The journey began with a flight from Iceland to Nairobi in Kenya on June 15, where the group stayed for three nights. There, the group attended a dance performance and enjoyed an evening meal with various exotic dishes on offer. Additionally, the group explored Nairobi, visited the Karen Blixen Museum, and had a chance to experience Kenyan dancing with a young Kenyan visionary. Finally, they visited the Little Bees School in the Mathare-area, which had recently been affected by a flood. The school, supported by Friends of Kenya in Iceland for decades, was still in recovery.
Afterward, they traveled over the border to Arusha in Tanzania and stayed for one night before flying to the city of Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria. In Mwanza, they stayed at Hotel Tilapia for three nights. Among other activities, they visited a vocational training center run by the main partners of Friends of Kenya and Tanzania, where many in the group ordered African shirts and dresses that the center's students sewed and delivered the next day. They also visited a school to view a tree planting project supported by the group. The school welcomed the group with drumming and dancing. Part of the group then visited another school where a new toilet facility was being constructed, funded by the group. Future plans include drilling a well there next year.
On the morning of the fourth day, three safari jeeps arrived and took the group on a 4-day safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks, concluding at the Ngorongoro Crater, where thousands of animals can be spotted. After staying in Arusha, the group flew to Zanzibar, where they relaxed by the beach and explored the diverse culture in Stone Town.
The group flew back home on June 29th.
Here is an overview of the projects supported during the trip:
A portion of the travel expenses went towards projects in Kenya and Tanzania and were divided as follows:
Total Income: ISK 1,205,000
Tree Planting Project*: -ISK 281,095
Little Bees School: -ISK 190,821
New Toilets for students at Mwaliga Primary School: -ISK 488,860
For the 2025 Water Drilling for Water Project**: -ISK 244,224
*The project was carried out in collaboration with Nourish Africa and students from three schools: Mawa Matatu Secondary School (visited during the trip), Mwabebea Secondary School, and Ntende Secondary School, where trees were planted. The project also included educating students on climate change and tree planting. Additionally, some students were made responsible for caring for the trees and ensuring their growth.
**Drilling for water is planned at Mwaliga Primary School at the beginning of next year.