By Christy PIpkin | Executive Director
The Nobelity Project Kenya Schools Tour of 2013 rocked! After visiting 10 of our partner schools and seeing new classrooms, libraries, water systems and more, we arrived at Mahiga Hope High School where your donation is still making a difference every day.
For me, coming back to Mahiga feels like coming home. It is were our work in Kenya began and where your support of this community has inspired not only hope, but has created a path to a better future for their children. Our days were spent working with staff & school administrators, and celebrating with parents & students, but every "thank you" we received we promised to bring back home to you.
During a visit with some donors and friends, I was rushing across the school grounds, and glanced back over my shoulder to see not just a collection of buildings, but a school - bustling with activities, energy and pride.
Turk says "It all started with a tree" but in 5 years look at what it has become:
Highlights from 2013:
•School ranked 12th out of 24 in the region on national exams. For a new school that is a huge accomplishment!
•Science Labs are currently under expansion to accommodate for testing and improvement in scores
•Traditional music and dance teams swept competition awards
•Boys and girls sports teams advanced to regional finals
•Trade skills classes (sewing and crafts) teaching applicable skills have a waiting list. More sewing machines needed!
•Gardens are producing skilled agricultural students and food for the kitchens
•Largest incoming freshman class so far--the incentive of a high school education is improving the primary school scores as well
•And we are incredibly proud that we have graduates going onto college studies.
We could use some support for the expansion of the skills classes so these kids graduate with some earning capacity. And as always there are students whose families just cannot meet the fees for them to attend and textbooks are in short supply. Your donations through the Global Giving 1000 Voices for Hope campaign will go directly to these much needed programs.
What seemed a dream just a few years ago is now a living, breathing, productive and happy school. And as I walked out of the gates for the trip home I made sure to read the new school motto once again: "Hope shines forth and lights the world."
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