Support Quality Schooling of 250 Kids in Nguluni

Dear friends,

September is here...

Here in Nguluni, Kenya it is hot and dusty though the peace felt as you gaze at the cerulean blue skies trumps the heat. The hope of our mission keeps us focused. We must deliver to these dear children their passports into the future, on time.

It is four weeks now since we re-opened school to a new term, and three months since we last touched base. Since then a lot has happened. Before I delve into the report find some time to read the words from the poem September, The First Day of School.

I think this poem speaks of us, of you and I and the parents and guardians as we work, live and give hope to the children we serve so faithfully every day. I hope it resonates with you and trust that you will be encouraged to continue making a difference.

And making a difference we are! Recall, in our last report where I reported that we had started a 10 minute story book reading time for children between Pre-Primary One (PP1) to Grade 3. At the end of the second term in July we gave the children an Oral Fluency test which showed an average improvement in reading fluency rates by 28%. (Correct Words Per Minute).

When we started the term we set a target with the Pre-school teachers to read 60 books to the children by end of term. So far we are at 41 books read, we have reached the 68% mark with one month to go. This means the children will be hearing more vocabulary through the stories they will be hearing than ever before experienced. Our goal is to continue growing their contact with English and build their love for reading.

The total books borrowed for 2nd Term (3 months) was 217 Books

The total books borrowed in the last one month stands at 291 books. At this rate the students would be reading over 500 books at the end of this term, even with our CupBoard Library as we have. (Picture)

This shows a big growth in the Students Reading Culture.

The impact is being evidenced in students' confidence in speaking in English. 

Our teachers are also teaching more in English rather than in Kiswahili. Observations show students' responses show an improving level in listening comprehension as they respond to their teachers.

Before school closes on October 26th for the December break we trust to have in place an AfterSchool Program to help children get their hands on a good foundation...Together we are making the above impact possible.

Our Future Plan is to complete the space needed for a Literacy Centre within the school.

We have an ongoing building project and would request you as our partner to consider increasing the coming months either individually or by inviting friends and family to take part in any way possible including sharing ideas, best practices and web resources.

Thank you for making it happen, again!

I celebrate you all...

Dear friends,

April, May and June have been months of gifting students in a unique way- mentoring and ttraining their teachers.

We started in April with coaching teachers to read to their students every morning for 10 minutes. hrough this we aim to improve the listening and communicating vocabulary as well as fluency of the students. This initiative is being carried out from Pre-School level to Grade 3 level.

The older students from Grade 4 are being given opportunities to borrow at least 1 book at their reading level at from the library daily to aid with the same goal- improving fluency and comprehension.

In May and June the teachers were trained by volunteer teachers from the U.S. on how to identify special needs students and plan for lessons that would accomodate their needs. The training also touched on how to plan for lessons that would ensure minimal student indiscipline and maximise their engagement.

The training also involved other 4 schools from within the school zone.

We are already seeing the impact. "My students are now able to have more agency in their learning," remarks a teacher after incorporating some of the strategies learnt during the training.

We are hopeful that the same impact will be experienced school-wide iin the coming months.

Thank you for your continued support.