CARRIE CHU | UNIVERSITY STUDENT, UNITED STATES
My name is Carrie and I spent a total of five months in Kenya in 2009. For three months of my time there I was living with Jackson and Elizabeth Nzyoki and their four children and working at Kyandili School. It was an excellent, life changing experience and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who wants to volunteer in Africa.
While I was there I met many different Kenyans from very different backgrounds. I found them hospitable, warm and generous and interested in what I was doing – some of the nicest people I have ever met. The children at the school were friendly, curious and very receptive to learning and the teachers were appreciative, helpful and respectful even though I didn’t have any teaching qualifications.
Although the people I met were so different from me in circumstance, culture and socio- economic background, I realized that regardless of this we are all very similar – we have more in common that we have in differences. I made a lot of really good friends and brought back some wonderful memories of all these different people with me.
As a result of my time in Kenya and interacting with all these different people in different situations I have come back to college more confident in my abilities and I am more flexible and comfortable in all sorts of situations. And of course it has also given me a huge appreciation for what I have and my opportunities in life.
While I was there I traveled around Kenya a bit and some great experiences. At the Masai Mara game park I saw just about everything. I went down to Lamu – a Swahili Island on the coast – and sun bathed on the beach and swam in the Indian Ocean. And I stayed in Eldoret with some of my new friends.
I recommend this visit to everyone.
JANE NEWMAN | CHAIRMAN OF THE SEREOLIPI NOMADIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION
I first met Jackson Nzyoki in 2002. I was working on a project to preserve and document indigenous knowledge of local plants to cure human diseases that was funded by the Ford Foundation. Jackson is a well known and respected healer in Kenya. The cumulative knowledge of hundreds of generations was passed on to him through his great grandfather. He was a contributor to two books that were published in 2003 and 2004.
Jackson is also a deputy head teacher at the local school and I have been helping him since 2004 with his goal of repairing some of the classrooms that were in danger of falling down.
Jackson has become a good friend and has helped me on some of my other projects. I have found him to be extremely hard working and he has enormous integrity — he always delivers on what he promises. He is a most gracious host and good company. His wife, Elizabeth, is a wonderful person and makes all visitors welcome. She has raised four delightful children and staying in their home is always a privilege and a pleasure.
I have no hesitation recommending this gap year program. Anyone lucky enough to do this will have a wonderful experience.
BEDE TAYLOR | UNIVERSITY STUDENT, AUSTRALIA
I spent 2 months with Jackson and his family in early 2008. Over the two months I had some of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my life. Everyone I met was exceptionally kind, welcoming and excited to meet me. Kyandili Primary School was amazing! The school is surrounded by beautiful mountains and breathtaking views. I was spoiled with once in a lifetime opportunities every day.
Working with the children continually offered challenges and rewards; the most exhilarating reward was seeing my work make a difference on a daily basis. The enthusiasm the pupils would show as they began to understand and gain sheer motivation to take advantage and learn from what I could teach was sincerely gratifying. The other teachers were welcoming and supportive and I felt like a part of the team from the first day to the last.
The memories I have from my time at Kyandili will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was one of the most satisfying and exciting experiences of my life.
Jump at the opportunity to try it yourself. You will love it!
ALI NAGLE | TEACHER, UNITED STATES
I was introduced to Kyandili Primary School and Jackson Nzyoki in 2007. As a teacher in the United States, I was looking for a partner school in East Africa. After a roughly a year of written correspondence with Jackson and the Kyandili community, I had the pleasure of visiting the school and staying with Jackson and his family.
As an elementary educator, visiting Kyandili was an amazing experience. I not only was able to teach lessons, but I also learned so much. I learned a great deal about Kenyan culture, I learned a tremendous amount about myself, and came back to the United States a changed person.
Since my first visit in 2008, I have returned to Kenya to visit the school and stay with Jackson’s family. Each time I arrive at his home or at the school grounds, I feel welcome. I have also noticed improvements at the school because of the volunteers who have come. My first visit to Kyandili was just before our first volunteer’s stay and since then, students are more willing to speak English with me and with one another and their overall skills and desire to learn have increased.
Traveling to Kyandili changed my life, but more importantly, it helps to change the lives of the students there. I whole heartedly recommend this program to anyone who is interested!