YOUng Steps in Kenya – Autumn Diary
about new challenges, new collaborations, places forgotten by the world, a fountain built, a library that came to life, a surgery that will change at least two lives, books, studies, destinies, homes, and many other things that are taking shape 😊
This is the fifth time I have returned from Kenya, and I realize with emotion that this time I can no longer call my “report” about the things that happened there “Madago Diary” – because we are no longer working only with Madago School. We have achieved something that seemed almost impossible two years ago – we have expanded our partnership with Muhaka Primary School in Kwale to also include Rahai Primary School in Taita Hills.
My visit to Kenya this time was short and very tiring – but the level of fatigue is directly proportional to what we have managed to achieve.
The more often I visit Kenya, the more I delve into people’s lives, and the more unexpected, sometimes painful, the stories I discover are. The connection with people becomes more personal, and not just for me. Today I received a message saying, “Your absence is too sound” – and I understand what lies behind these words – it is becoming increasingly clear that YOUng Steps Kenya really does manage to change lives and even give hope.
The world is changing in Kenya too – rapidly and not always for the better, especially for children. In addition to the typical problems of poverty, which we are already familiar with, the influence of tourism and access to social media are strongly felt in schools on the coast. Drug use, sex tourism, children often become ‘consumer goods’ and victims of a vicious circle that is difficult to break anywhere, but almost impossible to break here. Teachers try to counteract this, but hunger is often a stronger motivator, and the money of the ‘mzungu’ tourists ultimately takes precedence. It is a dangerous addiction that is spreading rapidly. And it is a new challenge that YOUng Steps Kenya intends to tackle in the coming period. How? Through local consultants who are experts in these issues, and by building a community center for children and women—which, in addition to being a ‘safe’ space, will also be a resource center, an information center, an organizational center, and, ultimately, a center for activities that generate income for the community by the community. But we’ll talk about that later.
So, what did we do in Kenya in November 2025?
In Madago, we finally finished the school kitchen and equipped the medical office. We started a free tutoring program for kids who are at risk of dropping out of school because of poor grades. And we’re seeing good results 😊.
We have begun discussions with two consultants on issues of sexual health, drug use, personal development, family relationships, and other topics of interest to the children here.
Joseph, one of the students in the sponsorship program, received a unique opportunity—his family received all the materials necessary to build a new hut… the old one is in a state that is difficult to describe.
Joseph’s mother, Kawira, is about to give birth and has received everything she needs for the birth and the months that follow. She also received medical advice on how to avoid further pregnancies in the future.
Sadik, the school’s soccer star, received the much-coveted new shoes and a ball, about which he told me, “I’m not taking this to practice, I’m going to play with it myself!” The look on his face when he saw the shoes and the ball was priceless.
The daughter of teacher Madam Mildred, Maliah, received the device she so desperately needed to combat the severe malnutrition she suffers from due to Down syndrome. She will undergo surgery soon, also with our support 😊.
Joy, the deputy director’s daughter, is continuing her medical studies and writes me letters every month. She is studying well and has started to believe in her dream! And she will fulfill it soon.
I ended up in Rahai because our guide on our first trip to Kenya, Evans, a grandfather with many grandchildren and almost 70 years old, asked me many times to visit the school in his village. The road was difficult, and I believe the first sentence I was told when I got there was true: “You are the first white person in history to have ever reached this village.” It was a big event—as in the village, everyone came, including the priest… we gathered in the school, we talked… here the problems are simpler than in the schools on the coast. The needs are more basic, the school needs so much intervention that you wouldn’t even know where to start.
So for now, Rahai has received the things it needed most. The school’s 70 students now have notebooks, all the supplies they could possibly need, drawing pads, watercolors, whiteboards, balls and sports equipment, storybooks, anthologies… and, very importantly, support for girls during their menstrual period.
They wrote me a message yesterday saying that the whole village prayed for me at Sunday service. And I believe them! Again, because they need it!
Muhaka School was the pleasant surprise of my visit to Kenya this time. Extremely well organized considering the economic situation it is in – it is well known that people make the place, and it is clear that the administrative side of things is running smoothly here. They don’t have much, but they know how to make heaven out of what they have!
So this time, in addition to minor interventions, Muhaka gained two very valuable things – a fountain (which is still under construction) and a small library with 80 titles for the students to enjoy in the coming school year.
I leave you with a few pictures, and last but not least, thank you for your support! I am beginning to understand that it means much more than we can see! We have big plans for next year. And, as we have succeeded so far, we will succeed from now on!
