As we drove from Nairobi to Oyugis - a long, bumpy, eight hour drive - I kept asking myself one question: what drives these people to get up in the morning? I knew I was going to learn a lot on this trip, but nothing had prepared me for what I saw in those first few hours. Was every day the same for the people I was watching, sitting by the roadside hoping that someone would buy anything from soap to sugar cane?

Two weeks later, I don’t have the answer, but what I have learnt from those we met will stay with me for many years to come. We laughed; we cried; we were moved by the things people said.

As a Headteacher, I was particularly interested in the school visits. We had the opportunity to discuss various issues with the Heads and with the teachers. We discussed staffing, resources, discipline – the same things I discuss with my colleagues here in the UK. Their drive is the same as mine: to provide a bright future for the children in our care.

As a female I was interested in the women’s groups. The camaraderie struck me, as did the warmth of the welcome at each group we visited. Again, their drive is similar to mine – to care for your friends and your family.

What were the highs and lows of the visit? I think any low points were of my own making. When I was tired I allowed myself to feel ‘inadequate’, but in truth I don’t think there were any lows. Challenging moments, yes, but no real low points.

There were many amusing moments too. Anyone who knows what a ‘townie’ I am will see the funny side of me being asked to present a pair of ploughing bulls! The only instruction I was given was: hang on tight!

As for the high points, there were so many, but the highlight for me was the day I was introduced to Samwel Mariko, Headteacher of Kachieng Primary School. We were able to join hands – literally – and link our two schools, a new friendship that I hope will survive the tests of time and distance.

After a few days, I realised I was seeing things differently from that initial journey. I wasn’t seeing the houses and the schools without all the resources that we in the UK are so used to, I was seeing the people and their strength of character. When I arrived at my own school on the first day of the summer term, a day after our return, one of my colleagues greeted me with “You look well; you’ve got a liveliness in your eyes”. That liveliness was all down to the wonderful people I met, the new friends I made, during my two weeks in Oyugis.

Sue Smithin
Headteacher
Tylers Green Middle School, Bucks

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