Students helping students

We ask for the help of the community

By Sebastian Waldron
At this moment you’re probably sitting on your sofa, coffee cup in hand, reading the news. That’s your life.

Across the world a little boy in Kenya, named Alfred, has risen three hours earlier, in order to complete morning chores, and is currently on his long trek to school. Alfred lives with his grandmother who makes a living selling illegal alcohol. His other alternative role models are his two aunts who work as prostitutes. His father is not in his story, and the rest of his immediate family died of AIDS. When he gets to school he will join his classmates in a cramped classroom, sit on a broken bench and attempt to learn on an empty stomach. This is the life for many students, but it doesn't have to be this way! Many children have hope now for a bright future thanks to Christine Mwende and Jambo Jipya School.

Founded in 2004, Jambo Jipya (Swahili for “something new") is a place for the poor and orphaned children to receive education and care in a safe environment. In Kenya any child can go to school — any child who can afford a uniform and shoes. Christine, previously a successful nurse, knew that this was not possible for every child and vowed to change that when she started Jambo Jipya. She pours her heart and soul into providing love and safety for all the children and ensuring that they have a chance at a better future. The school, which receives no government funding, originally consisted of six mud huts, four teachers, two hole-in-the-ground toilets and minimal supplies on a 70-by-70-foot piece of land. As of recently they have been able to expand their school to include 10 classrooms, a dormitory room for boarding students, four toilets (the kind you would probably prefer), 10 teachers and 100 more students thanks to generous donations and the hard work of Christine and Keela Dates, a North Country local.

A graduate of Wells College, Keela decided to enter the education field after college. Before entering the work force, though, she decided to take a side trip to Africa. Her plan to volunteer a little bit and then get a teaching job was thrown out the window once she saw the kids’ smiles. Her love for the children is so strong that she has dedicated everything to helping secure hope and opportunities for the children of Jambo Jipya. Keela is the founder of Reason 2 Smile, an organization to help orphaned and at-risk children in Kenya. With the help of others, she hopes to buy a larger plot of land, increase the school size and classrooms to include art, music and trades classes, be able to feed the kids three square meals a day, and create a place where the children can live happily, flourish and just be kids!

Keela has traveled the North Country over the past year spreading her message of hope. We students of Saranac Lake High School were fortunate enough to hear her speak last September. We were so inspired by her words and pictures from Kenya that we felt the need to help. We have made Jambo Jipya our sister school and have organized many different fundraisers. The tech class made a promotional DVD, the shop class has made tables and sold them, and the art students are currently working on pieces to donate for an upcoming auction at Greens & Beans. The majority of students have won or sold bracelets. The students here are so blessed to have such a great education, and we want the students in our sister school to be able to have great opportunities, too. We are asking for your help.

It’s not hard! You don’t even have to fly to Africa to help. These children have almost nothing except smiles and love, so every little bit helps. For ideas on how to contribute to Jambo Jipya, you can visit www.reason2smile.org. Greens & Beans is hosting an upcoming art auction where you can buy or donate art. All of this money goes straight to the school. Do you know someone who has a birthday coming up? Forget a third set of golf clubs; sponsor a child in their honor. For $15 you can send a child to school for one month. Do you have some spare change? Are you a shop owner? Volunteer to sell bracelets in your store! For just a $2 donation, anyone can buy a bracelet symbolizing community and the connection. There are many problems in this world, but this is one way to make a change by impacting the life of a child.



Sebastian Waldron is a sophomore at Saranac Lake High School.