What's Under the Tree in Wamunyu 2015?

Here’s the picture of a typical Wamunyu classroom: cement walls with a few handmade posters of learning concepts, worn wooden bench desks that seat 2 to 3 students, a blackboard and a cracked cement floor. The classrooms are typically dark, but filled with the radiance of pupils, eager to learn.

In 2017, the Kenyan government issued a laptop computer and tablets to the primary schools in Kenya including Wamunyu in an effort to provide 21^st century learning.   One would think, finally….technology had come to the classroom, but….. and this is a big but…..most teachers did not know how to use the technology and kept the tablets and computer locked away for safe keeping. Most of these teachers had never used a computer, tablet or even smart phone and the brief training that was provided 8 months prior to the dissemination of the equipment wasn’t adequate. Not only did they not know how to integrate technology into the Kenyan curriculum, they were petrified to use the equipment in fear that it might break.

As Kenya Connect staff learned of this challenge, they consulted with the local Curriculum Development Officer to see if training at our Learning Resource Center would be helpful. As a result, Patrick Munguti, Director of Technology Education and ICT at Kenya Connect, met with experts on how to use the tablets and computer and developed a training for local teachers and teachers from the nearby Kyaithani Cluster. This Digital Literacy class teaches basic ICT skills, how to use the teacher and student devices, and the Netscape manager control.

In addition to providing the basics to the teachers on how to use the computer and tablets, Patrick has worked with the teachers on how to integrate the technology into the curriculum. He also demonstrated the use of the World Possible Rachel Plus, a content-rich device that can be used as a “server” to the instructional computer. The Rachel Plus has e-books, interactive components of the Kenyan curriculum, Wikipedia, Ted Talks, and much more. Kenya Connect has Rachel Plus devices that teachers can check out of our lending library to use in the classroom. One of our goals is to eventually have enough Rachel Plus devices for each school.

I never knew that these gadgets had so much to learn and teach my students. I will now incorporate technology in my class. –Mr. Kyuu from Ngului PS

The 230 teachers attending these classes are invited to join a “WhatsApp” group so they can share questions, ideas and how they have used the technology with each other. In an effort to make sure the devices are being used and to support the teachers, Patrick will be visiting the classrooms during the remainder of the academic year and serves as “tech” support to them.

I am quite impressed by the follow-up calls the teachers are making to ask for help in case they get stuck while at school. This is an indicator that they are using the technology in their classrooms. Patrick Munguti

This is just one of the many initiatives that Kenya Connect is providing to our 55 partner schools to help transform education in our village. We are striving to have our students become 21^st century learners fully utilizing the resources provided.  We still continue to offere LEVEL UP VILLAGE (LUV) classes and next week students will be participating in the Global Conversations class.

We area also VERY excited to share that we have a redesigned website.  If you haven't checked out our website, now is the time to do it!  More information about our robust programming, the latest in our social media feed, and new blogs are now included on the website.  Visit our WEBSITE and share with your friends.

And mostly, we would like to thank you for choosing Kenya Connect.  We appreciate your donation, continued support and well wishes.  You are helping us to make a profound difference in the lives of students living in extreme poverty.

Three hand washing stations, 11 packages of new books, 4 packages of sporting equipment and one composter were all donated during the Holiday Season for the Kenya Connect's 'What's Under the Tree in Wamunyu' campaign.  In addition, funds were donated for six seats on the LRC Bus and three technology classes.

We are happy to report that these projects have been implemented. So how do these projects impact our community?

The new hand washing stations built at Kaliambeu, Ngangani and Sofia Primary Schools means that over 1,000 students will now have access to wash their hands before they eat and after they use the toilet.  The mere act of washing hands with soap and clean water helps keep students healthy and able to attend school regularly.   All the students in the three schools were trained on effective hand washing process using soap and water as a sure way of maintaining hygiene by keeping away germs. In addition to the trainings, each of the three beneficiary schools received a month's supply of antiseptic soap.

"Our school is very grateful to have a hand-washing station. This will help to boost behavior change on hand washing practice and ensure improved standards of hygiene in my school."

(Ann M. - Head teacher Kaliambeu PS)

Three Primary Schools (Kambiti, Mbaikini and Makaalu) with a total of 120 students have taken technology classes at the Kenya Connect LRC since the start of the year. So far we have successfully trained about 1,200 students since the LRC opened its doors in November 2012. Information Technology skills are crucial in preparing young students to the modern work place.

