Kenya Team Day 7

Another eventful, crazy service filled day. After another yummy breakfast by the Nuns, all the service began. We plait into our groups and went our ways.

Construction is coming along very fast at both the Secondary and Primary school. We bring the workers gloves to use because they don't have any. IT has been really fun to talk to the workers and get to know them, even though the language barrier can be difficult at time.

The libraries are almost all set up and I got to teach today. I taught math to a first grade class and it was very fun. I teamed up with Jackson and we both taught seasons. We showed them pictures of what seasons in USA looks like and they were all very excited to learn it.

Vocational skills finally got under way after some complications with the machines, but they were able to begin teaching baking and computer skill. Its crazy to think that people have never used a computer mouse, and then to see them think it is the coolest thing ever.

Today, after I was done teaching I got to play with the kids and did the macarina, only we said the months of the years instead of the actual words of the song. They thought it was the funniest thing ever. We started doing it as fast as we could and they were all laughing way hard. I couldn't help but laugh with them.I had the biggest smile on my face. This place brings me so much joy. I don't think i have ever been this happy in my life. It really is an amazing feeling.First grade class we taught seasons too.A classroom made from stick and mud.Britnie recieved a chicked as a gift.

Kenya Team Day 6

Once again, we all split off into groups to get as much done as possible. It is very hot and we have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. A couple of people have experienced minor heat stroke, but the Nuns have taken great care of them and they are back in the mix of things. So here is how the day went

Construction is coming along very good. We all have about 3 or 4 rows of the walls put up and we really hope to have it finished before Tuesday. Today they had us carrying over the bricks and chiseling them smooth so they look nice on the walls.

Teaching is also going very well. All the people who have taught have loved it and the kids and teachers enjoy having us there.

The libraries are going very well. We have them set up at the Kiamuri Primary School, and Kauthene Primary School. The kids were so happy to have the new books to read. We talked to them and set up rules to follows so they have some responsibility over the book. This way we ensure they stay nice and are used for the right reasons.

I would still have to say my favorite thing is the kids, both primary and secondary school students. I went in the high school today and they tested me on my math. I aced their quiz, then i quizzed them with some calc. They didn't get it at first, but they caught on. I also ran myself to exhaustion playing soccer with some of the boys. It was very fun and it was cool to be able to bond like that with the kids who don't speak my language.Playing soccer with the boysTeaching at Holy FamilyChiseling the bricks for the school

Kenya Team Day 5

Today all the fun began. We woke and were served another wonderful breakfast by the Nuns. We then broke up into what we were gong to and went our separate ways. We had people teaching in the school, putting together libraries, teaching maturation, and construction 2 classrooms.

To state, the teaching went great. The people who went teaching fell in love with the cute kids and did an awesome job teaching about emotions, seasons, math, reading, etc.

The libraries are also going well. I'm not quite sure exactly what they are doing but I will get the info and let you know.

Anna and the maturation program was a grand slam. She ha the girls laughing, the opened up, asked questions, and when she brought out the hygiene packets to give the girls, they all cheered which brought Anna to tears. She had spend many hours putting them together and was not sure if they would appreciate them.

Construction is moving along fast. We got all the foundation for one classroom finished and our goal for the trip is to have it completely finished before we leave. We were able to mix cement, which is not as easy as it sounds considering you have to mix it with dirt, the lay it out, mix rocks into in, the pour water all over it, then get it poured and put into place before it dries.

After we had finished with stuff for the day, we went to a primary school where they sang, danced, and once again gave us gifts. I keep saying this over and over and over, but these people and the most loving, giving people I have ever met. When i get back to America, which i really don't want to, i hope i can be as half as generous as the people of Kiamuri. They all have so little, but they give you anything they can. It truly is amazing.
School kids saying hello in the middle of the day. A much needed break from the construction, not going to lie.Working hard, or hardly working, eh.Bahati! The youngest member of Youthlinc ever? Hope to see her back there in 20 years as a student.The biggest centipede I have ever seen in my life! We had to kill it, before it killed us, lieterally.Kelley Jo and Jackson, now my best buds, mixing cement like true Kenyans.

