Written by Canadian SportWORKS Officer, Rowan Charlotte Stork
Rowan’s international experiential learning experience is funded by the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) Program. This collaborative initiative is made possible through the leadership of the Rideau Hall Foundation, in collaboration with Community Foundations of Canada, Universities Canada, and Canadian universities. Through its promotion of international student exchange and civic engagement, the QES program is helping to grow young Canadians into global citizens while promoting Canada as a destination for the world’s top talent and attracting top talent and international research leaders to Canada.
Jambo (Hello) everyone!
My name is Rowan Charlotte Stork, and I’m writing to you from Nairobi, Kenya, where I’ve just wrapped up my first month as a Canadian SportWORKS Officer with Commonwealth Sport Canada. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown, and how much has already happened. This is my first time overseas (and the farthest I’ve ever been from home), so to say this experience has already changed me would be an understatement.
Before I go any further, I want to say thank you to everyone who helped make this opportunity possible. I’m incredibly grateful to the Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program, Commonwealth Sport Canada, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), and Mount Royal University. I also want to thank Jessica Mossiere, Tony Teafalls, Ryan Pelley, Gisele Marcoux, Julie Booke, David Legg for their ongoing guidance and encouragement throughout this journey.
A little about me, I’m in my fourth year at Mount Royal University, studying Physical Literacy. Sports have always been a huge part of my life and have helped me through some of my toughest moments. It’s been my outlet, my motivator, and my community. I’ve been lucky to have coaches and mentors who saw potential in me even when I didn’t see it myself. That’s why I’ve always been drawn to opportunities that allow me to use sport to uplift and be that mentor to others. This placement through Commonwealth Sport Canada felt like a perfect fit. A chance to contribute to communities through health, movement, and education while also continuing to grow myself.
While here in Kenya, I’m working on two main programs: Cheza Healthy and the Olympic Values Education Programme, or OVEP. Cheza Healthy ( “play healthy” in Swahili) is a sport for development initiative that promotes lifelong physical activity and healthy lifestyles as a way to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These include conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Cheza Healthy creates opportunities for kids in local schools and communities to be active, learn about wellness, and connect sport to health in a fun and accessible way. Alongside Cheza Healthy, we’re also implementing OVEP, which focuses on using sport to teach the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect, and Friendship. Through this program, we support schools in setting up Olympic Clubs, delivering workshops and organizing student led activities. We also got to design debate, essay, and art competitions that encourage young people to reflect critically on values in sport and society. The way OVEP and Cheza Healthy work together is really powerful, one focuses on movement for health, while the other focuses on values for life.
Preparing for this journey was definitely a little nerve wracking. I’d never been this far from home before, let alone to another continent. The 28-hour flight felt surreal, but also exciting. Somewhere between Chicago and Doha, I had a really eye-opening conversation with an older fellow seated beside me. He shared insights about living with intention, staying open to growth, and truly letting experiences like this one shape you. It reminded me to slow down and really take in everything around me. Shoutout to George (and Leanna too) for making that long flight unexpectedly memorable.
Once we arrived in Nairobi, we were warmly welcomed by the NOCK staff. On our first day, they gifted Leanna and myself beautiful Kenyan bracelets and gave us a tour of the office. They also gave us a look at some of the events we’d be helping out with during our time here. Everyone has been so kind and supportive, it’s been easy to feel part of the team right from the start.
Much of May was spent preparing for the OVEP Regional Debate Competition, which took place on May 31st. We worked closely with the Debate Association of Kenya (DAK) on everything from securing venues, sending letters to ministries and schools, to registering teams and promoting the event across the region. I also had the chance to help develop the debate motions, making sure they aligned with Olympic values and current global issues in sport. The theme of the event: “Living the Olympic Values, Excellence, Respect, and Friendship in Our Communities”. This challenged students to reflect deeply on what these values mean in today’s world. Another exciting project we were part of was creating the concept and theme for the upcoming Essay and Art competitions launching in June at nationals. These are aimed at primary and junior high students and will also be guided by the Olympic values. Being involved in the brainstorming and design process was so rewarding, we even got to sit in on meetings where we gave feedback on layout ideas and event planning. I can’t wait to see what the students create with the concepts we helped shape.
One of the most moving experiences of the month was our journey to Kisumu for the funeral of Paul Otula, a respected executive board member of NOCK. Although I never met him personally, it was clear from the ceremony how deeply he was loved and respected. I want to take a moment to honour his legacy. He was a generous and principled leader, and his impact will be felt for generations. My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
The trip to Kisumu was my first time traveling outside of Nairobi and it was breathtaking. The scenery changed so much as we headed west, everything became greener, lusher, and more open. One of the most unforgettable moments was stopping at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, 8000 feet above sea level. A local shopkeeper walked me through the landscape, explaining everything we were looking at. I honestly teared up. It was so beautiful I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing it with my own eyes.
Great Rift Valley View point
Along the way, we saw zebras, baboons, a giraffe and gazelles. We stopped by the roadside to try some traditional Nyama Choma (roast meat) and other kenyan cultural dishes. Later, we passed through small towns, tea plantations, and sugar cane fields before reaching Oyugis, where we rested ahead of the funeral. Afterward, we had dinner in Kisumu with some of NOCK’s board and executive team, amazing food and warm, thoughtful conversations. I even met the biggest dog I’ve ever seen (definitely inserting a photo).
Before heading back to Nairobi, we made a stop at Dunga Beach. Standing on the edge of Lake Victoria and looking out at Tanzania and Uganda across the water was surreal. We took some beautiful photos and soaked in the peaceful atmosphere. That road trip wasn’t just about seeing more of Kenya, it helped us bond as a team, share stories, and create memories that I’ll always carry with me. Big thanks to Enock for pointing out every mountain and scenic spot along the way!
After a busy month of planning, debate day finally arrived. I was stationed at Kenyatta University, which is hands down one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever visited. Throughout the day, I got to sit in on student debates and hear their thoughtful arguments on the motions we’d worked so hard to craft. The students were passionate, articulate, and incredibly sharp. Listening to them reminded me how important this kind of programming is, not just to teach values, but to give young people a platform to speak and lead.
I also helped capture photos and videos of the event, which was a lot of fun and I’ve added one above. Watching students engage so confidently and respectfully with one another made me feel hopeful for the future. I’m already excited for the upcoming national finals, where regional winners will meet for the final debate and where the Essay and Art Competition finalists will also be showcased.
Reflecting on this first month, I feel so grateful for every moment, the big events, the quiet conversations, the culture, the land, and most of all, the people. I’ve already grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined and I know there’s so much more ahead.
To my family, friends, and everyone rooting for me through this journey, I miss you all so much. Thank you for your love, support, and belief in me. I hope I’m making you all proud. ❤️
Until next time, tutaonana baadaye! (See you later!)
With love,
Rowan Charlotte Stork.