(Consists of Video) Learn on for Chris’s story, then keep tuned for a video behind the scenes of his most up-to-date Kenya journey on the finish of this put up.
I by no means thought I’d find yourself portray a pc lab in rural Western Kenya for work — till Cisco made it doable.
I’ve been within the Cisco orbit for many of my profession — as a buyer, associate and even competitor. After becoming a member of as an worker, one of many largest surprises was discovering among the wonderful packages that empower workers to offer again. One profit, Time2Give, modified all the things. It’s 80 hours of paid day without work every year to volunteer with causes that matter to us, along with our common paid day without work. My crew didn’t simply permit me to make use of these hours — they actively supported and inspired me to take the time.
Consequently, I discovered myself over 7000 miles from house on the Wema Academy, a rural college close to Bungoma, Kenya. With 500-plus college students, Wema’s mission is to teach, feed, and empower kids from the group. A nonprofit group known as Engineers With out Borders (EWB) had already been supporting clear water and renewable power initiatives on the campus for a number of years. As an current member of EWB since grad college, I had solely helped handle initiatives remotely and by no means thought I’d have the possibility to be a part of a journey crew. When the chance got here, I didn’t hesitate.
The First Journey — “Welcome House”
Once I arrived in Kenya, the varsity administrators greeted me with two phrases I’ll always remember: “Welcome house.” As an African American who had by no means set foot on the continent of Africa, these phrases hit deeply. It wasn’t simply hospitality — it was belonging.
That journey was uncooked, difficult, and unimaginable. Whereas I used to be the one Cisco volunteer that yr, I had the privilege of working alongside skilled civil and environmental engineers. My challenge? To rebuild Wema’s Info and Communications Expertise (ICT) facility — what most of us simply name a pc lab.
Besides the “pc lab” turned out to be a big gritty room with solely three desktops that have been over a decade previous, had no connection to the Web, and have been filled with sufficient mud to create a small desert. Earlier than I may even begin to consider bringing in new expertise, I spotted we must intestine all the room. With a little bit assist from workers and some college students, we patched cracks within the flooring, sealed water leaks within the roof, repaired damaged benches, and put a recent coat of paint on the partitions and desks. Lastly, I used to be capable of arrange the seven donated laptops that my crew painstakingly helped get by way of quite a few checkpoints inside backpacks.
The scholars’ curiosity made each minute value it. Rising up, a lot of what I noticed in media portrayed African children as hungry or in want. Nonetheless, these college students weren’t in want of meals — they have been hungry for information. They wished to study computer systems, discover careers in tech, and perceive the world past their village. Each time I attempted to wrap up work for the day, they’d beg, “Can we’ve got pc class tomorrow?”
And irrespective of how drained I used to be, I at all times mentioned sure.
The Return — Turning One Mission right into a Motion
After we left in 2023, the varsity administrators mentioned, “Come again — and subsequent time convey extra pals from Cisco.”
Whereas I had no concrete plan but, I promised to make it occur.
In 2025, we delivered on that promise. With the great assist of EWB, Cisco Kenya, and Cisco’s Inclusive Communities — Related Black Professionals and Conexión — we returned to broaden the impression. As a crew, we improved the ageing clear water system, expanded the photo voltaic system to energy all the campus, added new computer systems for distant studying courses, and flooded the darkish schoolyards with automated lighting so the ladies can stroll safely to the dorms at evening.
Belief me, it wasn’t straightforward. Between political protests, gradual provide chains, and loads of “make-do” moments, we discovered to improvise, adapt, and snigger by way of all of it. However someplace between energy outages, portray classes, and late-night campus walks, we constructed greater than infrastructure — we constructed relationships.
Classes From Wema
What struck me most wasn’t what they lacked, however what they’ve: optimism, resilience, and pleasure. These college students don’t have telephones or quick Wi-Fi, however they’ve immense drive. Each handshake, each smile mentioned, “We’re able to study. Simply give us the possibility.” It makes you rethink what your “issues” actually are. In my nation, children will complain about not having the newest thousand-dollar iPhone. In rural Kenya, children are completely happy simply to have the possibility to study, join, and dream past their village.
Past these profound classes, Kenya supplied one other unforgettable expertise: a bunch safari to Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve on the finish of our journey. Watching giraffes, elephants, and lions roam free within the savannah whereas I used to be protected in my cage (aka Land Rover) was surreal. Kenya really flips your sense of the world in all the fitting methods.
The Street Forward
We’re not performed. In 2026, I plan to launch a mentorship program that pairs skilled Cisco workers with senior college students at Wema by way of Webex. As well as, I need to hold the momentum alive by bringing extra Cisco teammates to Kenya and different communities that EWB serves in Africa and Latin America.
At Cisco, giving again can take you locations you by no means imagined — and join you to individuals who change your life in return.
