Last weekend, the 8th of February, 2025, we had the opportunity to donate a water tank and plant trees at Kimathi Primary School in Sagana. As part of our community service at Kimathi Primary School -Sagana, our team of students, including myself, organized a raffle to raise money for the water tank, refreshments for the Kimathi students, and other related expenses. We sold raffle tickets to our fellow students and teachers.
Arrival and Departure to Sagana
On the day of the event, we arrived at school between 8:00 and 8:30 am and departed for Sagana at 9:00 am. We reached Kimathi Primary around 11:00 am and immediately began working. We divided into two groups: one focused on constructing the water tank’s foundation, while the other planted trees.
Tree Planting Exercise
I joined the tree-planting group. Having grown up in a modern environment, planting trees was a new experience for me, and Sagana’s scorching weather didn’t help. Fortunately, some of the Kimathi students showed us how to plant correctly. While planting my first tree was challenging, it became easier with practice. Interacting with the children was initially a bit difficult, as they seemed reserved. However, friendly smiles and brief conversations helped them warm up to us. Despite the physical effort, planting trees and interacting with the Kimathi students was extremely rewarding. During the tree planting and later, as they enjoyed refreshments, I learned a lot about them. I bonded with a class five student over our shared love of dance. This interaction introduced me to new dance styles and techniques I’m eager to explore.
Interaction and Bonding with Kimathi Students
Interacting with the Kimathi students made me realize how privileged I am to have access to numerous opportunities and resources. Conversely, it also highlighted how resourceful I still need to become. Students as young as nine planted trees and worked the dry, hard ground with ease, while I struggled. Overall, this experience reinforced the understanding that despite our different backgrounds, we are all children trying to make the most of what we have to prepare for adulthood.
Beyond the students, we also interacted with one of their teachers. He showed us around the school, directed us to the planting and construction sites, explained the local weather conditions, and was instrumental in encouraging the Kimathi students to interact with us and assist in the tree planting.
The Experience
This experience, being part of a community service at Kimathi Primary School – Sagana has taught me how to work dry ground, plant trees, and significantly improved my social skills through interacting with the Kimathi students. Last year December, I had a similar experience at a children’s home in Ruiru, where we provided a Christmas celebration with gifts and essential items. While that interaction was fulfilling, I overestimated our time there, limiting the number of children I could engage with. At Kimathi, I made a conscious effort to start more conversations and make the most of every minute, even though we spent the entire afternoon there.
Opportunities like these to serve the community and connect with children are invaluable. They allow me to develop new skills, forge new connections, and benefit the communities we serve. At Kimathi, I saw the students’ bright smiles as they talked with us and played games. Planting trees will improve the local environment and provide fruit in the future. The water tank will give the students access to more water in their dry region.
Through this experience, I discovered my deep love for interacting with people and making them smile. While our primary goal at Kimathi was to improve their physical environment and donate a water tank, it was gratifying to know that our presence brought the students joy and that hearing about their lives and experiences was so impactful. This has motivated me to seek out more opportunities to serve communities and make a positive difference, no matter how small.
Conclusion
To any student considering volunteering at a primary school or elsewhere, I encourage you to cherish every moment interacting with the community you’re serving and approach every task with care. Remember, the core objective is to give back and make a positive impact.
Being at Kimathi Primary highlighted the importance of community service, both socially and environmentally, because of the children’s happiness. Even though we were a small group planting trees, donating a water tank, and building its foundation, our contribution will significantly impact the Kimathi students. If we return, I would prioritize social interaction with the children through games, conversations, and sharing refreshments, as these experiences might not be part of their daily routine. Small conversations can be surprisingly impactful.
