Kenya trips run by Pride of Australia medallist Mike Potter are an eye-opener for Tyndale Christian School students
A TRIP to Kenya to help orphans will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a group of SA high school students but it will be extra special for one 16-year-old ...
GOING to Kenya to help orphans will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 28 Tyndale Christian School students, but it will be extra special for 16-year-old James Potter.
James was born in Kenya and was adopted by Tyndale principal Mike Potter when he was working there with his wife Dani until 2000.
The students left for Kenya last week — the first time James has gone back to the country since he was left at a clinic by his mother after being born 10 weeks premature.
Mr Potter was last year was awarded News Corporation’s SA Pride of Australia Medal for Inspiration for setting up the school’s mission trips.
He hopes James will be as moved by the experience as his older adopted son, Daniel, was two years ago.
“He will be able to see the opportunities he’s had and the connection with the land of his birth and ask, ‘How do I as a Kenyan by birth give back and make a difference?’” Mr Potter says.
James is looking forward to the trip.
“It will be good to go back and experience what is there,” James says.
This year’s mission trip to Kenya is the ninth the school has done since it started the program in 2002.
In previous years, projects at orphanages, have included building paths and a poultry farm.
This year they are putting in a fence and painting internal walls.
More students are going this year than ever before.
The $52,000 in donations for the orphanages, raised through events such as sausage sizzles as well as corporate sponsorship, is also the largest sum.
It brings the total donated over 12 years to $400,000.
Sam Coleman, 16, also left for the trip last week (Wednesday, June 25).
“The best thing about it will be seeing the kids and what the poverty is like first-hand,” Sam says.
“You get a new perspective about the world — not to take things for granted.”
Do you know someone who has helped make their community a better place?
Now in its 10th year, the Pride of Australia campaign puts the spotlight on Australians who do extraordinary things for their communities.
This year’s categories include Outstanding Bravery, Courage, Heroism, Community Spirit, Child of Courage, Young Leader, Care and Compassion, Inspiration, Environment and Fair Go.
Winners will be honoured in a state medal ceremony at Adelaide Oval and eligible to win the Gold Medal at a national medal ceremony in Sydney.
Nominations are open until Tuesday, July 29.