Dear Mr Mason,
I would like to thank you once again for the contribution that the Bulkeley-Evans HMS Scholarship Fund made to my term volunteering at Pembroke House School in Kenya. Unfortunately due to the COVID 19 outbreak, the school was closed two weeks before the end of term by the Kenyan government and I immediately flew home to be with my family before the borders closed.
Although my time in Kenya was cut short, I still had the most incredible time regardless and the early end has only made me want to return as soon as possible. Now I am home, I write a report to you describing my trip and what I learnt from it.
Initially, for the first three weeks I was assigned to the year five lower ability class where I assisted with classes of Maths, English, Geography, History, Science, French and Kiswahili. I also coached my own hockey team compromised of a very weak group of nine and ten year olds throughout the whole term, it was extremely rewarding when they won their first ever match! I was moved to the Prep-prep team due to a lack of staff, focussing particularly on the Nursery children. I had so much fun working with them and it was amazing knowing that the seemingly basic skills I was teaching them – reading, writing drawing – were fundamental as foundations of their future education. One of my favourite parts of working in the Nursery was on Tuesdays when I taught all ten four-year-olds on my own for the whole day. I taught them songs to help them learn their Phonics sounds, we read stories, did lots of painting, drawing, made a big paper puzzle out of all of their faces, and spent a huge amount of time outside with nature. Alongside my work in Nursery I continued to closely support a boy from year five for twenty minutes a day working on a dyslexia programme. On one of the last days I was at Pembroke I reflected back on my first weeks working with him and it was unbelievable to appreciate his significant development; I felt honoured to have achieved this with him.
My day-to-day life involved waking up in my very basic accommodation for a quick cold shower (no hot water!) before heading over to the girls’ house for wake up. I helped the girls put their nets up, make their beds and tidy their areas before breakfast and then straight to lessons. In Nursery I taught the children up to lunch time, I came to appreciate that their attention span was considerably shorter than that of my year five class, so lots of breaks outside and games were required! At times it was quite challenging due to having a class of such varied ability, the weakest were struggling to hold a pencil, let alone draw. However, the children were extremely entertaining and never failed to make me smile everyday. I learnt a lot from them about child development and the importance of early years education. After lunch I would help with the year five lessons before coaching hockey in the late afternoon. I supervised in the girls’ house during showers, I was often asked to French-plait their hair, and then after supper I read stories to the little ones before putting them to bed; one of my favourite parts of the day.
I would visit Restart Africa on a Thursday, a centre that takes in children off the streets of Kenya that previously led horrendous lives of deprivation and abuse, and provides them with a safe, healthy environment in which to grow up. I found this experience inspiring as I had been sending clothes out to this project for many years now. Getting involved in this initiative was particularly eye opening at times and very emotional to see how far the children have developed. Many of the children who grew up at Restart were actually sponsored by Pembroke to do their teacher training and then employed by the school as auxiliary staff, teaching assistants and sports coaches providing them with a constant income and a place to use their skills. I made a conscious effort to get to know the extremely generous local community in Gilgil and alongside this I explored much of the local area including Lake Naivasha, Lake Nikuru, Lake Elementaita and visited Lake Baringo.
My time in Kenya was an invaluable experience and without your contribution I would not have been able to pay for my flights out there, which were essential in enabling me to be involved in this rewarding and fulfilling project at the school. I learnt so much when I was at Pembroke and I left feeling like a different person. From simply just observation I quickly learnt how different children learn, methods of teaching, and even developed my own knowledge on topics the children were studying such as East African History, Kenyan geography and the language of Kiswahili. I feel privileged to have shaped the future of the children I taught through their education and now fully understand the vital importance of education, making me extremely grateful for the one I have had. I was touched by the trust the children put in us as adults but also recognised the great responsibility I had for these children. Pembroke is one of the most wonderful places I have ever been to, there is such a community feel to it and I was welcomed with open arms. I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to volunteer there, develop strong relationships with the both the staff and children, and to have lived in a country as beautiful as Kenya even for just a short time. I was extremely sad to leave after being surrounded by such positivity, gratitude and a common passion for the importance of education. There isn’t anything I don’t miss about being at Pembroke, it is an incredible place full of energy, support, care, motivation and happiness and one I know I will return to, potentially even as a teacher.
I was hoping to go back to Sherborne Girls and talk to the current U6 about my time in Kenya but currently this is on hold until further notice, but I will make sure I notify you when I have done this.
I am so grateful for your generosity, I hope you can tell from my report how fantastic my time was in Kenya, I cannot thank you enough.
I hope everything is well with you despite this uncertain time. I have also attached a few photos of Gilgil, the children I worked with, Restart and Mount Longonot.
Best wishes,
Portia Manson
