LAMBERTVILLE: School principal Hewitt to embark on Kenya trip

He’ll tell students about it today, Thursday

   Lambertville Public School Principal Geoff Hewitt will hold a brief school assembly this morning, Thursday, to tell his 241 students about his upcoming adventure to Africa.
   Mr. Hewitt, 41, will travel to Kenya from May 17 through 31 to work as part of team for a nonprofit medical-based organization, Project Helping Hands.
   After flying to Nairobi, he has been told to expect two days of ground travel to the southwestern part of the country to within walking distance of the village of Oyugis. He and the rest of his team of eight will sleep there, and hike three miles into and back from the village each day.
   The team will set up health clinics. Although not medically trained, Mr. Hewitt said he’ll assist, but also draw on his biology and science teaching days to counsel and educate people about hygiene and caring for themselves.
   He is required to bring at least 50 pounds of medical items. Since he has to carry whatever he brings, that means he’ll have to keep clothing and personal items to a minimum, he said.
   Mr. Hewitt grew up in Kingwood Township and now lives in Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania. He is in his fourth year as principal of the school, which teaches pre-kindergartners to sixth-graders.
   He has paid for the trip himself. If anyone would like to support his effort, he encourages them to make monetary donations to Project Helping Hands. The money will go into a fund to help pay for patients who might need surgery or be transported to a hospital, he said.
   He promises to bring back whatever items he can from Kenya, and to share his experiences with his students in a subsequent assembly.
   To join his effort, people can:
   • Go to www.projecthelpinghands.org and make a donation by electronic check or credit/debit card. In “tell us how to use your donation,” type in “Geoff Hewitt – Oyugis, Kenya, May 2014.”
   • Send a check for PHH to Mr. Hewitt at the school, 200 N. Main St., Lambertville, 08530.) He said he will submit it to the treasurer.
   • Mail a check to Project Helping Hands, 305 NE 6th Street No. 774, Grants Pass, Oregon, 97526. Include “Geoff Hewitt – Oyugis, Kenya, May 2014 Trip” in the memo portion.