Civics Incursion: Kenya - Mirror of Hope

We were privileged to welcome Tommy Nyawir, founder of Mirror of Hope, Kenya, to St Bernard's College to share his story with our Year 10 Civics students. 

Students in Civics learn about the different kinds of overseas development assistance, including non-governmental aid. The incursion with Tommy provided a great opportunity for students to ask questions from a personal story, and to engage with many different questions. These questions broadened students' understanding and gave them the chance to reflect on the importance of foreign aid through a real-life example.

Students also had the opportunity to teach Tommy a few things. Tommy is a big AFL fan of the Hawthorn Hawks, and while he has attended games at the MCG, he has never had the chance to learn the skills. The students taught him the art of kicking and handballing, their talents quickly rubbing off on our Kenyan visitor. 

Tommy has an incredible story. Growing up in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa—1 million people living within a 2.5km^2 area—Tommy did not have the opportunity to attend school, due to the high costs of schooling in Kenya, which is not funded by the government. Tommy did not believe he would ever receive an education, until a chance encounter with a visiting traveler changed everything. Upon a brief introduction and meeting Tommy’s parents, the stranger offered to pay for his entire high school education.

Tommy has no way of contacting and thanking the person that changed his life, and never even got his name. To say thanks and to pay forward the gift he was given, he founded Mirror of Hope with his wife. Mirror of Hope is one of St. Bernard’s partner schools in Kenya and aims to give as many children as possible the life-changing gift of education. Staff have visited multiple times in recent years, with the hope of visiting with students in 2027 during our Kenya Immersion. 

We can't thank Tommy enough for his time and for sharing his incredible story!