During the month of May, I was privileged to
participate in the Community-Based Global Learning program in Kenya through my
university. I, along with fellow students and staff, traveled to the East
African country for an exciting two weeks of experiential education and
cultural immersion. The trip was facilitated by EDU Africa, an organization
that provides "transformative learning journeys" in various countries
throughout the continent. Our journey provided an array of opportunities for
learning, as the EDU Africa team had numerous experiences in store for us. We
engaged in activities that allowed us to build meaningful relationships and
engage with the people and places that we visited. I wish that I could bottle
up my experience and sell it to you, but for now we'll have to settle with this
blog post. In the following paragraphs, I'll provide you with some of the
highlights from this amazing trip.
Prior to our arrival, each member of our group was
given service-learning placements with one of three local organizations in the
town of Limuru. These incredible organizations were Limuru Children's Centre,
Limuru Cheshire Home, and Plants for Life. I volunteered with Plants for Life,
which works in reforestation and environmental conservation at the campus of
Brackenhurst, an international conference and learning center. It was a
pleasure to connect with such passionate individuals, who were able to teach me
a lot about the local ecosystem and the amazing power of plants that have aided
mankind for centuries. The area we worked in had tremendous biodiversity, with
both indigenous and exotic species of plants. We assisted in gratifying and fulfilling
work, such as the collection and planting of seeds, landscaping, and helping
children at a nearby school create a butterfly garden. We also participated in
a tree planting venture of over 500 trees in the Kereita forest, which provides
a water catchment area to help the local community attain water. It felt
special to know that the work I was engaging in would yield results long after
I had left.
When we weren't at our service-learning sites, we were
engaging in activities that taught us about the rich culture and history of the
area we were visiting. One such experience was listening to speakers from the Lari
Memorial Peace Museum. They spoke to us about the Mau Mau Uprising, which helped
bring about Kenya’s independence from Britain in the mid-20th
century. Two of the speakers were involved in the conflict and were members of
the opposing sides, one having been a Mau Mau Freedom Fighter and the other a
British loyalist. They talked about the destruction that the war had caused and
how it divided the people. Further, they discussed their efforts to bring peace
and unity once the country gained its independence. In order to unite, they had
to see the humanity in people that they had previously saw as enemies. It was
important for them to honestly deal with the past and to start working together
for a brighter future. Since, the Lari Memorial Peace Museum has sought to preserve
this history and to keep future generations from repeating past mistakes. I
found the account of peacemaking to be inspiring, and one that should be shared
around the globe. Hearing such a powerful lesson made this one of the most
impactful experiences from the trip.
During the trip, it was great to spend time in the town
of Limuru and being able to gain a sense of what everyday life is like in the
community. Through some of our activities, we had opportunities to interact
with members of the community and learn more about Kenyan culture. We participated
in a market challenge, where we divided into teams to see who could bargain for
the best quality produce. We had a cooking lesson with host families, who showed
us how to prepare proper Kenyan cuisine. We toured a local tea farm, where we
learned about the history and production of Kenya’s largest export. We dined at
The Lake House Tigoni, a beautiful estate that provided magnificent views of
the area. The most special activity we engaged in was putting on a sports day
for children at Limuru Children’s Centre. We organized stations of soccer,
dance, coloring, and jewelry making for the children to participate in. It felt
great to spend time with them for an afternoon of fun and laughter. Through time
spent in the community, we were able to learn a lot and create some of our best
memories.
Halfway through the trip, we departed Limuru and
headed westward to the Maasai Mara. It was a long and beautiful journey that
allowed us to see the countryside, including a view of the Great Rift Valley. In
the Maasai Mara, we were spending a weekend on safari and learning about the
Maasai tribe. We stayed at the Naboisho Camp in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy,
where we were provided a luxurious experience throughout our stay. We were led
by Maasai guides, who possessed a wealth of knowledge about the land and the
animals that inhabited it. I was amazed by the vast open landscape, which
provided a great view of the sky and hills in the distance. While on game drives,
we were fortunate to see a variety of animals and learn about their lifestyles
and behavior. It was surreal, being so close to lions, giraffes, wildebeest,
hippos, and many other species. One of my favorite moments was seeing a hungry lioness
hunting for her cubs. We didn’t see her succeed, but it reminded me of the strength
that mothers of all species exhibit to care for their young. At times on the drives,
we would step off to eat and admire the view. On our first night, we found a
clear area and viewed the Moon, which looked brighter than I had ever seen it
before. The safari was a thrilling experience and a wonderful opportunity to
see nature in its purest form. Also, while in the Mara, we were fortunate to be
received at a Maasai village. While there, we spent time in homes and learned
about Maasai culture. The people there were very welcoming and taught us a lot
about their way of life. On our last day in the Mara, we visited the Maa Trust.
The Maa Trust is an organization that engages in projects to conserve the environment
and assist families in the community. We met women producing Maa beadwork,
which has helped provide an impactful source of income for women in the area. It
was special to see how they were creating a better future for themselves by incorporating
traditional elements from their culture. Our weekend in the Mara had a lot to
offer and was definitely a highlight of the trip. It was a dream worthy excursion,
that our group would talk about frequently for the rest of our time in Kenya.
On our last day in Kenya, we were reminded to recognize
our trip as a real experience. It seemed incredible that we were able to build
relationships, create memories, and learn so much in the short time that we
were there. During our final group reflection session, we shared our biggest takeaways
from the trip. The lesson I shared was about the power of cross-cultural communication.
Through interacting with the people there, I was able to experience the impact
of trading perspectives with someone that comes from a different part of the
globe. When respectful and honest, these conversations can make everyone
involved a more enlightened individual. I enjoyed my time in Kenya, and I am
grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Community Based Global
Learning program. This trip provided me with unique experiences and helped me further
my education as a global citizen.
