Model WHO group takes treasures to Kenya

With 22 50-pound suitcases at their sides, students traveled over 7,000 miles to Kenyan villages, schools and orphanages

By Olivia Tattory
   Without hesitation, the students who took it are calling it the trip of a lifetime.
   For Komi Khan, a junior at Hopewell Valley Central High School, it was an eye-opening, rewarding and humanitarian experience that is almost indescribable.
   "It was incredible to see how little these people have and yet they are so happy and thankful for what they do have," said 17-year-old Komi. "It teaches you to appreciate the things you have and not to take anything for granted."
   On July 21, 15 HVCHS students from the Model WHO (World Health Organization) club and five adult leaders embarked on a two-week trip to Kenya. With 22 50-pound suitcases at their sides — filled with 30 jump ropes, laptops, 150 pounds of LEGO and DUPLO building blocks, clothing, 700 toothbrushes toys, 100 solar-powered calculators and much more — the students traveled over 7,000 miles to Kenyan villages, schools and orphanages to deliver the supplies.
   They came home last week.
   Students paid they own way, at a cost of $3,400 each. Students also had to provide their own spending money, pay the costs of bus transportation to and from the airport and cover the costs of required vaccinations, according to Lillian Rankel, AP and honors chemistry teacher at HVCHS and one of the Model WHO advisers.
   The students learned about malaria prevention during the year leading up to the trip and brainstormed ways in which they could make a difference. They also hoped to explore ways to improve communications between Kenyan high school students and American high school students.
   For nearly two years, they worked to raise enough money to purchase the supplies. They held bake sales, had a booth at Pennington Day, did fundraising at school and got donations from members of the Hopewell Valley community.
   Additionally, Andy Jackson, husband of Dr. Rankel, was able to obtain a $30,000 grant from his company ExxonMobil Corp. for the purchase and shipping of 4,000 mosquito nets. The nets, costing $6.60 each are treated with insecticide and last about four years. The nets will be distributed to needy families in the Nyanchonori area (near Nairobi) through 10 different churches.
   The group chose this village in Kenya because of biology teacher David Angwenyi’s connection. Mr. Angwenyi, also a WHO adviser, is originally from Kenya and chose the village where his family lives because of his contacts there.
   "I knew it would be easier to identify with the people there and focus our efforts," said Mr. Angwenyi, who started the group two years ago. "I knew in that area there were many kids in need."
   HVCHS senior and WHO President Kathleen Reside said her favorite part of the trip was visiting the orphanages and getting to interact directly with the children. Their curiosity about all things American and about the culture in general was a hot topic, she explained.
   "Seeing their faces when we were giving them all the supplies was priceless," said 17-year-old Kathleen. "They were asking all kinds of things like ‘can you dance like Shakira?’ and what types of TV shows we watched."
   The WHO club visited the Spirit of Faith Children’s Centre Orphanage in Nairobi on the first day. They toured the classrooms, played Frisbee and soccer with the children and were shown the local soapstone carved artwork. The group then traveled to the Thika High School for the Blind outside of Nairobi. They showed the blind students some of the supplies and software that are used at HVCHS. Trevor Saunders, who is blind and takes AP chemistry classes at HVCHS with equipment to which Dr. Rankel made tactile modifications, helped demonstrate the chemistry equipment.
   The next venture for students was the Moi Forces Academy-Lanet, a top girls boarding school. Each student was assigned a tour guide and spent the afternoon getting to know the students there.
   Senior Alex Robertson was shocked when he saw the process and difficulty in getting water back to the village.
   "They have to go through so much for something as simple as a glass of water," said the 17-year-old. "They showed us the whole process and what they do every day."
   His favorite part of the trip, however, was the safari trips they took. The group witnessed the great migration of the zebras, where they saw thousands of animals migrating from Tanzania to Kenya.
   Having traveled to places all over the world including Wales, Singapore, Australia and Spain, this was the "best trip I’ve ever been on," said Alex.
   "People just can’t understand unless they go there," he said. "It was 100 percent an experience I’ll never forget."
   The Model WHO group was started two years ago as a continuation of one of Mr. Angwenyi’s biology classes. The group eventually formed because of the amount of student interest. Students are chosen based on their performance in science classes and interest in global leadership.
   "We want to train global leaders and expose students to other programs around the world," said Mr. Angwenyi. "The group focuses on particular diseases, discusses all aspects of it and develops a plan of action."
   Students are eager to go back to Kenya although the trip most likely will be two years from now, due to the amount of planning and effort involved, said Mr. Angwenyi.
   "The students were really pleased to be making contacts in Kenya and surprised that the students there were so eager to learn and get an education about everything and anything," said Dr. Rankel. "That really impressed all of us very much so."