Tuesday Dec 12: Students and Chaperones Meeting

Jambo!

We will hold our first group meeting on Tuesday December 12 at 1.25 pm in Mr. Okoth's classroom. December 12 is national independence day (Jamhuri day) in Kenya.

Bring a pen or pencil to take some notes down. Also, bring your schedules for the spring so we can see what are the best times to do the group activities we need to work on for the spring.

See you then!

KO

Red Rose Children's Centre and video reflections on Kibera

In 2005, volunteers from Lahash International visited the Tenderfeet School in Kibera, a community self-help project like the Red Rose Children's Center and School which will be one of our community service partners. Click on this link to view a short video presentation and reflection by the Lahash volunteers on their visit to Kibera.

You can also learn more about the Red Rose Children's Center online through this link.

Flying Matters: United Airlines and Kenya Airways

Q: What airline will we be flying to Kenya and when we are in Kenya between Nairobi and Mombasa?

A: Our flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) will be United Airlines through London (Heathrow Airport) . Between London and Nairobi we shall fly on Kenya Airways.

We leave Dulles International (DC) on United flight 920 Friday June 15 at 6.30 pm, arriving in London (Heathrow) at 7 am on Saturday June 16. We have the whole day stop-over in London before we catch our connecting Kenya Airways (KQ 101) flight to Nairobi at 8 pm on Saturday June 16. We arrive in Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - JKIA) on Sunday at 6.30 am.

On Monday July 2nd, we depart Nairobi (JKIA) at 11.50 pm on Kenya Airways (KQ 102) arriving in London (Heathrow) at 6.45 am Tuesday July 3rd. We have a four hour stop in London before we depart at 10.50 am on our final flight from Heathrow on United 921 heading to Washington DC (Dulles International). We are scheduled to arrive in DC at 2.20 pm on Tuesday July 3rd.

In Kenya, we will also fly Kenya Airways from Mombasa to Nairobi on June 2nd, a short 1 hour flight between the two cities.

Vaccinations for Kenya: CDC Recommended Clinics in our area

Hi Parents and Students:

Please click on this link for a complete list of DC area clinics where you can get the vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

I have used and would personally recommend
The Washington Travel Clinic at 2311 M St., NW Suite 401
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-521-8120
http://www.washingtontravelclinic.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Community Service in Nairobi - Suggestions and Requests

Dear Parents and Students -

please feel free to call me, email, or post on the blog with your thoughts about what your vision for the community service element of this trip should be.

I am very encouraged by the number of suggestions and requests I have received to expand our community service experience in Kenya. Our friends in Nairobi will be delighted to have more time with us.

So, if you can look at the itinerary again, let me know what you think we should change or move around.

Kenya 2007 : The Panthers are Headed to Africa!

Hey Panthers, we are heading to Africa! (Download the Trip Itinerary Here)

For two and a half-weeks this summer, you will be able to explore and experience the magic of Kenya through community service, cultural learning, and a safari adventure. Stop here often to find out more and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in one of the world's most diverse and beautiful countries.

Join us for "Kenya 2007: Service, Learning, Adventure!" The parent and student information session is next week, Tuesday November 14th at 6.30 pm in the tiered classroom of the Upper School.

WE NEED THREE OR FOUR PARENT CHAPERONES ON THE TRIP. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL MR. OKOTH SOON.

An American's Safari Diary - 2002

Click here for the online diary of a man who went with his friends from Seattle to Kenya on safari in March 2002. We plan on seeing more than the places they got to during our trip next summer, but his descriptions of these places gives a pretty decent flavor. Enjoy.

Education = Freedom from poverty, hunger, disease ...

There is a wonderful organization run by Craig and Marc Kielburger of Canada known as "Free the Children." I find their work in providing schools and education as a path to freedom from poverty, ignorance, and disease in countries like Kenya is very inspiring to me. Therefore, I thought I would share with you this video-link because it reflects my vision of the kind of sharing and learning experience that going to Kenya next summer will be. Feel free to post questions or comments too once you have taken a look at the video.

Link to Kenya Video - "Free the Children," Marc Kielburger

"Left Behind" - Video Clip about AIDS Orphans in Kenya

Christof Putzel, a Maret School graduate and journalist for Current TV, produced a documentary on the HIV/AIDS crisis in Kenya, including this segment about some of the children living as orphans. I have the complete movie, and hope we will view and discuss it in the Spring before we head to Nairobi in the summer.

Discover Kenya Online - SAMBURU

As a regular feature of this site, I will post links to information and resources online that relate to parts of Kenya we will actually visit during our trip next summer. One of the places I put on our itinerary is Samburu, which is also the name of one of the Maa nomadic pastoralist tribes in central/northern Kenya.

Related Links:

Africaguide.com Profile on the Samburu People.

Africa Wildlife Foundation's work in Samburu - sustainable conservation and eco-tourism.

Mark your calendars - Kenya 2007 dates

Jambo!

The dates for "Kenya 2007: Service, Learning, Adventure!" will be June 15 to July 3. We leave for Nairobi via London on the Friday after graduation at Potomac, and come back before July 4th, so you can still do all the regular summer camps and activities you would not want to miss.

Please mark your calenders and speak to your parents about the dates to get their approval and make plans.