Neubiberger Help in Kenya: Lots of light and even more shadow

Created: 12/31/2022, 2:30 p.m

By: Harald Hettich

Erika Preuss Neubiberg with children in Kenya.

© Harald Hettich

PEOPLE IN THE MUNICH REGION: Erika Preuss from Neubiberg has found a second home in Kenya and is involved with the Asante eV association 

Neubiberg – On this winter's day, Erika Preuss is sitting at her computer in Neubiberg and is looking pensively at colorful pictures from Kenya.

At the beginning of January, the busy 85-year-old will leave her desk and take a break as a volunteer gardener at the senior center.

As has been the case for many years, Preuss is spending the first three months of the new year in her home she once created herself near the coast and not far from the port city of Mombasa.

"Kenya has really become a second home for me," she says.

Neubiberger Help in Kenya: house by the ocean

The travel preparations are still underway.

"But in my mind I'm already there."

The new Bibergerin shares her feelings and impressions about a country that is so far away for us in many respects.

Most recently, she gave a lecture in the house for further education.

Erika Preuss can tell, her stories are captivating.

For example, she reports on her own property, which she created ten years ago north of Mombasa, just one kilometer from the beach on the Indian Ocean.

"For myself and especially for my housekeeper, who lives there all year round with parts of her family and looks after the house." Finally, a life worth living for the African woman herself. "Before, she lived in the suburb of Mombasa right next to a garbage dump - every year Malaria was a constant companion.” Preuss paid for the life of her small family there, the niece received school education and was able to study.

"We even built an observation tower so that everyone can see the ocean."

Road planning, water connection and, if possible, the power supply - everything has to be done on your own.

"You have to drill the wells yourself."

In-house cisterns store the drinking water.

"There is a deep mistrust of the police and public administration, and the national debt is constantly growing."

Neubiberger Help in Kenya: Tribes

In Kenya, the "tribes" are the home of all life.

There are 42 of these largely self-contained tribes with 42 different languages ​​in the country.

In rural areas, tribal elders often still determine how people live together from the cradle to the grave.

In most cases, people only get married in their own tribe.

Girls are often still circumcised there and under dramatic hygienic conditions.

Education is a valuable commodity and is only given in private schools.

However, only a few Kenyans can afford the payment.

Overall, the social gap within the communities is large.

Neubiberger Help in Kenya: Poverty

"My extended family friends have tea plantations in the region as far as the eye can see".

For the owners, this means that they belong to the small, wealthy circle of the upper class, which represents only around 0.1 percent of the population.

"With visits to the doctor and operations in India or the training of young people at renowned European or American universities." The masses live from hand to mouth.

"While the upper class maintains birth control in small families," large families with at least ten children are still a reality among the poor.

Neubiberger help in Kenya: meager wages

"I've been told that a wealthy person can earn around 20,000 euros a month with assets from real estate in the capital Nairobi," says Preuss.

While the poor starved.

A diligent picker goes home after a long day at work with pennies for many kilograms of tea plants picked.

She only earns a maximum of two euros a day – a construction worker around six euros.

"With supermarket prices like in Germany," emphasizes Preuss.

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The meager wages are often the only income for poor families, and alcoholism among men is widespread.

"Likewise illiteracy," emphasizes Preuss.

"I worked successfully as a financial service provider in the field for many years, I earned good money and I just want to give some of it away," she emphasizes.

Neubiberger help in Kenya: Association helps

Erika Preuss from Neubiberg.

© Harald Hettich

In the poorer region of Tiwi, Christine Rottland, a relative of Preuss's family and recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit, founded the charitable association "Asante eV". they were born.

“My voluntary task was to set up a sewing workshop here and to produce school uniforms for the children.

Illiterate women have also found a job here that enables them to participate in society”.

The business with four employees continues.

For reasons of age, Erika Preuss has withdrawn from the active creative circle, but continues to finance various sponsorships.

Now there is also time for visits to the Sacred Forest, Kaya Kinondo or the famous Masai Mara with the Serengeti National Parks.

Neubiberger Help in Kenya: Land of contrasts

"Package travelers only see these beautiful sides of Kenya," emphasizes Preuss.

She saw a lot of light, but even more shadows.

"Magnificent nature on the one hand and burning gas stations and buildings during riots around the elections".

In the factories around the big cities, the growing Chinese influence is unmistakable.

"There are stories of slave-like working conditions there," explains Preuss.

"Anyone who is ill will be released immediately."

Nevertheless, people are queuing outside to take on vacancies for a pittance.

"Of course, the problems in Germany are also growing, but the real drama is happening in Kenya," emphasizes Preuss.

Nevertheless, she loves this country, has taken the people and the unique nature to her heart.

From January 4th she will be there again, in her second home.

The association Asante eV

Anyone who would like to find out more about the work of Asante eV, about donations and sponsorships, can reach the association in Reisach 15, Pegnitz on Tel. 0160/6504957, email inof@asante-ev.de or www.asante-ev.org.

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular district Munich newsletter.)