Education Kenya Project #57909

TIES Kenya University Scholarships Project

by Viaduct Technology In Education Society

TIES Kenya University Scholarships Project

Project Report | Jun 6, 2024
Internship stories from TIES Kenya

By Sarah Wanjiru | TIES Kenya Representative

Maorine in class

Mambo! Hello everyone from TIES Kenya. We are excited to give updates of what's been going on for the last couple of months. Our first group of girls who pioneered the TIES Kenya University Sponsorship program and started school back in September 2021 are almost graduating. Two will graduate end of this year, six out of the seven girls are currently doing internships, the norm in Kenya at the end of their third and fourth years of studies. This is a requirement before graduating. Maorine, Sharon, Nellius, Maureen, Emma and Faith Akinyi are interning in different institutions across Kenya. Sharon is back at the JEVA project in Siaya, a community based organization, where she has volunteered since her first year. Emma is doing clinical rotations at the coastal region in Kenya- Kwale and Mombasa counties. Faith Akinyi is at the Ministry of Roads & Transport, state department of public works in Nairobi, getting the practical experience in applying her knowledge and skills in IT. Maureen journeyed to Nakuru from her school in Maseno for her internship at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, she was one of two HR students from her school picked for that opportunity. She hopes to get an experience of what exactly HR means in a real life work environment, outside of class. Nellius is working with KES 590 an NGO in her home county of Narok, which sponsors children in need and runs a computer training center.

For this report we are focusing on Maorine's experience at Koiwa Central Secondary school- she is doing teacher's practice the final requirement before she graduates as a Mathematics and Chemistry high school teacher from MKU, at the end of this year. The school is located in Konoin constituency, Bomet county in the Rift valley region of Kenya. Maorine is currently teaching Mathematics and Chemistry to Form one and two students. Additionally, to Form 3's and 4's during remedial time and weekends. This opportunity is preparing her for teaching in a real school environment. And how awesome that the school is mixed- so she gets to interact with both male and female students in real life, and get an understanding of the different dynamics and needs and how to approach boys vs girls in a class and school environment. During this time, she's also interacting with colleagues on teaching practice from different institutions like, Kabianga university, Jaramogi university, Kenya highlands university, and Rongo university. Sharing ideas in subject areas, and making new friendships.

Quote from Maorine:- " ...Teaching young souls is enjoyable, they find it enjoyable being taught by a young teacher like me. They are so disciplined and like asking questions. Sometimes challenging questions which make me to really work hard and prepare well before going to class. The only challenge I have encountered is the cold weather because the area is a tea growing zone. Sometimes we learn how to pluck tea during our free time. I am looking forward to secure a job in the school as a teacher on pay roll... "

TIES is catering for her upkeep costs (accommodation and meals) during this period. And also the costs for the rest of the girls on internship. This is made possible by the donations from all our supporters. Asante! A big welcome to all who would like to join us and support this work in one way or another.

Maorine TP

Maorine right side

Maorine Sanaipei

Links:

Permalink

Feb 13, 2024
New academic year brings additions to TIES Kenya

By Sarah Wanjiru | TIES Kenya Representative

TIESK AGM Jan 2024

Hello from TIES Kenya. We are happy to report we welcomed four additional girls to the TIES Kenya family between August and December 2023. This was made posssible with funding from TIES Canada, our parent organization. A big thanks to all who donate and support our cause and work. The girls are from different backgrounds and parts of Kenya, which aligns with our vision to be as inclusive and diverse in nature as possible.

Anifa is from Kakamega in the western part of the country and is pursuing a degree in Computer science at Meru university many many miles from her hometown! Noellah is an engineering first year student at the Technical University of Kenya right in the capital city Nairobi. When Philomena was referred to us, she had dropped off school after completing her first year at the Presbyterian University of East Africa in Thogoto, Kiambu county. After visiting her home in Mutuati, all the way in Meru county, it was clear that girls like her are the very reason TIESK exists. Philomena was able to resume her studies and is now in her second semester of second year, pursuing a degree in Education. Lastly we have Catherine, a nursing student at the Mount Kenya University in Thika. She too had dropped out of school after the birth of her beautiful baby girl Zawadi in 2020. We were impressed by her dedication and zeal to study, as she was working at what is referred to as a "kibandaski" in Kenya, basically a small food joint or hotel. She worked hard to save up money to at least make small payments to be able to sneak into lectures. Her resilient spirit is quite something! We are happy that she is now back in school and undertaking her clinical rotations at the Thika level 5 hospital.

It is humbling to see the impact of our work so far; we have 11 beneficiaries now in total, being part of their journey from when they first started school, and onboarding others as continuing students. In our first physical AGM last month in January, it was a sort of full circle moment. As I listened to their stories and experiences- where they've come from, where they are at now and where they hope to be after school, is such a blessing. These are stories of coming from struggle, lack, from nothing really and now able to live a reasonably better reality, and daring to dream, to see a better future, just wow!

Thank you everyone for supporting our work in one way or another. And a big welcome to all out here who'd like to join us. Karibu.

Catherine home visit

Philomena home visit

Lunch in Mutuati, Meru county

Anifa, Meru University of Science & Technology

Links:

Permalink

Oct 23, 2023
Internship stories and experiences from the TIES Kenya girls

By Sarah Njenga | TIES Kenya Representative

Art therapy session 2023

This quarter we focus on Sharon's story, at the JEVA (Jina Educational Volunteers Association) project in her hometown of Siaya in Nyanza region in Kenya. We were so thrilled that the project offered her the opportunity to intern for a second year. Sharon was excited to interact with the staff and beneficiaries; especially the pupils and students, across the various schools in the area supported by the JEVA project.

Sharon particularly highlighted the art therapy activity as her most enjoyable and impactful.

"... This is a game where you place numbers, letters, and animal pictures in a playing space. It relieves the brain, mind, and body after studies and tedious days. We played this game in the evening and on weekends after studies. It is like card games and chess; the more you place the more you win a lot of cards...''

The children were also allowed to go and play the game at home with their siblings. It was fun to teach because it was simple and easy to understand and remember. This activity kept everyone at the office busy throughout because Sharon for instance, was tasked with organizing the playing space (chairs and tables) every day. Three primary schools participated, namely, Jina, Marenyo and Jina Rembe. The turnout for the activity exceeded project expectations; 50 kids participated versus the 25 anticipated. Teachers of the participating schools were also allowed to play in the evening after their class lessons.

Sharon also did school visits to the three schools above, to follow up on the overall progress of the JEVA beneficiaries.

"...My role was to inquire about how the student was doing, if he/she was making progress in studies, and assist in identifying challenges they face and solutions. This enabled me to apply my knowledge in counseling psychology since I had to offer counseling services to some of our children. I want to thank TIES for this greatest opportunity and I am looking forward to returning to JEVA for my official attachment next year, after finishing my third year of studies..."

TIES catered for Sharon's transport cost throughout the 4 months of the internship; from May to August. This is made possible by the donations from our supporters. Please take a look at our project, link below, and kindly join and support our work to help girls like Sharon get a good university education and experience in Kenya.

Links:

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.