Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) Ireland: Schools Immersion Programme 2024
Karibu Kenya – Welcome to Kenya!

This summer Kenya warmly welcomed 27 excited but nervous, volunteers from Ireland. They were traveling as part of the Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) schools’ immersion programme. This is a mission of solidarity and partnership where students volunteer with their teachers in schools run by the Vincentian Fathers. Two school’s groups packed their weighty bags and headed for Dublin airport, not sure what the next two weeks would bring but ready to embrace the opportunity.

Twelve students and three teachers from St. Vincent’s Castleknock headed to Western Kenya, staying with the Daughters of Charity in Matisi, a suburb of the city of Kitale. A further ten students and two teachers from St. Paul’s College travelled to Kamulu, a rural community east of Nairobi. Following in the footsteps of St. Vincent and St. Louise, the Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity are working with ‘the least, the last and the lost’ in these two locations. During the two weeks each of the groups volunteered at the local De Paul School, teaching English and maths, dancing, singing, playing sports and games, painting and so much more. Volunteers bring themselves, their gifts and talents and while there, their hearts are opened to the joy of building relationships with the children in the school. This reciprocal giving and sharing is at the heart of the immersion programme, and it offers students a chance to live out the Vincentian charism and their faith in a very practical way. They are encouraged to reflect on everything they see and experience with the aim that they will be changed, and inspired to effect change on their return to Ireland. This year students have fundraised over €30,000 that will be used to make structural improvements to the schools and the lives of people in each of these marginalised communities. It is inspiring, and a true testimony that the Vincentian mission is alive and well in our young people.

Two of the students, Luke and Sean have written their own story about their experience:

Luke Mooney

“I was privileged to be afforded the opportunity by the college and the Vincentian Lay Missionaries to go on the annual School Immersion Programme in Kenya. It was an absolutely brilliant trip and initiative. My experience was so rewarding. Prior to arriving in Kenya, it was hard to know what to expect despite being well prepared by Maddy and our teachers. We stayed at Daughters of Charity’s grounds in Matisi. The nuns welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home. The morning after arriving, we went to St Vincent’s Academy in Matisi. This was the school where we would be based for the majority of our two weeks in Kenya. Again, we were greeted so kindly by both staff and students. Everyone was so nice and eager to meet us! It was a unique and wonderful feeling. We were all designated different classes throughout the two weeks teaching maths, English and various other subjects. After the school day concluded, many activities, sports and games were on. There was something for everybody from football to music and board games. Spending time with the children was a highlight for us all. After school we would walk home with many of the students, which was also a time I cherished. Even though we were the teachers and volunteers, we ended up learning so much from the kids. Their smiles and happiness were contagious and so refreshing to see. I didn’t anticipate how much our presence would be appreciated. It was really rewarding. Our final few days at the school were quite sad. Saying goodbye was tough. Seeing some of the sad faces was upsetting. But it just showed how much we were valued. I received many thank-you letters from the students which were so heartening when I read them.

Another big part of our trip was getting involved in the local community. The nuns in The Daughters of charity run The Street Boys Programme. This inspiring initiative aims to help the many young homeless boys in the area by providing food, shelter and support throughout the week. The boys were amazing and brave despite being in such tough conditions. Some of the kids were so tired. Getting to spend time dancing, playing football and card games was great to help them escape from their poverty-stricken reality. The nuns act as real-life superheroes in my eyes. Their determination to help the most marginalised was so inspiring. On our last day with the boys, we spent our time playing, dancing, eating and singing. We also gave each boy a new pair of sandals and loads of sweets! It was a small but meaningful gesture. The looks of sheer delight on their faces will stick with me.

Since returning home I have missed being in Kenya so much. I would love to return as soon as possible! The work that Maddy, The VLM and The Daughters of Charity do is incredible! I am so grateful and honoured to have gone on the Immersion Programme and would sincerely recommend it to anyone. I have truly made memories that will last a lifetime.”

Sean Clancy

“My name is Sean Clancy and I’m a 17-year-old student in St. Vincent’s Castleknock College in Dublin, Ireland. This year I was granted the opportunity to travel to Matisi, Kenya on a school immersion programme with the Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM). It was an amazing experience from start to finish and I have gained so much in all aspects from the time I spent in Matisi. I travelled to Kenya on June 1st from Dublin with 11 of my peers and 3 teachers. We were teaching at St. Vincent De Paul Academy Matisi which felt like a home away from home from St. Vincent’s Castleknock College. We would teach from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and break for lunch and have some traditional dishes such as ugali and many other Kenyan dishes and then teach until 2:00 pm and play a variety of sport such as volleyball and soccer and taught the children some Irish sports such as Rugby and Hurling and great fun was had by all. Each day in the school was an amazing experience and always different. The pupils ranged in age from 4 to 15 and each day we thought them a range of subjects such as English, Math, Religion, Science. They also tried to teach us their native language Kiswahili and we shared our native language of Irish. We learned lots each day from them and we hope they learnt from us also.

The hospitality shown to us by the Daughters of Charity was amazing. We also witnessed first-hand the fantastic work of the sisters and what they do in the community.

We saw the work being done at the Upendo street boys project which was truly eye opening and will certainly have a lasting impact on me as we saw them helping boys our own age and younger who were living on the streets of Kitale and the amazing work they did with the people in need in the surrounding area.

This experience and time spent in Matisi is certainly life changing and will be something I will cherish forever.

For more information about the VLM Schools Immersion Programne or any of our other volunteering opportunities please contact Madeleine on 087 139 7069 or at info@vlm.ie.
MISEVI Ireland.