By Kwamboka Okari | Founder and Executive Director
As I write this update, schools in Kenya have just reopened for the new school year after closing in March due to COVID-19. For the first time in nine months, all of our students are now back on campus. Although the pandemic is still spreading, nine months is a long time away for our students. As you know, our school caters to vulnerable children whose living environments are not conducive to remote learning and everyday existence is often a struggle. So we are glad to have them back at school.
Throughout the time school was closed we did our best to keep in touch with students and their caregivers and were prompted to buy food for many struggling families. Ondicho and Lucy, pictured above, are one of the families we were able to help in this way. Unlike most of our students who have lost at least one parent, Ondicho and Lucy have both parents. However, the parents are very poor. In fact, Ondicho and Lucy started attending our school after a local public school sent them away because they were not able to pay a small fee (which even government schools charge for various things). Their father, who works as a labourer, leaves home very early in the morning to go and search for a job. Sometimes he might find a job and other times not. The mother washes clothes in people’s homesteads. Sometimes she will find a job but other times not. Food is hard to come by unless they find something to do on the particular day, which is especially challenging during the pandemic. So we have bought them corn and groceries to ensure they can eat. And just before Christmas, we fixed a new door for their little house because it was badly cracked. I am glad we were able to help their family and others during the pandemic but am also glad Ondicho and Lucy are now back on campus with the rest of their classmates.
As our 13th school year gets underway (our first masked school year), we are deeply humbled by your continued partnership and support, which has made our work possible over the years and particularly during the very difficult year that has just passed.
Wishing you and your loved ones good health and fulfillment in the new year.
With gratitude,
Kwamboka
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