Kenya: Kangemi

Today’s distribution was at New Kibumbui Elementary School in an area of Nairobi known as Kangemi.

Headmaster Wilfred invited the SCAW team and our Rotary partners into his office to sign the school’s Guest Book and inform us about his school, students, and staff. He mentioned that many of his students slept on the floor of their homes.

From Kenya 2011

This is a school of 1601 students covering grades 1 to 8. The Kenyan government provides the funding for the school building and the salaries of the teachers. Unfortunately with the school’s present enrolment the school is short 9 teachers. Kangeni is a disadvantaged community where parental involvement in the school is minimal.

From Kenya 2011

The Headmaster led us from his office to an interior courtyard where the distribution was going to take place. We were deluged with motion and noise. The students were running through the courtyard and the interior halls of the 2-storey building chattering with their friends and classmates. There was excitement in the air.

The students also have responsibilities before the school begins each morning. They sweep and tidy the halls, classrooms and playground and clean the washrooms.

We were told that the students would be coming in classes to have their photos taken and receive their bedkits. They would remain in their classrooms until all 1,100 students between the ages of 6 to 12 had received their bedkits and then the whole school would be dismissed. Thank goodness for the teachers. They were wonderful and much loved by their students.

From Kenya 2011

In less than three hours all the photos had been taken and bedkits given out.

After a short meal in the staff room and many “thank yous” we wandered throughout the school and playground talking with the students and teachers.

Some of the facts that we learned were:

• A typical Grade Four classroom had 74 students.
• The desks were 48 inches wide and shared by four students.
• The room was 20 feet by 30 feet in size.
• English as a subject begins in grade one (Swahili is the language of the school and family).
• All students must wear a school uniform. The estimated cost to parents for this uniform is 2,000 Shillings ($25.00).
• The outside walls of the school displayed murals related to health, hygiene, academics, and civil behaviour.

Click on photo to see VIDEO. From Kenya 2011

To see and hear the video, click on the graphic at left.

As we left the school we saw students skipping “Double Dutch” and some playing soccer with homemade soccer balls of rags and plastic bags.

The spirit and the enthusiasm of the students were quite remarkable. This was a day that both they and we would long remember.

Thanks to Champlain Discovery Public School. Some of your bedkits were given out at this school.

Team Kenya 2011

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