It’s my turn to get home. Everyone has landed in Canada. It was such a privilege to spend 12 days with an amazing group of high school students from Parkview Adventist Academy. Respectful, compassionate and engaged. They raised money to build a classroom and enjoyed connecting with so many children in schools. Here is what our project manager said. Thank you to all who made this possible.

The Crombie family Dan, Tiffanie, Caleb, Rebecca, and I spend the last three days in Lamu. We spent scoping and monitoring water and school projects, enjoying the beauty and culture of Lamu island. The family went swimming with whale sharks. A very caring and wonderful family to spend time with.
 

Saturday, April 1 – last day with future humanitarians from Parkview Adventist Academy. We started the day with some roadblocks and then spent the rest of the day at the beautiful Mara Serena Lodge. In the afternoon we headed to the hills for a sundowner complete with snacks, drinks, singing and dancing which launched the driver appreciation event. The beautiful sunset set the stage for Pastor Romando for his worship talk. What do the students say about their time in Kenya?

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Friday, March 31- after breakfast and saying our departure good byes, it was a safari day. We stopped and walked along the river with guards and then on for a bush lunch. it was a great way to wind down our trip at the Mara Serena Lodge.

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Thursday, March 30 – We spent time today at the Ngila School where two classrooms are dedicated in memory of Dan Jackson, President of the North American Division and a great friend of ABW. He helped ABW grow while as Pastor of the College Heights church and travelled on humanitarian trips. The grade 1 and 2 students have been studying under the tree for the past three years. Soon they will be moving into the new classrooms. After the visit we went on a game drive and arrived at our tented camp. The next two days will be safari days before the PAA students head back to Canada.

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Wednesday, March 29 another incredible day as we made our way on some bad roads. Students organized an on the spot sports day, taught classes in music, math, English and sports. Those that were interested in the medical field spent the time at the clinic. An adventure lunch with the locals roasting a goat and us eating our vegetarian lunch was fun. The afternoon was rounded off with a match. What are the students saying?

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We got an early start to our all day travel to the Mara. We visited an orphanage stopped for a surprise lunch at an exclusive lodge and used the pool to cool off. We ended the day with a Masai village visit. Tomorrow we will begin our Masai school projects.

The past two days provided very immersive experiences into the local cultures and day-to-day lives of Kenyan families, teachers and students. These experiences have left an indelible mark on us.

Our visit to an orphanage supported by ABW gave us a very honest view of the difficulties faced by children who need homes and families, and medical care to alleviate physical disabilities, which made their formidable joy all the more inexplicable.

This was a good precursor to our visit to Naikarra Primary & Secondary School where we saw how the support of A Better World has made it possible for students with disabilities to get an education alongside their peers. Being the only school in the county to offer education for the differently abled, Naikarra is home and school to 24 students with disabilities. The students and staff, numbering approximately 1800, welcomed us with award winning dance groups and singers. Our PAA students thought lessons in Math, English, Music and Physical Education, then played a volleyball tournament against students of teachers of the hosting school.

We also had the privilege of visiting a Maasai village where we met and were welcomed by the Chief. We made fire using only sticks and dried elephant dung, spent time inside a manyatta (Maasai home made of soil and cow dung), and learned about how the Maasai live and preserve their culture in such quickly changing world around them.

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After a restful night at the Sarova Woodlands Hotel, we woke up to an invigorating breakfast and our ever friendly drivers ready to take us on the road for two major school visits.

Our first stop was Koige Primary School where we were greeted with—you guessed it—singing and dancing by the entire school population and community members! We were invited to plant a tree in honour of our visit and relationship with this school community, which was followed by even more celebration and cultural exchanges through performances and gift giving. Our students then went into each class room and taught lessons in Math, English, Music and Physical Education.

After lunch, we headed to one of our most anticipated events: the opening ceremony for the classrooms our PAA students fundraised to build at Mau Summit. Again, we were met with immeasurable gratitude and unbridled celebration.

Following our ribbon cutting, our students taught classes until the end of the school day. Such direct and prolonged interaction with students and their families left us challenged to ask ourselves what more we can do to improve the lives of our neighbours. We look forward to how this trip with continue to transform us individually and collectively.

After a restful night at the Sarova Woodlands Hotel, we woke up to an invigorating breakfast and our ever friendly drivers ready to take us on the road for two major school visits.

Our first stop was Koige Primary School where we were greeted with—you guessed it—singing and dancing by the entire school population and community members! We were invited to plant a tree in honour of our visit and relationship with this school community, which was followed by even more celebration and cultural exchanges through performances and gift giving. Our students then went into each class room and taught lessons in Math, English, Music and Physical Education.

After lunch, we headed to one of our most anticipated events: the opening ceremony for the classrooms our PAA students fundraised to build at Mau Summit. Again, we were met with immeasurable gratitude and unbridled celebration.

Following our ribbon cutting, our students taught classes until the end of the school day. Such direct and prolonged interaction with students and their families left us challenged to ask ourselves what more we can do to improve the lives of our neighbours. We look forward to how this trip with continue to transform us individually and collectively.
 

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We said goodbye to the hippos and zebras this morning and headed off to do a couple school visits. Did I say a couple? I meant five!

We were so thrilled to engage with the students and staff of each school, and they were undeniably just as eager! We were met with singing and dancing at the gates of each school and a warmth that couldn’t be attributed to the weather. On a Sunday when most Kenyan’s are in church, these students, families and administrators took the time to come celebrate with us.

Our PAA students we challenged to see themselves in everyone they interacted with today, engage meaningfully and intentionally with strangers, and acknowledge and let go of their judgments and preconceptions. We experienced the most beautiful exchange of culture and appreciation as our students performed for and socialized with the Kenyan students, who also performed for us!

Seeing the fruit that the generosity of so many A Better World donors has resulted in, inspired students to make humanitarianism a lifelong practice. We cannot wait to see the classrooms we built tomorrow!
 

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