H2H
A Home away from Home... SCRIBE MAGAZINE DIRECTOR CAM ALLEN TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE-CHANGING DISCOVERY OF A REMOTE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN KENYA AND THE NEED FOR LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK OUT SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. HIS WORK OVERSEAS HAS RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF THE HEART 2 HOPE INC., A CHARITY WHICH SEEKS OUT POTENTIAL GRASSROOTS PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD: THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO INVEST IN HUMAN CREATIVITY, FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES AND USING INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE FLEDGLING COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL...
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eople often ask me, “Why invest so much time fundraising for a Primary School in remote Kenya when there are so many other worthy projects you could be exploring that are closer to home!?” It is true that there are thousandsupon-thousands of worthy causes that are in dire need of immediate assistance, finance and support in Australia and throughout the world. In fact, there are thousands that are in worse shape and require more urgent intervention and attention, but I have always been a firm believer that experiences come into your life, not by chance, or fate, but by ‘reason’. It is pre-destined for some individuals, whether they choose to accept it or not, that certain experiences are supposed to be a part of their lives. Over coffee and conversation with a friend in Perth who had recently been on Safari in Africa, I heard about a young man named Joseph Oloo who lives and works in Kenya. This Joseph fellow was apparently working as a Cook on the Safari and from my friend’s description Joseph was the highlight of their Safari experience. I was intrigued – especially
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when he shared Joseph’s story about setting up a Primary School in the remote town of Mukuro that was Joseph’s hometown. The money that Joseph received from his work as a Cook was the fundamental source of income for the development and foundation of the school and I was told that the original intent of the school building was for Joseph’s own extended family’s future; they had planned to use it for trade and income. However, as the story unfolded, Joseph shared with my friend that he’d had a revelation during construction and that now the priority for the community (despite his own personal economic disadvantage) was to build a school for others that would ensure community growth, education for disadvantaged children and a chance for these children to fulfill their own potential. At this point in the conversation I was captivated; I needed to find out more about this man and his story in order to make more sense of it. After being given Joseph’s email, I immediately contacted him.
Very quickly I found out that Joseph came from entirely humble beginnings as a young boy, often in conflict and under threat from those closest to him. His Grandmother, Paulina Okello, was his protector throughout those vulnerable years, instilling in him at an early age attitudes of ‘compassion’ and ‘empathy’. She led by example, often educating, feeding and sheltering many of the local orphans in the area and regularly created a safe haven for many of the underprivileged, local children. Joseph was well guided by his Grandmother; through her support and influence he ventured out of his hometown, into the city to find work. As a young man he sought various employment opportunities, was often rejected, but refused to take no for an answer. This persistence and desire to succeed in life saw Joseph employed in a variety of positions that allowed him to gain a myriad of life skills – each job was met with determination and enthusiasm. Joseph eventually secured a position working for an African Safari Company, Kumuka Worldwide, that afforded him the opportunity to engage with people
from all over the world and exposed him to a variety of cultures. Joseph radiated a welcoming spirit to the hundreds of tourists he met each year, sharing a part of himself and his life’s journey. He cooked for his guests and took great pride in showcasing his beautiful Kenya to the lucky few. Many of his newfound friends often talk about Joseph’s infectious smile; referring to him as one of ‘the most generous individuals’ they have ever met. That title is accompanied with words such as: endearing, humble, accommodating, inspiring and driven. Within a few months of online conversation, I had booked a ticket to Kenya to meet Joseph in person. What I didn’t realise at that point in time was I would be meeting a life-long friend and about to embark on a risky journey that would have a profound impact on my life. Spending a few weeks with Joseph was an absolute blessing as we talked and shared his vision for the school and the children. Many selfless acts of kindness contributed to his vision, with dozens of friends made along the way
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FIRM BELIEVER THAT EXPERIENCES COME INTO YOUR LIFE, NOT BY CHANCE OR FATE BUT BY ‘REASON’. IT IS PRE-DESIGNED FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT. who contributed financially to Joseph and his school. The school was built on the inherited land of his extended family, a bold project that unfortunately did not always receive the full support of its members. The children of the school were beautiful. The parents (although wary of my presence at first), the teachers and the locals were welcoming and warmed to me after a few days. I studied the surroundings, assessed the progress and discussed the possibilities with Joseph on how this school could sustain itself in the short and long term into the future. From the outset, Joseph’s dream was to offer an affordable yet quality, private
