Free the
Children - July 26 to Aug 3, 2013
On July
26th, Sacred Heart Grade 12 student and Head Girl, Taryn Mason, set off for
Kenya on a Board Mission with Free the Children. Both Marc and Craig Kielburger joined her for
the full week, which included two days of building a girls dormitory for a new
school, walking for water with the Mama's, and learning how to do artisan
beading - part of Free the Children's commitment to teaching women alternative
sources of income.
There
were 27 other adults and teens on the trip from across Canada and the US -
including her Mom. The week was full of
learning and reflection. Accommodations
were in the form of a comfortable tent and hydro was turned on daily from 6-10pm.
For Taryn, this was a week of education and appreciation for the simple basics
in life that we take for granted - clean water from a tap, access to education,
food in the fridge, the ability to turn on a light, plentiful food choices, and
freedom of choice - particularly for women.
Each
evening during dinner in the tent, Marc and Craig would ask us each to share
our highlight of the day. This was particularly impactful for Taryn and each
evening she was able to share a new element of what she had observed that day -
a memory that will stay with her and guide her decisions and actions going
forward. On the final evening of the
adventure, when Taryn stood to share her highlight, it was perhaps the most
meaningful reflection since arriving. She
shared that she had come to Kenya with Free the Children to give - she was
prepared to work hard on the build site and give back. What she had learned in 7 days however, was
that she was the one receiving. Taryn will tell you that this, in fact, was the
greatest and most pleasant surprise from her trip.
On September
10th, Taryn will be continuing her work with Free the Children. Marc and Craig will be back in Halifax to
announce the talent line up for Atlantic's first WE Day - coming to the Metro
Centre on November 27th. Taryn will be
speaking publicly twice during the day about her incredible experience and
journey of discovery in Kenya.
