Friendships Nurtured Last a Lifetime

Leaving Kenya is a mixed blessing. What is it about this part of Africa that keeps pulling me back? The culture gap is extraordinary and at times this “mzungu” feels he does not belong. It’s time to go back home, to my family and all the things in Canada I hold dear. 

CES started with a friendship that began three decades ago. Today I have beautiful Kenyan friends that greet me with a “karibu” and “habari yako”. And Canada...awesome friends that share the vision of young people learning, growing and developing into leaders in their community. It’s family, the 300 young scholars who work so hard to rise above the poverty that surrounds them. It's all good.

Yet, this trip to Kenya has been a frustration. Imagine a nationwide teacher strike where now the government has closed all public schools. Two planned conferences were postponed. That’s Kenya - you deal with things that fail. That gave more time for in depth strategic planning. One of the great joys for me was the visit of CES Canada Director Charles Mayenga. En route from Lesotho to Barbados, he managed a brief visit to Kakamega for some important discussions. 

It was great to see the CES Alumnus take their place as young adults now discovering they can make a difference. Students visited the CES Kenya office each day just to greet me and thank CES for taking them higher and farther in life. The tough part was to talk to so many accepted at the post secondary level who were unable to attend due to lack of tuition fees. Not good enough to tell them to hang in and hope for the best, we encouraged them to work, save and look for other sources of support. It is so sad really to see them return to the poverty of village life. Beautiful minds wasted - there has to be a better way for these youth. 

The CES ICT Training program is now in place, so too the Leadership Scholarship Project. Every CES student will receive a 90 hour guided instruction on the use and application of the computer. Top scholars are part of a leadership development program in life and entrepreneurial skills. Musaga SS continues to grow with a new kitchen nearly completed. 

This last blog is where I say goodbye to dear friends. I know the good work will continue. Next month Sandy and Hannah Guthrie will be here and the excitement is already building for their visit. I leave you with a few photos, each one a story of friendship and outreach. Friendships nurtured will last a lifetime…geographic distance will not erase the memories we share. 

I read a verse this morning (Psalm 91:2) that sums it all up for me...we are all Gods children no matter where in this world we live. Trust more and worry less...sounds like a good way to live:"I will say of the Lord , He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

CES Grads Busuku Musili and Benjamin Otido

Best Friends - Ben Udoto CES Chair and Patron Malik Khaemba

Kimang'eti SS girls dancing to a song they created

"Mzungu - mzungu, how are you?"

All deserve a chance to go to school

New friends at St Peter's Mwritu, Bungoma

Bukhakunga SS Tour Guide, Prefect and CES top student 

Agnes Namanda

Students in cities due to national teacher strike

eager to learn despite lack of instruction

Mother of CES Grad Aziza Wafula (Registered Nurse) hears I am at 

Bukhakunga SS

She comes to say thanks and here meets CES Director Aziza Rajab

Milly Ominde - thank God 

Aziza Rajab (CES Director), Doris Miroya, Linda Wabwire (CES Grads)

 Sarah Nabongo (CES Kenya Executive Assistant)

Makukhuni SS CES School since 2006

Makhukuni SS - CES students share their hopes and dreams

Musaga SS chef feeds 220 students in these facilities

CES Canada (Thunder Bay) now building a new Kitchen 

CES Grad Busuku Musili at Ingotse medical clinic

CESPatron Malik Khaemba a proud "father" to 300+ students