education for all children in the local area. School fees were approximately $4.38 AUS per month; which included a feeding program twice daily and also covered assessment papers and daily learning materials. Fifteen to twenty percent of the student population is orphaned, so they were only expected to pay $1.50 AUS per month, most of them were supported and living with guardians, community friends or extended family; all with extremely limited finances. Teachers at the school were on salaries of 10,000 Kenyan shillings per month (Approximately $125 AUS); which is almost half the base salary for teachers in Kenya. The income from the school fees barely supported the
ongoing costs of the school, at this point in time Joseph’s salary and individual donor contributions cover the school’s monthly expenses. A plan was formulated quickly. We decided the school needed a boost, with some serious intervention required. Hence, the Help2Hope Quest seed was planted and borne as soon as I returned to Australia. The rest – as they say - is history. (See Page 6 for full details of the inaugural H2H Quest) THE SCHOOL PROGRESS 2013 The Heart2Hope House started construction in October 2012 with part of the proceeds our team had managed to raise between July and December 2012. The relevance and urgency to build this House was often questioned (and still is), but it is undeniably one of the most important elements contributing to the sustainability of the Mama Paulina School of Hope. This House is not only a secure dwelling for the family, friends and workers of the school community, but it is a safe and secure ‘Home Away
ABOVE: Joseph and some of the students picking and sorting out red onions as part of the Agricultural Program at the school.
from Home’ for volunteers, teachers, students and humanitarians willing to travel to the school in order to continue the foundation work that has been started. The idea was borne around our initial idea to hire secure tents for volunteers helping the school, but it was decided that a permanent building was a more sensible, long-term and sustainable solution. All visitors willing to volunteer at the school are encouraged to pay a standard fee to the House. These funds will cover accommodation during their stay in Kenya and assist the school directly with: educational resources; ongoing fees for the teachers; supplies for the school; finance for the property harvests and materials and labour for all future building projects.
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The Outdoor Classroom was built as a priority during our visit in January 2012 in order to alleviate the existing crowded and claustrophobic classrooms. Like most projects in Kenya, the progress was slow, but as of September 2013, there is a fully functional ‘classroom in the round’, with surrounding bench seats sheltering students from the sun whilst allowing open ventilation with large rectangular ventilation spaces. The classroom – designed to be used as an overflow space of learning for all classes – has the added benefit of providing an open space to engage both the teachers and the students throughout their day. The framework for the classroom was built in less than 7 days during the team’s visit, the roof has taken a number of months to build and the flooring and rendering are nearing completion. The Heart of the School Memorial was another structure completed during 2013. A circular seating area which houses the Kenyan flag and serves as a dedication wall for the generous donors to the school. Aluminium plaques line the insides of the wall with messages of hope and support to the school. Proceeds of the ‘H2H Brick program’ have been the catalyst of the building progress. It not only serves as a reminder to the school community that they have international 100
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ONE OF THE TRULY GREAT THINGS ABOUT VISITING THE MAMA PAULINA SCHOOL OF HOPE IN MUKURO AND VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME IS THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW OLD OR YOUNG YOU ARE, HOW SKILLED OR UNSKILLED YOU ARE, YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU WILL HAVE A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE. support, but it creates a sense of identity for the school, a dedication to Paulina Okello, Joseph’s Grandmother (who the school is aptly named after) signifying the importance of nurturing the children in the area and offering them the right to a quality education.
THE HELP 2 HOPE QUEST PART II One of the truly great things about visiting The Mama Paulina School of Hope in Mukuro to volunteer your time is, that no matter how old or young you are, or how skilled or unskilled you think you are, you will find it to be a lifechanging experience. The people of Mukuro are the most accommodating, warm community you will ever meet and you will discover elements about yourself you never knew existed. There are many people in the developed world that would like to do short term work in the third world. They want to be there, see what life is
like, make a contribution and have a life changing experience. This is a rare and unique opportunity to achieve this goal. We are inviting unique individuals to participate in the H2H Quest Part II, 2014. Applications are available on the Scribe Magazine website. Fundraising will commence in November 2013, culminating in a 2-week trip mid-way through 2014.
