CDS

Prepared by Ronda Zelezny-Green, PEP Program Director, on 8 Sept 2013
 * Trip Report for Huruma Kings Academy & Children’s Day School PEP Program connection **

For the 2012-2013 academic year Huruma Kings Academy (HKA) in the heart of Kisii land in Kenya, and the Children’s Day School, an Independent school in the heart of the Bay Area exchanged letters, student drawings, and most importantly stories about the realities of their respective lives. In May 2013, I held two video Skype sessions with CDS, which were question and answer sessions about my upcoming trip to Kenya for my PhD in July 2013. They showed great curiosity about how the journey would happen, and what the encounter with their friends at HKA would be like. I also had the opportunity to ask them questions, and learned that during the school year they had done things like bake sales, lemonade stands and even taking donations in lieu of birthday presents to raise over $2,000!!!

When I inquired about what inspired CDS to raise money for their pals, they were able to share stories their friends had written in their letters about a lack of water on the school grounds. Because of this HKA pupils often had to walk great distances to retrieve water from rivers and this took a lot of time from the school day. They also experience trouble due to a lack of school materials and proper supports for their learning.
 * //But why were they raising money for their pals?//**

So while the US had come together to support a good cause in Kenya, how does Ronda who is based in the UK come into the picture? As the designer, founder and manager of the People Exchanging Perspectives (PEP) Program, Ronda Zelezny-Green has been working since 2009 to build the PEP Program into a meaningful exchange forum for a network of schools in Kenya. To date, exchanges with Kenya have been made with schools in Turkey, Jordan, Poland, the US and the UK. Ronda is also a PhD student who had formerly did her Masters research in Nairobi. Because a trip to Kenya was planned in July 2013 to perform an exploratory study for her PhD, she offered to facilitate the transfer of the $2,000 raised by CDS to HKA for a new water tank and school supplies. On Saturday July 13th, 2013, Ronda awoke at 5am to meet her Kenyan contact, Gilbert Okenye, in the center of Nairobi by 6am. From there, they took a long and extremely bumpy (!!!) matatu (bus) ride to the town nearest to HKA. From there, they took a taxi to the very rurally located school site. Upon arrival, Ronda and Gilbert were greeted by the head of HKA, as well as the teachers tasked with organizing the ceremony. From there, Ronda was able to meet and greet the Huruma Kings community, including students, parents and teachers. Ronda gave a speech and received speeches of the school community leaders. The kids also sang and recited poetry that they had prepared before her arrival. We officially lifted the new water tank into place, and we surveyed all the new school materials that CDS had helped purchase. After being served a delicious and hearty meal by the HKA community, Ronda and Gilbert departed after spending a few hours on site.
 * //Where does Ronda come in?!//**

The photos tell a story of what a joyous day this was! Image gallery of Huruma King's Academy taken by Ronda during her July visit.

Afterwards, Ronda received the following e-mail from the Director of HKA:

//Hello Ronda// //Greeting from Huruma Kings Academy. Receive our sincere appreciation and acknowledgement following your kind visit to our institution. This appreciation comes to you both from our school and also our community.// //I write on behalf of them all to thank you for the support our school and children have received through your kind initiative. Honestly, we had not known of Children Day School of San Francisco until you introduced us to them. Truly, we even thank you for making Huruma Kings the first place to visit when you landed in Kenya.//

//And the occasion when you officially handed over the water container to our school and also the drawings from CDS-students; our school and our community as a whole regard it as a memorable moment and a great honor too. It takes a big heart to do that! Thank a lot. We also thank you for freely sharing with us the little food we offered. At some instance it is difficult to imagine the best meal to give to an important visitor coming from different environment altogether. Thank you so much//

//We look forward to continue working with you, Ronda. We equally wish you happy moments during your research and hope your whole study program will be crowned with exceeding success.//

//With all the best of wishes,// //Joseph--Director, Huruma Kings Academy.//

**The name and contact information of both schools**

Katina Papson-Rigby Community Based Learning Coordinator Children's Day School http://www.cds-sf.org http://www.cds-sf.org/academics/community-based-learning

Joseph Ondieki Director Huruma Kings Academy P.O. Box Keroka Kenya, East Africa joseph.ondieki92@yahoo.com