Ninaitwa Nekishon. (My name is Nekishon)

*Disclaimer* Pictures will be coming once I return to Toronto!

Jambo! I returned to Nairobi on March 19 after a fantastic trip to the community of Osenetoi. My co-facilitator, Galen, and I brought a group of 23 students and educators from Renfrew Collegiate Institute to help build a third classroom in this community. Going into the trip I was a bit nervous because I had never facilitated a group trip before, nor have I ever had adults on a trip with me. I was worried that having a group of students from the same school would bring in drama from home and pre-established group dynamics that would be out of our control. When we met the group, all that weight was off our shoulders. The students were absolutely fantastic, highly engaged in all our activities, and so excited to build a school for the children of Osenetoi while getting a better understanding of the community itself.

The trip was your typical Me to We trip in Kenya – school building, a water walk with some local mamas (we had Mama Purity and Mama Rose again!), beading with Mama Lea and Mama Gladis, safari, playing with the kids, and leadership modules. Many of the kids’ highlight at the beginning of the trip was the groundbreaking at the community of Sikirrar, where Free The Children will be building its second all girls’ secondary high school thanks to the support of Nelly Furtado (who was at this groundbreaking!). It was amazing to be in this setting with Mamas and Babas from both Maasai and Kipsigi tribes. The Maasai and Kipsigi have a longstanding clash of cultures due to historical issues with their lands and who owns what... so to see Maasai and Kipsigi girls going to school together at Kisaruni (our first all girls’ secondary school) has been a transformation in itself. However, to be at the groundbreaking of Oleleshwa (the next all girls’ secondary school), and to hear Robin speak to both tribes saying, “we need your commitment that you will not marry off your daughters, you will allow them to get an education, and they will go to school together”, and to hear all the Mamas and Babas cheer... was the most beautiful sight I have seen since my time with Free The Children began. We honestly watched history in the making as these parents vowed to send their daughters to high school.

As the trip continued, the students broke ground at Osenetoi to dig the foundation of a third classroom. The group was amazing on the buildsite, they always looked out for each others’ safety and worked hard to finish. A few times after building we got a chance to play with the kids and I was more than ecstatic to see Elizabeth again, my friend from last summer. I made some new friends as well this time – John, another Elizabeth, and Vivian. The children of Osenetoi bring so much joy to your heart because they are so appreciative of the education they have and so excited to form friendships with you the second you arrive.

As we neared the end of the trip, Safari day came and the group was thrilled. I got the chance to ride in the trail vehicle, rather than the lorry, with two of the boys on the trip. In the trail vehicle, we were able to chat and get to know each other, and we were able to be much closer to the animals than the lorry! We saw zebras (lots of them!), giraffes, buffalo, gazelles, hippos, and... A LION! In fact, our driver of the trail vehicle brought us about 50 feet from the lion, it was amazing. After safari we all got some sleep and the next day was the community goodbye and our goodbye with the staff. It was a day full of gratitude, love, and celebration as we finished digging the foundation of the classroom and said goodbye to our new friends.

I must say one of my highlights of the trip was receiving my very own Maasai name. During our Swahili lessons, David (our Maasai warrior and guide) gave everyone Maasai names but waited until later to tell Galen and I what our names were... When he told me my Maasai name was Nekishon (pronounced Nay-kee-shon), I asked what it meant... “one with blessings and good luck”. I felt proud and honored that he felt I deserved a name so special.

As we left Osenetoi, I felt a feeling of gratitude myself, for being blessed to return to such an amazing community. However, I have to admit that leaving the students at the airport was the hardest part... Sending nineteen youth on a plane to Canada after they have been your life for the past nine days is bittersweet. It is sad to watch them leave, to not wake up to them the next morning, to not have those laughs and “ah-ha” moments as they discover something new about themselves... But to see them grow, to see them learn, to see them witness another part of the world with a new perpective, and to see them fall in love with such an amazing country... it makes you proud, and it is extremely humbling.

As this journey comes to a close, I look forward to a new one in a few days. On Friday I am off to Mombasa with a few friends to see historical sites, vacation on the coast, and explore another area of the country I love so much. Until then...

Mapenzi (love),
Nekishon

Karibu Kenya!

Jambo! Karibu Kenya! (Hello! Welcome to Kenya!)

I am finally here, finally back in Kenya where I fell in love with this country last summer. After two long plane rides, a layover in Amsterdam (didn't get to explore the city unfortunately), and hearing people's stories of travel on the plane, I am in Nairobi. We (Gabby, another facilitator, and myself) arrived in Nairobi around 9 p.m. last night. After going through customs, waiting for bags (thought we lost one but we didn't), and waiting for the other group to collect all their students, we made it to our accommodations around 11:30 p.m.

Whenever groups come in for Me to We trips, they stay at either Kolping (where I stayed last summer) for the first night, or at our Rosslyn. Rosslyn is an area within Nairobi and we have property in one gated off community of Rosslyn. After Gabs and I had some dinner we came over to the staff house where we were greeted by Galen, Katie, and Jay! This house is so beautiful, I can't even begin to describe it... I will definitely take pictures for those of you back home that ask for them (*cough* Ilesa *cough), and I'll load them when I come back in April.

For now, I'm sitting on the porch of our staff house which overlooks other amazingly beautiful homes in Rossyln, taking in the familiar smells of Kenya. As soon as the others wake up we will be going to get breakfast at a great breakfast spot in Nairobi then Galen and I have a whole day and a half to catch up before our group comes in.

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to come back to this amazing country, to facilitate with a great friend and talented facilitator, and to meet youth that continually live and breathe the phrase "Be The Change".

Until we meet again, rafikis...