HOST FAMILIES

Wenzi kwa Afya provides a cultural orientation and continuing support to help host families and their Kenyan guests establish a satisfying and enduring relationship.

 

The host family experience is at the heart of the exchange. The first two Kenyan students to attend River Valley Community College sponsored by Wenzi kwa Afya moved in with their host families in August, 2010. "Settling in" was seamless and each has been embraced as a new member of the family. Below are short narratives describing this year’s host families as well as the relationships that have developed. We encourage families in the Claremont area to consider making one of the girls who will arrive in August 2011 a part of their family. Read more about being a host family.

FAQ answers frequently asked questions.

Meet scholarship students Daffodil Miriam Mumuli and Jacinta Otsembo.

The Gregory-Davis family with Daffodil at Thanksgiving.Susan and John Gregory-Davis are hosting Daffodil. They are co-Pastors of the Meriden Congregational Church, UCC, where they have been since 1995. They have three children—Kalin (20), a sophomore at Barnard College, Ian (16), a sophomore at Kimball Union Academy and Erin (11), a sixth grader at the Plainfield Elementary School, and are delighted to be the host family for Daffodil Miriam Mumuli. In their own words, "From the very first moment we heard about Wenzi Kwa Afya and the opportunity to have a young woman and nursing student from Kenya live with us, we knew this was something we didn't want to pass up." The Gregory-Davis family anticipated a wonderful cultural experience, not only for their immediate family, but for the church and their wider community, as well. "Before we even became a host family, we felt privileged for this opportunity to welcome into our home a young woman so dedicated to furthering her own education and passionate about improving health care in her country. We knew our family and community would benefit immensely from the cultural exchange, challenges and joys of getting to know and learn from a young woman from Kenya.”

They report that their expectations have already been surpassed. Two months into the experience, they write: "we cannot imagine our lives at this point without Daffodil with us at our supper table! She is a delight, every day sharing with us different aspects of her family's culture and traditions and graciously learning about our own. We have such a greater appreciation for what life in Kenya is like and we are also so grateful for the chance to view our own culture and traditions through her eyes."

The Gregory-Davis family have also enjoyed getting to know Daffodil’s classmate, Jacinta Otsembo. As they put it, "It gives us such hope to know young women like Daffodil and Jacinta, who already are working to make our world a more healthy and healing place—especially for children and adults who have limited access to those health care resources that we often take for granted in our own country."

Harold and Jacquelyn Hall are they host family for Jacinta. They have been married 42 years and are the parents of three sons and grandparents to six children. Harold is retired from the science technology industry and Jacquelyn is a retired teacher and school counselor. In 2008, the year of Jacquelyn’s retirement, she received an Excellence in Education Award as the New Hampshire High School Counselor of the Year. Harold and Jacquelyn now enjoy the opportunity to provide education and childcare for their three and four year old grandsons each weekday during the school year.

The Halls are members of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Claremont, New Hampshire where Jacquelyn is the Parish Clerk. Harold, who is an avid collector and connoisseur of music, assists with leading the singing, and both Harold and Jacquelyn serve on the Breakfast ministry that provides a hot breakfast to students on each school day.

Trinity Episcopal Church had a "hands of friendship" welcome party for Jacinta and Daffodil, showering each with practical gifts to assist in her adjustment to America. Harold and Jacquelyn have eagerly welcomed Jacinta to their family and feel that they are enriched as much by Jacinta as she is by them. They note that it is exciting to learn of different customs and traditions and to expand one’s horizons, adding that that everyone benefits from this wonderful exchange of ideas and information.

At home Jacinta has become one of the family, taking part in all activities, including those with the extended family. She studies at the kitchen table as their sons did, and shares the events of her day, as well as stories of her life in Kenya. Their grandchildren like playing with her and asking her questions about Africa. When she is at the college, one grandchild in particular, Parker, asks where Jacinta is and when she will be home.

Early on, Jacinta told Jackie that she and Daffodil wanted to prepare a Kenyan meal for their friends. Jackie agreed to this wonderful idea and the friends were treated to an excellent meal prepared completely by the two young women. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, a feast with the extended Hall family, Jacinta delighted everyone by bringing two Kenyan dishes to share.

