MY KENYA EXPERIENCE

July 2019

The three and a half weeks I spent in Kenya with Porridge and Rice were undeniably the best weeks of my life. The trip exceeded all my expectations - I had more fun than I ever anticipated, learnt more than I thought I would, gained some lifelong best friends, and developed fantastic relationships with teachers and students alike. Without doubt, I will return to Kenya with the charity.

A fantastic aspect of the experience was the ability to modify the tasks based on the skills and interests of the volunteers. I originally came out as a general volunteer, intending on working in the classrooms and serving lunches as part of the feeding programme, however, while in Kenya, I was offered the chance to complete an internship with the charity. I have an interest in filmmaking and video production, and will be developing some videos to promote Porridge and Rice.

My favourite part of the trip was the relationships that developed between the volunteers, as well as the teachers and students of the charity's schools. I connected with teachers such as Teacher Beth and Teacher Mary more than I thought possible in just three weeks. Because of the work I was doing, I grew particularly fond of certain students such as Mercy and Caroline from Excel school, and have exchanged emails with them to maintain a friendship in the future. I didn't expect to develop such wonderful relationships in Kenya but I am over the moon to leave such a wonderful country knowing people I will cherish forever.

Kenya itself is a beautiful country. The people are welcoming, warm hearted and kind. Outside of volunteering at the schools, we were given many opportunities to explore the country. We went on safari to Tsavo National park, visited the elephant and giraffe sanctuaries, and saw the Lion King in a local cinema. Wildebeest Eco Camp, our base, is a wonderful peaceful oasis in busy Nairobi. It was somewhere we all felt comfortable and relaxed, and quickly became home.

The other volunteers who came on the trip were a big part of the reason I was inexplicably happy throughout. The positive energy that arose from the dynamic of the group due to the fact all of us were likeminded people who were there for a variety of reasons yet similar motivations, allowed us to develop deep friendships which will continue into the future. I am so grateful that I was introduced to such an amazing group of people through this trip!

Our team leader is a knowledgeable individual who, after visiting Kenya many times, makes volunteers feel in safe hands and that we are being looked after the entire time we are there. From transport to haggling in markets, I never felt that he didn't know what he was doing therefore I didn't feel stressed in the slightest even though I was in a country very different from home.