Special Report
By Dr. Dennis Augustine
“May the gentle winds of the heavenly realm blow softly and whisper in your ear, how much we love and miss you and wish that you were here.”
—The McAllister & Augustine Family
Jambo, Jambo, everyone! As a reminder, my brother-in-law Joe and family founded the Selina McAllister Computer School, in memory of my late niece and goddaughter, Selena. She left us last December 28, at the age of 40, the same day her beloved daughter Zaila turned 13.
Today marked the second shipment of “jerseys" from New Jersey to arrive at the Masogo School in Kenya thanks to the generosity of my nephew Jake McAllister’s childhood friend Justin Stallard and his point man Jack who helped to make it possible. The first shipment also included blue, green, yellow and black jerseys, boots, socks, matching shorts, goal posts and soccer balls and nets. Today, Noel Olweny, the community leader of the Masogo School and member of the County Assembly joyfully announced that he was in receipt of 60 high quality black and white Addidas Jersey tops.
Noel, seen in many of the attached photos informed the school projects committee. As a result special arrangements are being made for the school fraternity to officially welcome the “jerseys” and schedule a friendly soccer match with another school after Spring break to coincide with a “Boom Day Celebration.” To that end, Joe, the main benefactor of the school and community and Noel’s mentor graciously donated $1,000 for food and drinks for students, teachers, staff and aides. Of course, always by his side, is Noel's Mama, the matriarch of the family who expressed her joy and gave her blessings to all concerned.
We met Noel at the Kenya Safari Club in 2006. The following year Joe took Selina to Kenya, and years later he decided to fund Noel's post-graduate education in Land management. They have remained good friends ever since. Last March, Cecile and I decided to support Joe and his family by contributing a $1,000 to the Masogo school in Selina’s memory.
Postscript: Earlier in the month, Noel proudly anounced that his daughter Serena (wearing spectacles in the photos), accompanied him for the end-term school holidays which brought him even greater joy, as she witnessed what he described as “the noble act of beautiful people.” Serena's response was, “I love our friends in the USA.” As Serena entered the Selena McAllister Computer Classroom, and saw framed photos of her prominently and respectfully displayed on the walls of the classroom and her grandmother's home, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Noel ended his email with the words “Asante sana rafiki, mango awabariki,” which translated from Swahili means:
Thank you, my friend, God Bless you!
