Helen Zientek, Board Secretary for Kijana, recently traveled to Kenya with her family and friends to experience the incredible impact of the Kijana community firsthand. This was Helen’s third visit to the Kijana Global Innovation School, and her firsthand account reminds us just how powerful our collective support can be.

Helen’s journey started in the heart of the Masai Mara, where she and her group witnessed the breathtaking beauty of the African plains. Heeken and her family saw lions, giraffes, elephants, and a wide array of other wildlife, all thriving in their natural habitat.

After their safari, the group traveled to western Kenya and the Mulusi Village where the dusty roads suddenly gave way to a truly magical sight: the gates of the Kijana Global Innovation School. Behind the gates was a vibrant oasis of learning and creativity. The manicured lawns, colorful murals, and joyful sounds of children playing were a testament to the vision of Kijana’s founder, James Cummings, and the unwavering support of the Kijana community.

As Helen and her group toured the school, they were met with warmth and excitement at every turn. Smiling students greeted them in classrooms, eager to share their accomplishments and ask questions about their visitors’ lives. Teachers, many of whom were men, passionately explained their curriculum and the students’ progress.

The visit culminated in a lively school-wide performance of singing and dancing, where the students celebrated their guests with pure joy. Helen, a former educator herself, noted how exciting it was for the students to have visitors and how their enthusiasm was truly contagious.

Below are images from Helen’s visit to the school this past June. The first image is from 2019, when Helen first visited the Global Innovation School when it was being constructed. Click to see an excerpt from the school-wide performance that culminated Helen’s visit.