Flavia, Ronald, Bonita, Sandra, Vivian
and Marlene, from Left to Right)
The Ugandan Team at the Kipruti Peak where we had our last
lunch of the expedition. .( In order, Flavia, Ronald, Bonita, Sandra, Vivian
and Marlene, from Left to Right)
This was the last day of the expedition, we walked from Olosho Obok to Kipruti Peak, where we had our lunch and later walked to our final
destination at Ngong Township Primary
School, and by 2:00pm we had finished the expedition from here we headed
straight to a nearby Guest House where we had a bath and later continued to
Nairobi to get our return bus to Uganda
Trekking through the last hilly area in the expedition on our
way back to Ngong Township Primary School
Trekking through the last hilly area in the expedition on our
way back to Ngong Township Primary School
It was a mixture of joy and tears; got blisters from day one
till the finishing day. It was great to finish but sad to know that we were to
part ways with our new amazing friends of whom some wanted us to still stay for
another extra day but we had to go, we shall meet again. 
Having the last farewell address and talks by the
coordinators and Assessors and the members from the P.A Kenya office to the
participants who had managed to finish the Gold expedition at Ngong Township
Primary School
Having the last farewell address and talks by the
coordinators and Assessors and the members from the P.A Kenya office to the
participants who had managed to finish the Gold expedition at Ngong Township
Primary School
From Ngong Township we were driven by Mr. Alvin and Mr.
Malenya and we later proceeded to Simba Bus Station. 
Along
the road from Ngong Township to Nairobi, Kenya
Along
the road from Ngong Township to Nairobi, Kenya
It was any way funny when the City Police was trying to
clear the streets of vendors, as lots of teargas and stone throwing graced the
evening; this was a threat to us owing to the fact that we were very green
about the corners of Nairobi. However that aside, It was an eye opening
experience, I discovered that I had the strength within me to walk the distance
I covered; I tried to learn some Swahili and kept the faith to walk till the
finishing line that saw me very excited and even the pain disappeared, having
climbed the hills, contours, walked through the Rift Valley and made new
friends in Kenya. I will forever remember this moment in life and any chance to
take such an opportunity to do an expedition I will be very grateful. I thank
every person, individuals , groups that helped me and my team during our stay
and expedition in Kenya at the Ngong Hills, we shall forever be grateful to
those who helped us, there is no way we can pay you back but just thank God for
Your Help God bless you and reward you abundantly. It was a very enjoyable stay
in Nairobi, the friends, assessors, coordinators and climbing the Ngong Hills.
From the above narrative writings, one can realize that a
united team of youths can actually be achieved for the betterment of the
society, communities, and the countries and the world over. From my experience
I believe that international award, has not only made the youth realize their
abilities but it has also built their confidence and broken into the walls of
giving up easily. All I wish for all is to take part in any of the Award levels
and see the gains for themselves.
©2012 ronnierossjr@gmail.com Ochoo Ronald
(Gold Participant –Uganda)
