On a recent trip to Nairobi, Kenya, I met with Anne Sweeney (former River Forest resident and OPRF High School grad) who founded Heshima Kenya, an organization that provides comprehensive counseling, educational and health services, as well as a safe house, for refugee girls who have fled violence in Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and the Congo. I’ve been involved in the organization for several years and it was a bucket list item to meet the girls and find out more about the amazing work that Anne has been doing.
And how weird is this? While I was there I met with longtime Oak Parker Linda Stolz who was in Nairobi the same time I was — checking up on some of the projects that she has been involved in for Global Alliance for Africa. She took me to Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, and showed me the library that she and Global Alliance funded and helped build. She also introduced me to some of the women who have benefitted from microloans from Global Alliance. Such an unbelievable coincidence and treat!
Then, to add odd to odder, when I was in Cape Town doing the winery tour (what else are you going to do on a rainy day?), I discovered that one of the 10 people in my group graduated from Fenwick! What are the chances that you would be in a small group of people from all over the world, and one of them would be from your home town?
I tell you, Oak Parkers and River Foresters get around! Just for the heck of it, I’ve attached a photo of a plaque outside Nelson Mandela’s home in Soweto Township, Johannesburg. I’ve been thinking of him as it appears his days are numbered. The quote seemed so “Oak Park” to me.
It really was a life-changing experience — and I’m ready to go back! For future reference, Anne Sweeney would make a great profile for Wednesday Journal. She founded Heshima Kenya in 2007 and it has been growing operationally and reputationally. She is back in the U.S. as of this month, heading the office in Chicago and regularly visits family in River Forest. I’m thinking, especially after the way our community embraced Anne Smedinghoff, it might be nice to highlight those OP-RF residents or former residents who are now doing such great things in the big world.
Jessica Mackinnon
Oak Park
