In 2007 our club was alerted to a situation in the Maasai village of Kimuka in Kenya. We were made aware that even getting clean water was not possible, so our first task was to install a rainwater tank to the school.
This engagement led us to becoming aware that many children couldn’t attend the primary school because they couldn’t afford the state required uniform or shoes. We were able to supply these and also funded an extra teacher.
In 2010 a prolonged drought meant that the majority of the children couldn’t make the long walk to school and back due to a lack of food so we were able to provide the raw ingredients to the school where parents cooked school lunches.
The school attendance numbers increased from 100 to 500.
In 2012, an education fund was established through Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) to enable selected students to get a secondary education which required them to attend boarding school in Nairobi. Including full board, lodging, books etc this required $500 per child. Our Rotary club funded the first two students and other private sponsors donated their $500 (tax deductible) for other students.
This programme continues to run although the focus has now turned mainly to educating girls. Some of the girls are now moving on to tertiary education and one completed her studies in medicine last year and is now working in the remote areas of the country.
While this education focus has been continuing, the primary school has not been forgotten.
In 2014 the school was able to connect to electricity. As a result, our Rotary club was able to fund the purchase and installation of computers. This was such a novelty that it attracted the attention of politicians and other dignitaries.
In the last ten years the cost of sponsoring a child for secondary education the cost has only risen to $600 pa.
You can become a sponsor or donate to this project via the following secure link. Donations are tax deductible.