The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. It’s like you are giving the portion of your life that you can never bring back.”- Anonymous

To live this message, thirteen energetic female students and four members of Strathmore staff embarked on a journey on a Thursday afternoon to Kitui county for a work camp from 21^st to 24^th January 2016 which involved a visit to St Michael’s School for the Deaf and mentoring high school students at St Patrick Mixed Day School, St Angela’s Secondary School and St Columbas Vocational school. The team got a very warm welcome when they arrived at St Columbas Vocational school which was their residence during the work camp.

 

To start off the day after arrival, the team had the chance to talk to Sister Claire, who was in charge of the school on her joys and challenges while running the school. Her joy of seeing the girls change positively to be better people overrode the enormous challenges she faced. Some of the challenges included the lack of acceptance by the public on the idea of a vocational school, and the lack of finances to cater for the school fees for the girls who are mostly from humble backgrounds.

 

Later in the day the team spent time at two schools: St Patrick’s Mixed Day School where they discussed topics such as; study time, time management, leisure and entertainment: and St Angela’s Girls Secondary School where they shared their experiences in campus while discussing similar topics as those in the previous school.

 

The team also interacted with St Michael School for the Deaf where they spent time playing with the kids, engaging the students on how to make cards and bangles as well as preparing beadwork. The whole experience was humbling and also gave the team a chance to thank God that they could speak and hear.

 

On the last day of the work camp the team spent time interacting with the girls at St Columbas. Most of them expressed the fact that they felt privileged to be involved in work camps, declaring those days are the most inspiring moments in one’s life.

 

You have the time to give yourself to others, to be thankful of what you have, time to reflect on your life and to realize that every person needs somebody who can mentor them. So the next time you hear that there is a work camp, grab the opportunity by its horns and I bet you will have a wonderful time.

Article by Student Ann Keru