PARTICIPATION FEE You will be expected to fundraise in order take part in this project. The amount to be raised varies from year to year. The money raised covers your accommodation, flights, food, insurance, materials and transport. This year, the personal amount of fundraising will be $7500. You will receive a fundraising pack, ongoing support and a variety of resources and ideas to get you started. It is a progressive challenge that can seem
daunting but with regularity and a real commitment to the cause, it is easier than anticipated.
PROGRAM SUPPORT You will have full access to the H2H II fundraising package, collections materials, multi-media access and downloadable resources from the website PLUS regular support and contact from your team.
AWARENESS Part of your role in the H2H Quest II will be to create awareness for the project and involve your community as much as possible. By thinking outside of the box and being creative in your fundraising endeavours, you will ensure a successful program. Our foundation group was very active in involving local media and community groups to build interest and support for this initiative.
ACCOMMODATION The Heart2Hope House was custombuilt for not only the family and friends that run the Mama Paulina School of Hope, but is also a permanent ‘Home Away from Home’ for individuals or groups willing to assist the School Community. Visitors to the community are treated with an enormous amount of respect and kindness. The friends and family of the School community ensure a comfortable and safe stay for all who make the long journey to Mukuro.
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LEFT: Cam Allen assisting an English lesson with the students in the split Classes 2 and 3 at the Mama Paulina School of Hope.
disadvantaged families, enabling them to get back on their feet. If you are over 18, willing to fundraise for 6 months and able to give approximately 2 weeks of your time to become a volunteer, please contact us by emailing; scribe@scribemagazine.com.au
ARE YOU READY? EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE As well as getting your hands dirty, part of this service-learning experience is designed to soak up the culture of the people of Mukuro. You will experience the traditional scrumptious Kenyan cooking and food preparation, visit remote fishing villages at Lake Victoria and learn how to communicate with the locals using the basic Swahili language. Being at a higher altitude and situated at the base of Mount Mukuro, the region experiences more rainfall than lower
lying areas of Kenya, so it comes as quite a surprise to most visitors to see how green it is.
PROJECTS The projects we will be undertaking in 2014 not only involve some physical labour, but we will also be assisting local tradesmen in the establishment of new classrooms for the school, refurbishing existing classrooms and building a playground. We will also be visiting local houses in the town to assist some
Heart 2 Hope Inc. The Heart2Hope Inc, is an incorporated founded in 2012. The purpose of this organisation is primarily to seek out potential grassroots projects in Australia and abroad: Our ultimate goal is to invest in human creativity, fundraising activities and using initiative to improve fledgling communities so that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
By the end of December 2012 six hard-working individuals were committed to the task and we had raised a sufficient amount of money to venture over to the school for 2 weeks in January 2013.
Our first project is the Mama Paulina School of Hope, located in Mukuro, Kenya. This is an independent/private (Poverty-stricken) Primary School located close to the border of Tanzania and Kenya.
Proceeds of these funds enabled a series of lifechanging projects for the community including the development of an additional outdoor classroom, electricity to the school, a permanent house which would support the school and future visitors and supporters, upgraded facilities for community harvesting, water tanks, educational resources and supplies to name a few.
After an initial visit in early 2012, a plan was formulated to create the H2H (Help2Hope) Quest, a fundraising initiative inviting like-minded individuals to sacrifice 6 months of their life initially to each raise a target amount of money within their school, business or social communities.
This project continues into 2013/14 by continuing to offer financial assistance to the school and providing the community with ongoing support through service. We hope to enable the school to be self-sustainable for the future, the ultimate goal for the Heart2Hope Inc. for all future projects.
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This is a huge commitment – a life changer for those that involve themselves in this type of initiative. The rules constantly change; emotions are often heightened; yet the rewards are endless. It will literally change the way you approach life and more importantly, the people in your life!! Every now and then the opportunity to make a difference comes your way, if this is yours – you will know. CAM ALLEN