Enlightening experiences from a trip to Nairobi

It often takes stepping outside the world you grew up in to truly understand how different life can be elsewhere. This became especially clear to me during my first trip to Kenya and to Africa as a whole. At the beginning of January, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, through the Benedictine Volunteer Corps and alongside Square One. Over the course of ten days, I encountered experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life: visiting a slum in Nairobi, meeting with local organizations and witnessing the natural beauty of Kenya. All of these made the trip memorable and impactful for my life by showing me how different it can be in some places around the world.

One of the most impactful parts of the trip was seeing firsthand the meaningful work that local organizations are doing. We spent the most time with Alfajiri Street Kids Arts, located near the Mathare slum, which focuses on art therapy outreach for street children. Before traveling to Nairobi, I had already heard of Alfajiri when its founder, Lenore Boyd, visited campus to speak about her work and its impact on the lives of street kids. While visiting the organization, we were able to see the remarkable artwork the children have created over the past few years and hear the stories behind their piece including what inspired them, what they were expressing and what they had endured. It was painful to learn how much these kids have gone through yet deeply moving to see how Alfajiri gives them a way to process and express their experiences.

Lenore told us that the street kids are some of the happiest people she has ever met, always maintaining
a positive outlook on life. One memory that stayed with me was her story about a boy she once saw dancing outside, radiating joy. When she asked why he was so happy, he replied, “Because God will provide for me.” That moment struck me, not only because of his faith, but because everywhere we went in Kenya, people were eager to share their faith with genuine enthusiasm. Overall, our visits to Alfajiri were enriching and humbling, and it was a blessing to witness the good they are doing for the street kids of Nairobi.

Another powerful experience was visiting the St. Benedict Children’s Center, also called Madodo, in the Mathari slum. Before arriving, I had a vague idea of what to expect based on conversations with the current Benedictine Volunteer in Nairobi. However, traveling through Mathare and then stepping into the center made me realize how inaccurate my assumptions had been. I’m not even sure what I expected, but the moment we walked in, we were surrounded by children who were thrilled to see us, eager to talk and even ready to challenge us to a game of chess. To be honest I have never lost so fast in chess, with the kids at the center being insanely good. The experience was uplifting, and once again, we saw the incredible work the staff does to support the street kids giving them a safe place to spend the day and a break from the harsh realities of life on the streets.

By the end of the trip, I felt nothing but gratitude for choosing to participate and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Throughout our time in Kenya, we were blessed with beautiful weather, welcoming people and breathtaking natural scenery. Visiting the organizations that support street kids was especially meaningful, and seeing their work firsthand was invaluable. This trip has become one of my favorite experiences of my life, and I know I will cherish it for years to come.