Sisters Around the World The Next Chapter

By Lucy Smith

Reposted from Spring issue of 406 Woman Magazine. See the article here.

Sarah Rolfing and I have returned home from Kenya, our hearts filled with gratitude. The goodwill, prayers, and generosity of family, friends, and fellow Rotarians made this outreach possible, and the impact of our journey will resonate for years.

From March 5-13, Sarah and I embarked on an ambitious “outreach marathon,” determined to educate 500 girls and women about reproductive health, train 30 government nurses and public health promoters, provide essential clinical supplies, and teaching materials in Swahili, Maasai, and English. But our mission didn’t end there— we were invited to help shape the vision for a new medical clinic in Maasai country, a beacon of hope for a region long underserved. Our journey to provide training was the beginning of something transformative.

A Road of Purpose

After 36 hours of travel, we landed in Nairobi late at night and were welcomed warmly by our dedicated project team: Andrew, Hope, Lydia, and our driver, Hiram. Though jet-lagged, we were eager to begin. At sunrise, we set off in our van for what locals call the "Kenya massage"—a bumpy ride along open roads toward Magadi. Our first stop was to train government nurses, community health promoters and local volunteers, and to discuss the region’s pressing health priorities. Teen pregnancy and maternal and infant health were at the top of their list.

Sarah introduced her reproductive health curriculum, showcasing simple and effective tools designed to help women and girls understand fertility and family planning, especially where medical resources are scarce. Though her audience included several men, all listened with unwavering attention. Next, I led discussions assessing regional health needs and resources, and guided community health promoters through strategic visioning for improving healthcare delivery while Sarah conducted advanced medical training for nurses.

An Unforgettable Day with Resilient Young Women

The next morning, we traveled deeper into the country to a girls’ school where we would deliver education tailored to a teen audience. The local community had clearly rallied behind our mission, music blared joyfully from a boombox, a parade of motorbikes arrived with handlebars impossibly stacked with plastic chairs, and men constructed a sprawling tent for shade. Teachers and school faculty welcomed us with thanks for the program we had prepared. Then, the girls arrived – 221 altogether, wearing school uniforms and walking in 104-degree sunshine. Many had walked 12 miles one way to attend. They sang, danced, and took our hands, saying, “Let’s go,” leading us in rhythmic moves that I attempted with great enthusiasm, if not much grace. Sarah’s approach was invitingly reassuring and accessible for the girls.

Then, the girls arrived – 221 altogether, wearing school uniforms and walking in 104-degree sunshine. Many had walked 12 miles one way to attend.

Using large paper taped to an outer school wall, she sketched diagrams of the reproductive system and explained “our female body’s superpower” in clear and simple terms that were translated into Swahili and Maasai by Hope and Lily. I watched the girls respond with shy smiles and growing confidence to Sarah’s messages that: “Fertility is not a disease. Ovulation is a sign of health. Women have the capacity to understand and use their knowledge to make healthy personal and medical decisions.”

I watched the girls respond with shy smiles and growing confidence to Sarah’s messages that: “Fertility is not a disease. Ovulation is a sign of health. Women have the capacity to understand and use their knowledge to make healthy personal and medical decisions.”

On this trip, Sarah was the lead and I was her assistant. A departure from most of my work, but a marvelous adventure! And fun! I facilitated icebreaker activities to relax everyone and offer laughter and lighthearted moments between lessons. I also introduced the importance of personal hygiene for health, teaching hand-washing methods and a song to reinforce the message. The Kenyan sun was relentless, but the connection we forged with these young women made us forget the heat.

CycleBeads and Dignity Kits: Small Items, Profound Impact

Friends in Montana crafted CycleBead bracelets for 500 girls and women. CycleBeads are a simple tool for tracking one’s menstrual cycle and identifying fertile days using the Standard Days Method. Sarah’s explanation for using them always generated enthusiastic nods and thoughtful questions.

Thanks to generous donors, our partner organization, Children’s Future Foundation, sourced 600 reusable menstrual kits which we named “dignity kits.” Each contained two pairs of panties, a bar of soap, disposable pads, eight reusable menstrual pads and instructions, all wrapped in a beautiful bag hand-sewn by Rotary friends in Washington.

The moment Hope and Lydia unveiled the kits to the girls was unforgettable. The teens roared with delight at the sight of the soap, and erupted into applause when the panties were revealed! Hope and Lydia beamed, their smiles mirroring the girls’ excitement. Small items so ordinary to us are life-changing for these young women.

In underserved communities, menstruation often means missed school. Missed school translates to lost opportunity. By gifting dignity kits and Cycle Beads, we aim to empower girls with newfound confidence and allow them to fully participate in their education.

Empowerment Beyond the Classroom Our next workshop took place at a Maasai community center and church, where over 120 stunningly adorned Maasai women gathered, their intricate beaded jewelry capturing our attention while they captured our hearts. Many young mothers were there cradling their babies, anxious to learn more about their own reproductive and maternal health.

The women welcomed us with traditional songs of thanks in voices rich with pride. They laughed in delight as Sarah and I attempted to follow their dances, and then gamely joined the fun when I led them in an icebreaker that was half dance, half calisthenics. As we handed out dignity kits and CycleBeads at the end of our seminar, each woman grasped our hands firmly, her eyes shining with gratitude. Those moments will stay with us forever.

A New Chapter: The Clinic That Will Change Lives On our final day, we conducted our workshop for 125 Maasai women and teens at a site that holds profound significance. For years, Sarah and I have worked in different Kenyan communities to address pressing public health needs. This trip brought us to the region where Sarah and her team have worked for years, and this year to the opening of a Rotary-funded brick-and-mortar clinic that will serve communities long in need of essential medical care.

Building renovations were completed just in time for our last day of training, and we taught from the steps of the freshly painted clinic—our new project! A skilled nurse with extensive experience and a gift for education, has already been hired to lead the clinic. Our outreach was just the beginning of a campaign to support women and girls’ health in the Magadi region, and we are confident this clinic will save lives and advance health care for generations.

A Journey That Changes Lives—and Ourselves

Every experience Sarah and I have had in Africa has changed us. This journey deepened every lesson, every impact, and every bond. When we come together in a spirit of service, anything is possible. We planted seeds of empowerment through health education for girls and women, and equipped local health professionals to continue this vital outreach. The creation of a sustainable clinic will ensure that thousands of Kenyans receive critical medical care and public health education for years to come. And we left Kenya with a thousand memories and endless appreciation for those who made this possible.

None of this happy story would have unfolded without the love, support, and generosity of friends, family, and Rotary organizations. When we come together in a spirit of service, anything is possible. Maybe that’s how we change the world. Surely it is how we change ourselves.

When we come together in a spirit of service, anything is possible. Maybe that’s how we change the world. Surely it is how we change ourselves.