Many students in our enrolled schools are challenged to learn English language, as it is their second and sometimes third language to learn. In order to improve on their mastery of English language, students need to practice reading. As a result of the books donation, we were able to order over 200 copies of 50 different titles for young reader books from phoenix publishers. These additional books are for both English and Kiswahili and are authored by Kenyan writers. Our teachers are finding them useful as a supplementary reading resource for helping their students in understanding English.

"The early reader books at the LRC are ideal for our young students as they are short and exciting and so our students find a sense of fulfillment as they can read and finish a book in an hour"

(Judith - Teacher Wamunyu Junior School)

We have also been able to build a composter at Makaalu Primary School to recycle organic waste.  The students at this school were trained on how to make good compost and have had the opportunity to practically carry out composting. Recycling organic materials will produce compost for crops and flowers in the school while maintaining the environment clean.  Many of the parents from Kenya Connect enrolled schools are subsistence farmers.  In teaching composting, we are encouraging students to share what they have learned with their parents to help their crops flourish.

In addition, four schools (Wamunyu special school, Kambiti, Kilaatu and Kituiu) have benefited from games equipment. The equipment will help the students to develop their extra curriculum skills and allow them to play during recess while they enjoy life in school just as young kids.

One of Kenya Connect's challenges is providing access to our Learning Resource Center for students at distant schools.  Some of our students' schools are over 20km away - way too far to walk to and back in a day.  Kenya Connect is in the process of raising money for a bus that will transport students to the Learning Resource Center for technology classes including coding, robotics, and 3D printing while also serving as a mobile book library.  This project is a high priority for our Principals especially those whose schools are so far away.  

We are grateful to all the donors for contributing to these projects to make life in school much better for the 17,000 children and 500 teachers we work with in Wamunyu, Kenya. Your donation will go along way in improving and strengthening the quality of education in our local schools.

We are ending this campaign, but stay tuned for our next big exciting project. Hint; do you love the Magic School Bus?

Links:

• New books, hand washing stations and more ...Thanks to the donor

2016 has had a busy start at Kenya Connect! Students from Kambiti and Mbaikini Primary schools have been taking STEAM lessons on 3D printing and creating video games at the Learning Resource Center (LRC). These classes have been implemented through a partnership between Kenya Connect and Level Up Village (LUV), a U.S. educational non-profit that aims to build relationships between students in the U.S. with their peers in other countries through STEAM-related projects.

In the 3D printing classes, our students have been busy utilizing a computer-aided design software; Tinkacard, to design and print their own creations on our new Polar 3D printer. Kenya Connect is very excited to have our new 3D printer. 3D printing is the future of manufacturing and engineering, according to many, and designs printed on 3D printers are already solving problems in fields as diverse as medicine and fashion design. With our 3D printing initiative, we hope our students will be inspired to one day contribute to the burgeoning 3D printing movement especially in a country like Kenya that have been lacking manufacturing equipment.

Together with Level Up Village, Kenya Connect staff is facilitating meaningful exchanges between Mbaikini and Kambiti students and students in U.S. Our students are always very excited to write to and read letters from their American pen pals and learn more about life across the Atlantic. They also record video diaries in which they pose questions for their American peers and provide updates on their 3D printed designs.   This is truly a unique experience for our students, and most are thrilled to be able to partake in the video diary sessions.

The American and Kenyan students are able to collaborate on real-world problems via the 3D printing class. For our Kenyan students, one of the most pressing day-to-day problems is the lack of access to electricity. The class has helped foster a problem-solving mentality in the students, and the students were able to design a solar light kit  which will be able to offer light at night. Now, the students will be able to do their homework and read books at night with the help of their 3D printed solar light!

 "I am so excited to design my own solar light to do my homework during the night. I wish I could make many to share with students in my school." Mataka, Student at Kambiti Primary school

At the same time, Kenya Connect also begun hosting a new school, Makaalu Primary, whose students have started learning basic computer operations under Mr. Patrick’s patient guidance. Over the next few months, the students will be able to perform word processing as well as navigate the Internet. Since this is the first time these students have ever touched a computer, we must start small, but we are excited to be able to introduce Makaalu students to the world of technology.

We will continue to provide updates as the other projects funded by our 2015 “What’s Under the Tree” campaign get underway. We are grateful to you all for supporting the children of Wamunyu as they learn to be creative with cutting edge technology while sharing their ideas with their peers around the world. Thank your support!