My Experiences by Kimathi University Read For Hope Crew – Campus Vibe
Kimathi University Read4Hope Crew
It’s said the best tales come from experiences; maybe that’s why the elderly are the best storytellers. We all love to tell stories of memories that have made us laugh learn or even shape us. We seek audiences to our unique experiences and sometimes great friendships are born from this and whether we realize it or not these memories shape the directions we later take in life, the
decisions we later make…
My story is shared from two unique and different experiences from my past that have shaped me to undertake unique initiatives in my university, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
One experience drawn from the fast action-paced world of rugby and other from the informative world of academia. My motivation in sharing this with you is to spark you to share your own unique story with us and in your own way let us share, laugh and learn from your experience.
I can’t exactly pinpoint how my love affair with rugby started, since it was a series of experiences that attracted me to this great game in my high school years (Upperhill High School). The rugby culture was
rich and diverse and by then the main sport in our school. Since I loved football like many boys my age I tried out for my class team and always got the position of the “bulk” defender.
This didn’t last long as I got kicked out for ‘mauling’ the unsuspecting strikers other than tackling the ball. To me the ball and the man were all the same and whoever I got to first to had my ‘wrath’
and so rugby consoled my sports ambitions.
Now I will selfishly admit that my main attraction was that I could now ‘legally’ knock out an opponent without getting sent off, all good until my time arrived. So this love story began and with it precious
memories that I cherish. From early dawn marathons, to energy draining workouts that led to great victories and few painful defeats. The sport instilled me a discipline and self-confidence that helped me on and off the pitch. It taught me to always get up after getting knocked out, always hold your head high after a game whatever the outcome and mostly importantly that huge opponent was too ‘big’ of a target to miss.
We worked hard, we trained hard, and we fought hard, our efforts were fruitful as we bagged the coveted ‘Black Rock’ trophy and elevated our school to the prestigious Prescott cup. After high school, I of course joined one of the local rugby clubs (Kenya Harlequins) here I learnt a lot, made great friendships and participated in the university side and Eric Shirley Cup tournaments. Here I got opportunities to represent our country in the U19 rugby side in which I was drafted but narrowly missed the final spot to an equally better teammate which motivated me to train harder. As often said the only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability and these bring new opportunities.
I dislocated my left knee on a sunny Sunday afternoon while running, tearing my ACL ligament (common serious sports injury) in which I had to undergo reconstructive surgery. The rehabilitation harder than any training session I had been in never dimmed my rugby passion and I looked for opportunities to be part of the game. In this I jumped at the opportunity to help our young and untested University Rugby Team (TheMight Dedans) where I offer whatever I learnt throughout the years. As
part of the team I celebrate each victory and suffer every loss training patiently to play alongside my ‘brothers’ once again and be part of the beautiful game that transcends beyond any color, tribe or
background.
My other past is surprisingly opposite to the world of sports since it dwelled in the informative and curious world of academia. It takes me a bit back to the year 2003, a new regime was peacefully elected bythe wonderful and I should say hopeful Kenyans. It is then a distinctive action happened that not only changed my life but those of millions of other Kenyans. The free primary education program was initiated and young minds that would not have otherwise had a chance got a chance to sip from the fountain of knowledge free of charge if I should add. I was a drop in the millions and had just transferred to a local public primary; I was determined not to let this opportunity pass.
This opportunity provided a stepping stone that has led me all the way to this point where I am a proud engineering scholar in our prestigious university. Though the step taken by the government opened numerous opportunities for individuals it had a number of setbacks since as the quantity increased, the quality of education diminished as shown by our national results. This fact led me and a few other like minded friends and classmates to start a small but significant initiative, The Read4Hope initiative in which our goal was to improve the basic literacy and numeracy skills in our country. Our initiative is aimed at providing mini-libraries where they are most needed. Children centers and institutions have been our main target in which we will provide good quality books to eager minds and to provide them
opportunities to better their lives. It also aims to foster other talents they might have through a mentorship programme in which we hope to come up with maybe the next Prof. Wangari Maathai, David Rudisha and maybe the next you…
I am sure now you have seen the links between my unique past experiences and the steps I have taken now as an individual. In this I urge you to share your own unique experience and make your experience an opportunity for others to learn and draw from. Each one of us bearing our own unique prints with our own different outlooks might bring the change this country needs. After all as it was wisely said,
in diversity, there is beauty and there is strength…
By Kelvin Wachira
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