About Us
Margo McAuliffe
When I retired in 2004, I was at a point of wondering where my life might go next. I confided in a group of friends that for years I had day-dreamed of teaching math to girls in Africa--but I didn’t know how to do it. My friend, Kay Williams, said, “I know a priest in Kenya. Why don’t you email him, asking for suggestions?” The next day I emailed Fr Daniel Kiriti, who invited me to come to Naivasha, to teach in the parish co-ed high school. I decided to go for 2 weeks to see what it was like before making a long-term commitment, and in September I boarded a plane for Nairobi.
It had been somewhat dream-like for me, getting the necessary inoculations, a visa and a reservation, packing my suitcase and going to the airport, with my friend, Kay. I boarded the plane, they closed the door and in a sudden awakening I thought, “Oh God, what have I done?!!” I didn’t know what is would be like. Where I would stay? What would conditions be like? AND who was Fr Kiriti? But I just went.
During my two weeks there, I observed many classes at Archbishop Ndingi Secondary School. I saw good teachers and hard working students, and at one point I had an epiphany. If I were to come as a volunteer for a year, one of those teachers would lose a job. It was the law of unintended consequences at work again!
At about the same time that I told Fr Kiriti I couldn’t come, I learned that the girls were being phased out of Archbishop Ndingi High (lovingly known as simply Ndingi). My gentle, respectful response was, “You’re phasing out the girls? Are you nuts?” Patiently Fr Kiriti explained the reasoning behind the decision and also told me the community had donated a plot of land to build a new high school for girls. All they needed was money! This is when I had the second epiphany. The still, small voice in my head said, “You need to go home to raise money for this school.” It was a fateful moment!
Before I left, I interviewed 6 students whose circumstances were so dire that they were being sent home for lack of school fees. Their stories were heart wrenching: several had a single mom with no work; another’s mother worked in a stone quarry where she had been injured, breaking stones by hand. Her father was also unable to work. Several were orphans who had been taken in by family members unable to pay fees. One boy, highly recommended by his math teacher, had lost his father at about age 10 and had already been sent home. His mother had died at the exact time he was sitting for a crucial exam taken at the end of grade 8. His sister had tried to keep him in school, but had sickened while working at a flower farm and hadn’t been able to find other work. I told these students I was making no promises, but I would try to find sponsors for them.
Within a week after my return home, I had sponsors for all six! Even while I was in Kenya, “miracles” like that began to happen. Right before I left, I met a British woman who was a volunteer for Manos Unitas, a foundation based in Madrid whose mission was to fund programs for women and girls in Africa. It was just a few days after the still, small voice had spoken. Eventually Manos Unitas awarded us $55,000 to build 2 science labs.
We established a foundation, Kenya Help, and in March 2008 were awarded tax-deductible status by the IRS. Our mission is to build the school and to provide scholarships for poor girls, as well as boys at the now all-male Ndingi.
Many “synchronicities” and miracles have continued to occur, mainly with people “showing up” to fill a new-found need. Someone offered to design our first website. A law firm did our 501(c)(3) application, pro bono. Someone offered to do our taxes for us. A group of middle school basketball players in Menlo Park decided to do a hoop-a-thon, which raised $30,000. Many, many individuals continue to dream the dream with us and support the cause in many ways.
I have returned to Kenya for 2 months each summer to teach at both Ndingi and St Francis Girls schools (but not to replace a teacher). On 2 occasions my high school friend, Judy Murphy, a retired social worker from Portland, Oregon, joined me. Judy has taken on fund raising for the parish orphanage Mji Wa Neema (House of Hope) in the way I have taken on the school.
Judy and I will arrive in Naivasha June 13 for yet another sojourn. We are eager to see old and dear friends, as well as to make new ones. I will be meeting the 67 new form 1 (9th grade) students who were admitted in January 2009. They have joined the original 18 girls (now in form 3) and the 47 girls who came in January 2008 (now in form 2)--all old friends now.
