Old Flinderian Lucy Sinnamon (Class of 2025) Volunteers in Africa with Round Square

Old Flinderian Lucy Sinnamon recently completed a five-month volunteering role as a teacher at Starehe Boys' Centre & School in Nairobi through Flinders' membership as a Round Square school. 

From senior English, French, Biology and Life Skills classes to after-school tutoring, Lucy immersed herself in campus life at Starehe. She contributed to debating, Model UN, swimming and band, and even started a French club and a beginner clarinet class at a neighbouring primary school. 

Her global engagement began at Flinders in 2024 when she attended Model UN events with fellow Flinders students, travelled to the Change the World Model United Nations in Singapore and participated in a Round Square International Service project in Thailand.

In 2027, Lucy plans to study international relations and law, having officially accepted a tertiary offer to study at the prestigious Sciences Po in France. Lucy was also offered a place at the ANU in Canberra.  

REFLECTIONS FROM NAIROBI

On the Community

“The teachers and students were so welcoming and incredibly dedicated. The opportunity was offered through Round Square, as Starehe is a very proud member school. I had never been to Africa before, but my mum grew up in Zimbabwe, so I was intrigued to visit. My mum actually flew over with me to settle into the volunteering role in January this year.”

On Being in the Minority

“It was obviously daunting to arrive at the school. As a white woman on a campus of 1,200 people, there were only about 50 women in total, and only two white people, including me! It was fascinating to experience what it’s like to be in the minority, because I had never experienced that feeling living on the Sunshine Coast in Australia.” 

On Campus Values

“The boys were very respectful. Each class has about 40 students who work incredibly hard, even when the teachers aren’t in the room. If a teacher is absent, the class president, who is a Prefect, will get up unprompted and start teaching the rest of the class. The Prefects run a tight ship and manage discipline.”   

On the Impact of Round Square

“The students love being in Round Square and are highly invested, with each club (or House) focused on different Round Square IDEALS. They are so excited about the opportunities to travel to conferences or volunteer. However, most of them don’t have passports, so they’ve never been overseas, and navigating travel approvals can be very difficult.”