Kenya Team Day 4

Today we woke up and divided into groups and went with the villagers to their church. We divided up into 9 different groups and all went to a different denomination. It was quite a walk to get to the churches. My walk was only about 30-45 minutes, however Britnie's group walked for 2 hours! It was here at the church that i realized the enormity of this trip. I'm not on a cruise ship, I am living with the people of Kiamuri, in their village, part of their family for 2 weeks. I am one in 30 people IN THE WORLD to be sitting in a church in Kiamuri.I brought balloons to play with the kids with and they thought it was the coolest thing ever. Isaac brought me a gift this morning, but I had already left for church, so after, Britnie let Lauren and I go with Isaac's friend to surprise him at his shamba. It was such a neat experience to be able to walk through Kenya and truly see how life works. At reflections tonight, we had everyone write something that was on their mind from back home that the couldn't quite let go of. We then played the song "Waka waka" by Shakira and had them crumple it up and throw it in the middle, just to symbolize forgetting home and getting lost in the service and people of Kiamuri. It was a really nice bonding time with our group. It honestly was awesome. Everyday just keeps getting better.Little girl playing with a blown up water balloon. I wasn't even this excited for a car on my 16 birthday...the lessons I learnedThe church Sam, Genevieve and I attended on Sunday.One of the most beautiful children I have ever seen in my life.This man bought me sugar cane as a gift. Those are my glasses too, but I think they fit him better.

Young Humanitarian Award Finalists 2010

EEvery year Youthlinc searches Utah for its top Young Humanitarian. This year we has 82 applicants from all over the state and there were 13 finalists who will be interviewed by a panel of Judges at Westminster Campus. We would like to THANK our amazing Judges!  

Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck:  District 24 - Utah House of Representatives

Domoina Voniarisoa: Project Coordinator Hser Ner Moo Community & Welcome Center

Myra Renwick: GE Government Affairs Officer

Heidi Prokop: VP/ Public Relations Manager, Zions Bank

Robert A. Shaw:  Dean, School of Education, Westminster College

Axel Ramirez: Associate Professor-UVU

Gerry Smith: Youthlinc Board Chair

Linda Mayne: USOE Service Learning Specialist

Mike Patch: PhD, UVU Professor

Betsy Ward: Executive Director:  Utah Campus Compact.

All of these amazing people are helping us find the best of the best, Utah's Finest Young Humanitarian 2010. All of the applications were so amazing it was very difficult to narrow it down.

Thanks to our Application Judges:

David Bjorkman
Martin Fox
Donna Dewey
Karen Roylance
Doug Wixom
Joni Glynn
Wendy Hanson
James Young
Daela Taeoalii-Higgs
Michelle Gould
Anna Garcia
Kim Smart
Jay Bosshardt
Mike Patch
Emily Ewarda
Linda Ewarda
Erin Wright 

who worked very hard ranking and reviewing all 82 applications but here are are our top 13 applicants and what they would like to leave you with!

Hunter Schone 

Service is a passing smile to a random stranger. Service is holding the door for an old lady with groceries. Service is being a friend to someone in need. Service is the tired eyes after a long day of selfless work, when you look in the mirror and you are proud of what you see. I guess what I'm trying to say is helping others gives me that confidence, that joy, that longing feeling that no matter what happens everything will be all right.
-Hunter Schone

Ruth Arevalo

I am hungry for knowledge, determination, and passion in this life. Without my service I would be the incomplete of the incomplete. More often than not, I am the one receiving life changing service regardless that I am trying to give someone else the same. I eat, sleep and live this life of opportunity. -Ruth Arevalo

 Steven Espinoza

"Serving becomes a part of one's identity where there is a constant sense of duty to help improve the lives of others. A humanitarian lives with a sense of compassion, which compels them to truly make a difference and lift others by helping them develop self-sufficiency, and inspiring them to continue the cycle of service. While serving, I prefer to focus on the person being served; the need and the desire to make a change, rather than what I might get out of it. In all of this I believe that as we look for and find the best in others; they will do something to also make the world a better place in which to live." 

