For the fourth year in a row, Upper School students —14 this year — and two faculty advisors traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, for a ten-day global experience with Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).
SHOFCO, which describes itself as “a leading community-based organization mobilizing the largest network of social groups in Kenya to provide holistic, needs-driven services and redefine the potential of citizen-led change” has been partnering with Chapin for over 10 years, building a meaningful and evolving collaboration.
Preparation for the trip begins during the winter term at Chapin, through a FOCUS course led by the faculty advisors and in collaboration with the World Leadership School (WLS). For the second year in a row, Head of Lower School Physical Education and Athletic Coach Alex Holowach and Upper School English teacher and Coordinator of Internships Amber Bryant led the charge. “I think it's accurate to say that the SHOFCO courses and trips are like people: no two are the same, even as fundamental similarities anchor us,” said Ms. Bryant. The course was originally developed by Head of Lower School Arts Integration and Drama teacher Sarah Bellantoni, who helped establish its emphasis on cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration with our now sister schools.
Ms. Holowach and Ms. Bryant built their course around three core objectives: helping students identify and apply their individual strengths in community building; deepening their understanding of Kenya’s history and culture; and practicing the skills that they will need to use when joining the SHOFCO students’ projects during their trip. The third assessment challenged students to think about how the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could connect and strengthen non-governmental organizations (NGOs) initiatives. The students worked together in class to develop their own incubation workshops to grow that cohort's work while also further accelerating each individual NGO's mission.
Upon arrival in Nairobi, the Chapin cohort took time to engage in a WLS activity focused on reflecting on the students’ values, fears and goals. This set the tone for the week of collaboration and shared learning that would begin the next day.
The week began with a warm welcome at SHOFCO’s Kibera School for Girls (KSG), where Chapin students were greeted with songs, dancing and personalized cards. After touring the school grounds — including the community library and water station — students learned about Kibera’s growth and new advancements. One Chapin student said, “We enjoyed learning about Kibera developments, such as their tracking crime statistics to pinpoint specific issues or creating a large water cleaning system to ensure that all of Kibera can have access to clean water.”
After a morning of learning about KSG, Chapin students had the opportunity to deliver handwritten letters from our Middle School students to various classrooms, while learning about the school's spaces and daily routines. They also collaborated with their SHOFCO peers to brighten the KSG garden by painting and decorating tree stumps, using a variety of designs and colors.
The following day, the group visited SHOFCO’s Mathare School for Girls (MSG), where they were welcomed with another vibrant assembly and handmade gifts, including beaded bracelets and necklaces. Chapin students again had the opportunity to hand out letters handwritten by our MS girls for the MSG students.
During their visit, our US students toured MSG’s school spaces, including the library, STEM lab, cafeteria, garden, classrooms and counseling office, seeing both the similarities and differences in their own school experience at 100 East End Avenue.
The students next participated in a “Narrative 4” storytelling activity in an outdoor classroom with the 8th grade MSG students, who gave prompts leading to our personal stories and experiences shared by their new American friends. All of the students then worked together in small groups to create watercolor paintings and drawings inspired by one another's stories.
The day of collaboration and learning did not end there. Chapin students visited the roof space with 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to watch and participate in a debate on whether young people or adults are better equipped to develop solutions for community challenges. They split the groups into two sides, with Chapin students able to offer their arguments, as well.
Although it had been just a few days, strong bonds were formed between SHOFCO and Chapin students. “The students came together and created a beautiful and unique bond where learning happened in both directions,” said Ms. Holowach.
Central to the Chapin-SHOFCO partnership is a collaborative incubation project. Last year, for example, students worked together to build four outdoor classrooms. This year, students collaborated on five of SHOFCO students’ community service learning (CSL) initiatives which challenged Chapin's students to work through a process similar to the one used during the school year when developing initiatives for the United Nations and NGOS.
Chapin students Yennie C. and Mia S. said, “During the incubator project, SHOFCO girls were paired with Chapin girls to develop the SHOFCO group's NGOs further. Together, we first analyzed the root causes of their problem and then we brainstormed solutions.”
These projects addressed local needs in the community, and the work Chapin students participated in took many forms, from creating promotional materials and an information workshop, to developing pitches for potential investors. Reflecting on the experience, one student said, “Some examples of the CSL projects were Creative Pulse, which turns trash into treasure, and Beyond the River, which aims to clean the Nairobi River.” They also visited the SHOFCO health clinic, established in Mathare in 2015, to gain further insight into the community-based healthcare initiatives.
Beyond the week of academic and service work, students explored Kenya’s natural landscape and wildlife, sometimes with their SHOFCO friends! Highlights were a visit to the rhinoceros sanctuary, Nairobi National Park, Karura Forest and an elephant orphanage. During safaris and other activities, students observed animals such as zebras, antelopes, buffalo, hippos, giraffes and elephants. They also spent an evening with SHOFCO students around the campfire, deepening their friendships.
“Both groups of students might agree with the takeaway that humans are capable of generating tremendous and productive GOOD — excellence! — when they aim to authentically connect with one another to solve problems,” said Ms. Bryant. “We did these impactful things with relatively little technology and lots of combined brainpower, providing evidence for our students' future reference: it can be done!”
After ten days in Nairobi, Kenya — grounded in collaboration, hard work and creativity — students returned to New York ready to share what they had learned, as well as the meaningful impact made and relationships built between the Chapin and SHOFCO communities.
