SEAM (Self Education And Mentorship) Program

               SEAM continues to thrive and benefit the community and its children. Since our last report we have continued to provide them with all the benefits of the program and some. One of the ways in which the program has come full circle is with the mentorship program; some of the first SEAM children just completed high school and are now volunteers at SEAM as peer mentors, allowing these high school graduates the opportunity of taking on the role of big brothers/sisters to the very children from their own community, and exemplifying the benefits of the program. The library also continues to provide a wonderful environment for the children to study by giving them a communal study space, where they can help each other in their studies and strengthen the learning process.  

                Aside from helping the children with their traditional studies, we continue to encourage the development of creative skills through classes that focus of specific talents such as bead work which are currently running strong. We also participated in the April little by little fundraise and were delighted to mobilize new donors who helped us raise a good amount of money, that will truly benefit current ongoing projects and future ones.

                Last but not least, we begun a new program over the holiday season of supporting girls with sanitary pads and boys with boxers.

The SEAM children have been continuing with their craft skill development and are showing signs of mastery both in their craft skills and farming skills. We have been trying to find more ways for the parents to participate in their children's development, and have started a finance training program that will also involve the parents. We have also successfully opened bank accounts for level 2 kids to teach them about saving. 

This year we have had a successful open day where parents and the public came to the center and saw the children's activities. We had a plant and arts n' crafts sale, as well as hosting the Kisumu district of Kenya horticultural society. The children entertained the guests with traditional dance, poems, songs and skits.

As mentioned in previous reports we are looking for ways to expand the program. We have a plan that if implemented well would allow the SEAM program to become self-sustainable and have a further reach than it currently does.