Palmer Goes to Africa

When people hear that an organization is going to Africa to help kids, they would never expect a teacher from their own school was going. As a matter a fact a teacher from Rangeview High School went to this very place. Mr. Palmer from the math department or also known as Coach Palmer to the basketball team, left October 21st for a long thirty hour trip to the capital of Niger, Niamey. Having to go through the pre-trip process was not as easy as most think. The Palmer family had to go to the doctors and receive vaccinations and take medications to prevent coming down with an illness while in the other countries that they will be traveling through. Also, with a ten thousand dollar price tag, this trip was not exactly all easy. “Friends and family helped support our way. I was really thankful,” said Mr. Palmer. Thanks to everyone’s help he was able to go.


Mr. Palmer is traveling under his Church’s name and nonprofit organization. A while back, the church set up a school there to help the kids; the name of it is Penneil School. It was set up so that the kids could earn a free education. In a country with a literacy rate of less than twenty percent this comes as a good thing. Once there the eighteen people going will help teach the kids things that American kids do. “I wish I could teach the kids basketball but they don’t have hoops or anything that we could use to teach them,” said Mr. Palmer. Along with teaching them to play soccer, he will also be teaching them how to play Frisbee. All these things and more were donated to the kids through various organizations. They received sandals, computers, sports equipment, medical supplies, and many more things. Mr. Palmer said, “All eighteen people are coming with two stowaways and a carry on that are just loaded with supplies.” They plan on giving the kids soccer jerseys and soccer balls. Mr. Palmer’s wife also intends on teaching the kids music using recorders that were donated to their cause. They also are going to have a few people sing for the kids to see other types of music. Along with the music teachers and the recreational teachers, they brought computer technicians to help set up the computers. “This is just a trial period, it’s easy to send more computers if it works. We are seeing if we can link the school to the internet and have it beneficial to them,” said Mr. Palmer. “We don’t know what we are getting ourselves into, but either way there will be a good outcome for these kids.”

When Palmer returned he was very satisfied with his achievements. The group that went over to Africa performed over 300 physicals, went to three schools, had outreach concerts and helped dedicate a well that was making people sick. The Internet lab was set up and also a success. “The things we saw there we will never forget,” said Palmer. “We mostly treated kids with mal-nutrition, kids that are just skin and bones, but they always had a smile on their face and that is something that I will never forget."

-Austin Bolinger