We organized this same event last year as a fundraiser project for the Friends of Marich group. This event was very successful last year so we decided to organize the same event this year to raise money for the bridge that we are building this year in Marich. Before the event day we had to organize all the hole sponsors and the prizes for the winners of the tournament. We also had to organize the golf course so that everything would be ready for the day of the event. Since I was away for ISSEA during most of the organizing period, I was unable to contribute greatly in acquiring sponsors and prizes for the event. However, I did help set up and organize the tournament on the day itself.
On the 11th of November we went to Windsor early in the morning to set up all the sponsor banners and to confirm that everything was ready for the tournament. We set up different banners across the golf course as well as around clubhouse. Matthew, James, Alberto, and I all had to leave back to school before the golf tournament started to go and play a football match but a few of the other members of the group stayed behind to ensure that everything went as planned during the tournament.
This tournament as well as the raffle draw raised a good amount of money and we were satisfied with the outcome of the tournament. We still have to raise more money to reach our desired goal but we have significantly progressed. We are now looking at future possible fundraising projects to add to our collection of money so that we are able to carry out the desired projects when we get to Marich. When school starts again in January we will immediately look at what we can do to raise more money. Some possible projects include a concert and a poker tournament.
It is great that the Friends of Marich group, a group that a Mr. Currey, Mr. Robbins, a couple of friends and I started two years ago, has become so successful. It is an excellent service group and it has already had many significant positive impacts on the local people of Marich. I am very proud to be a leader of this group and it this group is a great opportunity for students at ISK to give something back to their host country Kenya. Since Marich is such a remote area, hardly any people go to visit that side of Kenya. Therefore it is important for us to show people at ISK what a beautiful place the North of Kenya is and how we can help the people living there.
It is very exiting to see the newer members of the group work hard for the group and it will be very interesting to see them working in Marich. Our hope is that these younger members carry on what we have started and that it continues to grow and develop. Our goal is also to show the significance and honor of doing service work in Kenya and how if one takes his/her own initiative, service becomes a fun and interesting thing to carry out. We hope that other groups and possibly other IC trip members see that long term involvement in a project somewhere in Kenya is more effective than a one off service project that is completed over the course of one IC trip.
I have been very privileged to be part of the group that started this group two years ago and to have been able to visit Marich for three years come January. It has been and continues to be a great experience to be committed to the area of Marich and to its people. This has allowed us to form close relationships with the local community in Marich and this helps with the efficiency and effectiveness of our work there. Creating a strong relationship with the people you are working with in a service project is crucial for the success of that project. I therefore hope that other people see this necessity too so that the students of ISK can contribute significantly and positively to Kenya as a whole.
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