Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 8

For my previous posts on this trip:

Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 1 & 2 (click here)
Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 3 (click here)
Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 4 (click here)
Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 5 (click here)
Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 6 (click here)
Insight Trip to Kenya – Day 7 (click here)

Day 8 – The last day of the Insight Trip

In the morning, we visited the Kenya head office in Karen, there we learned about how the administrative, strategic and financial work are being done there.

I especially enjoyed very much visiting the mailing room and learned about how the sponsors’ letters and the children’s letters were being sorted and processed. That was very interesting!

We also had the opportunity to chat with the country director Joel, who explained to us about the programs they have been running across the country and learned about the challenges both the organisation and the country are currently facing, one of which is the lack of visionary leadership.

But Joel is a visionary man. He explained to us that in order to help young people fight poverty, simply by providing education and meeting their basic needs are not enough, character and leadership development is also essentially important in terms of helping the country to move forward.

Later on that night, we had dinner with four of the students from the Leadership Development Program.

They shared with us their inspirational stories and explained to us how the organisation had been helping them in their lives since their childhood.

What is so insightful about this Leadership Development Program is that they not only provide opportunities for young people to acquire leadership skills and educational training, but more importantly, to build their characters and learn to become responsible citizens and future leaders who can influence their society in the long term.

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“Wouldn’t it be better for people to give the money you would spend on a trip to the actual charity? I’m guessing each air fare could support a Village get fresh water etc, since $30 a month makes a difference….?” Joanna asked.

“That was indeed my struggle before I decided to join the insight trip to Kenya to visit my sponsored child.” I responded.

“No doubt financial help is very important in relieving poverty, but our presence there was another level of encouragement to those children, not just to our sponsored children, but to all the other children and their families and staff working in the Projects.

To me, it’s not just about the experience I gained from the trip, but it’s also about being there for the people. To let them know that the people from the other side of the world actually care for them and want to be there for them.

It’s not just about money, but it’s about building relationships with those in need.

In addition to that, seeing Compassion’s work first hand and particularly those home visits really helped me understand better how Compassion had actually transformed these people’s lives.

This trip had removed my doubts about Compassion and made me realised how much more I can do to help in the future.

Yes, Joanna, you’re right that this trip’s costly, but trust me, it is definitely worth it.”

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“Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural.
It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.

And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.
It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.

While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.”

– Nelson Mandela

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***The End of the Insight Trip to Kenya***