An Onslaught of Catastrophes
History illustrates how cultures and people are barraged with catastrophic challenges. But as Kenya Keys director, Joseph Mwengea states:
“The current collision of crises in Kenya is not only unprecedented but is beyond imagination.”
What is it like to be a student in Kenya right now? They share the world's challenge of experiencing a pandemic. It makes their ongoing challenge with malaria, diphtheria, and yellow fever look like nothing. Lack of vaccinations. Covid and its aftermath continue to rock them to the core. The collapse of the economy. Rising costs at every turn.
Without food or water, this cow falls to the ground.
The drought that is the worst in memory; a third failed harvest. Livestock falling over dead from starvation. And when livestock die, people die; the earth is unable to produce enough for even a small child to live on.
Pressure mounts, as the schools are forced to cram curriculum into compressed time. Students’ days become longer; breaks are eliminated. Not enough teachers. Everyone is hungry. Students are sent home because they cannot pay fees. Parents grieving, wishing they could somehow squeeze food out of their fields that could fill bellies and pay fees. Anger explodes on campuses. The pot boils over. Protests. Burning of dorms and books. Students home again. Back to mud huts.
In dismay we hear it all, try to wrap our minds around why you destroy that which you most need. Also, the swell of humility, realizing their stressors are beyond anything we can imagine:
The Kenyan resilience and buoyancy finally cracking, like the dry earth around them.
The light of education is the torch they long to carry. It sounds simple — but is so hard.
May we drink in their grit and determination, seek understanding, and find a way to ride the storm together, holding that torch above the waves.
