Willow Wheelers Mission Trip to Kenya 2026

By: Aine O’Donoghue, Chair of Willow Wheelers CC

For more than 35 years, the Willow Wheelers have visited development projects in Africa, Brazil, and Vietnam with the aim of identifying where funds raised through the 100-Mile Charity Cycle can achieve the greatest impact. These mission trips also provide students with a valuable opportunity to witness first-hand how their fundraising efforts have transformed the lives of individuals and communities.

Kenya was selected as the destination for this year’s mission trip, a country previously visited by the Willow Wheelers. The itinerary combined a range of familiar projects with several new initiatives, including projects along the east coast of Africa that had not been visited by the group before. With a sense of both excitement and anticipation, preparations for the trip began. Plus, we were delighted to welcome Fr Augustine Bangalie C.S.Sp, on his maiden voyage with the Wheelers.

Unlike previous visits, planning took place without the expert guidance of Christy, who sadly passed away in February 2025.  Despite this loss, the Willow Wheelers remained committed to continuing the mission trip, recognising the unique insight it offers into the lives of communities living on the margins. Denis Diggin, who has been on almost 25 mission trips, stepped into Christy’s shoes as chief organiser of the trip. As with many previous Willow Wheelers trips, the experience included moments of enjoyment and unexpected challenges that will undoubtedly be remembered and discussed for years to come. One such challenge, which had not been fully anticipated, was the disruption to our carefully arranged travel plans.

Planes, Trains and buses

Our adventure began before it even properly started. On the day of departure, our airline went on strike, leaving 25 optimistic travellers marooned in Dublin Airport for 12 hours. For most sensible people, this would have been the moment to turn around and head home. Not this group. Alternative routes were plotted, revised and re-revised, and eventually we set off — in two separate groups — arriving in Nairobi at different times, but with the same sense of achievement.

That evening, our Spiritan hosts, including the Provincial, Fr. Fredrick Elima Wafula C.S.Sp. joined us for dinner. We were also delighted to see Fr Seán McGovern C.S.Sp, who had travelled down from Rotu to meet us — proof that, unlike our airline, some transport systems really can be relied upon.

After a much-needed night’s sleep, we headed for Nairobi’s Terminus for the next stage of the journey: an eight-hour train trip to Mombasa. Security at the terminus is very tight — none of us had quite prepared ourselves for four separate security checks, all to be negotiated with the extra suitcases we were carrying. These suitcases contained  items such as school stationery, sports equipment, clothes and shoes all donated by the children and parents of Willow Park School.

Mombasa made its presence felt immediately. The humidity hit us like a sauna we hadn’t asked for. By the time we reached the bus arranged by Fr James, we were already dripping with sweat

The bus’s air-conditioning operated on a sporadic basis. This led to a lively and ongoing debate about whether we should simply open the windows or place our collective faith in the system eventually kicking in. The debate continued for most of the week, and, to this day, no clear winner has emerged. Later in the week, it was still a matter of some dispute whether persistent experimentation with the air-conditioning controls contributed to the bus battery giving up entirely. Fortunately, a replacement battery was quickly found, the engine sprang back to life — and, with morale restored and windows still very much under discussion, we continued on the project visits.

Project Visits

To maximize the number of project visits, the group split up: one team travelled to Marafa, about four hours north of Mombasa, while the other drove a further six hours to Wenje.

The first group began by visiting a small primary school in Marafa serving about 200 children aged 3–12. Although the classrooms are structurally sound, the school has very limited resources, with only basic desks and a blackboard. Many families struggle to afford the annual school fees, and some children stay at home because of embarrassment, even though no child is refused. Teachers use simple, creative methods and recycled materials to make learning more engaging.

The team also visited a remote outpost school in Tsanjeni consisting of two mud huts and a single damaged blackboard. The community faces extreme poverty, water shortages, and constant threats from drought and heavy rainfall. Despite a warm and joyful welcome, living conditions remain very difficult. Community leaders stressed that education is the only long-term way to break the cycle of poverty and hope to establish a nursery school to give children a better start in life.

The group that visited Wenje observed a dispensary and medical facility that faces shortages of both staff and essential medicines. This facility serves as the only healthcare provider for the surrounding rural communities. The Spiritans have established a primary school and a farm in the area to promote education and self-sufficiency among local residents. In 2024, the region experienced significant flooding and continues to face security challenges due to the presence of gangs.

Mkundi

After another long bus journey, the whole group came together and headed to Mkundi to visit an inspiring project focused on building ICT skills and training opportunities for women and youth. Fr. Urbanas Kasolo C.S.Sp warmly explained that the programme aims to open doors to meaningful employment, helping both women and young people pursue fulfilling and rewarding careers. The building is still under construction, and the project is seeking additional support to complete it, train staff, and provide access to the latest IT equipment.

Projects like this have the power to brighten the future for children, much like the bright-eyed students we met at St Patrick’s Primary School in Mbegini. Despite facing daily challenges—overcrowded classrooms, limited educational materials, and inadequate sanitation—this school radiates hope and resilience. With the addition of extra classrooms and proper toilet facilities, the learning environment could be transformed, giving these children the tools and opportunities they deserve for a brighter tomorrow.

Urban Poverty

Visiting remote communities, where life can be exceptionally difficult, naturally leads to questions about whether relocation might offer a better future. Many people leave rural homes in search of opportunities in the cities, only to find themselves facing challenges that are sometimes even greater than those they left behind. We witnessed this reality first-hand in the slums of Mombasa and Nairobi.

Mukuru, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, is a place of resilience amid hardship. Families live in tightly packed makeshift homes, often without reliable access to clean water or proper sanitation. During a brief tour guided by Fr. Paul Hoang C.S.Sp, some of the Wheelers, including students, had the chance to see the Spiritans’ work supporting residents who face extreme poverty every day.

For the students, the visit was more than just an observation—it was a deeply human experience. Walking through Mukuru, they encountered lives shaped by challenges that cannot be fully understood from a classroom. The stories, faces, and determination they saw left a lasting impression. It became clear that one of the most meaningful ways to help is by equipping communities with skills and education that empower them to take charge of their own futures.

And finally…..

This mission trip would not have been possible without Christy, whose courage and compassion brought the Wheelers to some of the world’s most overlooked and vulnerable communities. Through his outreach, countless lives have been touched with hope and support, even in the face of profound challenges.

One particularly inspiring story is that of Annah Chebet, who has devoted her life to running an orphanage for abandoned children. For many years, the Wheelers have generously supported her work, and meeting Annah in Nairobi was a deeply moving experience. She was joined by John and Liga, both of whom were abandoned as infants but have now achieved the extraordinary milestone of scoring the equivalent of 600 points in the Leaving Certificate. With this foundation, their dreams of pursuing medicine in college are within reach—a testament to resilience, opportunity, and the ripple effect of care.

Beyond individual stories, this trip strengthens the bonds between the three schools of Blackrock College and communities in the developing world, creating bridges of understanding, solidarity, and shared humanity.

Kenya itself is a land of breath-taking beauty. We were fortunate to experience wonders such as Hell’s Kitchen—a striking canyon in Marafa—a safari through the wild, a hike to a waterfall in Shima Hills, a warm swim in the Indian Ocean, and even two nights in a treehouse hotel, among other memorable moments.

Participating in a mission trip is a profound privilege. It offers a window into the realities faced by marginalized communities and reminds us that even small acts of kindness can create lasting change. Christy’s simple but powerful mantra, “you just do what you can,” is a lesson in humanity that can transform lives forever.

By: Aine O’Donoghue, Chair of Willow Wheelers CC