Projects
Kenya Projects
Kambaa Youth Volunteers
Esther Chege established a youth group that volunteered its services throughout the school and the community. Twenty students formed the group. Esther helped them understand the difference between “charity” (giving money or things) and “volunteerism” (giving one’s time and services). The group established its operating procedures and decided on an agenda of projects. They had carried out five big projects beginning with cleaning and re-organizing projects in their own school before going out on community projects. It was clear that this group’s work would continue as the school and community were both supportive.
Menyenya Primary School Hygiene and Sanitation Project
Because the lack of hand washing facilities contributes to student illness and absence from school, Makori Moronge developed a system of installing spigots in large plastic buckets that were strategically placed at latrines and outside classrooms. The project has helped establish good habits of cleaning hands before meals and after using latrines. Involved in making decisions about placement, students also set up a system for monitoring and maintaining the buckets. The school is proud of its new facilities and definitely has taken ownership of the project.
Civic Education for Development (CEFOD)
This group grew out of a one-day workshop for 20 youth leaders in Voi headed up by Mohammed Abdi with assistance from Omar Ahmed on the Role, Duty, Responsibility of Citizens in a Democracy. Abdi’s goal is to develop good leaders for the future. The group has registered formally with the government and plans to take their messages of participatory democracy to villages in the form of discussions, music, drama, dance, and the arts.
Rachuonyo Community Model Agricultural Project
Deforestation has altered the climate near Kisii to the point that many farmers in the area do not farm for themselves but instead work as day laborers. Ochieng Khairalla wants to reclaim his family farm with sustainable, organic farming that provides a model for other farmers. His brother Faraji has made progress in implementing practices that Ochieng learned at Freedom Gardens in Malawi.
Improving the Quality of Life for People with Disabilities
Evelyn Andolo developed a booklet that describes various ways to enhance caregivers’ knowledge, understanding, and care of students with physical disabilities, thereby enabling them to be better “home” citizens. She has met with parents and plans more meetings. She has distributed approximately half of the 1,000 booklets and has been a guest speaker on the radio as a result of the booklet.
The Match Against Drugs
Ahmed Hassan organized a football match (soccer tournament) as a way to target the drug abuse problem among 16-22 year old men in Mazeras, a coastal town outside Mombasa. As a result of the match, a football club has been established that provides a positive outlet for young men’s energies.
Model School Project for Developing Student Responsibility
Tom Amadi helped Frere Town Primary School in Mombasa (the second oldest school in Kenya) develop a tree planting project for their school. They planted 200 lucindo trees around the school property and have tended them during the sustained dry time. Three-fourths of them have survived, and with additional funding those will be replaced. The group of 60 students will also take on responsibility for maintaining a clean environment for the school.
Establishing a Small Business Center
Rose Kiriungi established a small business center at Karen Training and Technical Institute for the Deaf to provide a sustainable service for the school and community as well as provide a training model for the students. An operating board helps the center demonstrate accountability and transparency in its governance as well as from a participatory, inclusive perspective.
Establishing an Archival Depository for Coast Girls’ High School
Established in 1933, Coast Girls’ High School has a rich history that Nancy Gathu wanted to tap and preserve. Involving other teachers, the students, and alumni, Nancy is gathering and documenting pictures, documents, ledgers, and records. Some of the records have been entered electronically and are serving the school as it responds to various requests for academic records. The work continues as Nancy develops a way of presenting and accessing the archives.