Unique opportunity to assimilate into the Kenyan experience

摘要

The term "life-changing experience" is often used rather blithely to describe a myriad of events that occur throughout one's lifetime. However, we would maintain that bringing three young and impres- sionable children (7, 11, and 15 years old) to a Third World country to work within its healthcare system is truly an appropriate use of the term. My husband and I are physicians, a pulmonologist and a pediatric cardiologist respectively, so it seemed logical to volunteer our time to the Brown Kenya Program where our expertise might be valuable. As we contemplated this journey, we also considered how worthwhile it might be to bring our children with us to Kenya. Alyssa, Sara and Benjamin were growing up in a wonderful community but one where wants and needs were easily met and diversity was not the norm. We wanted them to experience a culture that would impress on them the realities of social and economic inequalities and perhaps give them a context upon which to base decisions about how to make their way in the world.