Woman who lived among young criminal offenders in remote area says Americans should feel ‘very grateful’

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A young American student felt motivated to step out of her comfort zone and give others a helping hand in life — and wound up learning about harsh sentencing practices in other countries and seeing the United States in a new light.

Tess Emanuel, a high school senior, spent two summerstraveling to Kenyaand working there as a volunteer.

“I grew up being told that I needed to do things to help others and serve others,�

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After doing her research, she discovered Better Me, a nonprofit focused on education, training and life skills for children and young people in remote locations who are trying to turn their lives around.Signing on in a volunteer capacity, she embarked on missions to Kenya during two separate summers.

Working with the Kisumu Children’s Remand Home, a correctional facility located in Kisumu, she and other volunteers taught lessons tochildren of all ages.

Tess Emanuel of McLean, Virginia, volunteered for two summers with a nonprofit created to help children in unfortunate circumstances. (Tess Emanuel)

“I worked withchildren who were serving timefor their crimes or waiting for trials,” she said.

“At first, I was very intimidated because I heard I would be working with criminals and didn’t know what to expect.”

Emanuel said she worked with youngsters charged with theft and robbery — but learned the larger context of the crimes they committed and the desperate circumstances in which they’d been living.

They had been stealingfood and resourcesto survive.

Emanuel said she “worked with children who were serving time for their crimes or waiting for trials,” she said.Many of the children had been stealing food in order to survive. (Tess Emanuel)

“After speaking with them more, I quickly learned it was mainly the fault ofthe system and the governmentthat they were under — rather than malintentions on [the children’s] part,” she said, sharing her opinions.

“I learned how important it is to listen to others and not let judgments or certain categorizations really define how you view a person,” she said.

Volunteer work can “create positive change in ourselves, others and the world.”

On its website, the organization says “the transformative power of volunteerism” can “create positive change in ourselves, others and the world.”

“I always had the understanding that not everyone else had that privilege, so I was researching organizations to work with children in Africa … I’ve always just had a curiosity about Africa,” said the young woman from Virginia.(Tess Emanuel)

It also says its “volunteer program is tailor-made for open-minded individuals who are eager to expand their horizons, challenge common misconceptions and gain invaluable knowledge, skills and real-world experiences.”

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Emanuel said the volunteers would work there three to four times a week, teaching English lessons to the children as well as life skills.

“You could talk about hygiene, public speaking, manners,religious lessons.It was really cool to plan your own lessons and really teach them whatever you knew a lot about,” she said.

Volunteers also spent time at the Korando School, home to 200 students, including some 90 orphans.

favorite activity was swimming,she said.

“I learned how important it is to listen to others and not let judgments or certain categorizations really define how you view a person,” said Emanuel.(Tess Emanuel)

Volunteers would all eat dinner together — and on Wednesdays, they enjoyed karaoke night.On weekends, volunteers went on safaris orexplored nearby towns.

Emanuel noted the transition back to the United States taught her new insights each summer.

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She felt immensely blessed and lucky for herfamily, her school, her friendsand the resources she previously took for granted, she said.

“I’ve always been a very grateful person, and I’ve understood that I live very nicely and that not everyone has that, but I did not realize the extent to which other people had to live in those conditions,” said Emanuel.