Two Amherst seniors returning to Kenya this summer instead of college in the fall

Abby Tuominen and Shira Kaufman are raising money to build a library at a girls orphanage in Kenya. .

AMHERST - Last summer, Abby Tuominen and Shira Kaufman spent six weeks working at the Machakos Girls Rescue Center in Machakos, Kenya. What happened there has changed their lives.

Tuominen and Kaufman, Amherst Regional High School graduating seniors, will be deferring college this fall so they can return to Kenya. But before they go they are hoping to raise money to create a library at the center. They have an exhibit at ETTA, 534 Main St., showcasing photos taken by the girls in the orphanage themselves with an opening reception Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.

The two have been friends since seventh grade and say they're so close that one can start a sentence and the other will finish it. Both are equally in love with the girls at the rescue center. Last year, they wanted to do some kind of community service and were interested in travel. Kaufman, who lives in Leverett, wanted to go to Africa but they didn’t want to go as part of any organized group. “We wanted to do something so different than what we know,” said Tuominen, who lives in Shutesbury. They found the rescue center about 90 minutes from Nairobi.

And despite a world so unlike theirs here - no running water and a single socket for electricity in their room - it was virtually an instant connection.

“I realized how much of a connection I’ve already formed with them, how upset we were to leave,” Kaufman said. They decided to sponsor the education for three girls ages 9, 10 and 11 who are now attending boarding school. Their commitment lasts until the girls graduate. For the first year, the cost is about $1,000 each including room and board, tuition, clothing and books. The following years, the costs are less.

“I never would have thought at our age we’d be responsible (for others,)” Tuominen said, adding that she’s working two jobs to meet the cost.

“We had such a deep connection with the girls,” Tuominen said. “We saw how eager they were to learn, so we chose them.”

“We loved them so much,” Kaufman said.

While they were there they taught art and traditional American songs. “It was such genuine fun,” Tuominen said. “We’re not relying on technology.”

“It was just utter happiness,” Kaufman said. “How they lived rubbed off on us. Everyday was so perfect in its own way.”

She said the only “time we were upset was leaving the rescue center.” That’s why they’re going back with a mission.

They saw how eager they girls were eager for stories but there was no bookstore in Machakos and only a small section of novels in a store in Nairobi. They were able to buy “Harry Potter” there but there is so much more they want to share. Since they’re returned home, they’ve been collecting books and are trying to raise the money to send them.

Additional money beyond the mailing will be used to build a bookcase and if they’re successful they’ll create libraries in other centers.

Anyone wishing to donate can send a check to the girls in care of ETTA, 534 Main St., Amherst, MA 01002.

The exhibit will be on display through June 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. and by appointment, but closed June 10.

The two return to Kenya in August but have been keeping up with the girls they're sponsoring by phone and on Skype, the online video and telephone service.