Durham News Features - View Article - Bringing Christmas to Kenya

(Previously published Jan. 11, 2006)

WHITBY -- A Whitby man on a volunteer work placement in Kenya managed to give some needy kids a very special Christmas.

Matthew Walton, 25, an information technology specialist working through the Canadian branch of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), which sends skilled workers to collaborate with local partners in developing nations, left in October for a six-month placement in Nairobi, Kenya. He will train locals in general computer knowledge. He also helped create a website for the National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE).

Last month, through the donations of family and friends back home, Mr. Walton was able to raise more than $2,000 for a local drop-in centre that provides medical treatment and help to people with HIV and AIDS, and orphaned children. He regularly keeps an online blog detailing his experiences.

"I decided that I would take a bit of the money that I have, and buy the kids a few treats for Christmas," Mr. Walton said from Kenya via e-mail. "I figured I would ask if anyone felt like helping me out, and sure enough within three days I had over $2,000 rolling through my bank account. It was completely overwhelming and unexpected."

With the money, Mr. Walton bought the centre a television and DVD player for educational purposes, as well as books, toys, candy and decorations for the kids on the day of his visit. Lastly, he paid for a massive Christmas feast for all of them.

"Throughout the course of the day, the orphans took quite an interest in me. Being the only muzungu (white person) at the event, I was a natural attraction,"he said.

"The kids were amazing. They kept feeling my skin and hair, and just bombarded me with question after question," he added. "The one question that got to me was when one of them asked if Santa Claus visits Canada to which I replied, 'Of course he does,' not expecting the response, 'Well, he does not come here.'"

But thanks to the support he received back home, Christmas did come to Kenya this year. Mr. Walton’s sister, Erin, 23, said the family thinks the work he is doing overseas is fantastic.

"He was able to bring to them Christmas, basically, and we’re so proud of him. We're just blown away by his generosity," she said.

His mother, Sandy Crawford, said she is noticing a positive change in her son’s character as she reads his blog: "I think he’s going to come back a totally different person," she said.

In his free time, Mr. Walton has enjoyed sailing, jumping off waterfalls and scaling to the top of Mount Kenya. It’s a big difference from life in Durham Region, he said.

"I have lots of free times in the evenings... but I kind of enjoy the solitude. It gives me a chance to read and write, something that usually gets tossed aside with my busy life back in Canada," he said.