YMCA Norfolk sent a group of staff and young people to visit YMCA Kenya in January 2018. It was an amazing adventure finding out about the work of the YMCA in Kenya, meeting fellow YMCA workers and experiencing new cultures.
YMCA young person, Chelsea Hishon reflects on her experience…..
Q1: have you ever done a trip of this nature before?
No, I’ve gone on school trips but not been out of the country volunteering before. This is all new. I have been abroad before to France but not on a plane. So going on the plane I didn’t like it to begin with but I got used it, and once I was up there it was fine.
Q2: what did you want to achieve from the trip?
I wanted to help others, and create more awareness on the matters that are happening in Kenya and take over the sanitary items and other toiletries and stationary. And experience other cultures. We received training as well on the topics discussed.
Q3: what was your highlighting of the trip?
Going to the slums, because we got to play games with the girls and understand what the girls were experiencing and health issues and seeing what the girls have to face. Hearing their stories made me feel upset but also inspired me, one girl advised the others to not have children early, it was good to see how they support each other and see how happy they are despite the conditions.
Going to Kajido to the girls/women’s centre was also a highlight. Because we got to meet girls that had gone through FGM, one girl I met was 10 years old when she had FGM occur to her and ran away from a forced marriage. Her story had to be interpreted for me by the Elder of the centre Leah. Leah had also undergone FGM, she supported the others too and it was good to see how they supported each other. Also, they wanted to teach others FGM and make them aware, I found that inspiring, which led me onto to write a letter in campaign against FGM that will be published by the YWCA Nairobi for officials to see.
Q4: looking to the future, how has this trip changed you and what are your plans?
Already I’ve been advising others and making them aware about FGM and been explaining it to them, it has surprised me how little people know about it in this country.
I feel less anxious and feel happier with what I have.
I want to go back to Mombasa and help build homes and decorate them. Also care for animals, this is through Camps International. I need to fundraise for this trip about £1,800. It’s not going to stop there, I want to go to other countries and volunteer and do charitable work, India is on the radar to help with the elephants as well.
*FGM stands for ‘Female Genital Multiation’