A Journey of Service, Friendship and Hope

Sometimes the greatest difference begins with a simple decision to give our time, energy and care to others.

Martha Millington-Pipe, granddaughter of Mervyn Wass of Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 779 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, recently travelled to Kenya with Derby County Community Trust to volunteer at Jubilee School. What followed was a life-changing experience filled with teaching, laughter, friendship and practical service.

Supported by her family and generous donations from Hastings Lodge No. 8695 and Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 779, Martha helped to improve classrooms, provide food and educational resources, and create new opportunities for the children. One particularly moving act of support also enabled a child to receive the equipment needed to walk more independently and join friends in their games.

Martha’s story reflects values that lie at the heart of Freemasonry: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service. It shows how people working together, across generations and communities, can make a genuine and lasting difference.

Here, Martha shares the story of her unforgettable time at Jubilee School.

"My name is Martha, and I recently had the incredible opportunity to travel to Kenya with Derby County Community Trust to volunteer in a school called Jubilee. This was a truly life changing experience and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me and helped make this trip possible.

Martha Millington-Pipe sharing time with pupils at Jubilee School during her volunteering trip to Kenya.

During my time at Jubilee School, I had the opportunity to teach a variety of lessons including maths, English, reading and I also did a fun lesson on body percussion. It was incredibly rewarding to work with the children and see their enthusiasm for learning. I also had the chance to spend time playing with the children, including, dancing, parachute games, balloons and lots and lots of bubbles. We also handed out lots of stickers, which the children absolutely loved. Some of the children even chose to stick them directly onto their skin rather than their clothes, which was a lovely reminder of how much joy such a simple gift could bring them.

Martha supporting a pupil with their learning inside one of Jubilee School’s colourful classrooms.

One of the projects we completed was completely repainting and decorating a classroom. We transformed the room by painting animals, the alphabet, numbers to 10, flowers and plants, a church and much more. We also built and painted shelves and cupboards for each classroom, providing storage space for resources and helping to improve the learning environment throughout the school. Alongside this, we built and painted the staff toilets, repainted the children's toilets, painted ceiling and blackboards, and organised their stock room. We also cleaned and created a room for the children to eat their dinner in. It was amazing to see the difference the changes made to the school environment.

Simple moments brought great joy, as Martha entertained the children with bubbles during a break from lessons.

Whilst we were at the school we also wanted to provide the children they would not usually have access to. Everyday, we paid for each child to receive a whole piece of fruit. This was particularly special because having a whole piece of fruit is not something the children would usually receive. On our final day, we also paid for additional ingredients and food so the children could enjoy larger portions of food at lunchtime. We supplied chapatis, oranges, cake and popcorn, creating a special celebration for everyone to enjoy.

Donation day was another memorable part of the trip. Every child received two new outfits, a book, a large handful of toys, stationary and a personalised pencil case. The children were also given new sports equipment, especially a new football as their old one had become so worn that it was no longer really a ball. Seeing the excitement and happiness on the children’s faces was incredibly special.

Martha helping to organise donated clothing and resources for pupils at Jubilee School.

One of the most meaningful moment during the trip was being able to personally pay for medical equipment for one of the children. With the generous help of Mervyn Wass and Fiona Millington-Pipe, we were able to provide the equipment needed to help the child walk without assistance, and even join in with the football games. This was an incredibly special and emotional experience, and one that I will never forget.

A pupil at Jubilee School using newly provided walking equipment, helping him to move more independently and take part in activities with his friends.

I was also lucky enough to celebrate my birthday while I was in Kenya. The children sang Happy Birthday to me, and we celebrated together with balloons, which the children absolutely loved. It was a really memorable way to spend my birthday and created memories that I will never forget.

Friendships were quickly formed as Martha spent time playing and laughing with pupils in the school grounds.

This trip was filled with incredible experiences, laughter and unforgettable memories. From teaching lessons and improving the school to providing food, resources and new experiences, every day was special. I learned so much from the children and the experience, and I will carry the memories of Jubilee School with me for the rest of my life.

I would like to give a special thank you to Hastings Lodge No 8695 for donating such a generous amount of £1000 towards this trip, and thank Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 779 for their donation of £150. Your generosity helped make so many of these experiences, improvements and donations possible.

I am incredibly excited to share that I will be returning to Jubilee School next year. I am looking forward to seeing the children again and continuing to support the school and its community. This trip has made me even more passionate about the work being done at Jubilee School, and I cannot wait to return and see what we can achieve together."

Martha’s account shows that meaningful service is about much more than providing resources. It is about forming friendships, treating every person with respect and taking the time to understand what will make a lasting difference.

The improvements made at Jubilee School will continue to support the children and staff long after the volunteers have returned home. Yet the greatest impact may be found in the moments that cannot easily be measured: a child joining a football game, a classroom filled with colour, the excitement of receiving a book or toy, and the joy created by balloons, dancing and bubbles.

It is also especially encouraging that this story will continue. Martha plans to return to Jubilee School next year with her father, strengthening the friendships already formed and building upon the work that has begun. Their commitment is a wonderful example of service passing from one generation to the next and of families coming together to support communities beyond their own.

The generosity of Hastings Lodge No. 8695, Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge No. 779, Mervyn Wass, Fiona Millington-Pipe and everyone who supported Martha helped turn goodwill into practical action. Their contribution demonstrates what can be achieved when people unite around a shared purpose.

We wish Martha and her father every success as they prepare to return to Kenya, and we look forward to hearing the next chapter of this inspiring story.