in the Minds of our Children

“The greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.” ~Walt Disney

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since working as a humanitarian, and I continue to learn so very much, it’s that children will find a way. As every mother will tell you many times this will get children into trouble but it is an amazing blessing to be witness of at times. 

When I traveled to Kenya for the first time it wasn’t the absolute poverty that struck me so much, neither was the malnourishment. Though those issues were extremely sad and touched my soul what struck me the most was the imagination and immense hope in the children.  They might not get a meal that day but they were still going to go to school and learn. They felt so ill; riddled with parasites, malnourishment and/or disease, but would still find a way to get up and smile. They wouldn’t have any toys, perhaps had never seen a store bought toy, but would make their own.

Children find a way. They will make their own footballs out of plastic bags and rubber bands or a kite out of plastic and sticks. They find a way to be children, to explore their imagination, to find their hope and spread it to others.

During our last expedition to the Maasai Mara of Kenya my husband, George Olonana was traveling with us. I absolutely love it when he’s able to join in on our trips, not just because he can build just about anything but because he finds the magic in every situation and it doesn’t take much. We just stopped in a small Maasai town to get some supplies and we were standing beside our van. A young boy who was the size of a three-year old ran up to George and kept saying, “Nataka ball. Nataka ball” (“I would like a ball” in Swahili). His mother then came up to us and introduced herself. The boy’s name was Dalin and he was five years old. She then apologized for her son being so forward, just like any mother anywhere would do. She explained that she saw a soccer group come through the town and Dalin saw a soccer ball for the first time. He fell in love and has wanted a ball since but they can’t be found in the Mara and they’re too expensive in Nairobi. You could see the disappointment in George’s eyes.

A couple of days later Dalin and his mother came into the health center we were helping to set up and run. George was running the dispensary and noticed them in line. He quickly made up a ball out of a blown up surgical glove and tape, even drawing soccer ball lines on the outside. George then kicked the ball to Dalin. You would have thought that George just gave this boy the best present ever. Dalin kicked the ball around the clinic for hours until his mother was finished with her appointment. For the rest of our expedition, anytime that Dalin saw George he would run up to him and hold his hand. Dalin would tell everyone, “My mzungu!” It completely melted George’s heart. 

When we returned home to the States George told our 7-year old son, Kent, this story. Kent immediately was moved as well and the wheels started turning. Kent has now started a project to collect soccer/footballs to take to Kenya. He will be heading out for his first humanitarian expedition this spring and he’s ready! He can take two 50-pound duffel bags and he hopes to have each bag packed to the limit with deflated soccer balls and pumps (deflated so he can pack more and pumps to get them ready to roll when he delivers them). Kent plans on taking the soccer balls to Nkoilale School in the Maasai Mara, Little Giants School in Ruiru, and to Dalin. 

If you are interested in helping Kent out please click here to donate online (insert “Kent’sproject on check out note).  If you would like to mail in soccer balls or would like more information, please email: TabibuAfrica@aol.com We will be posting updates with pictures and stories once Kent delivers his project this spring.

~Our hope, our future, our hearts are in the children everywhere.