For several years, Vicki has worked with Jane Millen, a teacher friend at Spring Creek Elementary in Whistler to run a PA-MOJA Club with many of the younger students. In the club, the children get to learn about the Kenyan animals and the important connection between people and wildlife. Vicki teaches them how supporting the families around Ol Pejeta Conservancy helps the wildlife because people are more likely to support the conservancy when they see the good the conservancy is doing in the local communities. The PA-MOJA Club also plans and hosts a few fundraisers every year to raise money for their sponsor student in Kenya.
Vicki and Silvia Knittel met when they were young students in middle school. They stayed in touch off and on over the years. In 2013 Vicki learned about Silvia’s involvement with PA-MOJA and decided to join the organization. Vicki has fond memories of traveling with Silvia and a team of PA-MOJA volunteers in 2014 and 2017. Reflecting on her experiences there, the game drives at OPC, the schools she visited and the people she met, she says that “Everyday was an adventure!”
There are many memorable experiences from Kenya. Like the time Silvia gave away the shoes right off her own feet to a Kenyan woman, who then thanked her by giving her a chicken. The chicken sat on Silvia’s lap in the van, happily clucking on the journey back to the house they were staying at. Silvia then gave the chicken to the driver, John Mwangi, who was most appreciative. This story about Silvia is one of many similar stories, highlighting her compassionate heart, generous spirit and adventurous personality.
Vicki joined the PA-MOJA Committee in 2022. She appreciates so many things about the organization, such as the way PA-MOJA has stayed true to its core philosophy and mandate over the years. “The way PA-MOJA does things is so important and so sustainable… we ask first, hire locals, no one goes for a free trip… we’ve stuck to our core, and it works!” Vicki Swan
