03/09/2024
The journey (has only began)
Haba Kenya Airways - your pride of Africa is not priding. Some things you do, e no good for eyes and ears sometimes joor. Upgrade your fleet on important routes like Dubai to match the competitors na. The current type of plane you have allocated to that route should be for a route that is not more than 45-60mins flying time abeg.
How do you have a plane with seats like Tahmeed bus that ply Mombasa -Kisumu…stiff old chairs, no personalized tv screen; even the existing shared tv screen seems to be faulty. Let me not narrate my recent experience on that bus with my polish visitors coming from Mombasa.
Okay KQ, first you put such plane on that route, then you give people very nice blankets for an air conditioning that is like ordinary fan. That we are traveling to a pearl in the desert doesn’t necessarily mean we should feel the heat of the desert before we arrive.
You see what I mean ehn. Don’t have some of the most amazing pilots/captains and service crew members and you put them in such planes. I am gradually returning to flying KQ again now that I can put an amazing face and character to it - in person of the Amadis…
Anyway, let me enjoy this beautiful privilege of traveling with my leader and Director @ Fred Nyabera . I feel so honoured this past few months traveling and sharing personal experiences with leaders I respect and look up to. First was with Fr. Mark Oluwole Obayi for one full month of awesome travel around the US. Now with Rev Fred on this blessed trip to launch the SDGs Academy for Children - School of Goodwill in Serbia. The difference though is that I will not have the honourary title and privilege of being called “Rev Michael” like I was baptized “Fr Michael” throughout my travel around the US - from Arizona to Georgia to Florida and Texas!
Talking about the SDGs Academy for Children by Arigatou International, the dream of a “Network of Academies” is indeed becoming true. First the Pioneer Space in Limuru, Kenya in 2021, then the Model Classroom in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2022, and the first SDGs Single Room Innovation Space (SRIS) at Ruth School in 2024, and now the School of Goodwill in Serbia established in partnership the Somborski edukativni centar - SEC (Sombor Educational Center). We look forward to welcoming Chile, Thailand, and UAE to the network soon. Let the dream fly!
Indeed it is an honour to manage a safe space where children learn Innovation anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals and there they practice Sustainability. Unfortunately our SDGs Champions from the Pioneer Space - Raymond and Michelle couldn’t join on this trip, to go launch what is rightfully theirs, because the Serbian Embassy and Ministry of Interior have neither said “yes” nor “no” to their visa application. Come on guys, sometimes Children should be given exemptions from some strict visa rules once you can authenticate the genuineness of their intention and that of the accompanying adult. I mean the adults could travel already because they have the requisite documents. I would believe that it shouldn’t take up to 20 days to verify the genuineness of a child’s intention. Well, I wouldn’t talk too much because I certainly don’t understand how your internal immigration processes work. I am only appealing for faster processes for children travelers.
Okay o, let me leave “matter for matthias” to handle.
Big shout out to Ivana, Srdjan and the team in Sombor for the relentless effort to follow up on the children visa application. We are most grateful.
Oya, abeg make I go sip my hot coffee quietly before they find out that I am Nigerian and boot me off this place or subject me to additional checks, even though I have the right papers o. I don’t blame them, I blame Nigerian Government and some Nigerians who give us bad name at times. E go better sha!
Bye bye good people. Talk to you again soon.
