Kenya Help: Educating and training women, children and youth in Kenya

Provide education and training for women, children and youth in Kenya through resources and support.

School panorama
  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Supporters
    • Supporter Profiles
    • Related Causes
      • 4 of the Lost Boys of Sudan
      • Mji Wa Neema Children’s Home
      • St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish, social work fund
  • Our Work
    • High School Scholarships
    • Educating Children of Mji Wa Neema
    • Building St. Francis Xavier Girls’ High School
  • The Difference We Are Making
  • How to Help
    • Help Us
    • Donate
    • Note Cards
  • Stories
    • Some Favorite Stories from our Blog
    • Margo McAuliffe at TEDxSanJoseCA
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Blog / #27 Reunion – Not the Way We Planned It, But a Smashing Success

#27 Reunion – Not the Way We Planned It, But a Smashing Success

August 2, 2015 by Craig Noke Leave a Comment

#27 Reunion – Not the Way We Planned It, But a Smashing Success       August 1, 2015

People were to gather 8:30 to 9, chat until 10, mass at 10, to be celebrated by Fr. Kiriti.  Well, by 10 ONE alumna had arrived; a second, Fr. Kiriti’s niece, arrived with him.  Even Teresia, who was the main organizer didn’t arrive until almost 11 – but I found out later she was not feeling well, so she is excused.  Mercy arrived after noon, but had come from far.  She told me she was in a matatu by 5 am!!!

It has been 3 years since Fr. Kiriti left this parish and SFG, but when he walked in all the girls cheered.  Even those who don’t know him, know of him and were so glad he was back, if only briefly.  His sermon was perfect, talking about culture and the culture we have created at SFG and will continue to define and refine.

Afterwards, the students returned to their classrooms and the alumnae gathered in the quad to plant a tree commemorating the first annual reunion.

Alums kept arriving so that eventually there were more than 20.  One grad brought her 2-year old son, who was quite the hit of the day and did not even whimper as he was passed around to one auntie after another.

They met together in the library, where I asked whether they were willing to be part of a longitudinal study of graduates of a girl’s high school.  I don’t know if such a study has ever been undertaken in Kenya, but I know of several such studies in the US, one of which is my own graduating class (’58) from Mills.  I think in time such study might yield valuable information about girls/women in a society where the roles of women are changing rapidly.  They liked the idea.  Now all we need to do is find someone who wants to take on such a study.

But they really wanted to talk with the current students.  Time was not on our side, as the form1’s and 2’s had an exam beginning at 1:30, so the alums met with them in their classrooms for a few minutes.  Then we gathered the form 3’s and 4’s, who have completed their exams, in the dining hall.  The alums introduced themselves and I could see this might be just another occasion of people talking to the group, so I suggested the alums just go mix with the students and find out what they want to know.  I must say, it was a brilliant suggestion.  Very shortly there were groups clustered about each alumna.  It was intense.  The students were like little sponges.  Here were the ones who had experienced SFG and had moved on to the wider world.  What was it like?  How did they feel?  What were the problems they faced?  It was perfect!

2015-27 1 pic

2015-27 2 pic

2015-27 3 pic

2015-27 4 pic

2015-27 5 pic

=Margo

Filed Under: Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Non-profit

Kenya Help is a non-profit foundation with 501(c)(3) status with IRS. EIN 35-2314350

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Donate

Kenya Help has no paid positions. Operating costs were approximately 3.3% of our 2013 budget. Learn how you can help us out.

Read More »

Related pages

Like Us On Facebook

Archives

  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • December 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • July 2010
  • June 2010

Contact

PO Box 516
Menlo Park, CA 94026
(650) 322-0821
info@kenyahelp.us

Newsletter

Signup for our newsletter!

Our Mission

Our vision is an educated society. Our mission is to educate and train Kenyan women, children and youth, by providing resources and support.  A primary focus is scholarships for students at the secondary and post-secondary levels who need financial support. Many scholarship students attend St. Francis Xavier Secondary School for Girls in Naivasha, Kenya, the school built with Kenya Help funds. Read More »

Recent Posts

  • #23 – Wrapping It Up
  • #22 – Margo, Chief Chef
  • #21 – Mji Wa Neema Reunion
  • ETW Reunion
  • #19 – Day 2 of Math Camp

Copyright © 2021 Kenya Help | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Log in