Kenya is a breathtaking country that is rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, yet it is also home to some of the world's most underprivileged communities. For thousands of desperate individuals, every day is a battle against poverty and disease, with limited access to healthcare services or education to improve their situation.

‍

From the 27th to the 29th of June 2024, a team of D.R.O.P.S. volunteers journeyed to the small fishing town of Msambweni on the coast of Kenya. Despite the political turmoil and violent protests happening just 55 km to the northeast in the city of Mombasa, there was an atmosphere of tranquility to be found within this humble setting.

‍

During the mission, the D.R.O.P.S. Foundation provided assistance to the Nice View Trust Foundation, a small non-profit organization founded in 1997, whose projects have come to include an orphanage, school and hospital, all built upon a single privately owned plot of land. 

‍

Our goal was to spread hygiene and disease prevention awareness to the orphans of Nice View Children’s Village, as well as the children from surrounding villages who receive education at the Nice View Gratitude Academy. We also sought to provide the staff with training and educational resources to improve their teaching skills and enrich their curriculums.

‍

As always, we were accompanied by our team’s physician, Dr. Janina Beilner, who performed skilled medical examinations and delivered vital treatments to hundreds of patients alongside the highly competent staff at the Nice View Medical Centre.

‍

Day 1:

Our mission began with a visit to the Nice View Gratitude Academy. Here, Dr. Janina provided medical check-ups and treatments to 180 children between the ages of 6 months and 19 years old, with the assistance of a local doctor.

‍

Meanwhile, our volunteers led health education sessions tailored to various age groups from kindergarten to secondary school, covering topics such as personal and oral hygiene, disease prevention, environmental hygiene and recycling, mental health, self-esteem and effective boundaries. Interactive games like “Glitter Germs” and “Brush the Stones” kept the younger children engaged, while the older students competed for prizes in spot quizzes and Hygiene Bingo. At the end of each session, the children received individual goodie bags containing toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash (kindly sponsored by Dr. Max from Sky Clinic Dubai), as well as age-appropriate toys and stickers.

‍

We also conducted special workshops for adolescent girls and boys, covering topics like puberty, reproductive anatomy, sexual health, contraception, STDs, and substance abuse awareness. The girls particularly appreciated the donation of menstrual cups and our team’s practical demonstration on their use, which offered a simple yet impactful solution to their menstrual health challenges.

‍

At the end of the day, the children came together to design hygiene posters and discuss what they had learned throughout their various lessons, winning prizes for creativity and the best presentation. 

‍

Day 2:

The next morning, we conducted a Teach the Teacher workshop, led by Dr. Michael Kloep, Eilene Kloep and Sven Stietzel, who equipped the staff with various educational tools and practices to enhance their curriculums.

‍

First, Dr. Michael Kloep instructed teachers on developing a school curriculum that is educational, engaging, and well-organized. The second part of the session featured a presentation by Eilene Kloep on various free programs that can be used by teachers for lesson planning, as well as by the students themselves as interactive learning tools. She also introduced "Break It Kids," a 10-minute exercise program designed by pediatric occupational therapist Lorena Maré. Based on the science of Sensory Integration Theory, the program aims to support children's self-regulation and enhance both their attention and learning efficacy.

‍

Finally, we discussed the use of technology in the classroom, sharing tips on the best handover practices for laptops to facilitate the best learning experience for both teachers and their students. As part of this, 18 laptops were generously donated to Nice View Academy by Headfound, Germany, significantly enhancing the school's technological resources and learning capabilities.

‍

In the afternoon, we set up a medical camp at Nice View Hospital, which saw over 300 patients from the surrounding villages register at triage in just a few short hours. Here, Dr. Janina assisted hospital staff and local doctors in providing patients with examinations, running laboratory tests, treating minor wounds, and dispensing medications for their ailments. Many patients returned the next day.

‍

Day 3:

On the third day, a total of 500 patients attended the medical camp, with some waiting up to 7 hours to be seen by the doctors. During this time, our team of volunteers conducted public health education sessions..

‍

The wellness circle for women's reproductive health and family planning workshop drew over 60 women aged 17 and up. Once again, our menstrual cup demonstration was met with great interest, as these women had been using rags or old, stained clothes to soak up their menstrual blood every month, and never had the privilege of using menstrual hygiene products before. In being gifted with their own menstrual cups, each of these women received a life-changing intervention that will not only provide them with sanitation and comfort, but also instill confidence and agency in their bodies.

‍

Finally, expectant mothers were also provided with prenatal check-ups and vitamins, while enjoying professional ultrasound scans that allowed them to see their unborn babies for the first time. Meanwhile, as the little ones waited for their parents, they engaged in arts and crafts, made bangles and balloon animals, and got their faces painted at our kids’ entertainment zone.

‍

Overall, the D.R.O.P.S. team’s mission to Kenya was a resounding success, and the impact we left on Nice View and the Msambweni community in just these three eventful days will surely continue to be felt for many years to come.

‍

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners and sponsors for making this initiative possible. A special mention goes to OMKO, whose generous donations in September 2023 were the catalyst we needed to launch the 2024 Kenya project.

‍