Jerika Megan Michel

" Be the change you wish to see in the world."      Mahatma Gahdhi                  Ryan Price       "I will always serve to make a positive impact in the community.  Service has become an intimate part of myself and my life, and continues to change me in ways I never expected." -Ryan Price     Amberly Vincent       "I would consider myself a humanitarian because I not only volunteer my time on a regular basis, but I would rather serve then do anything else in the world! I’m committed to bettering the lives of people; and not only those who are needy, but also my friends and my family. I think it’s important that we, especially teenagers, regularly give our time and energy to reach out to those who feel hopeless. It’s important to let the homeless, the crippled, and the broken know that you care. "   - Amberly Vincent      Jared Smith       Service helps me forget my own problems and focus on others. Service has changed my life because I have seen others less fortunate than me and I have realized how blessed I am.  - Jared Smith      Ashleigh O'Connor      "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." -Mohandas Gandhi     Carlin Miner     I am a big believer of cutting out the excess, and developing ourselves further. I find that the most powerful medium for this is service. The door of discovering who we are is wide open for us when we get rid of all the distractions in life such as our phones, iPods, TV, Internet, make-up etc. and we put ourselves out there to help others. The act of service by itself is not important. What is important is that one or more persons are connecting in a time of love and gratitude. One person sees a need that another has, they love them, and then seek out a way that they may be able to easy the others sufferings. When we realize how powerful and sacred life is, and we then want to do something to make the life of another easier, that is a marvelous time to be a human on this crazy world of ours.  -Carlin Miner  Brian Johnson     I just recognize that those who have helped me out the most in my life are those who have empowered me to help myself. I love being able to do the same for others by providing opportunities, training, and education. If you want some sort of short slogan or something instead, then you can just sum it up with: Empowering the powerless by helping others help themselves through opportunities, education, and training. - Brian Johnson  Hanne Paine    R. Colton Bramwell   Kajsa Vlasic   Best of Luck to all these amazing Students! Utah is full of amazing Youth who are striving to make our world a better place!

The Daily Utah Chronicle - Four U students named finalists for humanitarian scholarship

The Daily Utah Chronicle - Four U students named finalists for humanitarian scholarship

Day 3 Kenya Team

Kids greeting us as we drove into Kiamuri
Britnie dancing at Opening Ceremonies
All the kids running to meet us at Opening Ceramonies
Girls dancing for us.
I have never been this happy in my life. I am sitting in the most beautiful place in the world, under the Kenyan sky, listening to the crickets chirp. What more could I ask for? We woke up today and visited a hospital. It was heart wrenching to see, however i felt bad for feeling sad because i could tell they people who ran the hospital were proud of what they have accomplished. After the visit, we began our 2 hour dirt road expedition to Kiamuri. Along the way, we would all wave at the kids along the road. I couldn't help but smile the whole time. My cheeks even began to hurt because I was smiling for so long. As we drove into Kiamuri, all the kids lined the street and cheered our arrival. We stopped and got pictures as the kids clapped, screamed, and waved at us. After we had unpacked at St. Luke's Hospital, we went to Opening Ceremonies. As we approached the school, all the kids took off running towards us and greeted us with hugs and big smiles. They all wanted to hold hands with a "Mazungu" (white person). Everything about this place is amazing. All the schools danced and sang for us at the ceremonies and it was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed in my life. Everyone is so excited to have us here and are so thankful for us coming, but they have it backwards. I am so thankful for them!
I know this blog is for everyone but I am going to tell a personal story that was the COOLEST part of the day for me. Last year, my best friend was on the Kenya Team. While in Kiamuri, he met a secondary school student name Isaac. They grew very close and have been writing emails and even facebooking ever since. Before our team left this year, my friend McKay sent Isaac an email asking if he would be in the village while we were here, however Isaac is now attending University in Mombasa and was not sure if he would make it. After Ceremonies ended, i heard somebody call our Alumn Leaders name, who was also on last years team, and give her a big hug. I immediately knew it was Isaac. he traveled 12 hours by car just to see Lauren and I. Turn out, he got the dates of our visit mixed up and arrived 5 days early and is leaving tomorrow morning. IT was just amazing to see the ambition and drive this kid has for life. He is attending University to become an Electrical Engineer with his focus on green electricity, such as windmills and solar panels. Right now he has plans to have a windmill that he has made from scratch at his university put up at his Shamba by August. After about a year of testing it, he hopes to receive government help and supply some of the schools in Kiamuri with windmills. We ended up talking for a good 2 hours and he even walked us back to St. Lukes where I gave him the gift McKay sent for him. I know i have only Isaac one time, but we will be lifelong friends. This is just one example fo the love and kindness shown in this country. A poor college student payed for a 12 hours bus ride to say hi to his friend's friend whom he had only heard stories about. I honestly could go on for hours about the people and everything that has happened today. There is just no way of capturing the emotion and feelings I have felt today, or even begin to explain the events. The one thing I do know is I love Kenya.

Isaac (in red) with his mother and best friend Isaac.