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Visit to Victory Academy 2007
While listening to the radio
this summer I heard a wonderful piece about a special organization called
Matanya’s Hope. As I was preparing for my own trip to Kenya in a couple months,
I was moved by Michelle Stark’s story and decided I wanted to sponsor a young
lady attending school in Kenya. After corresponding through email, Michelle had
a wonderful idea. She wanted me to visit the school and meet the young lady I
was going to sponsor in Africa. At first this seemed like a fine idea. Why
shouldn’t I get on a plane and fly to Kenya and visit the Victory Academy in Nkubu? However, as
more people here in the
U.S. heard of my planned school visit, they warned me it was too dangerous and
not to make the effort. I myself was soon convinced this visit was not going to
work because I was traveling alone and this was my first trip to Africa.
Michelle was patient with my fears and hesitations.
Arriving
in Africa all my worries
were put to rest. The trip was so easy it was as though I was being escorted by
angels. I met with a group of volunteers and off I went to complete work on land
and animal conservation in the Samburu area. After two weeks in the field, I
returned to Nairobi feeling more confident in myself and my decision to make a
trip to the Victory Academy. The Victory Academy is a primary school that
provides classes for kindergarten through 8th grade. It has a
sleeping dorm for boys and one for girls to allow them to stay at the school
full time.
I
contacted the school and a ride was arranged for me within minutes. I was picked
up and escorted to the town of Nkubu. We arrived about 6 PM and I met with
Julius Gatobu, the founder of Victory Academy. He has so much pride
in the school and in his students it was a pleasure to meet him after exchanging
emails. Julius and his family shared their food and their home with me. Even
though I was a complete stranger, they treated me as a close friend. They made
me feel welcome and comfortable though I was far from my home. When we arrived
at the school the students were still in class studying and preparing for a big
exam the next day. The teachers were staying late and providing extra assistance
for each pupil. I was so impressed that the older students were working so hard.
Julius explained that the upper classes had an important exam the next day and
they were having one last study session. Julius went on to tell me that Victory
Academy always ranks first or second when compared to all other schools in the
area, even the ones with more resources than Victory Academy. The teachers and
students take education very seriously.
That first
night I was escorted from class to class. The teachers were introduced and the
children sang songs for me. When I met Stella Kendi, the young lady I sponsor, I
was very impressed. She was brave and came to the front of her class and led us
all in a song. She has a beautiful voice and a lovely spirit. I think she was a
little embarrassed with all the fuss we made of her and that her sponsor was
here to visit her, but she handled it well. Stella is in the 8th
grade and she is preparing for exams to enter secondary school. Her family
situation is difficult. Her father has been ill for a long time and he is not
able to help support his family. Stella’s mother must take care of her father
and try to earn money as well. Most of the money must go to medical expenses.
That leaves Stella in a situation if she did not have a sponsor, she may not be
able to move on and attend secondary school. It’s not like school in America
where public education is free and accessible to all children. In Kenya, secondary school costs
money which is used for housing, food, a uniform, school supplies and teacher
salaries. I hope that my sponsorship of Stella eases the burden on her family
and makes it possible for her to continue her education. After being in Kenya for just three weeks it
was obvious to me that an education for Stella, or any young lady, is imperative
to her future.
On my
second day I was able to meet with the entire school of children, about 100, and
greet all the teachers. I was welcomed in their morning prayers and through
their songs. I cannot tell you how special they made me feel, as though I was
someone important, someone to be made a fuss over. That morning I learned that
several students living at the school had previously been living on the street
and that some students had lost one or both parents to HIV AIDS. These children
are now able to live at the Victory Academy and attend school. They have been
given hope for the future. Julius kept reminding the students people very far
away in America were thinking of them, loving them and praying for them. His
point was though some of these children don’t have family in Africa, they are in
the hearts of many in America.
My
favorite part of the trip was the opportunity I had to take Stella into town and
buy her what she needed. I love to shop and how fun it was to buy someone things
they really need! I got her new shoes, a new bag, new bedding, toiletries, pens,
pencils, notebooks, all the things a young lady needs to have for school. I
could have shopped all day, but when we asked Stella if she needed anything else
she could not think of a single item. After filling the car with her purchases,
in total I think I spent around $50. It seemed like so little to me, but I think
the experience made her happy.
I am so
thankful to the school, to Julius, to the teachers and students of Victory
Academy for sharing their time and their lives with me. I wanted to make them
feel special by making the visit, but in the end, it was all of them that made
me feel special. This is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life and I
am thankful that I have the opportunity to be a sponsor and support the work of
Matanya’s Hope.
Amanda
Schulze Chicago, Illinois |
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