Damn you Facebook memories! As we bunker down for the foreseeable future and all international adventures are put on hold, Facebook has been taunting me with images of holidays past - wonderful family times exploring this amazing planet of ours.

This time last year, my then 16-year old daughter, Caitlin, and I embarked on the trip of a lifetime. We were lucky enough to join a Life Exchange Trip to Kenya with the charity we support, So They Can. The aim was to showcase all the amazing work they are doing to improve the lives of the community of New Canaan Village in Nakuru.

So They Can aims to empower the community through education and in just 10 years have established a school, provided business mentoring programs, employed locals as teachers, cleaners and cooks, and so much more.

I wrote a story for their blog last year, sharing some of the highlights & joys of this trip. Given there will be no such trips to Kenya this year, I thought I’d share some of my favourite images of smiling faces. If the joy on these faces doesn’t fill your bucket, then I don’t know what will!

This post goes live as news comes through from Kenya that schools will not open for the rest of 2020 and that all the students will need to repeat this year of their schooling. This breaks my heart, thinking of all these amazing kids missing out on their learning.

I know our sponsor child, Monica, pictured below with Caitlin & I will be devastated. She had to return home from her boarding school when Covid arrived. She is smart, dedicated, ambitious and determined. She is also full of joy and hope.

So They Can, like all charities, have been unable to host any fundraising events. If you are looking for a worthwhile charity to support, run by a team of wonderful, passionate people who are making a difference, please head to their website to find out ways you can help.