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School Kids Teach Us “Impossible is Nothing!”

 By Annie Mesaros

“Sometimes you have a notion to do something, like travel to Kenya,” said Leola Ross.  “You think that maybe it’s God that’s telling you to do it, and when you get there, you’re surprised by the need, and in the midst of it you recognize your opportunity to serve.”

Leola and her friends Ann Duncan and Monica Butler first traveled to Kenya with Women’s Enterprises International in 2007. Four years later, they returned to fulfill a promise.

Several years ago, all three women worked for Russell Investments. When their firm committed to contribute a percentage of their revenue to community giving, Russell associates chose to support programs that promote financial literacy and assistance for children.  Leola immediately thought of WEI, whose micro-savings and micro-finance programs allow women in developing countries to support themselves and their families. “What initially attracted me to WEI is that it’s a partnership. There are no handouts involved,” she said.

Russell awarded WEI a $50,000 grant to fund a microfinance project. Soon after, the grant account manager at Russell suggested that Leola take a team of colleagues on a trip to connect with the women they supported. Theresa Schulz Norris, president of WEI, loved the idea, and suggested a trip to Kenya to work hands-on withWEI women’s groups there.

Daunted, but very interested, Leola called Ann, thinking, “If anyone will go, she will.” It didn’t take long for Ann to agree. Next she approached Monica, who said, “Tell me why I should spend $3,500 and go all the way to Kenya, when I could just send the money there.”

Leola gave her two reasons. The first is that visiting WEI partners shows support in a way that can’t be achieved by dollars alone. Secondly, a team’s arrival gives the women a deadline as they work toward their goals.

Leola now has a third reason. “I can say from experience that writing a check can’t change your life the way physically being there does,” she said.

Monica committed to the trip and the three women gathered a team and traveled to Kenya in June 2007. The group built chicken houses alongside local women and visited clinics, schools, and WEI women’s groups.

One day the team visited Kusyongali Elementary School. Although it was their summer break, 600 kids showed up to meet and perform for their guests, and the school principal gave a speech, telling the team about the exponential growth in number of students at the school and of class sizes as large as 60 students or more.

“We Have to Do Something”

Once they were back in the US, Ann said, “We need to do something. Let’s raise money for this school and go back.”  The three women created an endowment, and with contributions from their colleagues, raised $26,000—enough for two classrooms and two latrines. Separately, Russell Investments’ London office contributed three water tanks for the school.

Monica said, “I was struck by the conditions they go to school in. They’re studying the same subjects my kids studied, but for twelve hours a day, on only one meal, and without electricity or basic latrines.” Not to mention severe overcrowding. With no building for a secondary school, elementary classes were combined and displaced until every classroom was overflowing.

The team worked alongside parents and community members to build the first level of what will eventually be a two-story school. During their breaks, the students would come out and visit, happy to practice their English, and charmed by the foreigners’ strange habits. Monica said, “It was such a joy to connect with them one-on-one. And they were just fascinated by our constant application of sunscreen.”

“I enjoyed the camaraderie, singing, and language exchange while working with the parents,” Ann said. “The smiles, curiosity, intelligence, and drive of the students was infectious—these kids want to be engineers, doctors, pilots, and teachers—and despite incredible hardships, those I spoke to expressed optimism for a better life and a stronger Kenya. In fact, the school motto is, ‘Impossible is Nothing!’”

“This trip was just plain fun,” Leola said, speaking about the multigenerational team of sixteen women who came together from around the world. “Each woman had so much to contribute to the project and our conversations. We shared an amazing experience with this community, and I know each of us has been deeply impacted by our involvement with this school.”

“It’s such a gift to be able to serve God in such a direct and impactful way,” Leola said. “I’m amazed at how at the impact we can have when we combine our efforts. This building will change the future of these kids’ lives, and the future of this community.”

“Having the idea to help was the easy part,” Ann said. “We needed the whole team to carry out the vision. I hope this school project is part of a longer commitment to Kusyongali.”

“There are a lot of dreams to be supported there.”

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