Unlocking Potential

One of tagline's of Kenya Keys is the phrase, "Unlocking Potential". When I was in Kenya recently I met a young man, Stephen Waititu Ndegwa who embodies that sentiment.

When Stephen was in secondary school his father passed away.  This is a common occurrence in a country with very limited medical care.  Many of our students are orphans.  Because he didn't have a father, he often could not pay his school fees.  When this happens the students are 'chased away' from school until the fees can be paid, resulting in many weeks of missed classes.  

At the end of 12th grade, students in Kenya take an all important exam that determines if they can go to university, which university and what they can study.  Stephen's marks were abysmal.   About the same time the village priest got involved, recognized his potential and recommended that Stephen be given a Kenya keys sponsorship.  

Now he was able to go to classes without worrying about his fees.  The school principal agreed to allow Stephen to repeat the last two years of school to try and improve his grades.  Without the constant worry and because he was now more mature and could focus, his grades improved dramatically...so dramatically that he graduated and was admitted into one of the best universities in Kenya where he earned a Computer Science Degree.

Now he owns a Cyber Cafe in Taru, manages an office/retail building (the tallest building in town),  and has helped his Mom start a laundry business.  He bought her a washing machine which is a real novelty in Taru! 

Plus Stephen encouraged his brother to return to secondary school after he had dropped out.  Brother Kelvin graduated and is about to start college to get a diploma thanks to Stephen's encouragement and support. 

Stephen is definitely 'paying it forward'.  I am so happy to have met him.

Crowded In 1st Grade

Here is a first grade class in one of my favorite Primary schools in Kenya.  Yep,  one class, one teacher, 113 1st graders! 

 They sit 3 or 4 to a desk and on the floor with few books, practically no visual aids, and certainly not a teacher's aid or a parent helper. Can you even imagine?  The teacher deserves a medal of honor.  She is the perfect illustration of the phrase, "Not all super heroes have capes, some have teaching degrees."

Crowded

Almost all publie secondary schools in Kenya are boarding schools.  A few year's ago the government decided to organize them into all girls or all boys schools.  As a result a new secondary school for girls was started in Taru village.  This year the school has all 4 classes - 9th through 12th grade-260 girls.  260 girls living in a dorm meant for 80 girls.  That's right!  No mistake in my numbers. 

There are bunk beds everywhere.  Each room is full of beds...the hall is full of beds! Every space that could possibly hold a bed has one. 

And to make it even worse, the girls have to sleep 2 to each mattress.  2 girls on the top bunk and 2 girls on the bottom.  Here they are showing us how they sleep. I can't imagine how hot it must be at night with all those bodies crammed together.  

I asked the principal if the girls complained and she said no that they didn't because they see hope when they look at the new dorm soon to be completed by donations through Kenya Keys.   It might not be finished for a few more months but it will be finished eventually. 

I admire their positive attitude!

If You're Happy and You Know it!

I will have to admit that going to the Ndohivyo Special Needs School has not been one of my favorite activities while in Kenya.  I don't really know why I didn't love it when most everyone else did.  This trip I decided to just jump in and love the children without fear.  When I forgot myself, I finally understand why people enjoy coming here so much. 

The children are truly delighted to have visitors! Their smiles come quickly and light up their faces. 

 In spite of their physical and mental challenges, they radiate joy. 

 Every single time that our van would arrive, we were greeted like rock stars!

 This young girl kept picking up rocks and twigs to give to us.  Gifts for her friends! 

He had the whole camera thing figured out!  He loved making us laugh as he took our picture too. 

Isn't this a sweet face?

This little girl warmed my heart.  You wouldn't know by looking at her but she is 11 years old and only recently arrived at school.  Her many handicaps didn't stop her from smiling. 

Although practically nonverbal, she looked up at me and called me Grandma in her tribal language.  Yes, she stole my heart!

Here we are teaching the group the song, "If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands".  They are a happy group of children, surrounded by joyful, loving, devoted, hard working teachers who make the impossible seem possible!

And here's a happy success story to make us all want to 'clap our hands'.  

Meet Mbaji who was brought to the school as a completely non-verbal, extremely low functioning 15 year old. Now six years later, he is in the vocational preparation class and can be sent into the village with a shopping list. He returns with exactly the items needed. A testament to the dedication of the staff who never give up on any student. 

I can hardly wait to go back be with them again!

Carolyn

One of the very best parts of my last two trips to Kenya has been my wonderful roommate, Dr. Carolyn Jenkins.  With a PhD in Special Education she is a real asset to Kenya Keys, especially as she works with the Ndohivyo Special Needs School.  Her training and her compassion make her uniquely qualified to assist the teachers and students.

Besides her professional training she is just a joy to be around.  Two women who didn't know each other, trying to negotiate a different culture with less than easy living conditions could be a recipe for disaster but Carolyn and I find that we spend a lot of time laughing!  She is just the BEST!  I am so glad to call her my friend! 

Home to Taru!

I will never forget my first trip to Kenya.  I traveled alone for 18 hours and arrived in Mombasa exhausted and a bit afraid.  Would my ride be there?  Would my cell phone work if no one was there to meet me?   Could I figure out how to get safely to a hotel by taxi?

 I walked out of the airport in the dark and looked at the crowds of people waiting.  When my eyes fell on a man wearing a huge smile and a Kenya Keys shirt, all my fears vanished.  I had an immediate friend. From that night on Joseph Mbotte, driver extraordinaire, has been one of my favorite Kenyans.

Once again that smile was there to welcome us 'home' to Taru!  Karibu Kenya!  Welcome to Kenya!

Train Across Kenya

For several years the Kenyan government, with the help of the Chinese, have been building a high speed railroad from Mombasa to Nairobi.  This will eventually be linked to railroads in all the 'land locked' central African countries so that they will have access to the port of Mombasa.  Brent, Carolyn and I decided to check out the train trip rather than flying from Nairobi to Mombasa.

Welcome to Nairobi! 

The train was fast and comfortable.

Pretty amazing to look out the window and see elephants, wildebeests, giraffe, and zebras.  Our own safari!

Another amazing thing about this trip was a conversation we had with the Kenyans sitting across from us.  The youngest of the three men, accompanied by his father and uncle, were on their way to the ancestral home of the woman he hoped to marry.  They were traveling to negotiate the dowry.  This is still very much a part of tradition in Kenya. Prospective bridegrooms are expected to give the family of the bride either money or goats or cows or some combination of the three.  This age-old custom is regarded as a show of appreciation to the bride's parents for the way they have raised her and also as compensation for the loss of the girl to her family as she joins her husband's family. As we talked to the young man we learned the he lives in St. Louis, Missouri and owns a trucking company.  While talking about travels in America he mentioned that he had recently traveled from Dallas to St. Louis on Interstate 40.  There was a big snow storm just as he passed through Little Rock so he pulled off at a truck stop just past North Little Rock and spent the night.  In the morning he continued on Interstate 40 for a few miles but was advised that it was best to get off the interstate and continue on Hwy. 70.  He did this and drove through many little towns. 

I know exactly where he was and what little towns he drove through....my own little town of Lonoke, Arkansas!  Isn't that amazing that I'd meet someone on a train in Kenya who had recently driven right through my home town!  Talk about a small world!