For nearly a decade, Garrison Forest School has partnered with Kenya Connect, whose mission is to engage and empower students and teachers in rural Kenya to succeed. Today, we had several special visitors on campus: Kenya Connect Co-founder and Executive Director James Musyoka, illustrator Julia Cairns, Kenya Connect’s U.S. Executive Director Sharon Runge, and a familiar face to many in the GFS community: Katie Baughman, former Upper School Dean of Academic Development and Chair of the Academic Resource Department, whose trip to rural Kenya in 2015 kick-started this partnership. Read on to learn more about the day!
 

The Boy Who Read Newspapers

We were thrilled to welcome James Musyoka to campus to share a very special story with our Lower Schoolers. James shared his new book, The Boy Who Read Newspapers, which follows his true story of growing up in rural Kenya where few books were available. As a young boy eager to learn, James even read the old newspapers used to wrap goat meat and dreamed of one day seeing a library filled with books. Eventually, James helped start a mobile library that brings books to children throughout Kenya and, through his work with Kenya Connect, works each day to bring educational opportunities to his community. After sharing his story and reading from his book, James talked to the students about the principles of hard work, determination and perseverance.   

Along with James, the book’s illustrator, Julia Cairns, was also in attendance and shared with students more about her work and what it was like to illustrate The Boy Who Read Newspapers.
 

Walk for Wamunyu

As part of the Global Studies Curriculum, GFS Fourth Graders explore Kenyan culture through lessons and a pen pal program that creates connections with peers across the globe. The yearlong effort culminates in the Walk for Wamunyu, now in its fourth year. Each year, the entire Lower School participates in a two-mile walk around campus, symbolizing the daily journey many students in Wamunyu make to get to school. This year’s walk raised funds for the Chromebooks in the Classroom program, which seeks to provide devices for coding clubs in Wamunyu.

Artist Talk

Illustrator Julia Cairns met with Upper School art students to discuss the artistic process and working as a professional artist. In addition to The Boy Who Read Newspapers, Julia has also illustrated Mama Panya’s Pancakes, The Spider Weaver, Off to the Shores of Sweet Africa and Spirit of the Cheetah.

Other Projects

Through GFS’s longstanding partnership with Kenya Connect, students have previously conducted art supply drives; raised awareness and collected materials for the Wings Poa program, which helps girls stay in school while on their period by providing sanitary products; and creating reading guides. In addition, GFS was one of several schools who helped raise funds to build a borehole to provide clean water to those in the Wamunyu community.

Thank you to our Lower Schoolers for leading this initiative, and a very special thank you to our visitors for a meaningful and inspiring day!