How did you learn about or get in contact with Hope Orphan School?

I met Fred and Alan in the End of January 2013. After finishing my A-Levels in Germany, I applied for a year of social service abroad before entering University. The organization American Field Service (AFS) accepted me and so I was sent to Mombasa, Kenya for my year of social service. I wasn’t able to choose my project I was going to work in and so I was even happier that I got so lucky to get to know the HOPSYG community.

Since I first met Fred and Alan they took really good care of me as a volunteer. It was my first time in an African country and so much was completely new to me. I really appreciated all their help and support in the first few weeks. They explained me all about their work in Mshomoroni and introduced me to the school staff, back then consisting of Christine and Fatuma since the primary school was not built yet.

What has been your main involvement/actions/ participation?

The preschool at that time had three classrooms (KG1-KG3) and my job was to teach the KG2-class. In the beginning I was actually a little bit afraid, because I didn’t know how the staff and the kids would accept me. This changed after the first week in which I basically observed Fatuma how she organized her lessons. The Second week I tried it myself and apart from some little language difficulties first, it worked out very well. The other teachers where always just next door and I could ask for assistance any time. So, the longer I worked with the kids, the better we understood each other. They taught me a little bit Swahili with such a patience that even the worst student (me) would pick up some this beautiful language. In exchange I taught them Math, English, Environmental science, Art and sometimes PE.

After a while, Alan asked me to help him out with some administrational work and since I had lots of free time I was happy to help out there as well. Of course, I also participated in school field trips to the beach or to the animal park in Mombasa, which was always fun.

Soon after I started volunteering in the school, I felt very attached to the kids even though sometimes their energy can be exhausting for a young European adult with a lack of authority. But never will I ever forget my time with HOPSYG and all the people involved. It was always a very friendly and happy atmosphere and I always liked walking down the dusty road to the school.

I enjoyed working at HOPSYG so much that I came back for visits in 2014 and for an internship in 2016. During that internship my tasks differed from the ones I had during my voluntary service. The school grew by that time and the small preschool became a whole primary school. So, I mostly took care of administrative work in the little office of the school and assisted the teachers with educational material from the small school library. Every Wednesday I assisted some teachers with the PE and I created files of all the children of the school. Additionally, I helped out with keeping track on the paid school fees of the private school kids.

Why should people support Hope through volunteering/donations etc?

Through my studies I became a little bit skeptical about the topic development aid. There’s a big discourse about whether it is actually helping or in fact causing harm to communities in need. But through my experiences with HOPSYG and all the people involved, I can definitely assure that HOPSYG is making a difference in the Mshomoroni community. The kids are offered a happy and safe environment. The school has already a reputation of providing real quality education to the children of Mshomoroni. After finishing my year of social service, I wanted to stay a part of the HOPSYG-community and I told my friends and family back in Germany all about my experiences in Mombasa. Together we organized some fundraisers for the construction of the primary school. When I was back in Mombasa for my internship at HOPSYG I could document at firsthand what the money we collected was spend on.
Fred and Alan always make sure to provide enough transparency and information about what is going on in the project. My time at HOPSYG influenced me severely and partly made me the person I am now. For me it gave me the experiences I needed before I started my studies back in Germany and I always miss the amazing times I had with the staff and the kids. To summarize: I can totally recommend a voluntary experience at the great HOPSYG-Family!

Explain a little why you trust Hopsyg

I would say I trust HOPSYG because I have been involved with them for almost five years now and I never had a reason not to. Alan and Fred explained everything I wanted to know about the project and I am so convinced that the school is a project worth supporting that I keep on coming back. Never was I disappointed but rather amazed on how the project grows and more and more children are given the opportunity to get good quality education, a safe environment and even a family.

Kahindi Kazungu: The quiet pupil

The quiet model student