Build a school in a deprived area of Mombasa

We have had another successful year in our school, Miche Bora, with excellent exam results. Our staff work so hard and are always eager to learn, as are the children. In March 2023 two of our Mustard Seed Project (MSP) trustees visited Kenya. One of the main aims was to ensure that staff were ready for the new Performance Management system for schools introduced by the Kenyan government. Further training  went well with a demonstration of an appraisal interview and guidance for filling in the required form with target setting where needed.. Lesson observations were carried out and feedback given. Charlie, our trustee, is a Middle School teacher with experience of Performance Management training of staff.

Our children are taught in classes of no more than 30, in well equipped rooms with good resources. "Primary" education in Kenya is until aged 14. The Kenyan government, with very little warning, is changing this so that Kenya is more in line with most of the rest of the world. Primary education will be until age 12, secondary to age 15. We can be either a Junior school with children to twelve years or a Junior/Secondary until age 15. Our parents very much want their children to stay at our school, Miche Bora, until aged 15, as do the teachers. We have been inspected and there are criteria which we need to fulfil to be able to do this. Luckily we bought a set of thirty laptops in the Autumn of 2022 and have  good internet in the school at last.. We will need to employ two new teachers, have a science lab and have better playground facilities. There are also other more minor criteria. We have space for a science lab but will of course need to equip it. There is a piece of walled land very close to the school which we have been told we will be able to have to rent at a very low cost for a playground. (the owner is not in Kenya at the moment). We also have a room for an extra class (fifteen year olds) and we will employ two graduate teachers.. 

Our children come into our Nursery aged three followed by a reception class for aged four. For the new school year (January 2023) we bought beautiful new tables and chairs and some storage to replace broken plastic furniture, badly needed for both rooms. There is plenty of space for the children to play and learn as appropriate for the age group and the rooms look much more cheerful. The children and teachers love the new furniture. 

Without you, our donors, none of this would have been possible. We are so grateful for your support. Your kindnes and gererosity make a difference every day, Here is the story of a six year old boy. He had never been to school and his mother brought him to us because he was so upset. Our Founding Trustee was in Kenya and agreed to make room for him to join us. He was overjoyed, as was his mother. He is a bright boy and  just needs extra support for Language skills. His teacher is pleased with his progress. he is so happy to be in school. Thank you from the trustees and from the children of Miche Bora.

The Mustard Seed Project (MSP) are delighted to report that at last UK trustees have been able to visit Miche Bora Nursery and Primary School in Mombasa. Our founding trustee, Rita, went to Kenya with family members in October 2022 to celebrate the life of Geoff, her husband and also founding trustee, who sadly died in December 2021. Geoff was much loved in the school, in the community and in Mombasa itself where he had contacts through Rotary etc. As Rita arrived at the school for the first time since the pandemic the whole school was waiting to greet her and she and her family were welcomed with open arms. They were shown great kindness and support from their many Kenyan friends and did indeed celebrate Geoff's life as he would have wished. He had a great love for Kenya.

MSP is in constant communication with the school, through the wonders of technology, but speaking to everyone face to face makes a huge difference. When Rita's family returned home I went out to join her. 

My last visit to Mombasa was in 2011 when the school was in a rented building with six teachers including a teaching Head. Four members of staff remain from 2011 but my greatest difficulty was learning the names of everyone else and where to find them. With 13 teachers, three teaching assistants, three cooks, three cleaners, two office staff as well as the Headteacher in a big and beautiful new building it took a day or two to find my way around confidently! I drew myself a plan. There was so much to do after a long absence. While Rita dealt with buying 30 new laptops, getting better internet access, staff training, bank accounts, parents' meetings and many other things I introduced new group reading books, organised resouces for the two youngest classes and did appraisal training for lower school. The staff are extremely hard working and very willing and eager to learn. I am so much looking forward to hearing how the youngest children are enjoying their new furniture and using clean (washed and in lidded plastic boxes because dust and dirt infiltrates most things), organised resources, many of which are new or had not been unpacked.

Almost immediately after we returned home the oldest children sat the KPCE exam, an external exam which children in all schools take. Government expectation average is C. Our school average this year was B. Three children achieved A-. Our previous average was B-, still an excellent result. Staff, parents, children and trustees are delighted. These poor children have a far better chance of escaping poverty through a good education, which is what MSP is able to provide, only because of you, our donors. Your kindness and generousity has given them a great gift, so thank you and please keep changing lives.