Grace Stewart is a member of the PA-MOJA Committee and the treasurer of the Langley School District Foundation (LSDF). Since 2018, PA-MOJA has operated as a committee under the LSDF. The Foundation is an important connection for PA-MOJA, because they support initiatives (like this project), keep track of PA-MOJA’s monthly donations and financial statements, issue tax receipts to people who donate to the PA-MOJA scholarship program and distribute funds to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on behalf of PA-MOJA.
Grace has been on the LSDF board since 2017. She recalls a particular board meeting several years ago, when Silvia Knittel introduced PA-MOJA to the board. She shared her passion about Kenya, wildlife, and education. Silvia exuded boundless energy through her description of PA-MOJA; her love of the animals and students was infectious. PA-MOJA (formerly PKSS) originated in the Langley School District with the mission to support global education and wildlife conservation while also teaching students about altruism and appreciation of a different culture. Since these goals aligned with the Foundation’s core mandate, the LSDF agreed to partner with PA-MOJA.
The mandate of the LSDF is to fundraise within the local community to supplement public education to “ensure Langley students achieve success.” Grace poses a common rhetorical question: “Why give to kids in Kenya when kids here are struggling?” Grace’s response was, “We have a duty to care for others, to value the lives of others and to give Langley students a sense of the world beyond Langley.” By being a part of PA-MOJA students in Langley are given the opportunity to learn about cultural diversity, raise awareness, be active globally, learn to fundraise and realize what they can do to help make a difference. Grace values education and is proud to be involved with PA-MOJA.
In 2019, Grace traveled to Kenya with PA-MOJA and experienced the magic first hand. The team stayed at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and visited schools, scholarship students and the communities surrounding the conservancy. Grace was amazed everyday to experience wildlife and learn about the animals. When the team visited schools they were often greeted warmly with songs, dances, presentations, and tours. Grace was impressed by the calibre of scholarship students they met: they were engaged, appreciative, resilient, and excited about learning.
PA-MOJA has given Grace a new perspective. Sometimes it seems like a daunting task to help so many Kenyan students achieve their unique potential, but now she realizes that providing scholarships one student at a time is a great place to start.
