2023 Trip, a return to Yimbo post pandemic.

Posted on August 7, 2019December 20, 2023 by Ben Odipo

The people in Yimbo welcomed us back to the village after a three-year absence due to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, we learned new ways to stay connected with Yimbo and remotely supported them. On June 28th, the melodic singing by the women and dancing, was what we had all longed for since our last visit in 2019.

Humanitarian Trip Dates: June 25, 2023 – July 5, 2023

The trip included five days in Muguna Village, three days on safari at Masai Mara Game Reserve and two optional extended trip destinations.

Optional Extended Trips:

The two bucket-list places were a 4-day River Nile Cruise with a day trip in Cairo, Egypt or a 4-day visit to Cape Town in South Africa and Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Highlights: 2023 Theme was Dream Big, Start Small and Think Sustainable!

1. Distribution of books, backpacks, sanitary kits and uniforms to Muguna Primary School students

2. Leadership training and roundtable discussions with microenterprise groups

3. Visits to microenterprise ventures in the village

4. 2-day medical camp – dental cleaning and extractions as well as primary care. Services provided to over 600 patients from the village

5. Technology training for all teachers

6. Instructional professional development for all teachers – Collaborative classrooms with Kagan Strategies; Social Emotional Instruction; Community Accountability; Building Community/Social Contract; Building Reading Fluency; Mathematics in Action

7. Spectacular safari at the world renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve to see the Big Five (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cape buffalo)

8. Visit to one of the wonders of the world – The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

4. Visit to Robben Island in Cape Town and the thunderous roar of Victoria Falls, in Zambia

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2019 Trip To Yimbo

Posted on August 6, 2019December 2, 2021 by Ben Odipo

Volunteers and School Explore Development of a School Lunch Program.

The effects of climate change continue to affect Yimbo. The longer dry seasons and shorter rainy seasons have exacerbated food insecurity in the village. Muguna School attests to many families that can barely feed their children three square meals a day.

Majority of the students come to school hungry yet there is an expectation for them to focus on learning. These kids run home during lunch break only to get a sip of water and return to school. Read More

The Digital Promise Initiative

As of June 2018, the school had one mounted projector, speakers and desktop in the library. In addition, each teacher has been using a laptop for 2 years after attending three professional learning sessions. With support from Deno and Henry as technical support team, Muguna has exhibited tremendous growth in integrating Digital Learning, Academic Discourse and Risk-Taking in the classroom. Read More

Micro-Enterprise Opportunities Flourish

Paul, the local FOY coordinator continues to achieve success with small groups in Muguna Village. Paul’s entrepreneurial success is rooted in continuous mobilization and learning opportunities for the village. His efforts have inspired the village around the idea of business enterprise development as a viable way out of extreme poverty. Read More

Muguna Students in Need of Classroom Supplies

Muguna’s enrollment is currently pushing on 474 students for a school that was built to accommodate 300 students. The government financial support has not caught up with the levels of growing need. As a result, the school lacks adequate facilities and instructional supplies. The July 2019 volunteers delivered over 800 pencils & erasers, 500 writing books, 600 reading books and 10 textbooks per classroom. Yes, that’s correct! The teachers only have 10 textbooks per classroom and these are required text books. Read More

Clean Water Reaches More Homes in Muguna

In Muguna, approximately 7 out of 100 individuals have access to clean water. FOY partnered with the village back in 2014 to sink a water well that has served some of the families. Since 2014, FOY has focused on getting individual homes water tanks to store rain water for filtration. Sponsor a household today to purchase a water tank. Read More

Other highlights:

Safaris in Masai Mara Game Reserve and Lake Nakuru National Park

Visit to Barkanyango High school, which is Muguna Primary feeder school

Visit to Karen Blixen, Giraffe Center and Elephant Sanctuary in Nairobi

2019 Trip Calendar

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2018 Trip To Yimbo and Egypt

Posted on October 26, 2018December 2, 2021 by Ben Odipo

Inspired by the work of the previous travelers to Yimbo, another group of 15 volunteers completed a very successful trip to Muguna Village in July 2018. The volunteers stayed a total of six nights in the village and worked alongside the people of Muguna in the focus areas of education, micro-enterprise, public health and clean water.

The six days marked the most days a group has ever stayed in the village and the volunteers took every advantage of every waking day to do meaningful work that changes lives in Muguna.

Thanks to your generous donations:

1. Held a book fair for the students. Distributed blankets, 400 books, 370 bag packs and 300 toothbrushes/toothpastes

2. Distributed over 200 Feminine Hygiene Kits for standard 7 and 8 girls

3. Officially dedicated the opening the girls toilets at Muguna Primary

4. Installed projection screen, LCD projector in the school library and classrooms

5. Distributed 13 laptops to each teacher at Muguna Primary

6. Trained all teachers on technology use and free educational software content across curriculum

7. Cabled the entire school for alarm and installed an alarm system

8. Distributed new school uniforms to 150 students in standard 1, 2 and 3

9. Coordinated a medical camp with health screening and dental extractions for 160 patients

10. Funded the $3,500 second round of women microenterprise activities

11. Conducted a 4-day teacher professional learning seminar on Conceptual Math I & II, Academic Discourse (Model Lesson) Composition, Risk Taking in the classroom and Problem-Solving using the IBB process

Other highlights:

Safaris in Masai Mara Game Reserve, Sweet Waters Game Reserve, and Samburu Game Reserve

Boat rides at Lake Naivasha and Lake Victoria to watch hippos

A 7km bike safari in Hells Gate National Park and 5km hike

Visit to giraffe and elephant sanctuaries in Nairobi

4-day visit to Egypt – Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise and Cairo

2018 Trip Calendar