This Summer's Visits to the Nambale Magnet School

August 2025 
by John Gill

I was privileged to lead two groups to NMS this past summer. There was considerable diversity among our participants including families from Darien, CT; Burlingame, CA, and Seattle, WA; enthusiastic first-timers from Tokyo, Japan;  a college student from South Carolina; and WIKS Board members from Georgia, Connecticut and New York. We ranged in age from 12 to 68. In contrast to the sweltering summer conditions in much of the US and Japan in July and August, we enjoyed moderate temperatures throughout our journey with low humidity. Kenya is the place to be for summer weather!

I am frequently asked what one does during a visit to the Nambale Magnet School. My honest response is it depends on the group, and what’s going on at NMS during our visit. We try to incorporate local visits outside the school as well so that our travelers can gain a better perspective of the surrounding community and environment.  The following is a selective list of the activities we engaged in:

  • Toured the NMS campus, both classroom areas and the farm
  • Interacted regularly with students and staff
  • Sat in on classes
  • Participated in NMS’s Sports Day which included students, staff, families and visitors
  • Introduced Japanese culture including calligraphy and origami
  • Introduced US line dancing routines
  • Visited homes/families of sponsored learners
  • Joined a family in harvesting corn – the first “corn shucking” experience for our young visitors!
  • Toured a nearby coffee cooperative 
  • Went to Nambale town and Busia on market days
  • Enjoyed our time with NMS Founder/Director, Evalyn Wakhusama, who shared her story and vision for this remarkable and transformation school

The NMS visit takes us out of our comfort zones, but everyone had enriching experiences in the process. We learn to appreciate many of the everyday “miracles” that we take for granted (safe drinking water, good roads, cheap and reliable energy sources, access to education and modern medical facilities, social and economic safety nets among many others). We learn that joy in life is not predicated on economic status. We interact with people from vastly different cultures and ethnic backgrounds but find that there is more that connects us than divides us. We find that relatively small contributions from us can make a huge difference in the lives of these young people in Kenya.

We also explored other regions of Kenya, gaining a broader perspective of this beautiful country and the environment in which NMS operates. Good time was spent in the capital city of Nairobi, a city of 6 million. We also visited the wonderful Kakamega Rainforest on the way to NMS, and enjoyed a memorable safari to the Masai Mara and the Naboisho Conservancy.  It’s hard to pinpoint a single highlight when every day produced new wonders.

I’m planning to lead at least one more group to NMS in mid July-2026.  If this sounds like something you would like to experience, let us know. It would be great to have you join us.


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