Youthlinc - Creating lifetime humanitarians

construction KENYA
Tentative Trip Dates: July 15 – 28, 2011

The 2010 Youthlinc Kenya Team returned for a third year to the remote and dusty village of Kiamuri to continue working on quality of life improvements with the community. A Rotary International Matching grant supported by Sugar House, Holladay, and Meru Clubs provided bakery and computer equipment for a school in the village, and Youthlinc teams taught vocational lessons in these areas. The team also built new primary school classrooms, and continued work in women’s health issues. The people of Kiamuri are excited for the return of Youthlinc to their community and look forward to working with us in the upcoming year.

The people of Kiamuri are such wonderful and caring people. They welcomed us as if we were family members that they hadn’t seen in a long time. I feel like we made a lasting impact that will be felt for generations.

–Scott Bawden, Kenya 2010

We are grateful for the hospitality of the Meru Rotary Club, the Holy Family School, and St. Luke’s Hospital for helping us coordinate this year’s trips.

Construction

Thanks to generous donations by the Michel Family Foundation and a Vernal Rotarian, construction projects this year provided more than just new buildings, they provided a safe and stable learning environment for the children of Gikuuru Primary School. Before the Kenya team arrived, the school was declared “unfit for human occupation.” The team also constructed a second classroom at the Kiamuri Secondary School.

Education

With the help and hard work of Youthlinc Alum, Becky Burton (who received a grant from a private foundation for this project), this year’s team distributed $8,000 worth of textbooks selected by the teachers and head masters. The committee also donated library cabinets to hold all the new text and reading books. They distributed over 1,000 donated books, catalogued and organized the books, gathered and donated over 200 school kits, and taught lessons every day in 5 different schools.

Medical

This year the medical team made a lot of head way. The committee taught maturation to the female youth in Kiamuri. They also taught the people of Kiamuri about basic hygiene, AIDs, and family planning using cycle Beads. The group was able to help give immunizations and visited the local medical clinic.

The first day we taught maturation to the girls at Kauthene School was so amazing because when we gave them reusable pads they literally stood and cheered with excitement. Maturation is a topic that makes most kids in the US cringe. The joy these girls showed at something so simple made me cry.

–Kassie Penton, Kenya 2010

construction Microenterprise and Vocational (MEV)

This year microenterprise committee continued off the three years of successful programs in Youthlinc Kenya sites. The team successfully raised funds to help 20 women of Kiamuri start their own businesses. The committee was able to increase the loan amount 150% from the previous year thanks to generous donations at events like the Kenya Kup and other fund raisers held prior to the trip. They met with women in four different areas and taught them basic business lessons. They are excited and optimistic about the future of these women.

construction Cultural Exchange

This year’s cultural committee planned and carried out the opening and closing ceremony dances and skits. The also organized a carnival for the community with all 5 schools of the area attending. The team also successfully gathered over 3,000 pairs of shoes, which were distributed between three different groups: the village of Kiamuri, Green Eyes in Africa, and the Youthlinc Peru team.

The Youthlinc experience has changed my outlook both locally and internationally. Locally, I am now more involved and committed to community service. Internationally, I am more thankful for everything I have in the United States and I truly understand the hardships now that many people go through.”

-Tyler Mackaben, Kenya 2009

Vocational

This year’s vocational training committee was busy in Kiamuri. The group taught baking lessons to over 25 women. In particular, they were inspired by the desire and excitement of 5 teenage girls that were a part of the lessons. These lessons were supplemented by a Rotary International Grant that brought electric ovens to the community.
The team also taught computation skills with computers from the same Rotary Grant. The computer training was carried out at the Holy Family Primary School and was especially beneficial to the teachers, who saw how the computers enhanced their ability to teach.

The people were so loving and kind. I loved being able to walk down the street and wave at everyone. They are amazing people. I don’t know if we changed lives, but they changed mine.

– Kyler McGee, Kenya 2010

2011 Trip

Next year the Youthlinc Kenya Team will return to the village of Kiamuri one last time. There is still a lot of need in the community. The upcoming team can look forward to broadening the scope of the health and medical lessons by teaching more girls and boys about maturation, AIDs, and family planning. More classrooms are needed in Gikuru, Kauthene, and Kiamuri schools. Many more women will need loans and follow up on current participants in Youthlinc’s Kenya Microenterprise Program.

construction 2011 Team Leader - Scott Bawden

This is my second year with Youthlinc and my first as Team Leader. I went to Kenya this past year with my son and had such a wonderful experience I just had to go back. Kenya is a magical place with some of the most kind, caring, and generous people you will ever meet. It is because of them that I have an intense desire to return for another year.

I have been involved with youth service projects for the last 13 years and absolutely love spending time with the type of young people that get involved with Youthlinc. The students that I had the privilege of working with this past year are some of the most amazing people I have ever met and I can’t wait to meet another wonderful group for Kenya 2011. This Youthlinc experience is life changing and one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

I have a beautiful wife Michelle. We have been married for 22 years and we have 3 wonderful children. Kevin is 18 and participated last year with Youthlinc. Jaclyn is 16 and Jill is 12. We have two awesome beagles named Tucker and Hunter.

Other than traveling to Kenya with Youthlinc my favorite things to do are golfing, jeeping, rappelling off of arches, listening to rock music (if it’s too loud, you’re too old), going to any Utah Utes games and going to Lake Powell.

I work at the University of Utah School of Medicine as a Computer Professional which means I’m just a computer geek. I also have my own computer repair company which keeps me extra busy but allows me the ability to do lots of playing.

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