When I got my first look and took my first step onto the grounds of the Kambi Primary School, I realized why I was there; why I had come and why I need to help these children. I thought to myself, “My God, we take so much for granted here in the USA”. I know that all over the world the needs are many. At any given time you can turn on your TV and see some organization trying to raise money for a cause. At home you can simply switch channels - out of sight, out of mind, but being there, in the presence of the children, leaves an imprint on your soul, one that you can’t turn your head away from.
I found myself surrounded by hundreds of smiling faces of all ages. Most of the children were dressed in green sweaters and some kind of undergarment (a dress or pair of shorts). Some had shoes but many did not. For those children lucky enough to have shoes, most had no laces and the shoes appeared to be too big for their small feet.
As I stood watching and listening to their sweet songs, an overwhelming feeling came over me. I thought, “Here are all these children with little or nothing to their names except the clothes on their backs” and I wept. I never saw one child hold out his or her hand for a handout. Instead, they held out their hands just to hold mine. I can close my eyes and still see their beautiful smiling faces touching me saying, “How are you”?
What a profound experience! I have never felt so much love from so many at one time. The children of Kambi have truly deeply touched my soul and I know our hearts will be forever joined.
I am so grateful to WI for giving me this experience of a lifetime. I am deeply honored to be part of this worthy project. I truly believe that it will be the children who will change the world. I will cherish these memories forever and know that one day I will return.
Susan Halvorsen
Mount Laurel, NJ
What an inspiration! He stood before these kids as not only one of their own, but as a successful graduate. Muthoga, our Kenyan guide, had grown up in Naro Moru and had attended this school. He worked hard and got good grades; he had definitely earned the privilege to go on to college and major in tourism.
And tourism had brought him back, accompanied by us, his American tour group. We arrived at the Naro Moru school and were warmly greeted by many beautiful young faces. I immediately thought about all those impressionable young minds and their untapped potential. I was not prepared for the wave of emotion that swept over me as the kids performed songs and read poetry. Here they stood, in their tattered school uniforms, some without shoes, but all happily singing and proudly reciting poems in English.
As I looked around, I noticed that the school was an old run-down stable – overcrowded, no heat, no electricity, no windows, and leaky roof. My heart wept for the children. Was this their learning environment? Then we saw the unfinished foundation of a building; the beginning of a new school. I vowed to myself, as did others on the tour, that these children would soon be housed in a brand new building. We would make it happen!
Hope Miura
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
A sea of green uniforms and bare feet surrounded curious and wondrous visitors, armed with camera’s desperate to capture each moment…each beautiful smile; eyes that express joy along with a depth of struggle we could only imagine; and childlike laughter that transcends culture lines. Each student eager to reveal to us grade performances they had been practicing for our arrival, parallel to our eager enthusiasm to absorb and capture the spirit of each student. My ears anticipated the stimulation of the children’s harmonious voice of song and proud owners of the learning they have obtained in each class. Tears streamed down my face, not in heartbreak, but in reverence of the common human thread of tenacity, hope and belief. As onlookers, we witnessed proud teachers of their students and a belief that they would move on to higher education…however, not without struggle, competition and much sacrifice. As a Social Worker, in a North American High School, I also witness proud teachers who educate a student body that haphazardly accept their education as a right. Do they know that in another world far from them, students fight to be at the top 10 percent of their class, just so they can move on to High School with a stipend in hand to aid the lofty monetary cost of a 4 year certificate? Do they know? If they did, would it change the way they embrace education? Would they hold it in their hand like a precious gem, like what I witnessed in the eyes of the Kambi children? Would they walk several miles to school each day, come rain or shine? Would they diligently learn in classrooms that have little to no supplies? Would they sit in a classroom that was unfinished, unfurnished and cold? My unwavering human thread of tenacity, hope and belief is that they would…knowing that change could come, should and has to!!!
Lori Butler
Minneapolis, MN
Andy Walz of Wilderness Inquiry Minneapolis MN with 11 other Wilderness Inquiry participants came over to Kenya in Sept 2006 for an incredible safari. They were met by Richard Muthoga, a seasoned native guide and Wilderness Educator from Kenya who runs Kiboko Wilderness Adventures. Muthoga decided to take them to tour his primary school (elementary school) which he attended from kindergarten to standard 8(eighth grade) before proceeding to high school and college level.
All the participants were from United States of America and were saddened by the lack of basic amenities that prevailed in this school. Lack of good infrastructure such as classrooms, desks, learning materials, clean water and many more were evident.
Everyone in that trip vowed to change the face of this school. To start with they had carried school supplies which they donated. These items motivated the kids very much as evidenced in the results of end year exam result. The school scooped the trophy of the best improved school in the division level (county). In conjunction with Richard Muthoga who apart from guiding tourists in this East African region, Muthoga is also involved in communities' activities in various villages in Kenya. Together with different welfare associations, community based organizations, Kenyan and other International non governmental organization, he works tirelessly to improve living conditions of impoverished villages by participating in harambee, meetings and other functions related to the well being of the community.
On the other hand when Andy Walz returned to the US, he continued to put more effort on the Kambi Pry School project. He designed a web site for Kambi and in so doing managed to raise funds which helped to build 2 modern classrooms in the Kambi and also equip them with desks. Muthoga volunteered much of his time coordinating this project. At the same time the clients who participates in Kiboko Wilderness Adventures trips and willing to visit Kambi and other Schools bring with them more school supplies. So far many schools in this region have benefited. The people of good will are proud of these projects and we look forward to a bright future for these youngsters.
We envision Kambi Primary school community and their families having the opportunity to receive quality education to define their futures. Quality education will be made available by providing physical infrastructure such as classrooms and desks. Also awarding scholarship and sponsorship to the highly motivated and academically gifted children.
I therefore humbly and kindly urge everyone to continue with this noble goal as it is my believe that every child deserves an education and the opportunity to choose their future, regardless of the geographical location they are born in. Through education, every child can make their dream a reality, help their families struggle less and break the vicious cycle of poverty. At the end they will become self sufficient as the saying goes' instead of giving someone fish teach them how to fish;
Once again thank you for all your effort. Asante sana
Richard Muthoga Mwaura
Kiboko Wilderness Adventures.
P.O. Box 148,
Naromoru, 10105 Kenya E.Africa
www.kibokowildernessadventures.com