St. Marys Rotarians return home after Kenya trip

Members of the Rotary Club of St. Marys in Kenya.

By Alex Hunt

Local Rotarians arrived back in Canada recently after a successful Kits for Kenya project. 

Kits for Kenya is an international Rotary Club of St. Marys initiative where local Rotarians travel to Mugoiri Secondary School, located north of Nairobi, Kenya. Departing early last month, six Rotarians and four of their spouses flew across the world to improve the school’s bathroom, paint classrooms, set up a computer lab and distribute laptops as well as feminine hygiene products. 

The project was pitched by longtime Rotarian and project leader Andrew Middleton, who saw a need to improve the quality of life for the 450 students between the ages of 12 and 16 of Mugoiri Secondary School. 

“Two years ago, I was in Kenya and I have good friends there. We visited the school that they went to, and the washrooms were worn down with holes in the ground,” said Middleton. “My friend, who’s an accountant, does a lot of non-profit work in Kenya, and I put the budgets together, and I brought the idea to the Rotary Club, and it took off.”

The Rotarians stayed with Middleton’s friends across from the school for 10 days. After completing the projects, the group ventured to safari parks and stayed on the coast for three more days. 

“We distributed textbooks and it was such a positive experience for both the Rotarians and everyone we visited,” said Middleton. “A group of ladies from St. Marys made feminine hygiene products for the students and generous donations even provided laptops for the computer lab. Seeing all of this come together left me feeling incredibly warm and fuzzy inside.”

Middleton lived in Nigeria for 12 years, where he helped build wells for the locals and form connections. During the Rotary Trip, Middleton said the group saw lions on a safari, which he explained is rare, as they tend to hide away. 

“I’m already planning to go back next November,” said Middleton. “The Rotary members are always eager to be involved; it’s something that really brings us together. Everyone who goes comes back with their heart a little fuller.”