In mid-January, Oundle’s Head of Community Action, Liz Dillarstone and Maths teacher, Nicola Guise embarked upon an ‘Adventure with 
Purpose’ through Africa, visiting eleven projects, most of which are already supported by International Needs UK and/or Canada, as well as enjoying luxury travel through Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and finishing at Cape Point in South Africa.
Liz commented, ‘The concept of the Umoja (meaning ‘unity’ in Swahili) journey appealed to me on a number of levels. The variety, social impact and travelling with a team of like-minded ‘umojees’ were key factors. Being given the opportunity to ‘make a difference’ and invest my time and gifts whilst embracing the spectacular scenery, cultures and wildlife that Africa offers was a huge draw. The Umoja journey is about finding significance and living rather than just leaving a legacy! The School has long established links supporting the work of International Needs which it hopes to further develop following on from the Umoja journey.”
Straight off the plane, the Umoja Africa journey began in Nairobi on 14th January with a visit to Lighthouse Ministries, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation programme in Limuru which empowers local partners to be pro-active on issues of drug and substance abuse. They train youth and children workers to recognize those struggling with drug addiction in their communities with strategies implemented to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the community. The group met a young man called Shammath who had not only turned his life around with the help of this team, but was now introducing others who were in a similar situation.
From there the group travelled by Land Rover up to Gilgil, spending two nights at Malewa Bush Camp and visiting the children at Gilgil Special
School who are supported by a UK charity – the Kivuli Trust (www.kivulitrust.org). The Kivuli Trust provides hostels set up to support children with physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties. The trust helps over 100 once ‘forgotten’ children to access an education at GilGil Special School, which is located in the grounds of the local township school. As well as equipping these vulnerable children with skills for life, the interaction with other children seeks to encourage understanding and acceptance in the community. In advance of the trip, through Facebook, Liz had collected ‘odd’ socks from family and friends and travelled out with over 250 socks used to made sock puppets with the children. Nicola and Liz met their sponsored children and it was a privilege to laugh and share in their lives.
From Gilgil, the group drove to Mahali Mzuri (www.virginlimitededition.com/en/mahali-mzuri) where they enjoyed spectacular game drives at Richard Branson’s exclusive safari lodges. Their guide (Betty) was the first female Maasai guide and had a gift for tracking leopard enabling the group to see ‘Fig’ and her cub , not to mention elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffalo and lions. In June 2007, Richard was made a Maasai Elder, an honour bestowed upon him in acknowledgement of the prosperity he brought to the land.Sir Richard Branson has always had a personal love for Africa and has visited Kenya on multiple occasions. With this background the foundations for Mahali Mzuri were first laid in 2007, when in June of that year. Richard was made a Maasai Elder, a traditional honour the tribe chose to bestow on him in return for bringing prosperity to the land.Sir Richard Branson has always had a personal love for Africa and has visited Kenya on multiple occasions. With this background the foundations for Mahali Mzuri were first laid in 2007, when in June of that year. Richard was made a Maasai Elder, a traditional honour the tribe chose to bestow on him in return for bringing prosperity to the land.Sir Richard Branson has always had a personal love for Africa and has visited Kenya on multiple occasions. With this background the foundations for Mahali Mzuri were first laid in 2007, when in June of that year. Richard was made a Maasai Elder, a traditional honour the tribe chose to bestow on him in return for bringing prosperity to the land.
Leaving behind the wildlife ‘adventure’ the ‘purpose’ element of the Umoja journey continued with a drive back to Nairobi and a day spent with International Needs Kenya’s Director, Jocelyn Muraya visiting projects in the slums of Kibera and Kawangware. There are approximately 2.5 million slum dwellers in about 200 settlements in Nairobi representing 60% of the Nairobi population and occupying just 6% of the land. Kibera houses about 250,000 of these people. Kibera is the biggest slum in Africa and one of the biggest in the world. International Needs works with local groups based in the slums providing education and support for adults and children, including support for the homeless.
Liz added, “There was a real sense of hope and purpose in Kibera and the infrastructure is clearly improving. The Real Hope Community Project is working with young adults helping them to find work, start businesses and find suitable housing. The group is made up of like-minded people who have themselves grown up within the slums and so can relate to those they are trying to help. International Needs is also supporting a Good News children’s club and an informal school in the slums.”
After two nights in Nairobi, the group flew to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they visited Ephata School for the Deaf and Clinique Papillion. Ephata is supported through child sponsorship and IN Canada were responsible for building the medical clinic in Lubumbashi. Umojees stayed with Rachel Newby at the missionary guest house named ‘Restawhile’. Rachel is a British midwife who left Birmingham for DRC over 30 years ago and has been responsible for delivering over 1000 babies during her time in DRC.