Yasmin Limbachia: Mission to Kenya

Thu, Jul 18th 2019 at 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

A personal account

Children's centre buildings in up-country Kenya

Our speaker today was Yasmin Limbachia, a student at Anglia Ruskin University.

The Club made a donation towards Yasmin’s trip to Kenya, a project for which her initial interest was developed by the church she attends in Chelmsford. Her colleagues on the trip were from a church at Stanway, near Colchester. The group went to New Hope,An solid metal entrance gate welcoming people to New Hope an orphanage which has its own school for children up to age 14, at which point they leave to go to high school.

Yasmin wants to become a primary school teacher, so will have gained some very good experience helping in the school, which does a lot of creative work to provide a stimulating environment for the children. The average day begins early, as the children wake up at 4:30 am and attend a devotional service before school starts at 8 am.

The orphanage has its own farmland and grows its own crops, which include avocados and mangoes. There are also two cows which produce enough milk to feed the babies at the orphanage. The orphanage has its own water pump, which unfortunately broke down while Yasmin and her party were there. They were able to raise £3,000 in 24 hours, which prevented the orphanage from having to close due to lack of a proper water supply.

Being able to help was the highlight of the trip, although there was also a special farewell party. Yasmin hopes to return to New Hope one day.

From there the party moved on to Project Daylove, based in Nairobi, which supports over 100 young Kenyans aged between three and 25. This part of the trip included a visit to the slums of the city, which Yasmin described as emotional but also eye-opening.

Yasmin told us that the food provided during the trip was very different to what she is used to in the UK. She made particular mention of Ugali, a porridge made from cornmeal, which is served with spinach or kidney beans.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

2023-24 Rotary theme logo superimposed on a list of Presidents since the Club's foundation

Read the Club Chronicle for reports on our latest meeting and other past events. (Latest update: 21 March 2024)

more  

Photo Gallery of Chelmsford Rotary events. (Latest addition: 2 March 2024)

more  
People sitting at dining tables

We meet regularly to enjoy fellowship over a meal.

more  
Looking over a field to a large garbage area

Our Environment Committee seeks to help protect our environment

more  
Traditional theatrical masks of Comedy and Tragedy

Social and sporting events

more  
Major Donor Award

Supporting good causes worldwide

more  
Three young people in a library sitting in front of a computer

This committee organises all our youth activities

more  

Support locally and internationally

more  
A Rotary column from a colour magazine

Public Image

more