An inspiring visit to meet Kimeu

Plan sponsors Owain and Erica Dobson initially planned to travel to Kenya in early 2008 but had to postpone when, post-elections, the political situation worsened. They soon rearranged and, in September, took the opportunity to visit their sponsored child Kimeu. Here are their thoughts and feelings about their visit. 

"Having acclimatised in Kenya for a week, we were ready for the highlight of our visit to this beautiful country, to see the village where our sponsored child lives. We stayed overnight in Nairobi, where the Plan team came and kindly picked us up from our hotel, and then travelled towards the village.

We pulled off the main road a bit later and proceeded for the last 10 miles on a very rutted track. When I say rutted, perhaps I should say cratered! The local Plan team use motorbikes normally to access the village, which is by far the best idea!

After driving past the pineapple plantations, we arrived at the school where Kimeu and his siblings go. We were met by the head teacher, and saw first hand where some Plan money goes, on refurbishing the classrooms, and providing clean water for the kitchens.

A simple refurbishment of the classrooms made such a difference giving the kids desks and chairs to sit on, with a door and windows and a blackboard for the teachers. The whole school felt really excited.

As we pulled up in Kimeu's village, the people spied us, and - one of my highlights of the visit - they all formed up and started singing a song they had composed for the occasion of our visit. I found this incredibly moving. We were then treated to half an hour of song and dance by the women of the village.

After an exchange of gifts and a feast prepared by the village ladies it was time for photos and more celebrations. It was utterly amazing and humbling to have everyone celebrate our visit.

The trip was awe inspiring, humbling, joyous all in one. We have never experienced such emotions in one day. It was amazing to see how the actions that may be deemed small in Europe make such dramatic differences to lives in Kenya. Seeing the focus on allowing people to change their lives rather than just giving material gifts is a good lesson for life.

Plan's philosophy is shown from the training for which it pays for locals to attend, to providing the materials for necessities such as wells, but working in cooperation with the village, to educate them to install it.

You see many cases in developing countries where the situation seems desperate, or harsh, and I have the feeling that no amount of money can make it better. In Kenya, Plan is making a difference, and the people are benefiting. The carefully directed funds, and amazing local team are visibly changing life for people and making it better."