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.
When I went to visit Mathare a few days ago it was one of the most memorable experiences of my placement. It began with a visit with Titus Kuria, the Executive Director of the Canada-Mathare Education Trust (CMETrust), a charity registered in Canada and a partnership of Kenyan and Canadian friends who have developed a common belief that education can change communities. I contacted them hoping that we could introduce Cheza Healthy to schools in the region and what transpired was much more than I could have imagined.
I was accompanied by the fabulous staff of CMETrust, Emmanuel and Doreen, who took me around the organization and explained how they have been helping the young people of Mathare. It was unbelievable to see how much good change they have created with education and mentorship.
Then we attended three schools, Genesis Joy, MCEDO, and Angels Home, as well as two essential community organizations, Mathare Legal Aid and Human Rights Advocacy (which helps the elderly), and Mathare Care Centre (which helps children with disabilities). I met with principals and community leaders of each and explained what Cheza Healthy is and how it could help them. All the people we talked to were eager to embrace the concept and were passionate about future opportunities.
One contact led to another: when I was visiting Mathare Care Centre, I was introduced to one of the women who ran the Zero Street Child Foundation, a program meant to support street-involved youth through rehabilitation, job training, and family reunion. She was eager to collaborate with Cheza Healthy to introduce movement and fun to children of her program.
The visits assisted me to grow as a professional and as an individual. I had to adapt our program to both settings, making sure it would consider their unique needs and requirements, yet still be in line with the values of the initiative. Cheza Healthy has not been so much present in Mathare and I felt privileged to be received with open arms. I am happy to have established the basis of continuing programs that will be of benefit to the teachers, students and community leaders.
At Cheza Healthy, we say no one should be left behind, not school children, not elderly people, not children with disabilities.
After an entire day of planning and relationship-building, I returned to the office and was eager to get things in motion. I informed the team and we began to plan two school visits prior to July break. With the assistance of Titus, Emmanuel and Doreen, we were soon able to find slots to conduct an hour-long session at Genesis Joy and MCEDO.
On Friday, Maya, Ngeshi, Juliet and Purity joined us on the visits as part of our Cheza Healthy team. The students were really excited and active when we discussed Cheza Healthy, performed stretches, dances and other simple activities. It was influential to demonstrate that you do not need any special equipment or a large field to be active. You can Cheza Healthy in any place, be it dancing with your friends or stretching on the spot or running on the way to school.
We also informed them that a few minutes of exercise would enable them to de-stress and enhance concentration, which is very important during exams. The smiles, the laughs and the energy made an impact. I am proud of the relationships and excitement we have built. In the future, we are going to visit the elderly community and children with disabilities in early August, I cannot wait.
Reflection:
This was one of the most significant days of my stay in Kenya. It made me remember why I am here; to learn, to connect and to support change that really starts in communities. My visit to Mathare allowed me to take my time and appreciate the bigger picture of Cheza Healthy. It is not only about promoting active lifestyles, but it is also about making people feel seen, included, and valued, no matter what age or ability.
My time with the kids, the elders, and the children with disabilities made me realize that happiness and power can be discovered in the most difficult settings. These communities survive on the most basic of means and yet they offer so much of themselves in the form of smiles, stories and an unending hope to see a better future.
The kindness and passion of the people I met, their willingness to collaborate, their openness to new ideas, and their desire to make the people around them feel good were particularly touching to me. It enhanced my responsibility as a Cheza Healthy ambassador, as well as a future health professional and community advocate.
It also made me think about the privileges that I have, and how crucial it is to use them to empower others. I departed Mathare with a full heart, a more defined purpose and a greater desire to bring about inclusive, sustainable change, one connection at a time. I am so thankful that they trusted me and that they gave me a chance to create something meaningful with them.
With love,
Rowan Charlotte Stork.
Also heres a fun video of me on the Kmos matatu (One of Kenyans Transportation)