What an incredible year it was. Not only was it the largest number of volunteers that FOY has ever organized but we delivered on the clean safe water that the village had waited for so desperately! This was a year for FOY to remember for a long time, by every account our proudest moment! Through the tens of fundraisers both in the village and California with every trickle of contribution, together a borehole was sunk in Muguna. There were tears and cheers as the drilling trucks from Water Masters rolled into the village. Soon the generators were fired up and the drill bits sunk into the earth for 48 hours straight. Village residents offered tea and food to the workers or anyone who cared to join as it quickly became the congregating spot for stories and questions alike. Finally when water spewed out, everyone rushed to get a taste of it and soak in the moment. The children splashed their faces while some collected the water.
Muguna Primary got Science kits, library books, Discovery science t-shirts for scientists of tomorrow and a hand-sketched world map on the exterior wall of the school. To accompany the donations was a well-choreographed daylong teacher professional training. The training emphasized the importance of reading by third grade. Many teaching strategies were shared and some volunteers plan on bringing back the lessons learned to their classrooms in California.
The health and sanitation workshop has become a staple for the village residents. Up to one hundred people attended the workshop jointly hosted by two volunteers from California and a local nurse from a nearby town. At the end of the workshop, all participants received a hygiene kit.
The cultural exchange activities included sisal rope-making, cow milking, porridge tasting, local brew tasting and dances. The featured movie this year was Africa Cats – a documentary about Cheaters and Lions in the Masai Mara narrated by Samuel. L Jackson. The trip culminated with safaris in Masai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Bogoria Hot Springs, Lake Nakuru National Park, Mt. Kenya National Park and Sweet Waters Tented Camp.
