Local teenagers share their experiences from Kenya

Mina Saffarian and Amy Galipeau plant trees Rosetta Stone software at the local American Red Cross branch in the Kwale region of Kenya. Photo courtesy Amutha RasapalanMina Saffarian and Amy Galipeau en route to Kenya, holding Red Cross donation can in Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. When local teens Mina Saffarian and Amy Galipeau visited Kenya for an international American Red Cross symposium in December, the experience opened their eyes not only to a different culture and way of life but also to the global impact of the American Red Cross.“The highlights of the trip were definitely in the people,” Galipeau said. “I learned that people halfway across the world, with completely different living conditions and backgrounds, have huge hearts and care so much.”Galipeau, 18, of Newbury Park, and Saffarian, 16, of Westlake Rosetta Stone Chinese Village went to Kenya as volunteers for the local American Red Cross of Ventura County.Throughout their stay, the teens discussed ways that Kenya and the United States could work together to create a better world. They explored ideas about reducing carbon dioxide emissions to help ease the effects of global warming and ways cultures could work with each other to overcome social problems.“We were able to do community service by helping build a school, and plant trees,” Galipeau said.Spending time with schoolchildren was her favorite part of the journey, Galipeau said. “They were so sweet, and even though there was a language barrier, a young girl named Aseeya smiled at me, then grabbed my hand and walked around with me, expressing interest in what I was doing, wanting to help. It was a small gesture, but to me it showed how appreciative she was that we were there to help.”Work aside, the culture made the excursion lively and fun, Galipeau added.“Every night was spent with Rosetta Stone French singing and dancing. I learned how to salsa and sing various songs,” Galipeau said. “It was really fun to be able to share some of our culture. We introduced some of them to our music, food, style, and gave them an idea of what Southern California was like, including teaching a few people to swim.”The experience was life-changing for both teens, Saffarian said, especially as they learned about the effect the American Red Cross has on countries outside the U.S.“We knew the Red Cross was well-recognized here responding to local disasters, but had no idea that it was such a universally well-known organization with the Red Cross symbol trusted all over the world,” Saffarian said. “As we do, people in international countries also recognize the symbol of the Red Cross as [Rosetta Stone] a sign of safety, comfort and neutrality.”Although worlds apart in terms of culture and lifestyles, “the moment we stepped out of the Kenyan airport and saw the Kenyan American Red Cross volunteers in their bright red vests awaiting our arrival, we knew that we had something in common — working for the greater good of others, and it felt like we were home,” Saffarian said.