Kelly's Crazy Adventure in East Africa
Tax deductible
I am Kelly Lyon and I have a passion for teaching kids about technology through hands-on learning and creative exploration. Over the past 6 years, I've led after school programs, summer camps, taught a high school class, and inspired students from around the world. Organizations I’ve worked with include: Intel Foundation, Microsoft TEALS, WiSci STEAM Camps, and Western Washington University Summer Odyssey program.
For years I've been chasing my passion for volunteering from the sidelines. This year I'm making a big leap, leaving my job, and volunteering with the Harambee Centre in Kenya and Uganda.
With your support, I’m raising $3,100 to expand our global community, provide technology education, and build friendships between students across two continents to help them connect in long lasting relationships.
My Story:
In November of 2019 when I visited St Andrews school in Uganda for the first time, I was inspired by their community.
The school principal, Miss Judith Naluyima, gathered the local Rotary Club of that region to meet with me at St Andrews School. They explained to me various service projects they’ve done in their community and the one they’re doing in partnership with their sister club, Portland Metro Rotary.
“Oh, well you must know Grace, or Thomas or Julius, right?”
After thinking for a moment, I didn’t recall meeting anyone with those names.
“The building we’re sitting in is the new girls' dormitory which will house 400 girls while they go to school here. We built it with sponsorship funding from Nike”
What a coincidence I thought! I live right down the road from the Nike World headquarters.
“We have a sister school, you know? Are you associated with them? It’s Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon”
Whhaat?! I live in Beaverton! At this point I was thinking, how did this even happen? How did I end up in this tiny village in the middle of nowhere Uganda, at a school that is tied back to my hometown?!
Even though I came from the other side of the world, I immediately felt welcomed as part of the community in Matale. I promised to stay in touch, and was determined to meet that list of people they seem to think I was associated with.
Since I’ve been back in Oregon, I’ve met Grace Kuto, Thomas Lwebuga, and Julius Muwulya and even joined the board of Harambee Centre, the nonprofit organization that coordinates sister schools between Beaverton, Oregon and Africa. Harambee means, “Let’s Pull Together”. I see that ring true in our board meetings and in the partnerships we have with villages in Africa.
Currently, there are two Beaverton schools paired with schools in East Africa:
Mountain Side High School in Beaverton is matched to Chwele Girls High School in Chwele, Kenya.
Southridge High School in Beaverton is matched to St. Andrews Secondary School in Matale, Uganda.
Through Harambee, I’ll be volunteering in East Africa for 6 months with the purpose to further develop the connection between the sister schools. By using tablets and a WiFi hotspot, students from Kenya and Uganda will be able to more effectively communicate with students at their sister schools in Oregon.
With $3100, we will equip two schools with 12 tablets each, a WiFi hotspot, and training for 3 months on how to most effectively use the new technology to communicate with their American peers.
12 tablets ~$60 each $720
1 WiFi hotspot $80
Monthly WiFi ~$33 x 3 months $100
Stipend for trainer $200 x 3 months $600
Total: $1500 for each school + $100 fees associated with GoFundMe platform
With your support, we’re growing our global community, and expanding and empowering the minds of the next generation. Updates to this campaign will be posted along the way, but to follow along with my adventure, join my mailing list! Thank you for all your support.
Donations go to Harambee Centre, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to connect the Pacific Northwest with the diverse cultures and people of Africa. All donations are tax deductible and are eligible for matching through most companies' donor matching program.
**For Intel employees, follow these instructions.
For years I've been chasing my passion for volunteering from the sidelines. This year I'm making a big leap, leaving my job, and volunteering with the Harambee Centre in Kenya and Uganda.
With your support, I’m raising $3,100 to expand our global community, provide technology education, and build friendships between students across two continents to help them connect in long lasting relationships.
My Story:
In November of 2019 when I visited St Andrews school in Uganda for the first time, I was inspired by their community.
The school principal, Miss Judith Naluyima, gathered the local Rotary Club of that region to meet with me at St Andrews School. They explained to me various service projects they’ve done in their community and the one they’re doing in partnership with their sister club, Portland Metro Rotary. “Oh, well you must know Grace, or Thomas or Julius, right?”
After thinking for a moment, I didn’t recall meeting anyone with those names.
“The building we’re sitting in is the new girls' dormitory which will house 400 girls while they go to school here. We built it with sponsorship funding from Nike”
What a coincidence I thought! I live right down the road from the Nike World headquarters.
“We have a sister school, you know? Are you associated with them? It’s Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon”
Whhaat?! I live in Beaverton! At this point I was thinking, how did this even happen? How did I end up in this tiny village in the middle of nowhere Uganda, at a school that is tied back to my hometown?!
Even though I came from the other side of the world, I immediately felt welcomed as part of the community in Matale. I promised to stay in touch, and was determined to meet that list of people they seem to think I was associated with. Since I’ve been back in Oregon, I’ve met Grace Kuto, Thomas Lwebuga, and Julius Muwulya and even joined the board of Harambee Centre, the nonprofit organization that coordinates sister schools between Beaverton, Oregon and Africa. Harambee means, “Let’s Pull Together”. I see that ring true in our board meetings and in the partnerships we have with villages in Africa. Currently, there are two Beaverton schools paired with schools in East Africa:
Mountain Side High School in Beaverton is matched to Chwele Girls High School in Chwele, Kenya.
Southridge High School in Beaverton is matched to St. Andrews Secondary School in Matale, Uganda.
Through Harambee, I’ll be volunteering in East Africa for 6 months with the purpose to further develop the connection between the sister schools. By using tablets and a WiFi hotspot, students from Kenya and Uganda will be able to more effectively communicate with students at their sister schools in Oregon.
With $3100, we will equip two schools with 12 tablets each, a WiFi hotspot, and training for 3 months on how to most effectively use the new technology to communicate with their American peers.
12 tablets ~$60 each $720
1 WiFi hotspot $80
Monthly WiFi ~$33 x 3 months $100
Stipend for trainer $200 x 3 months $600
Total: $1500 for each school + $100 fees associated with GoFundMe platform
With your support, we’re growing our global community, and expanding and empowering the minds of the next generation. Updates to this campaign will be posted along the way, but to follow along with my adventure, join my mailing list! Thank you for all your support.
Donations go to Harambee Centre, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to connect the Pacific Northwest with the diverse cultures and people of Africa. All donations are tax deductible and are eligible for matching through most companies' donor matching program.
**For Intel employees, follow these instructions.
Organizer
Kelly Lyon
Organizer
Beaverton, OR
Harambee Centre Inc
Beneficiary