Greyfriars School’s (Oxford) Life Changing Trip to Kenya – By Sean Dingley, Asst Head Teacher
April 2026
In February, a group of our students and staff travelled to western Kenya to work alongside Nasio in the rural community of Musanda. Over the course of two weeks, the visit became far more than a trip. It was a powerful lesson in leadership, service and community, testing resilience, deepening understanding and reminding us what it truly means to thrive together.
The journey itself began with a lesson in perseverance. After leaving school full of excitement, our travel plans were quickly disrupted when strikes in Nairobi caused our flight to be cancelled late at night at Heathrow. What followed was a long and complicated 28-hour delay involving queues, rebookings, hotel transfers and uncertainty. Despite tiredness and frustration, our students showed remarkable patience and maturity. For some, it was their first time flying or even travelling abroad, yet they handled the unexpected challenges with resilience and good humour.
Eventually we reached Kenya, flying first into Nairobi and then onward to Kisumu before travelling by road to Musanda. The warm welcome from the Nasio team reminded us immediately why we had come.
From the moment we arrived, one of the most striking features of the community was the warmth of the people we met. Greetings are an important part of daily life. When you say “good morning”, you pause and wait as each person responds in turn. It is a simple act, but one that reflects a culture where people take time for one another. That warmth and generosity of spirit was something our students experienced everywhere they went.
Learning from Leadership
On our first full day, we met Nancy Hunt, the founder of Nasio. Hearing her speak about how the charity began – and how it has grown into a network of schools, medical facilities and community programmes – was deeply inspiring. Her story was a powerful example of what determined leadership and a clear moral purpose can achieve.
During a tour of the community we saw the farms, the spirulina project, the developing library and the medical centre. These initiatives are all part of Nasio’s mission to support children and families living in poverty so they can flourish independently and collectively.
For our students, it was an opportunity to see leadership not as a title, but as service to others.
Building Unity Across Cultures
Much of our time was spent with local children. We visited nu.rsery schools, served breakfast to young pupils, and spent time playing football, singing songs and sharing stories. Language and culture were sometimes different, but laughter and kindness proved universal.
One of the most memorable experiences was visiting local schools. At Booker Academy, a high-performing private school, our students attended lessons alongside Kenyan pupils. Despite limited resources – chalkboards, textbooks and exercise books – the commitment to learning and strong work ethic of the students was striking.
In a moment that captured the spirit of the trip, Mr McCutcheon and Mr Dingley were asked to lead an unexpected lesson when teachers were absent. Moments like this reminded us that education is not defined by buildings or technology, but by curiosity, discipline and a shared commitment to learning.
Spending time in the community also gave our students a powerful sense of perspective. Many families live without things that we might consider essential, such as running water or electricity. Yet what stood out was not hardship alone, but the joy, resilience and love that exist within families and communities. People support one another, share what they have and greet each day with remarkable optimism. It was a powerful reminder that happiness is not always defined by what we possess, but by the relationships and values we hold.
Serving with Integrity
Some of the most powerful experiences came when students worked directly alongside local families.
They helped treat jigger infestations, a painful condition affecting feet, by assisting with cleaning and care. They carried water from the river and worked to seal house walls with mud and cow dung to prevent reinfestation. These tasks were physically demanding and emotionally challenging, but our students approached them with compassion and dignity.
Later in the week, they helped build houses for families whose existing homes were unsafe. Using simple tools, they dug foundations, erected frames and filled walls with mud. The work was hard under the Kenyan sun, but what stood out was the spirit of collaboration. Our students worked alongside local builders, Nasio staff and community members, all united by a shared purpose.
For one family, Abigael and her grandmother, their existing home had no proper roof and was partially flooded. By the end of the week, our students had helped complete a new house. When the keys were presented, there were tears from both our hosts and our students. It was a moment that captured the power of integrity in action – doing the right thing because it matters, even when it is difficult.
Community Through Sport
Another highlight of the visit was an afternoon of football with students from Mumias Muslim School. After spending time in lessons and meeting pupils earlier in the day, the matches brought everyone together in a spirit of friendly competition. The games were closely contested. The girls drew 2–2 in an exciting match before narrowly losing on penalties, while the boys played with determination in challenging conditions. Although the results could have gone either way, what mattered most was the atmosphere surrounding the games. Students, staff and members of the community gathered to watch, cheer and celebrate together.
Sport proved to be a powerful way of building connection. Despite differences in language, culture and schooling, the matches created a shared moment of joy and unity that everyone involved will remember.
Leaving a Legacy
Each evening we gathered together to reflect on the day. These debriefs became an important part of the experience giving students the chance to share their thoughts and process what they had seen and learned. Every evening ended in the same way: with everyone singing the Happy Song. It quickly became a tradition of the trip and a joyful reminder of the spirit of togetherness that had developed among the group.
On our final working day, we returned to the completed homes to celebrate with the families. Students presented gifts, shared speeches and reflected on the experience together.
On the walk back, each student planted a tree – a symbolic act representing the legacy of the visit. Long after we have returned home, those trees will continue to grow, just as the relationships formed during the trip will continue to shape those who were involved.
Thriving Together
This trip reminded us that leadership is not about status, but about responsibility. It is about unity – recognising that we are stronger when we support one another. It is about integrity – choosing compassion and service when faced with challenge. And it is about legacy – leaving something better behind for others.
Our students returned to school not only with memories of Kenya’s red earth, vibrant communities and extraordinary hospitality, but also with a deeper understanding of their own capacity to lead and serve.
They saw first-hand the power of communities working together. They learned that happiness does not depend on material comforts alone, but on relationships, generosity and shared purpose.
We are immensely proud of how they represented our school.
Their actions showed that when individuals come together with purpose, we truly can thrive – both individually and collectively.
– Sean Dingley, Assistant Head Teacher, Greyfriars Catholic School
This story is listed in: About Nasio, Volunteer Stories
