[Includes 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 potential.
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 applications that empower workers to present again. One profit, Time2Give, modified every little thing. It’s 80 hours of paid day off every year to volunteer with causes that matter to us, along with our common paid day off. My crew didn’t simply enable 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 residence on the Wema Academy, a rural faculty 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 present member of EWB since grad faculty, I had solely helped handle initiatives remotely and by no means thought I’d have the prospect to be a part of a journey crew. When the chance got here, I didn’t hesitate.
The First Journey — “Welcome Dwelling”
After I arrived in Kenya, the college administrators greeted me with two phrases I’ll always remember: “Welcome residence.” 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 unbelievable. Whereas I used to be the one Cisco volunteer that 12 months, I had the privilege of working alongside skilled civil and environmental engineers. My mission? To rebuild Wema’s Data and Communications Know-how (ICT) facility — what most of us simply name a pc lab.
Besides the “laptop lab” turned out to be a big gritty room with solely three desktops that had been over a decade previous, had no connection to the Web, and had been stuffed with sufficient mud to create a small desert. Earlier than I may even begin to consider bringing in new know-how, I noticed we must intestine the complete room. With a bit of assist from employees 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 price 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 had been hungry for data. They needed to find out about 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 laptop class tomorrow?”
And irrespective of how drained I used to be, I all the time mentioned sure.
The Return — Turning One Mission right into a Motion
Once we left in 2023, the college administrators mentioned, “Come again — and subsequent time convey extra mates from Cisco.”
Whereas I had no concrete plan but, I promised to make it occur.
In 2025, we delivered on that promise. With the fantastic assist of EWB, Cisco Kenya, and Cisco’s Inclusive Communities — Linked Black Professionals and Conexión — we returned to broaden the affect. As a crew, we improved the growing older clear water system, expanded the photo voltaic system to energy the complete campus, added new computer systems for distant studying lessons, and flooded the darkish schoolyards with automated lighting so the women can stroll safely to the dorms at night time.
Belief me, it wasn’t straightforward. Between political protests, sluggish 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 periods, 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 prospect.” 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 blissful simply to have the prospect to study, join, and dream past their village.
Past these profound classes, Kenya supplied one other unforgettable expertise: a gaggle 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 actually flips your sense of the world in all the correct methods.
The Highway Forward
We’re not executed. 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 wish to maintain 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.
