Guest Blog by the Millennials: Maggie and Kelsey!

Hi there!

It's Millennial time! We are taking over the blog for this post about our trip to the market in Muhuru Bay. 

After a morning assembly, the lorry (truck) transported 90 girls to the nearby market, an infrequent activity for the students. In true hospitality, the girls were eager to act as our personal guides. Taking us by both hands, they went above and beyond to ensure our experience was informative and enjoyable. 

The girls were elated to dive into Lake Victoria where they used to retrieve their water prior to WISER. It wasn't all fun and games, business boot camp was put to the test! They were instructed to evaluate the consumer market, pricing, supply and demand of an LED fishing light by surveying the environment. More to follow on this entrepreneurial business plan! Additionally, Matron, the caretaker of the girls at WISER and the chief's wife, taught the girls bargaining skills. 

Concurrently, a family member in the market asked us, "Why did you choose to come here and teach at WISER?" Our answer was clear: It was the heartfelt stories shared about life in the community and the impact of WISER to date.

During the evening session, successful alumnae stories from John (Kenyan board member) Muthee further solidified our "why." John shared, "Look how far we have come. Recent graduates are currently in med school, law school and studying to become nurses. What we are doing is working." These stories intensify the current students' hard work and dedication in making their dreams a reality. 

The other volunteers tease us for being millennials, but the truth is that the group's diversity in terms of age and geography is really what makes us gel as a volunteer team. 

Be WISER!!!

 

Sales & Marketing Teachers

Let the Lessons Begin!

 There are three simultaneous tracks being taught by the volunteer teachers this week:

• Communications 
• Entrepreneurship 
• Finance 

The girls rotated through our classes 30 at a time. When used together the girls can start businesses learn how to manage them and communicate in ways that help them succeed.

Tonight we conducted a brainstorming about problems in the community that they could construct businesses to solve. Some of the first ideas were around energy management, sanitation and clean water. 

The girls are attentive and eager to learn. They are smart and quick to laugh. Being with them gives us energy and hope for the future. 

Tomorrow we will go into Muhuru Bay so the girls can show us their community and the market.

At Home at WISER

It's so good to be back in Muhuru Bay at WISER!  

We began with a beautiful welcome ceremony. There are Forms 2-4 here at school - that's grades 10-12 to the Americans, and a total of 90 girls. While we moved our things in to the bunk house, young hopeful applicants interviewed for the Form 1 spots. 

The girls did a teambuilding exercise where they had to build a tower from dry spaghetti, tape, string and a marshmallow. Yes, they each got to eat a marshmallow afterwards (for all a first!). Holly also did some science experiments as well. 

The girls are warm, welcoming and so happy we are here. Tomorrow, classes begin!

Live. Learn. Be. WISER!

 

 

Kazuri Bead Factory

Lady Susan Wood founded this factory to give fair employment opportunities. Employees can get healthcare, childcare and good wages. 

This trip we met Elizabeth, one of the founding employees starting 1975. She still works here along side her daughters and granddaughter. 

  

 

Giraffe Center

African Fund for Endangered Wildlife was founded in 1979 by the late John Leslie-Melville, Kenyan born of British descent. An educational institution to rescue the endangered Rothschild giraffe. 

We got to feed and pose with these gorgeous, graceful, warm and friendly creatures. 

 

Arrived in Nairobi

 Half of our crew is here and we are waiting on the other half. Average travel time 24 hours. 

Left to right:

Michael Freidberg 

Jennifer MacDonald

Cindy Ellis

Holly Adams

Ash Patel

Kelsey Schmoe 

Maggie King 

We're BAAAACK!

The rumors are true! 

A whole crew of volunteers heading back to Muhuru Bay, Kenya to the Women's Institute for Secondary Education and Research - WISER.  As a result, I am reviving the blog and getting reading to send updates along my journey.

I would like to dedicate this trip to my daughter, who for her bat mitzvah, raised money for WISER. My son also raised money for WISER for his bar mitzvah almost three years ago demonstrating the importance gender advocates in boys.

Here is an excerpt from my daughter's bat mitzvah speech from October:

"It was a 95-degree day and I sent a Snapchat out to my friends to help me wash cars to raise money for my mitzvah project:  WISER – the Women’s Institute for Secondary Education and Research – a school for girls in Muhuru Bay, Kenya on Lake Victoria.

A few of us have celebrated our 13th birthdays already. Some are still 12. As I looked around at my friends washing cars, flagging down more customers and mostly spraying each other with hoses, I thought about what girls our age are doing in Muhuru Bay. How these girls aren't safe to play and have fun like us, they aren’t guaranteed the education that I take for granted, they don’t get three meals a day while on the other hand my friends and I ordered a pizza with our only concern being who gets what toppings.

The best bet for a girl my age in Muhuru Bay is an education. That day in front of my dad’s house, thanks to the generosity of many in this room and some innocent civilians whose cars we attacked, my friends and I raised more than $500. To make it even better, my dad’s company, Johnson & Johnson is going to match it to make it $1000. Not bad for 2.5 hours’ work. Compare that to a girl in Muhuru Bay.  She can gather firewood and make $3 to feed her family for a week.  The money we raised is enough to buy books for 50 girls for a year. Books lead to knowledge, knowledge is power, and power is what will bring about change. It will give these girls a chance. It will help them become what they dream of.  At the very least, it could save a girl my age from being married in exchange for two cows.

I picked this for my mitzvah project so my friends and I could send a message of hope to the girls our age in Kenya. We know you’re out there working hard and we are with you. I hope they can have as much fun when they are together at WISER as we did that day washing cars. This prayer goes out from the 13 year old girls in Yardley, Pennsylvania to the 13 year old girls in Muhuru Bay. We believe in you."