In 2011, Rudi Dundas set out for Kenya on a photographic assignment from the Blue Planet Network. After arriving in Nairobi, she traveled to more remote Samburu where she met up with Kristen Kosinski, then Executive Director of TSP, and a small group of water professionals. Her assignment was to photograph the drilling of a well and document the community it would serve in Upper Margwe. She could never have predicted the lasting impact this short trip would have on her lives. 

During her first days there, Rudi noticed a young boy helping with the work wearing bright gold shoes, laces undone. This small detail stood out to Rudi, an unusual flourish for a kid in Samburu. He introduced himself as Chris Saidimu. Over the course of the day he quickly befriended the entire TSP team. Rudi came to know Chris as a good natured kid who was dedicated to his community, but also had the unique ability to adapt to a much greater world (hence, the sneakers). She also learned that he had lost both of his parents to AIDS and that, while a scholarship had covered his early years of high school, it would soon be up and as he had no money for further school fees, he would have to drop out. Without a second thought Rudi decided to help, and a beautiful relationship began. 

When she returned to California, Rudi continued to stay in touch with Chris via email, social networks, and text. Over the last nine years, this almost daily exchange of stories, photos and texts has continued.  Chris shared with Rudi that, with her help, he finished high school at the top of his class and was accepted to attend Kenyatta College in Nairobi. There, he began to study education, with the end goal of becoming a teacher and helping other kids to chase their dreams. After graduating from Kenyatta, Chris returned to his community and started a job as a teacher in a town called Rumuruti, not that far from where he first met Rudi.

Back in Samburu, Chris began to establish his life, setting up a home, transportation and realizing the burden of daily chores. Rudi continued to be there for him each step of the way and slowly, from opposite sides of the globe, they became family.

Since 2017, Chris has been teaching 4th grade at Simotwo Primary School in Rumuruti, Laikipia County. In 2018 he had an idea to start a chicken farm to help pay the school fees for indigent children. With little background knowledge on raising chickens, but a fierce determination, Chris set off undeterred. In 2019 he started building the first chicken house. (photo of chris building the chicken house, there are several to chose from) Over the last two years, there has been a series of highs and lows associated with learning a new business. From combating chicken disease to perfecting the right feed combination and incubation times, Chris has faced a number of hurdles, but at each bump he continued on. In August of last year he sold his first tray of eggs for $3. (photo of chris with first tray of eggs). Today, there are over 1,400 chickens and the egg business is growing. Twenty students from the Simotwo school tend to the chickens and their coop. They currently sell 4-5 trays of eggs a day which not only pays for the farm expenses and will soon pay school fees for needy children as well. (BIG photo of Chris with the kids and chickens) 

Knowing Chris has been a life changing experience for both of us. He lost his mother and gained a Godmother, while I gained a Godson.  Chris has become a part of our family. I am so proud of all his accomplishments and the caring man he has become. I am indebted to The Samburu Project and Linda Hooper for helping us to make this happen. If you can change the life of one person, you can change the world.

--Rudi Dundas

Despite Chris’ success, the school still has no piped water. Instead, children bring water to school in small containers. To help ease this burden, Chris recently purchased a tank to serve both school and the chicken coop. Together, with the support of the Samburu global community, the possibilities are endless.