“They Rescued Me”: Award-Winning Teacher Shokwei Barsulai Pens Emotional Tribute to Her Pupils
In a deeply moving reflection, celebrated educator and award-winning teacher Shokwei Barsulai has shared a personal account of how a group of young learners helped her find healing, joy, and purpose after a season of profound grief.
Barsulai, who has become a national inspiration for her dedication to teaching in remote rural settings, revealed that her transfer to a new school four years ago came just a week after she buried her mother — a moment that left her emotionally shattered.
“I didn’t come here whole. I walked into this school empty, grieving, barely breathing,” Barsulai wrote.
But what followed was nothing short of transformative.
“They hugged me every morning, danced for me, invited me to their chalongo tea and lunch... They even made me ‘eat’ their ugali soil and tu grass in little tins and sticks,” she shared with both humor and tenderness.
Under a tree that served as their informal classroom and safe haven, the children became more than just students — they became healers.
“These children didn’t just welcome me. They rescued me,” she wrote. “They saw the sadness I tried to hide. And slowly, they healed me.”
Her tribute, addressed to her “blue and maroon little angels,” struck a chord with readers across the country. It underscored the quiet power of empathy, community, and childlike kindness in places often overlooked.
Barsulai, known for her creativity and compassion in teaching in resource-constrained schools, has previously received national recognition for her innovative approach to early childhood education and mentorship in rural Kenya.
“When I say I love them deeply, I mean it kabisa,” she wrote. “It’s because they held me when I couldn’t hold myself. Mungu wetu awalinde.”
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