A Kenyan Adventure

A party of students and teachers from Totton College returned recently from a life-changing trip to Kenya.  During the summer holidays they spent two weeks volunteering teaching English in Schools and working with destitute children in the orphanages and slums of Nakuru. 

Eleven boys and girls stayed with Kenyan families during the two week trip – an experience which broadened their understanding and enriched them with a real flavour of the African way of life.  

Working with ASDA, UKfives, Lyndhurst Football club and the New Forest Rotary group, students were able to fundraise not only to travel to Kenya but also to take with them much needed school materials and equipment.  Just one example was a full football kit destined for unemployed youth in Nakuru, which was donated by UKfives.  With no work and no prospect of work football has become central to their lives providing a much needed sense of community alongside discipline and resulting self esteem.  Other supplies included basic first aid kits for the schools, including rubber gloves which are essential to ensure essential medical aid is provided to the HIV positive children.

Amongst all the hard work students had one leisure day to go on safari and visit Thomson Falls and the Equator.

Heidi Evans a Totton College student said "This experience has left a very large impression on my life and I have been greatly inspired by the people who live out there. 

Seeing the way in which many of the people lived was hugely eye opening, and it was important to remember that many of these people, especially the children, were smiling. They were smiling because they knew how to appreciate the important things in life, and be grateful for what they had.

I gained new friends, both here and in Nakuru, a new found appreciation for my home and family, and most of all a great inspiration from the people out there and their attitudes, making me want to return and help there again.

Our host Susan was amazing, and I think I can say for everyone, it was a wonderful eye opening two weeks that is very much missed!"

Another student Gemma Bundy noted "During the time I spent in the Melon School, Nakuru, I felt like the people at the school learnt from me and I learnt from them.  I gave practical knowledge, I taught English, Maths and Science to the children and taught the staff how to use the first aid supplies we left.  I hope the knowledge will last them for as long as the lessons that they taught me will remain prominent in my memory.  I learnt that you cannot put a price on happiness, hope or faith, because having little material richness gives a richness in character that is truly priceless."

June Crump, Student Services Manager, said  "We are proud to be working in Kenya with Kenyan Adventure (www.kenyanadventure.com).  Totton College students can now be offered the experience of a lifetime, sure in the knowledge that they are making a lasting difference on the ground in Kenya.  We will be running trips of this kind each year, if any students or future students would like to know more, why not contact the college."