Traveling Through Kenya

The moment the four of us entered Nairobi airport after 30 hours of travel, we knew we were in a different country. The place was bustling with people in brilliantly colored costumes. Our ride to the hotel was along brightly lit, well paved streets amid fast, heavy traffic. When we went to a restaurant outside the hotel we were escorted by armed security men.

Ever observant and curious about all aspects of the country, we realized our true mission was to visit each of the schools where GTL sponsors young girls, and that part of our trip began the next morning when Nancy Nyamu, daughter of our Kenyan Scholarship Coordinator, drove us two hours to the town of Othaya and the Girls Secondary School, Gatugi. After a light meal served on tables in the science lab, we talked privately with each of the 11 GTL scholarship girls who all expressed their gratitude to GTL.

Next stop was the Mutira Girls High School in Kerugoya where we again met with all the GTL students and were impressed with the articulate Headmistress, Mrs. Gatimu. The final school on our itinerary that day was Kabare, ranked the 10th best high school in Kenya and where GTL has 11 students who proudly showed us their classrooms and dorms. The headmistress’s office was full of trophies the students had won in debating, writing, theatre, and athletics.

Nancy had us on the road early again on our second full day. Our destination was the Karoti Girls High School, a wonderful place with 800 students, beautifully landscaped grounds, and cement buildings. We were privileged to talk with the deputy principal and to meet with one of the graduates who was serving as a math and science tutor between graduation and post-secondary school. Our spirits were high as we flew to Entebbe the next afternoon.