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HEROES Power to the People

A TEACHER’S PASSION FUELS A CROSS-CULTURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN LOCAL STUDENTS AND THEIR KENYAN COUNTERPARTS

BY SAM KERRIGAN

For more than 30 years, Jim Cummings has been working tirelessly to help children in Kenya gain better access to education. But he’s also connecting those students with kids here in Palm Beach County. “We’re in it together. What happens there impacts us, and what happens here impacts people there,” he says. “It’s to our benefi t to build up and invest in Kenya.”

Cummings’ passion for education and appreciation for Kenyan culture began when he spent time teaching in the country after graduating from college. “When I came back to the States, I started telling stories about this extraordinary experience and eventually developed a desire to give back to the community that launched me on this career,” he says.

It’s a career that brought Cummings to Palm Beach County, where he has taught history at both The Benjamin School and Seminole Ridge High School. It’s also where his nonprofi t, Kijana, was born.

“I started a little fundraiser with the cross-country team at Benjamin to help the school in Kenya I taught at,” he recalls. “Eventually, in 2002, we offi cially formed Kijana.”

“Kijana” means “youth” or “young person” in Swahili, and the term speaks to the organization’s main goal to empower youth. “My vision is to develop a holistic education including the arts, global connectivity, environmental protection, and helping these kids develop skills that are necessary for twenty-fi rst century learning,” Cummings says.

His dream became a reality in 2020 when his group opened the doors to its fi rst-ever Global Innovation School. “There’s just nothing like it in all of western Kenya,” he notes.

The entire concept behind the school—from the curriculum to the art on the walls—is a collaboration between people here in Palm Beach County and across the globe in Kenya. “It’s really rewarding to see their faces; they’re so appreciative,” he says of the students. “There’s just so much talent among these kids. When we leave them out and don’t invest in them, we lose out.”

Cummings says opening the school has been a dream come true, but there’s still a lot more he wants to do. “Seeing the success has led to the desire to do more good and build more connections,” he adds.

Right now, the Kijana team is designing a library and media center that they will start building before the end of the year, Cummings explains. He’d also love to bring more American students to Kenya to immerse them in the culture he’s grown to love.

“The whole experience of Kenya is eye-opening,” he says. “Visitors are always impressed with the warmth of the culture and the friendliness of the people, so hopefully we’ll inspire more to make the trip.” (kijana.org) «

COURTESY OF JIM CUMMINGS COURTESY OF JIM CUMMINGS

“THERE’S JUST SO MUCH TALENT AMONG THESE KIDS. WHEN WE LEAVE THEM OUT AND DON’T INVEST IN THEM, WE LOSE OUT.” V WATCH SAM’S “HOMETOWN HEROES” SEGMENT MONDAY MORNINGS ON CBS12 NEWS

JERRY RABINOWITZ

COURTESY OF JIM CUMMINGS