Grade 12 student humbled by Kenya trip
Teen gains new perspective on the world around him during ‘amazing’ adventure
During the last school year, the Star tracked four students at a crossroads of sorts, facing major decisions and big hurdles.
In June, we revealed that Veronica Jones was headed to Etobicoke School of the Arts to study dance, Teresa Wang was going to pursue violin studies at McGill University and DamiAnn Prehay would return for another year at St. Marguerite d’Youville to brush up on his basketball skills, which he hoped would land him a university scholarship.
We also told you about Raymond Flores, who wasn’t sure if he could raise the money needed for a trip to Kenya to help build school rooms.
We recently caught up with them. Veronica and Teresa are enjoying their studies and DamiAnn is getting noticed by scouts. As for Raymond, he did indeed raise the $5,300 needed for the trip, plus an extra $1,000 for equipment, thanks to the generosity of family, friends, church members and Star readers.
The trip was “amazing” says the Grade 12 student at Francis Libermann Catholic High School. “It was everything I expected and so much more.”
“I thought I was going to be doing this cool thing and helping other people and we came back with so much more. Parts of me thought I was going there to give. That was a huge mistake because I received so much more than I could ever do for them.”
So what did Raymond gain? For one, friendships with local villagers, including 5-year-old Kyle, who fol- lowed him around, always ready to kick a soccer ball or play music on a drum fashioned out of an old jug.
Not speaking Swahili, the main language in Kenya, didn’t pose a big problem, says Raymond. “You find other ways (to communicate) . . . You end up creating a bond that is hard to explain.”
The 17-year-old gained a new perspective on the world, which has made him realize how lucky he is to live in the West. He was especially struck by the wealth inequality he saw upon landing in Nairobi, where large homes tower over shanty houses.
One moment that remains etched in his memory is when he and the other students arrived at the school site. To their surprise, they were greeted by a huge crowd of villagers, some of whom had walked for miles to participate in a special welcoming ceremony.
“They were enveloping us and they were doing this huge song and dance,” he recalls. “They were just grateful we were there. And it was such a humbling moment because we didn’t deserve any of it.”