On our first full day in Naro Moru, my cousin Ben and I walked to Irigithathi Primary School to greet the teachers and students and, afterwards, visited Irigithathi Secondary School to catch up with Principal Njeru and meet the thirteen Hansen Scholars. Our schedule for the day was simple, yet as I play through yesterday’s reunions and events in my mind, I continue to feel so thrilled and wonderfully overwhelmed by the number of gleeful faces and outstretched hands we saw; by the depth of our conversations with old friends; and by the fact that, even after having been gone for several years, coming back to Naro Moru, and specifically to Irigithathi, felt like returning home.
Preparing to leave for Irigithathi Primary and Secondary School Visits
Summing up our thoughts and reflections about yesterday’s experiences is almost an impossible task. The topics we discussed and considered — the value of education in developing communities, the obligation teachers, parents, and society as a whole have to provide access to equal educational opportunities, the best ways in which educational methods and incentives should be presented to and impressed upon students — continue to circulate in my mind.
Yesterday evening, as Ben and I relaxed in my room and exchanged thoughts about the day, we identified four words that are central to our conversations about education in Naro Moru and the Hansen Foundation’s work in Kenya: gratitude, opportunity, hope, and family.
Gratitude and opportunity: The teachers at the primary school, Principal Njeru, and the thirteen Hansen Scholars all expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude for the work that the Hansen Foundation, partnered with Fred Roberts' Service Learning in Kenya Program, has done raising money for scholarships and constructing classrooms. They each mentioned that these two initiatives have had an extremely positive effect on the community. Primary school students, especially those in Standards 7 and 8, view the scholarship program as a way through which they may secure a brighter future for both themselves and their families.
A consistent, quality education is the most precious gift that a young person can receive, and so, on behalf of the Irigithathi community of scholars, I would like to pass on their thanks and gratitude to those who have supported the Kenya Scholarship Project. As we will try to illustrate over the next few weeks through stories and pictures, you are truly changing the lives of these students.
Emily Hansen with the Hansen Scholars and Irigithathi Secondary School's Headmaster
I, in turn, expressed my gratitude to the scholars for their consistent hard work and determination. In addition to having rigorous academic work and testing, many of the scholars face difficult personal and familial circumstances. It is immensely inspiring to witness the seriousness and discipline with which they approach their studies. We spent about fifteen minutes getting acquainted before they had to head back to their classes. I am so looking forward to spending more time with them in the next few weeks.
Hope: Four years ago, a teacher at Irigithathi named Rose Kabui inspired me to start the Hansen Foundation for Education to help keep students’ hope for their educations and futures alive. Ben and I unexpectedly met Rose again yesterday- she happened to visit Irigithathi just as we were sipping chai in the office. As she called, “Hello, Emily! Do you remember me?” I felt myself gasp and smile with surprise. It was such a delight to see her again after so many years. She spoke once more about hope, also stimulating Ben’s reflection on the term.
Later that evening, Ben observed that as Rose, and later on Mrs. Githaiga at Irigithathi, talked about hope, they seemed to use two definitions of the word: hope as a personal desire for self-improvement and change, and hope as a motivating incentive to continue studying. These two types of hope are vital in a student’s pursuit of his or her education; initiatives like the Kenya Scholarship Project of the Hansen Foundation create the hope that, if students continue working hard, they will be able to have the financial support to keep studying. This motivating hope in turn increases their hope for themselves and their abilities to reach higher levels of knowledge and professionalism.
Emily and Rose at Irigithathi Primary School in 2011
Family: As soon as we arrived at Irigithathi Primary School, the three teachers who I was closest to during my last visit immediately reached out warmly in welcome. Each one first extended her right hand and gave a close hug, leaning first to the right and then to the left. All the while, they murmured “karibu” (welcome), asked how we had been, and expressed how proud and grateful they were for the work we were doing with the Foundation. On my first visit to Kenya, the teachers had assigned me a Kenyan mother and a Kikuyu tribal name— “Nyawira,” meaning “hard worker.” They told Ben, “This is our daughter, Nyawira. We are her family. She used to call Mrs. Mwangi ‘ma.’” Feeling their hands on my face and arms and hearing them say, “Wow! You have gotten strong and big!” gave me deep feelings of gratitude, ease, and comfort. Leaving home and coming to Kenya has allowed me to rediscover and reconnect with my second family.
Irigithathi Primary School students singing "Waka Waka" and greetings from the teachers upon our arrival.
Later that afternoon as we were meeting the scholars, Principal Njeru also stated that the thirteen Hansen Scholars and I were also one family, united by mutual respect, love, and the determination to support one another as fellow students. His words struck me very powerfully. I look forward to getting to know the scholars as both colleagues and friends in the weeks to come.