Queensferry Scout Visits in ‘05 and ‘08
Scout Leader Dr Peter Freeland tells the story:
In 2005 I wanted to organise an expedition for the older and more adventurous scouts to climb Mt Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa). This proved to be financially prohibitive. John Carrie however suggested we climb Mt Kenya instead, as he himself had done some years previously, during his sabbatical visit. At just under 17,000ft it is the 10th highest mountain in the world. He put me in touch with David Mbae, the headmaster of the Primary School in Chogoria. Without David’s help and support the trip would not have happened.
A total of 29 scouts and adults signed up for the trip. Through various fundraising events we raised a total of over £5,000 which allowed us to subsidise the trip for all the scouts, and leave £1,800 (a huge amount by their standards) over to support projects in Chogoria. The highlight of our fundraising was an Edwardian Tea Party on the steps of QPC.
David had arranged for us to camp in the grounds of Chogoria Hospital, and use the washing facilities of the nearby Hospital Guest House. A local mountain guide supplied a team of cooks who provided all our meals. In addition they acted as our “sherpas” on the climb. Twenty-six of our party actually made the summit to see the sun rise, looking down on the tops of the surrounding clouds. A sight never to be forgotten.
We had the opportunity of visiting a number of neighbouring schools, including Kiamuriuki where our scouts took part in an international football match with their boys. We spent several days with local scouts and presented them with a special flag made by one of the parents. We spent a really special few days, with children from David’s school visiting Lake Bagoria, and Nakuru Game Park.
We used the funds we had raised to pay for the repainting of David’s School, repairing the water tank, buy a generator for Kiamuriuki School, and various other smaller projects. One of our parents had managed to acquire 10 second had laptops which we gifted to the schools and I had managed to do the same with some medical equipment for the hospital.
This trip proved to be a “life changing experience” for us all. We were all struck by how happy and in tune with life our hosts were despite their poverty.
Such was the success of our 2005 trip that we felt it would be a pity not to give another generation of scouts the same experience. This time we had a group of 31, including our Associate Minister Sean Swindells. Sean brought a more spiritual influence to this trip as well as his sense of humour.
It was lovely to meet all our old friends, and see the positive effects that our previous gifts had achieved.
At this time the community of Chogoria had begun building their new church and we were all able to lay some of the large building stones hewn by hand. As 2008 was the 100th anniversary of the Scout Movement we planted 100 trees in and around Chogoria, each with a nominated school pupil to look after.
On this visit every member of the group made it to the top of Mt Kenya where three of the scouts were presented with their Queen’s Scout Award (the highest award in scouting).
This time with the benefit of our previous fundraising experiences, we had over £5,000 to support projects in Chogoria. The most important of this was to repair a school damaged by a recent storm, and pay for a teacher to be trained and employed in the school.
If anything this trip was even more special than the first. As a mark of our friendship and respect, we invited the scouts of Chogoria to twin with the Queensferry Scout Troop. The Kenyan flag now takes pride of place with the Scottish Saltire on the wall of the scout hall.
Hopefully one day another generation of scouts will return to Chogoria.
