Monroe volunteer spends time educating and training teen girls in Kenya, Africa

MONROE — Vivian Walczesky has returned from Africa.

Recently, the Monroe woman, who is a member of Soroptimist of Monroe County, represented Soroptimist International in Kenya. SI is a global volunteer organization that provides education and training to women and girls.

Walczesky and eight other SI members worked with the teen girls and also helped expand the new Soroptimist International African Federation. The others travelers were from Washington, Canada, California and Florida. Walczesky is a current Soroptimist International of the Americas board member and the Laws and Resolutions chair.

Earlier Coverage: Once-in-a-lifetime trip: Vivian Walczesky to represent Soroptimist International in Africa

“It was a gathering of 200 exceptional girls hailing from various corners of Kenya. These girls, ages 14 to 17, were hand-picked by their school principals for their exemplary leadership skills,” Walczesky said.

“The occasion was held at the Willing Hearts International Society of Canada School in the Lugari region of Kenya, spearheaded by Khayanga Wasike," she said. "Khayanga Wasike's noble initiative covered the expenses for these girls, including travel, meals and accommodation, recognizing that many hailed from underprivileged villages. The curriculum at this school extended far beyond conventional academics, focusing on sustainable agriculture, rural micro-enterprise, participatory education, career development, sports, health, environmental conservation and youth leadership."

Walczesky worked with the girls in career development sessions. She addressed 20 girls at a time and talked about the parallels between legal education in Kenya and Michigan.

Also in Kenya, she helped inaugurate a new e-club, the Tawi EClub. 42 young women were officially sworn in as Soroptimists.

“I actively participated in this historic moment, accompanying Khayanga Wasike and the three officers of the newly formed club—the president, treasurer and secretary—to the bank. Witnessing the young treasurer, merely 20-years-old, fill out bank forms for the club, I experienced first-hand the determination and potential of these driven women. Notably, the uniforms for the club members were meticulously tailored, with a seamstress measuring and sewing uniforms for 28 girls, while the others crafted their own attire—an embodiment of resourcefulness and unity," Walczesky said.

During her stay in Africa, Walczesky also went on a safari to Lake Nakuru National Reserve in Nairobi and visited the Masai Mara National Reserve and a Nairobi market. She saw several animals, including giraffes, elephants and rhinos.

“We saw lots of elephants and lions on the reserve,” she said.

Before she left the U.S., Walczesky spoke about mosquitos, which can spread yellow fever in Africa.

“There were not many mosquitos. We had nets, and one of the hotels provided nets,” she said.

Walczesky also was looking forward to trying African cuisine.

“Each day we had potatoes and rice, lots of starches, plus a cabbage dish with onions and butter. We also had lots of different types of tea. Kenya exports coffee, but when imported, most residents cannot afford the cost of the coffee,” she said.

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Walczesky was surprised by the locals' mode of transportation.

“Most of the Kenyans get around on scooters. These costs less than a car, and they transport everything from four people on a scooter to mattresses and plywood," she said. "The country is beautiful and Nairobi is a very busy city, lots of traffic and lots of people."

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Member of Soroptimist of Monroe County, represented group in Kenya