Options :
Out to Africa

 A team from Options went out to Africa to paint and help furnish a community centre in Kenya. The team highlighted what could be achieved by people with learning disabilities; making a positive and lasting contribution to the lives of people in a different country and community.
 
Despite the obvious poverty and difficult circumstances that many people in Kenya lived in; all who went on the trip were impressed by the dignity of the people and the welcome they received.
 
Most communities in Kenya welcomed the options team with a community song – and expected their guests to respond with a song of their own. Options team quickly chose “He’s got the whole world in his hands” as their anthem. It became the song that was sung every time they met a different community.
 
Ann Burke who travelled with the team commented that “we do not realise the capabilities of people with learning disabilities” Ann continued “taking someone with learning disabilities out of their normal setting can be a life enhancing experience”.
 
Ann described the people of Kenya as having a strong sense of community – “You could not help being moved by the people and the impact a small gesture had on their lives. A simple gift of flip flops for the children made their eyes light up.” Ann’s lasting impression was that “people can make a difference”.