Meet James, Jacob and Jake, three Year 12 students from Stratton School who recently embarked on an unforgettable school expedition to Kenya. The students had the opportunity to step outside the classroom and experience a different culture, discover new perspectives, and challenge themselves, making memories that will last a lifetime.
We recently asked James, Jacob and Jake to reflect on their trip for our My Studies series, which showcases students from across Meridian Trust. Here’s what they had to say:
- What first made you want to sign up for the Camps International expedition to Kenya?
James: I was interested in the building side of the expedition and how local communities went about building without cranes and other machinery. I wanted to see the benefit of my work within the local community and see how I could help make people’s lives better.
Jacob: My main reason for signing up for the expedition to Kenya was to experience new things and visit a part of the world I had never been to before.
Jake: My decision started with a fear of missing out, but over time I became really keen to make a positive impact.
- You worked on several community and environmental projects during the summer. Can you describe one specific project you spent time on and why it was so special to you?
James: The Mama’s House project was special to me and was an eye-opening experience. We saw people digging mud out of the ground that we then turned into a house around a basic wooden frame. It was really hard work. We could see many houses built like this around us, and we learned how much work had gone into making all of the houses.
After a day at school, I get to walk home to a comfortable house that I didn’t have to build myself. Seeing the effort that goes into building a house with limited resources makes you grateful for what you’ve got.
Jacob: Building the elephant deterrent fence was great, as it helped the local community protect their crops and also protected the elephants from retaliation.
Jake: I enjoyed working with the goats while we helped to de-worm them. This task made us appreciate the difficulty the owners were facing; they wouldn’t necessarily have been able to run around after all the goats by themselves, and they told us how they can’t always afford the medication.
- Was there a particular moment or conversation with a local community member, craftsperson or student that really stayed with you?
James: I met two little boys, Ibrahim and Omar, who would wait outside the gate of the house we were building. They were really happy to have us there and were grateful for the help we were giving their community. They were a bit cheeky, and Mrs Lawson said they reminded her of us!
Jacob: Ryan, who was one of our activity leaders, was really interesting and shared his insight into our different lifestyles, including something as simple as temperatures and how they’ve never experienced a temperature below zero.
Jake: We had a conversation with one of the activity leaders who was Maasai, he told us all about the Maasai culture. We had a really interesting discussion about the cultural differences and the positives and negatives of both sides.
It was great to increase our awareness of their culture, and I felt privileged to be able to visit Maasai homes and explore how they live and their traditions.
- Beyond the volunteering, you got to experience Kenya’s incredible environment. What was it like going on safari in places like Tsavo East or seeing the local wildlife up close?
James: Safari was incredible. We saw so many elephants and even had a whole family of elephants pass in front of the bus, including the matriarch leading the way and a couple of little babies.
We loved spotting the giraffes as they lifted their heads above the trees to look about nosily. We were able to see some lionesses. Some were hunting and quite cross at our interruption, while others seemed well fed and were chilling under a tree.
Jacob: There were monkeys everywhere in the camps, and we were warned to keep our food in locked boxes. One of the other teams did not, and we saw a monkey steal a packet of sweets and a tube of Pringles!
Jake: It was incredible to be able to walk outside of our camp at the Wildlife Foundation and be walking in a field surrounded by giraffes and zebras. We even got up close to a kettle of vultures.
- What is your absolute favourite, single standout memory from the entire trip?
Jacob: When we were in Tsavo we climbed up a mountain and through a cave onto a ledge with the most incredible views and could see elephants in the distance. We were surprised that they were red because of the sand.
Jake: The comedy night campfire on our last night is my standout memory. There were some hilarious performances, and it was a great way to end the trip.
- What is the biggest lesson you brought home with you to the UK?
James: To try everything and step out of your comfort zone.
Jacob and Jake: Be grateful for what you have because some places are not as lucky.
- For other students who might be considering next year’s trip or a trip in the future, what advice or ‘top tip’ would you give them?
James, Jacob and Jake:
Go for it! Try everything with all your effort and energy.
