Relief for SFS Kenya Staff

The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money for the School for Field Studies staff that made our time studying abroad in Kenya so incredible. These staff members always went out of their way to help in any way we needed. Whether we had a safety issue, wanted to make an extra trip to town on our free day, needed help with a Swahili phrase or pronunciation, or an extra player in a soccer or volleyball game, they were always available for us even after their shifts were over. They are welcoming, kind and accepting people who went above and beyond to make our experience special from the moment we stepped foot on campus. They immediately learned our names and almost instantly I could feel that I was in a place that encouraged learning at the highest degree—learning that’s foundation was cross-cultural dialogue that was respectful, educational, and crucial to enhance our goals for our time there. Without the dedication of this staff, our experience would not have been as wonderful as it was. It is time for us to repay them for all the help they gave us, but we need your help.  Kenya will eventually lift its coronavirus lockdown as it as been lifted in the U.S., but the staff has been furloughed until the school can be reopened, which may be several months to a year.  Markets are still closed, so many of the staff are living without the extra income that they would make at the markets selling products to supplement their SFS income. These markets may reopen soon, but it is difficult to estimate when they will be back to work since it is impossible to predict when families and universities will feel comfortable sending their students abroad. Without their jobs at the school, many staff members will struggle to make ends meet. Many have children that are enrolled in school, from primary school through university, but without sufficient funds, they may not be able to return to school since their parents may no longer be able to afford to pay their tuition, which is required for all levels, not just university. Any funds raised in this fundraiser will be sent directly to Kenya, where it will be dispersed among the staff and their families, to ensure that they can make ends meet and that their kids can go to school, at least until they can return to work. We are working with the director of the SFS Kenya program who will help us determine which staff members need help the most and we will prioritize helping these families. The students from this past spring semester, including myself, would like to ask you to make a donation, any size that you can afford, to help these wonderful people get by in their time of need. These individuals were more than security guards, cooks, maintenance staff, drivers, and program coordinators to us—they are our colleagues in our quest for intercultural understanding, role models, and friends. We are grateful for your contributions and we are certain that the staff will also be grateful. Thank you!