Build Skills with the "lost" Youth in Kenya

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

Dear Friends,

I admit to surprising myself when I sit down to write this quarterly report. Amid the global pandemic slowdown, if not flat out downturn, development seemed at a distant possibility. Our Kenyan school projects have never appeared more remote. Students and trainees lost a whole year and yet they are being fast tracked. 
If our building project of 4 classrooms was stalled, things are heading towards the finish line now.

At Sergoek, a donated car is now fully refurbished and on the road. Once a broken vehicle recovered in a ditch on a corrugated dirt road in the far North and offered as teaching parts to the automotive workshop students, the Nissan Navara is operating as a full Service vehicle! It even looks like it may have come out of the car dealership yesterday! 

The Garment Workshop of the school was busy last August sewing workers Overalls with reflective tape for the County’s workers at Moiben. This order came courtesy of Governor Jackson M.himself, a great fan of the vtc, vocational training center.

The latest addition of the 4 classroom brick and mortar building is inching it’s way towards completion and starting to look good.

At Koshin, the plans for a new teaching kitchen and refectory are in the making and several contractors have been competing for the job. We are still busy collecting their proposals before both the local and international Rafiki Ya Maisha boards can validate the drawings and the BQ and put it before the school Board.

The school here is still struggling to get their water supply under control and have been promised help by the central government. I joined the Board meetings on line this year - a first -  allowing me to stay more closely in touch than before. Definietively, a positive adjustment of the last year.

Thank you for your support which allows us to pursue the development of these two schools. Koshin seems to be the most in need of help and your friendship keeps us energised!

Asante sana,

Claire