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Posted On: October 2nd 2026, 08:41 pm
When Julius was invited to join his first GivePower Trek, he didn't hesitate.
He loves volunteering and working alongside others, so when his manager, Marcella, asked if he wanted to join, his answer was an immediate yes.
Still, a few questions weighed on him. How would he fit in? How would they communicate? Would he be able to keep up?
As GivePower's first Deaf team member, Julius was used to working with people he knew well at the Solar Water Farm in Bamburi. This Trek would bring together team members from across Kenya.
In the past, Julius had sometimes felt left out of conversations with people who didn't know sign language. "As a Deaf person, I've often had to work harder to prove myself," Julius explained.
What he did know was that the team already shared something important: a passion for the work and the community they came to serve. That gave them a place to start.
As the week went on, his teammates became curious about Deaf culture and started learning sign language so he could be part of every moment. With every shared meal, long day on the project and late-night card game, those connections grew stronger.
Julius realized he wasn't on the outside looking in. He was right in the middle of it all: valued and fully part of the team.
"I felt emotional in a positive way because of the unity, friendship and happiness within the group."
By the end of the Trek, co-workers had become supportive friends, with inside jokes that left them laughing until their faces hurt. It was the kind of week where, somehow, the right people had all said yes.
"I would love the opportunity to join again in the future."
Deaf Awareness Month just ended, but creating spaces where everyone belongs is year-round work. We're proud to celebrate Julius and a team that made room for one another. Julius hopes his story inspires more connection between the Deaf and hearing communities.
You join a GivePower Trek to make a difference. Somewhere along the way, the experience leaves its mark on you, too.
See what a GivePower Trek brings out in your team. 🔗 in bio!
He loves volunteering and working alongside others, so when his manager, Marcella, asked if he wanted to join, his answer was an immediate yes.
Still, a few questions weighed on him. How would he fit in? How would they communicate? Would he be able to keep up?
As GivePower's first Deaf team member, Julius was used to working with people he knew well at the Solar Water Farm in Bamburi. This Trek would bring together team members from across Kenya.
In the past, Julius had sometimes felt left out of conversations with people who didn't know sign language. "As a Deaf person, I've often had to work harder to prove myself," Julius explained.
What he did know was that the team already shared something important: a passion for the work and the community they came to serve. That gave them a place to start.
As the week went on, his teammates became curious about Deaf culture and started learning sign language so he could be part of every moment. With every shared meal, long day on the project and late-night card game, those connections grew stronger.
Julius realized he wasn't on the outside looking in. He was right in the middle of it all: valued and fully part of the team.
"I felt emotional in a positive way because of the unity, friendship and happiness within the group."
By the end of the Trek, co-workers had become supportive friends, with inside jokes that left them laughing until their faces hurt. It was the kind of week where, somehow, the right people had all said yes.
"I would love the opportunity to join again in the future."
Deaf Awareness Month just ended, but creating spaces where everyone belongs is year-round work. We're proud to celebrate Julius and a team that made room for one another. Julius hopes his story inspires more connection between the Deaf and hearing communities.
You join a GivePower Trek to make a difference. Somewhere along the way, the experience leaves its mark on you, too.
See what a GivePower Trek brings out in your team. 🔗 in bio!
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