'Working with the young and the poor is the way we follow Jesus...'

Myself and Iain have just returned from a month volunteering abroad with VIDES UK in Kenya. We have been blessed with the opportunity of taking a year of our lives to deepen our spirituality and to take time with God and each other, discerning where our lives might lead us next. As we planned this year, we both shared the ideas we had for how we might spend our time. One longing I had was to return to Africa, and for Iain to experience Africa for himself. We left for Kenya at the end of February.

We were placed in a community north of Nairobi called Makuyu. When we arrived, we were surprised at the size of the project there. Makuyu is a very rural village, with a huge Salesian project located at its heart. The Salesian compound is run by both Salesian Priests and Salesian Sisters. They have a parish church, two technical colleges where young people can learn a trade, a primary school, a secondary school, a children's home, two hostels for young people and a dispensary. There is also a formation house for young women who are aspirants or postulants. It really was like staying in a Salesian village, with local children, young people and adults bringing the village alive!

Our placement with the Salesian Sisters was called the "Mary Mazzarello Village." Their community was made up of four sisters, three from Kenya and one from India. They had responsibility for two main projects. They ran the secondary school, which was a day school for both boys and girls from the local area. They also ran a children's home, where 38 young girls lived. These children attended the primary school within the compound. Recently, they have also opened a hostel for secondary school age girls, who attend their school. Many of these girls have been sent to Makuyu from Nairobi and if the Sisters did not provide a place for them to stay, they wouldn't have access to education.

Our main work was in the secondary school and with the children and young people who lived within the Sisters' community. The days were long and at the beginning, we were a little overwhelmed. Morning mass was at 6.30am, which all the children and young people who lived on site would attend. School started at 7.00am and for the youngest children, they would arrive home at 4.00pm and the secondary school pupils were in school until 6.30pm.

The children's home was a huge part of our lives while we were there. The youngest children were six and the oldest were around twelve. Their individual stories were heart breaking, but their joyful spirit and courage were so humbling. Their "home" was the Mary Mazzarello Village and I thought every day just how much Mary Mazzarello would love the idea of children coming home to a safe and loving environment that was founded in her name. One part of the day I loved was welcoming the children home from school. They would arrive a few at a time, but being there for them and being present with them was a priority for both me and Iain. On arrival home from school, they would set about their chores of cleaning and washing, before having some play time, evening prayer and then study. These beautiful children had nothing to call their own, except a few items of clothing and some stationary for school. However, as soon as they arrived back to the community, the small compound was alive with laughter, as the children shared their joy and fun.

Education is at the heart of the children and young people's lives and the value they place on learning is inspirational. Iain and myself spent time studying with them, helping where we could. We also made resources and displays for the school, as well as teaching some lessons in the secondary school.

There are so many stories to share, but the most important part of our experience is what we learnt. The Salesian Sisters in Makuyu have given so many children the chance to be children - to play, to laugh and to learn. If the children did not live with the Sisters, I suspect they would have had to grow up very quickly. The Sisters have responded to the need of the young they work with and their own personal community space is becoming smaller and smaller. The Sisters are the children and young people's family.

God is at the centre of the lives of the children and young people and I would say that their material poverty leaves their hearts so open and free to love others and their God. The experience was challenging for both Iain and myself, it demanded us to find strength from deep within. I found that my own prejudices and ideas were constantly challenged and we were both called to adapt and live a very simple life.
Now we are back in the UK, the challenge is to try and live our lives in a way that does justice to all we witnessed in Kenya. It is a daily call to simplicity and gratefulness.

I will never forget the children we were blessed to meet in Makuyu. There are some special moments in our lives when we feel we really have touched the heart of God. Those children revealed God to me every day. It was such a challenging month, but I really felt I was in God's dwelling place.