King's Ely Sixth Form Kenya Trip 2026 | News | King's Ely | Private Co-educational School in Cambridgeshire

We have loved hearing all of the amazing stories and memories from this year's King's Ely Sixth Form Kenya Trip!

Seventeen students, Mr James Houlston, Ms Audrienne Bezzina, Mrs Jane Halls, and Ms Michelle Parr spent twelve days during the October half term at St Andrew's School, Turi and PEFA Matumaini Rehabilitation Centre, which is a charity that provides education and medical care for Kenyan children with disabilities.

Sixth Form student, Lotte, said: "Kenya was the trip of a lifetime! It was a very eye-opening experience, and it changed my perspective on the world and the things that I often take for granted. The trip was the perfect balance between adventure and something much more meaningful. From going on safari and seeing Kenya's amazing wildlife to volunteering at Matumaini Rehabilitation Centre, every aspect of the trip gave me a different experience and perspective. Despite the challenges that children and adults face, they find so much happiness, joy, and fulfilment in everyday life. Seeing how much the children enjoy the small moments is something that I think will stay with me forever."

The trip was our fourth one in partnership with St Andrew’s. The group spent their first night at the Wildebeest Eco Camp in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi, before travelling north through the Rift Valley to St Andrew’s, which was home for the majority of the expedition. Students and staff camped in the school grounds, and ate breakfast and supper in the dining hall with St Andrew’s pupils, which quickly made them feel part of the community. Pupils were also invited to visit the St Andrew’s Sixth Form boarding house and meet their counterparts there. They were shown around the house, saw how the boarders live and spend their time, and enjoyed comparing notes on life in Turi and in Ely. 

Four days of the trip were spent carrying out practical work and spending time with the children at Matumaini. Building on the relationship formed in 2025, this year’s project focused on improving the children’s living conditions, including refurbishing a dormitory, tiling floors, and improving the sanitation facilities. Pupils mixed cement, laid tiles, and painted, often in the heat of the day, and took real pride in seeing the rooms transformed by the end of the week. There was creative work too - pupils especially enjoyed painting murals on the walls of one of the dormitories, as well as glass painting in the chapel.

Time spent with the children themselves was every bit as important as the building work. Games and songs broke down any shyness within minutes, and many pupils said these moments were the highlight of their trip!

Sixth Form student, Keira, said: "The time we spent at Matumaini was probably the most impactful part of the trip for me. I really hope that all of the work we put in, whether it was repainting a dorm, planting banana trees, or even just playing with the children, has a positive impact on their lives. I also hope the children we worked with made fond memories from our time there, as they certainly had a large impact on us."

The group also spent an afternoon at the Turi Children’s Project (TCP), where they met children from Sulgwita, the local primary school. It was a lovely chance to see another side of the community and to share in the children’s energy and enthusiasm. 

Another morning began even earlier, with the group at Elburgon Primary School by 6:45am to help serve breakfast as part of the Ouji Project. Seeing how much a simple, reliable breakfast means to the pupils there was a powerful reminder of the difference such projects make. 

The home visits were, for many, the most affecting part of the trip. Small groups were welcomed into the homes of local families, where they heard first-hand about daily life, work, and schooling in rural Kenya. The warmth and generosity of families with very little left a lasting impression, and prompted some thoughtful conversations around the campfire back at St Andrew’s about privilege, opportunity, and what really matters. 

One of our Sixth Form students said: “I was both honoured and humbled to be able to visit their homes, and it was uplifting to see how happy the children were, even though they were facing such adversity.” 

Midweek, the group set off at 5:30am for a day’s safari in Lake Nakuru National Park. The early start was well rewarded - rhino, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and the park’s famous flamingos were all spotted from the safari vehicles. After a long morning of game driving, lunch and a swim at a nearby lodge were very welcome before the return to Turi. 

After saying goodbye to friends at St Andrew’s, the group spent the final weekend at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge. It was a chance to relax and reflect after a busy week, with hippos grazing on the lawns a memorable, if slightly unnerving, feature of the stay!

A highlight of the weekend was climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano overlooking the lake. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the walk up to around 2,500m above sea level, where they were rewarded with stunning views of the crater and across the Rift Valley. 

On the last day, the group drove back to Nairobi for lunch and some souvenir shopping, followed by a visit to the Giraffe Centre in Karen, where pupils came face to face with Rothschild’s giraffes. They then flew home overnight via Dubai. 

Our staff team who went on the trip said: "This was not a trip for anyone expecting luxury. There were early starts, hard physical work, and nights under canvas. Yet every pupil rose to the challenge with good humour and resilience, and returned with a broader view of the world and a real sense of having made a difference. 

"Our sincere thanks go to everyone at St Andrew’s Turi and PEFA Matumaini Rehabilitation Centre for their welcome and partnership, and to parents for all their support. We look forward to returning in 2027!"

Sixth Form student, Henry, said: "For me, Kenya was one of those trips that will stay with me forever, as we had the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of so many people. From banana tree planting to building standing and sitting supports for children with Cerebral Palsy, our time at Matumaini made us all feel like the work we were doing mattered. Aside from the volunteering, the safari and visits to various markets were a great way to see what else Kenya has to offer, and as a new pupil to King's, the sense of community on the trip helped me to really connect with people and make genuine friendships."

Sixth Form pupil, Lottie, added: "Kenya was definitely my favourite trip that I have done with King’s. My favourite part of the trip was having time to connect with the children from Matumaini and TCP. It was so moving to see how the children brought smiles and happiness to every task. Their happiness was infectious and made me realise how much we take for granted in life. The Kenya trip was a truly eye-opening experience."

Enjoy lots more photos from the trip on our Facebook page: Facebook