Virginia Jackson
When I was in high school, I read the book Out of Africa, written by Isaac Dinesen. After reading that book I developed a lifelong desire to go to Africa, but as is often the case many things delayed that vision.
I grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from the University of Rhode Island majoring in Education and History. After college I worked at State Street Bank in Boston and then moved to Minneapolis where my daughter and son were born. Our family moved to San Diego in 1978, where I received my teaching credential in mathematics and taught middle and high school and became a National Board Certified Teacher in Mathematics. Over the years I have been active in many volunteer activities, including my current work with inmates at RJ Donovan California State Penitentiary.
I volunteered with Jill Weller to help victims of the 2007 California firestorms and Jill told me of her work in Kenya, rekindling in me a passion to visit and help these children. I joined the Walindwa board, helped develop the non-profit 501 (c)(3), and finally had the opportunity to visit the Elma Barnett Children’s Centre (EBCCK) in 2012. Since then my husband Gary and I have returned several times teaching, tutoring, and loving the children both at EBCCK and the adjacent high school. We hope to visit again when the pandemic abates. We currently sponsor 2 children whom we have seen graduate and are developing into responsible members of Kenyan society. I feel so blessed to be part of EBCCK and help in this endeavor which was started more than 50 years ago by reading a inspiring book on Africa.