LYNN – Breed Middle School Spanish teacher Dr. Magalie Torres-Rowe has recently wrapped up mission trips in Kenya and Peru.
Raised in Chiclayo, Peru, Torres-Rowe has been returning to the town to organize back to school supply drives and Christmas toy drives since 2000. She says growing up with the Sisters of St. Joseph’s congregation in Peru has taught her to “love and to serve” throughout her entire life, inspiring her educational efforts in her hometown.
In July, a few days after completing her annual Peru mission trip, she made her first visit to Nairobi, Kenya, after connecting with the Augustinians of the Assumption Congregation. There, she focused on helping organize a maternity ward at a dispensary and build a playground at a boarding school.
But Torres-Rowe was particularly surprised by one element that affected the prosperity of young Kenyan girls. They often were unable to attend school while on their menstrual periods, as they did not have access to sanitary pads.
Torres-Rowe said she was “shocked” that a resource that is considered to be bare minimum in the U.S. was so scarce in Nairobi, and was emotional when describing how something so small could have such a large impact on the girl’s learning. She noted how this not only affected their education, but their self esteem. During her five-week mission trip, she helped the young girls learn about menstrual health and hygiene.
“We are so lucky, and we sometimes take it for granted,” she said.
Currently teaching 8th grade, Torres-Rowe has witnessed how eager Nairobi children are when they get to attend school, which they consider to be a luxury. Because of this, she tries to give her students in Lynn a new perspective when they complain about classes and homework.
“Distance is only in our minds. If we want to help people, there’s no distance. I’ve heard people say ‘Oh, that’s in Africa, all my kids have food here’ But there should be no excuses, because God is asking you to help the less fortunate,” she said.
She added, “It’s not about how many times you went to church, but if you fed people when they were hungry. We have to treat people with dignity and make them feel welcome. That is what matters to God in the end, so it’s a reason to sleep at night.”
Torres-Rowe is committed to continuing her work in her efforts in Nairobi, as she has recently organized a laptop raffle that has raised $7,265 for her mission trip projects. She also plans on returning to Kenya in 2026 for 10 days and is encouraging those who want to join her to reach out to The Augustinians of the Assumption for more information.
Inquires about donations to the St. Monica Mwegenye Dispensary can be sent over to [email protected], while donations to the Assumption school playground can be sent to [email protected]. Meanwhile, menstrual health education donations should be sent through https://assumption.us/aa-donate/, and donors should include a note about The Njiru Girls’ Project in their submission.
