The Rev Dr Val Cameron, a deacon in the Scottish Episcopal Church, recently visited the Vitality Bridge in Naivasha, a town in the Diocese of Nakuru in the Anglican Church of Kenya. The Vitality Bridge is a project set up by local deacons which aims to assist teenagers back to school or into vocational training after they have had a baby.

Dr Cameron was en route to the Diakonia World Federation Assembly, this year held in Tanzania. She had met some of the Kenyan deacons at a previous conference and was delighted to be invited to visit them and see the project.

She writes: “Gender inequality in Kenya, and most African countries, is a serious issue.

“Many of these teenagers live in severe poverty and take part time work doing laundry and house work to pay for their school fees. In this situation they meet male householders and become pregnant.

“It was heart-breaking to hear the stories of these youngsters, some of whom had been raped and some hadn’t had any sex education and didn’t really know what was happening to them.

“The ecumenical project organises support sessions for the young women in the Trinity United Methodist Church, where they join together in worship, fellowship and receive guidance and support. Some had been trained as hairdressers and tailors but many were unemployed and felt shunned by society, the main issues being social stigma and lack of low cost childcare.”

During the visit Val was invited to preach and took part in a celebration of the Eucharist and the dedication of a new baby. She also met with the Rt Rev Antony Mambo, Bishop of Nakuru, who is a firm supporter of this ecumenical project.

The Rev Dr Hamilton Inbadas, Convener of the Scottish Episcopal Global Partnerships Committee (GPC) said: “The GPC is delighted to support this visit and the inspiring work of Vitality Bridge. We welcome the initiative of the Chapter of Deacons of the Scottish Episcopal Church in establishing this valuable link and are pleased to support this ecumenical endeavour. We look forward to exploring future opportunities to collaborate with the Chapter of Deacons in continuing our support for Vitality Bridge.”

–

A further story covering Rev Dr Val Cameron’s time at the 2025 Diakonia World Federation Assembly will be published later this month.