Host Family Links

As Jacquelyn points out, the two host families also cooperate and support each other by providing opportunities for Jacinta and Daffodil to spend time together, either at the Hall residence or at the Gregory-Davis home. In addition, the congregations of the two churches provide ongoing friendship and support to Jacinta and Daffodil. For example, a member of the Meriden Congregational Church, Rod Wendt, works with the New England Handicapped Sports Association at Mt. Sunapee Ski Area. Rod has arranged for Daffodil and Jacinta to be trained to assist as volunteers on Friday mornings with handicapped students from Hartford High School. In the afternoon, Rod will provide ski lessons to Daffodil and Jacinta. This is an opportunity to learn how people with disabilities, offered the right tools, techniques and support, can thrive in ways not thought possible a few years ago. The motto of the NEHSA is "Witness the triumph of the human spirit."

Host Families Sought for 2011

For Fall 2011, Wenzi kwa Afya is again seeking two families (for example, a single individual, a family with children or a retired couple) that would genuinely like to share their lives with a young person from a very different culture. The ideal is to incorporate the student into the family as completely as possible.

Like the "pioneer" Wenzi kwa Afya-sponsored students, the young women beginning their course of study in the Health Sciences at River Valley Community College in the Fall of 2011 will have succeeded admirably on the Kenyan national exams for high school graduation and will be fluent in English, the language of instruction in Kenya. They will again be selected on the basis of academic excellence, personal character and an interest in service, by a committee including school officials and community representatives in Samia, Kenya. It is anticipated that the degree course at RVCC will take two years—but the initial commitment from host families is for just one year, which can be renewed.

 

Here are answers to some questions potential host families may have:

 

What living arrangements are expected for the guest students?
The same you might provide for a young family member coming to stay for an extended period of time to attend a nearby college. A separate room is ideal, but sharing a room with another girl in the family, if mutually agreeable, would be okay. There should also be a place where the student can reliably count on quiet to pursue her studies.

Will the students have a monthly stipend to assist in managing their expenses?
The students will be provided with "spending money." This should not be interpreted as money to contribute to their living expenses but for personal needs and incidentals. The amount is yet to be determined.

What will the family be expected to provide?
Suitable living space, as described above, a family atmosphere, and meals when the student is at home.

Who will identify primary health care providers for the students?
The students will be covered through a health insurance plan available to enrolled students at RVCC and paid for by Wenzi kwa Afya. They will need to find primary health care providers. It would be good if the host family were willing to introduce the "new member" of the family to their providers. Otherwise, perhaps we can use Valley Regional Hospital's services – ideally, through a prior arrangement before an actual need arises. This matter will be further explored.

Who will provide clothing for the girls, such as warm clothes for our New Hampshire winters?
Wenzi kwa Afya will assume the responsibility to see that the young women have winter clothing. This will come through purchase and/or donation. It is not the host family's responsibility to clothe their guest.

Is the host family expected to provide all transportation for the girls and will they have assistance in supporting this expense (gas)?
No, we do not expect the host family to regularly provide transportation. And this question exposes one of the major concerns to resolve. If the family lives within walking distance of the college (this is probably unlikely but would be ideal), the family might help out in inclement weather but we are not expecting that they have an obligation in this area unless they wish to undertake it. One possibility is to utilize public bus routes, if the host family lives within a reasonable distance of a route that serves RVCC. We also will explore the feasibility of organizing a ride system with student/faculty volunteers. Final resolution of the transportation issue will have to wait until families are identified but location is an important criterion in choosing families.

Is the host family primarily responsible for facilitating all leisure and recreational activities for the students?
Again, no. But, as with any "child" we would hope that the visitors would be included in family activities as much as is possible and as much as all parties want. We expect to organize some holiday activities for the students through Wenzi kwa Afya but would hope, for example, that they might be included in family Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations. The students would also be expected to help with family chores and activities in the same way that other college students living at home normally would. The family relationship has been traditionally at the heart of hosting international students.

Who will assist the girls in contacting their families (for example phone calls to Kenya)?
Host families are not responsible for such contact and the students will be instructed not to use home phones for this purpose. Wenzi kwa Afya will explore phone cards, Skype, and other avenues.

What is the extent of the time commitment anticipated?
Ideally, the student would continue with the same family for the two years of her degree program at RVCC. However, the commitment is for one year, with the opportunity to renew the invitation to the student.

What will the students do during the summer?
The expectation is that they will take available courses during the summer term.

Wenzi kwa Afya will provide a cultural orientation and continuing support to help host families and their Kenyan guests establish a satisfying and enduring relationship.

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