Olivia (on the right) and I introduce ourselves to students!

I’ve had a wonderful visit from Olivia, another Peace Fellow (at the Fletcher School in Boston) who is working with Children Peace Initiative, a long-term AP partner that organizes peace camps for children from different tribes in the North of Kenya. Olivia is based this summer in the town of Nanuyki, about four hours from Nairobi. She arrived with her host, Monica, to spend a few days in Nairobi and has spent the weekend in my apartment which has been great! Olivia is great company and has been fun to try new coffee shops in the area!

Monica has friends at the Shammah Splendid High School, on the southern side of the Kibera settlement and we all headed off to pay the school a visit.

Getting to hear about the school and the students was fascinating and I left with a much better understanding of Kibera and the people living here. I peered into classrooms, met students who were polite and respectful, learned about some of the struggles facing the school and was told where they hope to be in 10 years. It was a visit I will always remember.

The principal explained to us that Shammah Splendid is a community school which differs from a public and private school in that it receives no funding from the government (public) or fees (private). Teachers are paid through donations and contributions from the families of students. This makes it incredibly hard, but the principal keeps the school doors open and his spirits positive.

In spite of the shortage of money, the school always does its best to feed the children. Food is expensive here and many children are undernourished, so this is one school meal that is much appreciated. We were invited to eat at the school on one of the days that the school was able to feed students. This kind gesture showed me that the people of Kibera are the definition of resiliency, and also some of the kindest people I’ve ever met.

Difficult to disagree with this school motto!