When people hear about a humanitarian trip to Kenya, they usually imagine the travel itself: the long flight, the new culture, the people we meet, and the projects we complete once we arrive. What many don't see is everything that happens before the journey begins.
Volunteers at a preparatory meeting before the trip: building relationships. (@Youtlic.kenya)
This summer, my daughter Sofia and I had the opportunity to participate in a humanitarian program through Youthlinc, a nonprofit organization based in Utah that focuses on developing young leaders through service. While the two weeks we spent in Kenya were unforgettable, the experience actually started nearly nine months earlier.
This post is the first in a five-part series about our Youthlinc journey. In the coming weeks, I'll share more about the program itself, our travels across Kenya, the people and experiences that left a lasting impression, the legacy of the work we accomplished, and the plans we hope to continue in the future. But before any of that happened, there was a long season of preparation.
Truck carrying clothes and donations for a social project in Kenya. (@Youthlinc.kenya)
Youthlinc's philosophy is simple but powerful: meaningful service begins long before you arrive at your destination. The organization challenges participants not only to serve internationally but also to become active contributors within their own communities. Every youth participant is required to complete extensive volunteer service at home before joining the international project. The goal is not simply to travel and help; it is to develop a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and community engagement.
Our Kenya team consisted of 31 people: mentors, alumni leaders, and youth participants ranging from 15 to 18 years old. Over nine months, we met regularly, attended trainings, organized fundraisers, participated in service projects, and prepared for the work waiting for us in Kenya. What began as a group of individuals slowly became a team.
One of the things that impressed me most was how intentionally the program was organized. Participants were divided into committees, each responsible for a specific area of the humanitarian project. There were teams focused on construction, education, health, ecology, and vocational training. Every committee spent months preparing for its role before departure.
Sofia and I were part of the Vocational Committee, which focused on teaching sewing and practical skills to women in the Nakuru region. For me, as someone whose life and business have been built around sewing, embroidery, and creating with my hands, this assignment felt deeply personal.
Our preparation involved far more than simply deciding what to teach. We spent months selecting projects, creating samples, testing patterns, developing teaching materials, and discussing how to make the lessons practical and sustainable. The goal wasn't just to teach a skill for a few days. We wanted to leave behind knowledge that could continue creating opportunities long after we returned home.
As the months passed, our meetings became more than planning sessions. They became opportunities to build friendships, learn from one another, and prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for an experience none of us fully understood yet. We talked about culture, expectations, challenges, and the importance of approaching service with humility. We weren't going to Kenya to "save" anyone. We were going to learn, connect, and work alongside a community.
The support from our local community was another important part of this journey. Friends, family members, customers, and supporters donated supplies, contributed materials, and encouraged our efforts from the very beginning. Every contribution, no matter the size, became part of the story that would eventually travel across the world with us.
One of the biggest challenges during our preparation was participating in the annual Youthlinc Clothes Drive. Each participant was expected to collect approximately 500 pounds of clothing and other donated items to support the communities we would serve. What seemed like an ambitious goal quickly became a powerful reminder of how generous people can be when they come together for a good cause. With the incredible support of our friends, family, customers, and local community, Sofia and I collected more than 2,300 pounds of donations—more than four times the individual goal. Watching bags and boxes continue to arrive week after week was both humbling and inspiring. Every donation represented someone who wanted to be part of this mission, even if they couldn't travel with us. Their generosity became an important part of the journey long before we ever arrived in Kenya.
Looking back now, I realize the preparation was not simply about getting ready for a trip. It was about becoming the kind of people capable of making the most of the experience. By the time we boarded our flight to Kenya, we had already learned valuable lessons about teamwork, service, commitment, and leadership.
And yet, we still had no idea how much more was waiting for us.
In the next chapter, I'll share what happened when months of preparation finally became reality and our Youthlinc team stepped onto Kenyan soil for the first time.
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