Build Skills with the "lost" Youth in Kenya

Dear Rafikis,

Greetings from Mid-2023, and we bring you some exciting news from Koshin Technical Training Institute! The twin construction of the Hospitality Center and the Ladies' Hostel has been successfully completed and both are now ready for use thanks to the generosity of the BENINA Foundation, our devoted donors.This milestone has led to a significant increase in student enrollment as many are eager to join our institution.

Now offering on-campus accommodation to female students, providing them with a safe and convenient place to stay, KTTI has gained in popularity. Living on campus has its perks and one of them is that we will be providing delicious meals for our students within the Hospitality complex. This not only ensures their nutritional needs are met but also fosters a sense of community within the institute.

Additionally, the Hospitality facility includes a well-equipped kitchen and dining area, which will facilitate the teaching of our food and beverage courses.

The introduction of the Ladies' Hostel addresses the security concerns faced by our female students when residing outside the school grounds. Now, they can have peace of mind and focus entirely on their studies. Moreover, the hostel offers affordable accommodation, alleviating the financial burden that students previously faced while renting accommodations and managing food expenses off-campus.

On another note, we are excited to share that we are currently working on a proposal to build a modern administration block at Sergoek Vocational Training Institute. This upcoming facility will house offices, a state-of-the-art computer lab and other amenities to further enhance the learning experience for our students.

As the year progresses, we are committed to empowering the youth in our community through quality education and improved facilities. We look forward to more positive developments and the continued growth of our institutions.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our journey. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for the next generation. Best regards and goodbye for now.

Dinah Mwinzi

Dear Friends, 

Koshin Technical Training Institute, KTTI, is experiencing tremendous growth. The Hospitality Center and the Ladies’ Hostel are almost complete and the school has already seen an increase in student enrollment in anticipation of the two new buildings. 

The construction has been a good training ground for the students who are currently taking up electrical, plumbing, and masonry courses. They put into practice what they have learned in class. They will also receive recommendation letters and a certificate from the contractor stating their individual contribution to the construction. These documents will go a long way in building their career. This achieves one of the purposes of our educational mission.

The school has had a challenge with student accommodation and the new ladies hostel that will accommodate 120+ students, is a very big boost for the school. It helps solve security issues and reassure parents.

The hospitality complex with teaching kitchen and dining hall will enable the school to start offering Catering, Food & Beverage services as a new course, meeting high market demands. The Hospitality complex with it's large and luminous dining hall will also function as a public restaurant for local residents.They will be able to purchase quality meals prepared by our students.

We started the year on a high note with the much-anticipated visit by one of our biggest donors – Eric and Jill B. of the Benina Foundation alongside the Bishop of Eldoret, the Governor and senior officials of Uasin Gishu and numerous county officials. They visited both Koshin Technical Training Institute and Sergoek Vocational Training Center. This visit was very important since we were able to strengthen our collaboration in making our two schools achieve their objectives. 

Have a wonderful year ahead with many thanks for your generous and impactful support.

Gabriel Teimuge, Secretary Kenya chapter

Dear Friends,

A last and newsfilled report on our good work outside of Eldoret before the year end.

Our Koshin school is developing and we are very excited about the two new constructions that we have undertaken. Yes, you read correctly: TWO new constructions at once! And this thanks to our contributing members internationally, the Rafiki Members on the ground, the local community and the school staff, substantially supported by the Benina Foundation. We eagerly await 2023 when we will inaugurate these new buildings. Building two structures at the same time is more efficient technically and financially, brings the global cost down.

A teaching kitchen and a girls' dorm will fill gaping holes in the school's operational capacities and have a large impact on it's attractiveness. We have been hoping to fill the school more. The Board and the staff under the dynamic leadership of the new Pricipal have been working hard towards capacity building. The kitchen will meet the needs of future hospitality students, a strong drawing card in the region. Once skilled and equipped with either a certificate, a degree or a diploma, trainees can enter a job market rife with opportunities.The kitchen with it's large dining hall will allow everyone to purchase lunch on the premisses and various functions and events will be able to be catered on site.

A girls' dorm and in the future, a boys' dorm, will answer the needs for housing and for security. This, in particular, will have a direct impact on the attractiveness of the school especially for students who apply from different regions of Kenya. KTTI is a national institution and the idea of housing one's son or daughter with local inhabitants in the area is less reassuring than what an institution can offer and guarantee. 

The big event held this month was the blessing of the new building constructions by the recently appointed Bishop of Eldoret. The great news too is that the masonery students are doing their attachment in their own school. These trainees are in fact building their own school! WONDERFUL to know how applied knowldge and skills can benefit the students themselves!

Have a wonderful year end with many many thanks for your generous and impactful support.

Claire

Dear members, dear rafikis,

This is our summer report and there is lots to share. A new chapter is opening in Eldoret.

It seems that the presence and efficacy of Rafiki Ya Maisha has never been felt so strongly. Efforts by all have been crowned by the steady flow of water to the school in Koshin with pumps and transformers now solidly in place. The structural issue is behind us opening the way for further projects. Two new buildings are pending approval by the Ministry of Works (1) a teaching kitchen/dining hall and (2) a lady's dormitory, due to start by September.

In our Rafiki team in Kenya, Dr.Dinah M. our new chairperson is replacing James C., after his 15 year tenure. She is a formidable catch and we are honored that she has accepted this position. Former director of technical & vocational schools for Kenya, former PS in the Ministry of Education for Science and Technology, with a PhD from Heidelberg, Germany, Dr.M. put Koshin on the educational map as one of the 8 chosen pilot vocational schools in the country. A few years ago, she delivered 2 large containers of electric & electronic equipment to our fledgling school.

Thanks to this true believer and benefactor of technical education, we are confident that wider and broader prospects for our schools are in the cards. Complacency and stagnation are being replaced by renewed energy. Dynamism and joy define the change of climate.

Zipporah K., recently appointed principal in January, had already raised the number of students to 500 in just one term. From this point onwards, our average institution, can only improve exam results from where we currently stand.

Enjoy our review in the picture gallery and thank you as ever for your support.

Kwa Heri,

Claire

Dear Rafikis,

A dash visit to Eldoret early December to inaugurate a new building, attend Board meetings and meet with officials, finally brought RUNNING WATER to our Koshin school! This had not happend since the school opened in 2017. A major feat.

WOW! This is the feeling that sums up the past 4 months. Our last quarter provided more excitement than I can remember. Due to the combined efforts of a new woman principal, the community, an active neighbour, the deputy governor of the County and Rafiki Ya Maisha, water is finally flowing! Tractors were loaned, a pump was crowdfunded and students grabbed their shovels to dig trenches. Toilets will now flush, the future bathrooms will have full showers and life will go on as expected.

More than that, the project of a dining hall/teaching kitchen which seemed impossible without running water, will be made possible. The plan is ready. A girls' dorm, also in the works, is being considered for the near future.

Ernest, the former principal was transfered to another institution after having lead the school throught its initial growing pains. A very dynamic Zipporah, loaded with experience, came early January to open the new academic year. We wish her a very warm welcome. In a few week's time, she increased attendance from 300 to 550 students. 

As metioned, we managed to inaugurate the new Design and Applied Technology building at the Sergoek school, courtesy of the Benina Foundation, one of our main donors. A prestigious and colourful graduation ceremony took place on March 25th. No less than 882 students, covering the last 2 years, received their Trade certificates and Craft diplomas. They wrote a poem celebrating their future as CEO's of their own businesses and their 4000 guests in attendance were over the moon. So are we!

Thank you ALL for your wonderful support that makes this ALL possible!

Claire