At about 7am in the morning on Thursday February 16th, 2017 in Ruai, Kenya 280 plus students were on parade to pray, sing and give words of welcome to Fr. Duncan MacIsaac (Stella Maris and St Margaret’s parish priest) representing Inverness County Cares (ICC) from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He came to St Charles Lwanga (SCL) Secondary School because he cares and wanted to meet the students and staff at SCL school.
Shortly after arrival Fr. Duncan sat down with about 18 students from Form 4 (grade12) and staff in their newly constructed Chapel. He listened to each student tell of their dreams for their future and how they will build up and enrich society. They spoke of what they learned at SCL school beyond the academics, of how they learned to share and look out for each other. They spoke of how they grew as persons by taking on leadership roles and carrying out their responsibilities in a faithful manner. It was encouraging and uplifting to hear these young men and women speaking from their heart and in such an eloquent way.
ICC represented by Betty Jane Cameron of Mabou and Fr. Duncan met With Br Kennedy and staff along with representatives of Chalice of Bedford, NS, that included Mary Anne MacKinnon, the International Director of Chalice whose ancestral roots are from Inverness County along with Ann Josiah a Native Kenyan who is a Regional Director for Chalice in Kenya. A wide ranging discussion ensued that examined both challenges and opportunities of how SCL secondary school can continue to move forward in the future in the best interests of the students and their education. The obvious improvements in classes, structures, formation, and financial accountability were noted and affirmed.
SCL school’s vision is clearly stated for all to see upon entering the school grounds. It goes like this: ” A society in which children irrespective of their background are equipped with knowledge and skills to play their role in life as citizens of the world”. These values are reinforced on a daily basis in the hearts and minds of the children
The students themselves are engaging and fiercely determined to do their best in this school setting, despite its limitations of space and available material resources. Those who succeed will be exemplary citizens and leaders in their communities, in their country and in the world as a whole. ICC and Chalice through shared funding of $60,000 each, over a 3 year period have enhanced and made real the possibility of the dreams and their fulfillment for these children. It is no small achievement.
Image #1 and 2 Administration of St Charles Lwanga School (SCL), Chalice staff and Inverness County Cares meet to discuss the school.
Image #3 Fr Duncan MacIsaac greets St Charles Lwanga students at the door of their classrooms
Image #4 Betty Jane Cameron, Fr Duncan MacIsaac, ___, Br Kennedy, Mary Anne MacKinnon of Chalice
Image #5 Betty Jane Cameron, ___, ___, Fr Duncan, RoseMary, Br Kennedy, Mary Anne MacKinnon of Chalice, ___.