You've got to start somewhere

I arrived at Jomo Kenyatta international airport on Jan 18th, 2025, midnight. The is my first time in Kenya and my first time in Africa by myself as an oversea volunteer outside of my mother country China.

The school where I volunteered is called the Makuyu Education Initiative, a local nursery school and an American NGO. I stayed there for one month. The environment is very local, and I encountered many difficulties at first. Even though I had some mental preparation, it was still sometimes beyond my expectations.

Regarding the facilities, there is no water heater, no street lamps, no toilets, and no electric stove. Meals are prepared using firewood and matches, and the power often goes out at night. The food is quite different from what I am used to; people typically eat one type of green vegetable (I can't recall the name), potatoes, corn, and tomatoes with Ugali or rice. The seasoning is limited to salt, and these are the cheapest vegetables available locally.There are about 46 people, including both children and staff. We only have meat once a week—about one kilo of beef shared among 46 people. The school is essentially located in the yard of the host family. The classroom is self-built, with walls made from bricks and a roof constructed of wood covered with steel. When it rains, the sound is extremely loud as the rain hits the roof.The host, Pauline, is a very kind lady who provides me with accommodation and three meals a day. The school staff includes teachers, cooks, and security guards, most of whom are female, and they have been very nice to me during my stay. At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to adjust, but after I got accustomed to their food and lifestyle, I realized that I did need this experience to live healthily and happily.

Most of the kids in the school are underprivileged. They come from families that can’t provide enough food, which is one of the main reasons they choose to attend this school. All other schools, whether they are kindergartens, middle schools, or high schools, charge tuition that many families cannot afford. As a result, a lot of kids who have exceeded the appropriate age still enroll here because it provides completely free meals.

A heartbreaking and somewhat irritating fact I witnessed there is that I seldom see children accompanied by their fathers. To be more frank, many kids do not have a father; they are raised by single mothers. Most families in Kenya have many children, and these single mothers need to work while also taking care of their babies. I often see women walking in the street with their babies, sometimes infants, on their backs. When I asked about their husbands, they would say that the men either work far from home or have abandoned their families, claiming that the children are not theirs. I visited the home of a remarkable woman who had experienced a tragic accident as a child. A fire disfigured her face and took away half of her nose. I was astonished not only by her appearance but also by her positivity towards life. She was only 22 and had two children. She became pregnant at 19, the same age I am now, and she mentioned that she did not have a husband. Despite her circumstances, she had a WhatsApp account and would occasionally say hello to me.

The place I lived and life in Makuyu are two entirely different worlds for me. After returning from Kenya, I encountered some unexpected challenges that led to a significant spiritual breakdown. However, I have started to regain the power, courage, and motivation to move forward. You have to start somewhere, even if it’s just a small step.