A KENYAN EXPERIENCE

An opportunity to journey into a new world and learn about a culture and people

By Jackie de Santis
March/April 2010

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In the summer of 2008, I participated in a three-week volunteer initiative in Kenya to help build a school in a Maasai village and to learn about the people and culture. The trip was organized by Leader’s Today (www.leaderstoday.com), started by the Kielburger brothers who also founded Free the Children.

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by the Maasai community with speeches by the school head-master and other village elders, thanking us for our help. The women gave each of us a necklace, which was unexpected and heartwarming. After the ceremonies, we met the children who were eager to show us around and play.

Taken on a water walk by the village women, Jackie attempts to carry a 50 lb. jug of water back to the village. Taken on a water walk by the village women, Jackie attempts to carry a 50 lb. jug of water back to the village.

For two weeks we slept in a Mobile camp, in canvas tents, five minutes walk from the school where we were helping to build six additional classrooms. We had electricity for a few hours at night.

The struggle for water

Throughout our stay we witnessed the often harsh living conditions of the people and their struggle for accessible clean water. The village women took us for a water walk to see how and where people obtain their drinking water. The local water source is a stream used by both people and cattle. The women have to boil the water for drinking, which takes a long time. We filled two large jugs and one small jug with water and took turns carrying them back to the village because they were so heavy. Women sometimes travel an hour just to get water, and may have to make multiple trips.

The community was experiencing a drought, making things even more difficult for them. At our camp-site we had no running water and a villager named Maji Moto, whose Swahali name means Hot Water, filled a large barrel with hot water for us to wash. We were all very conscious of the drought and showered every few days to preserve water.

Throughout our stay we witnessed the often harsh living conditions of the people and their struggle for accessible clean water.

A woman from the community took us for a walk through the village, showing us into several houses. Our Maasai guide translated for us, adding his own stories and information. Their homes were made of dung and sticks, with small circular windows that provide little light. In every house there was a fire going day and night. In more traditional houses, there were small rooms for keeping goats and cows. The children slept on cow skins on the floor, while parents slept on beds of sticks. For food, those who could afford it had porridge for breakfast; they ate no lunch, and dinner was always ugali, a mix of water and corn maize. Seeing how the people lived gave a deeper meaning to the work we were doing.

Building schools and building relationships Building schools and building relationships

On our final night in the community, as a thank you we invited the staff of our mobile camp, our Maasai guides, and the workers who helped us with the school construction for dinner. We all chipped in and bought a goat to eat. The guests arrived into our camp singing and carrying a cake for all to share.

Throughout my stay I built relationships with the children in the village so it was difficult to say my final goodbyes when we headed out for a retreat in a remote Maasai community. We lived in the traditional houses of dung and sticks that we had seen in our work community.

My three week trip to Kenya left me with a lot more knowledge and with a greater appreciation of what I have. I was glad I was able to help the people there and I look forward to returning one day.

Jackie de Santis was a student at Greenwood College School in Toronto when she went to Kenya with 25 other high school students. Members of her parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (www.olphtoronto.com), helped to make this journey possible.

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