Cape High seniors Logan Almond, Julia Burkley and Ella Porman traveled to Africa over spring break to volunteer at Sunrise Sewing School.

Their textiles teacher Alayna Aiken founded the school to empower village women after she visited the region on a mission trip in 2016. The first school opened in Turkwel and the second in Siala, Kenya.

This was Logan’s second trip to Kenya; he also volunteered at Sunrise Sewing School in the summer of 2021. He wasn’t originally going to go this April, but he found a sponsor.

“I’m very grateful to have my plane ticket paid for,” he said. “The school looks a lot better since my last visit. It’s actually a school now, and it’s cool to see the students.”

Julia said she has been intrigued about the African sewing schools since she was a freshman in Aiken’s class.  

“I’ve always wanted to travel, and I have been saving for a big senior year trip,” said Julia, who plans to study political science. “Kenya was a good start to experiencing another country.” 

Ella said she had the time of her life. 

“I think it’s something that every high school kid should do,” she said. “I had so much fun going sightseeing and learning about the different cultures in all the different cities.”

Ella said her favorite part of the trip was holding an Easter egg hunt for the kids in Turkwel. 

“It was amazing to me how welcoming everyone was,” she said. “I can’t wait to go again.” 

Aiken said the group left four days before spring break began, so they got to travel to the western side of the country to go ziplining and hiking through preserves and waterfalls.

“The scenery is so different from Delaware,” Aiken said.

The school now has about 40 students, said Aiken, who has strengthened the school curriculum and plans to partner with the Kenya government to provide certifications in dressmaking and tailoring to students who pass a skills test. 

“I wanted to have legitimate certifications our students can take to get a job,” she said. “Employers will know they have risen to established standards.”

Sunrise Sewing School students learn to sew first on a treadle machine and then an electric machine, said Aiken, who noted mastery of the treadle comes in handy during frequent power outages when students want to continue working.

Students said they used Google translate to communicate with the villagers, each of whom was proud to explain their history and culture. 

The group shopped at vendor markets in Kisumu, which was sometimes chaotic dodging motorcycles and avoiding falling into sewers. Students said they had fun interacting with their Kenyan counterparts, who were all hospitable and welcoming. 

For more information, go to kenyagather.org.