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14 W
INTER
2012
.
S
T
. L
AWRENCE
U
NIVERSITY
M
AGAZINE
W
hen our daughter Samantha ’09 forwarded us
the email announcing the Laurentian journey to
Kenya, we realized this was the perfect oppor-
tunity to experience a small part of the world she lived in for
a semester four years earlier. After 14 memorable days with a
special group of 20 passionate and loving individuals, we now
carry with us a palpable essence of what Kenya is.
Celia Nyamweu taught us each day with stimulating lectures
or simply by interjecting a tidbit about an obscure bird or con-
fusing geological phenomenon. Our patient and knowledgeable
drivers, David, Joseph, and the two Peters, brought us within
feet of some of the most elusive and beautiful creatures on earth.
Kathleen Colson planned a meticulous and creative itiner-
ary that exposed us to corners of this beautiful country that
most travelers are not blessed to see. More important were the
people she let us touch with our hearts and our minds. From
Ken Okoth ’01 and the young teachers and students at Red Rose
School in Kibera, who showed us the outcome of dedication and
power of the smile, to the BOMA mentors from northern
Kenya, who inspired us with their vision, to the women of Um-
oja in Samburu and the children in their school, who brought us
to tears with their enthusiasm for learning, to the hardworking
young women who operate the magical Maili Saba Camp over-
looking the Menengai Crater, we were continuously humbled by
what the human spirit, no matter how defeated, can accomplish.
—Julie Lovell P’09
Connie McBroom
With Ken Okoth ’01, center,
founder and head of the
Kibera School, are, from left,
Laurentian journey co-leader
and Professor Emerita of
Anthropology Celia Nyam-
weru; Trustee Sarah Johnson
Redlich ’82; Trustee Emerita
Karen Wachtmeister; and
co-leader Kathleen Perkins
Colson ’79.
Kibera students with their home neighbor-
hood in the background.
Karen Wachtmeister