G'day from the Land Down Under!

It’s been a full week since I landed in Australia, and what a ride it’s been! I’ve met some of the kindest people on the planet—and trust me, I’ve been to Tanzania, so that’s saying something. I’ve seen breathtaking sights, sampled unfamiliar yet delightful cuisines, and soaked in a culture that’s both fascinating and refreshingly different.

My adventure kicked off the moment I landed. Bren, the CEO of ERFA, picked me up from the airport and gave me a whirlwind introduction to Brisbane. First things first—I had to get an Optus SIM card because, as fate would have it, my phone is stubbornly loyal to East Africa. Then came the reality check: no M-Pesa! So, off I went to open a bank account (because, apparently, tapping your phone to pay isn’t universal—who knew?).

Brisbane City greeted me with towering heights and stunning infrastructure. As we drove through the CBD, the streets seemed eerily empty—until we pulled up at a massive shopping complex. Ah, so that’s where everyone was hiding! I grabbed some essentials and settled into my hotel near the mall, ready to embrace this new chapter.

Then came the jet lag. I’d heard the legends, but I was not prepared for the battle ahead. Day one went smoothly—I stayed awake all day and slept like a baby. But by day two, my body had no idea what time zone it was in. Despite this, Bren picked me up and took me to St Joseph’s Nudgee College, an Edmund Rice school and the headquarters of ERFA. We toured the vast campus for a good 20 minutes before heading to the office, where I was welcomed with beaming smiles from Kate, Nichole, Jason, Sabine, and Emily. I sat in on their team meeting, gaining valuable insights into how the foundation operates.

Post-meeting, I had a fantastic marketing session with Kate before Jason whisked me off to St James College, another Edmund Rice school in Brisbane. There, I had the privilege of speaking to nearly 100 students, all ears as I shared the story of Ruben Centre and the transformative impact of ERFA’s support. The diversity at St James was striking—I even some students speak Swahili!

The following day, Jason and I visited the prestigious St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, a neighbor to St James College. Touring the campus, I was impressed by how efficiently they utilized space—reminding me of Ruben Centre’s own efforts to maximize resources. Coincidentally, the school is celebrating its sesquicentennial (150th) jubilee this year, just as Ruben Centre marks its silver (25th) jubilee. Talk about perfect timing! I addressed two groups of students in their “overcrowded” classes of 28 learners (cue laughter from anyone familiar with Kenyan class sizes). The school’s advanced use of digital resources warmed my heart, affirming that Ruben Primary School is on the right track in embracing technology.

The rest of the week, I put on my tourist hat and dove into Aussie culture and history. Standing atop one of Brisbane’s tallest skyscrapers, I marveled at the city’s skyline and its commitment to cleanliness—seriously, not a single rogue plastic bag in sight! I then took a road trip to Coffs Harbour, where I’m currently immersing myself in the rich traditions of the Gumbaynggirr people, thanks to my gracious host, Adrian.

Next up: Sydney and Melbourne! I can’t wait to soak up more experiences and bring back insights that will help make Mukuru—and Kenya as a whole—even better. Stay tuned for more updates from my Aussie escapade!

By: Gregory Barake