A group of six students and four chaperons are planning a “shared learning experience in Kenya, Africa” where the group will visit two Lasallian schools, Rongai Agricultural and Technical Secondary School and St. Mary’s Boys Secondary School, while they are still in session in early July this summer.

“We will have the opportunity to interact with the students of each school as well as gain knowledge of the ‘street children’ programs for orphans in both schools and visit an AIDS hospital in Nairobi,” explained Science Department Chair Leslie Martinelli and head of Health Services Cynthia Steger, R.N., who would be the lead chaperons on the trip.  “Importantly, the students who were selected for this prospective trip went through a rigorous process.  To be eligible, they had to participate in one of three activities – Social Concerns, Pro Life or Lasallian Life.  Then they had to submit application essays.  We must say that the essays were very powerful.”

“We hope to cover the airline portion of the trip via donated airline miles and/or cash contributions from individuals or organizations or businesses.  The students and chaperons are responsible for all other expenses including immunizations, Visas, insurance and personal expenses,” said the duo.  “We continue to shop for the best air fare and right now it is approximately $1600 per person.  Anyone interested in helping with the airfares should contact Director of Development Tim Welsh at 401-351-7750  ext 135 or twelsh@lasalle-academy.org.  Obviously, we will be most appreciative of any support for this very worthy cause.”

Leslie and Cynthia explained that the goals of the trip are many fold.  They list them in the following order:

1. In preparation for our immersion experience, students will have the opportunity to learn about Kenya through conversations with the founder of Rongai, Br. Stephen Creagh and the current Principal of St. Mary’s Secondary School for Boys.  The students will read selected materials and see selected movies about Africa and participate in cultural experiences here in Rhode Island that may lend to learning about the history, culture, economics and politics that effect life and education in Kenya.   Students will facilitate a pen pal kind of relationship with several of the students in Kenya prior to our visit to help develop a sense of knowing one another before our arrival.

2. In preparation for this trip, the students will work together to fund raise with an emphasis on cooperation, team building and commitment to the experience.  These fund raising activities may be done in such a way to promote diversity in our Lasallian education and with an emphasis on our Lasallian tradition of education.   Fundraising examples might include an African movie night, making African bracelets to sell to students, an African story teller.

3. In Kenya, the students will have the opportunity to attend school with their Kenyan brothers.  Students will participate in prayer, attend class, assist with daily chores, and engage in any extracurricular activities, as sports and/or music, thus providing an in depth knowledge of life in Kenya.   Faculty will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the Kenyan faculty, and our attending physician may help identify student health needs.

4. The students will identify areas of concern in our Kenyan schools that might be brought back to our student body.  Students in this immersion experience will assume the role of leaders in directing our student body in ways to help our Kenyan schools.

5. From this immersion experience, our students will develop a plan to maintain a long-term direct relationship with Rongai and St. Mary’s.  Our students may aid in the telecommunications project being proposed by our social studies department.

“Obviously, we and the students who have been chosen would be most grateful for any support we receive.  We believe that as the nations of the world continue to become more inter-related, this is an opportunity for our students to see first hand and better understand what our sisters and brothers in less fortunate parts of the world deal with day-to-day,” concluded Leslie and Cynthia.