Let's Talk Human Rights

By Katarina Lagodzinski '25

This summer, through full funding from the Daniel J. Curran and Claire M. Renzetti Scholarship Fund for International Studies, I was able to travel to Kenya as a part of UD Chorale to sing with an organization called AVoice4Peace. UD Chorale joined AVoice4Peace together with the Festival Singers of Florida, and choir students and faculty from Florida State University Students, Northwest Missouri State University, and Hastings College. We met and sang with three different Kenyan choirs: the Talanta Afrika Singers and Blend Ensemble directed by Sylvester Otieno and the Nairobi Chamber Chorus (NCC) directed by Ken Wakia. We rehearsed multiple times over the days we stayed in Nairobi and hosted a concert on June 24th at the Sabis International School where we sang the commissioned work “And Justice For All…” by Kyle Pederson. Our concert was an opportunity to spread peace and unity as well as support and raise money for the Magoso Children’s Home—a school and orphanage in rural Kenya. We were also able to give back to the community and sing at the Fairseat Retirement Home in Nairobi with the NCC. “That each of us might reach out beyond our comfort zone and seek to build bridges of care and connection, finding a better way of being in community”– is how Kyle Pederson summarizes the overall message from this work ‘… and Justice for All’. We came together from across the world and sang this piece in hope to, as Pederson said, build connections and inspire others to enact change around the world as we strive for a peaceful future.

We spent the rest of the trip sightseeing in Nairobi, hiking Mount Longonot National Park, visiting Lake Navasha, and going on safari trips in the Maasai Mara for four days. It was an amazing experience to immerse ourselves in the Maasai culture, go into the Maasai village, see their housing, their culture, their customs, and get to know them as people—especially the Maasai safari guides and camp staff. It was also a wonderful experience to be able to be so close to the live animals and to get to see them thrive in their natural habitats like nothing you would ever be able to see in a zoo. We saw hippopotamuses, zebras, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, gazelles, wildebeests, jackals, and many more native animals. The landscape itself was also so beautiful with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets during safari drives. It was amazing to have these once-in-a-life-time experiences with people from other schools and make new friends and connections with people I would have never otherwise met. 

In Nairobi, our visit to the August 7th Memorial Park was one of the most impactful parts of the trip. It is a memorial to pay tribute to and educate people about the tragic bombing of the U.S. Embassy that occurred in Nairobi on August 7, 1998. The Memorial also educates visitors about the futility of violence and encourages visitors to reflect on the tragedies and terrorism that have occurred across the world and emphasizes the great need for peace and unity in society today. It was very moving to see the quotes at the Memorial that also inspired the work by Kyle Pederson that we sang such as the quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”. These sentiments made our participation on the tour and with AVoice4Peace feel that much more meaningful. It was very heartbreaking and moving to hear the direct impacts of this tragedy on the Kenyan people, and especially our tour guide John who almost lost his life to the bombing. 

The last day of the trip we stayed with Marianist brothers living in Nairobi with Father Stephen Wanyoike Mburu. We talked to the brothers and learned about the work they do at the Chaminade Training Center (CTC) located in the Mukure Knw Njenga slum of Nairobi. This training center supports and helps serve the community in need by giving them education in special skills training like textiles and micro-enterprise development. The work that they do at these training centers help men and women find better jobs and enable them to move out of the slums and have a better life. Witnessing how humble, grateful, and passionate the Marianist brothers were about their faith and helping others was incredibly inspiring. We were able to see the effects of organizations such as the CTC in Amani ya Juu, a store and hostel for women that we visited which helps women find work selling and creating beautiful home goods such as bags, clothing, and jewelry.

Kenya is a land of stark contrasts with spectacular beauty and extreme income inequality that impacts human rights and quality of life for the average Kenyan. I was extremely fortunate to have the life changing opportunity to visit and experience the beauty of the land, the people, and the animals that make Kenya a unique and special place in the world. Most importantly, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the memorable, eye-opening tour. I support the mission of AVoice4Peace and believe that a peace concert, a film, or even a single piece of music, is a moment wherein we can de-escalate violence and conflict. I believe in the transformative power of the arts and will cherish the memories of connecting and collaborating with the other choirs from the US and Kenya.

Katarina Lagodzinski is a junior Biology and Music Double Major from Phoenixville, PA. She plans on applying to dental school at the end of this year and plans to keep music and singing in her life as well.