Update October 2008 (based on a report from Bruce)

Categories: Diary

We have come a long way. The new buildings are very smart and have attracted much interest. The neighbourhood around has built up considerably. It is all for the good and helps to address in a small way the tremendous hardships many of these folk live under.

As to be expected we are now being approached by neighbours to see if we could possibly help them as well. There is a primary school, about 400m from the orphanage. The headmistress came to visit last month seeking aid. Her school had 519 children before “the clashes” at the beginning of the year but currently has 744, more girls than boys. The teachers are funded by the Government and there is no problem there. Classroom accommodation is their worry. There are three stone classrooms (very rough and ready), 18x25 feet each, which house Standards 1 – 3. Standards 4 – 8 are in 10 wooden rooms including a very small staffroom. Classes’ 1, 2 and 3 run two shifts each, ne group learning 8:30 to 11:00 and the second lot 11:30 – 3:00. When weather allows further teaching is done under the trees. The compound is bug, several acres donated by the County Council, and space outside is not a problem. When visited the children were all delightfully polite and seemed well disciplined.

Class sizes vary from 90 in Standard 4 down to 43 in standard 8 (now sitting their exams). This is the schools third year of Standard 8. The school was started in the old degazetted airstrip hanger for the children from the “slums” round Njoro. Primary education is free and although teachers are funded by the state there is no help for the buildings, stationary, food, etc. The schools are not supposed to turn children away. In practice, the better, more popular schools, have first choice of who they accept, obviously choosing those with better Nursery school reports to ensure that they get themselves good exam results and so maintain their image. The rest end up at the newest school, in this case the local primary.

The headmistress is looking funds to build more classrooms so that they could split the groups of children where there were more than 50 in a class. She said even two more rooms, would make all the difference. Other similar requests have come in from local schools for classrooms and more urgently for new toilet facilities. The secondary school’s form 3 classroom urgently needs a roof, which we have provided corrugated sheeting for and they have put in place. They certainly work on faith and the seat of their pants!

Perhaps the time has come for us to help some of the others in their surrounding neighbourhood. Our help is needed and that whatever we do it will be so much appreciated and the funds will not be wasted.
We have added 2 new dorms incorporating a library/senior study room, small store, matron’s flat and three indoor toilets for the girls. Additional funds will be used to prepare the facilities for another intake of 20 children at Christmas.

New orphanage pictures

Categories: Pictures

New Orphanage Pictures 2007 & 2008