Epang’a Primary School was founded probably in 1928, by the community members who valued education after being challenged by the Missionaries who had settled at Kima Mission Station. It is a two-streamed mixed primary school. It is thus an old educational institution which without doubt, has for decades positively contributed to the general development of the people of this community and beyond. It is a bridge of hope many have crossed to make the entire society to be what it looks like today and to that effect, we find it quite abnormal to just watch it go down to ruins as History and the future generations may judge us harshly in the name of justice.
The school buildings which sprung up rapidly in a feat to run away from temporary and semi-permanent structures in 1970’s were poorly planned and the workmanship was very much wanting. The ratio of the mixture of sand and cement was so poor that within 19 years, most of the buildings had become so risky for habitation. One of the blocks in March 2005 was heavily brought down by storms; thank God children were not in school then. The Ministry of Public Health moved swiftly and condemned all the 15 classrooms in March 2005. Most community members are small scale farmers who are not even able to produce enough food to support their own families.
Objectives of the school:
a)To provide education that will enable pupils to succeed both in their internal and external exams. b)To provide education that will encourage the pupils to respect themselves and others.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
Shining Star Academy is a community based educational institution and an upcoming rural resource center that is aimed at enhancing the development of the community children educational development and also caters for the needs of the OVC who were being neglected in the community.
The establishment of the center was a great mile stone since it now offered an opportunity to the community children especially the OVC to catered for and that they had someone who could champion their interests. Most of its activities are supported by both beneficiaries and community members. Most people in the local community are involve in the fish industry which at times has lured school going children to join. This in fact has had negative impacts on the community since it has resulted in early marriages, school drop outs, early and unplanned pregnancies not forgetting the spread of HIV/AIDS that has resulted in the increase of the number of OVC’s in the community.
The need to empower the local community members led to the establishment of the center that has over the years assisted in educating the local community on various issues that affect the development process of the community.
The project aims at ensuring the following activities in the local community:
Early childhood development; Basic primary school education; Care and support orphans and vulnerable children and HIV/AIDS families; Enhancement of community empowerment trainings; ICT promotion and development in the local area.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
Paranga Primary School was established as a result of community and volunteer’s initiative. The initiation of Paranga Primary School came in handy with the many challenges that affect the community. Their struggles can be defined as follows: Human/Wildlife conflict; Alcoholism, drug and substance abuse; adverse climatic condition {unreliable and unevenly distributed rainfall}; early pregnancy for teenage girls.
The source of income for the community is charcoal burning which is detrimental to the environment as regards to sustainable development. The school has over five hundred students who undergo basic primary school education. The school is also involved in nurturing the young kids’ skills, guiding and counseling and thus career development.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, beer, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
Shartuka Primary school was started in 1957 to promote the educational standards of the Maasai children from the local community. The school offers primary education in the Kenyan educational curriculum 8-4-4, which is the first level, where children undergoes an eight year training system in various subject. This stage is basically a point at which a foundation in the life of the child is laid from which they can now be able to build on in achieving their talents and goals in life.
It was started by Missionaries of AIC Church to help the community on the literacy level and currently it has 400 students and 40 from the Early Childhood section and at the primary level there are about 420 pupils. The school has contributed enormously in assisting the local children to pursue various professional fields in life and promotion of literacy levels in the community.
Challenges faced by the school:
The Maasai community is one of the few communities in Kenya that are still entrenched and guard their cultural practices. Some of the practices have had a negative impact on the educational development of the local people especially the girl child. Some of these practices include; Cultural e.g. Female genital mutilation of the girls, thereafter the girls are married immediately.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee?
•Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee?
•Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
Kilingili secondary school was established by the community members to offer their children who had graduated from primary school an opportunity to pursue their secondary education dreams. The school has three streams from form one to form four and each class has an average of forty students. Hence the school has an approximately 450 students. Since the initiation of the school many community members especially the youths have been able to achieve and develop their talents that have made them become better members of the society who have and are contributing positively to the development process of the local community structures of sustainability. The school also provides an opportunity where the youth are empowered on issues dealing with drug abuse and their life development. Apart from class work activities the students have an opportunity to develop their skills and interest in sporting activities as well as clubs that are aimed at enhancing the general development of the local community. Most members of the community are small scale farmers who only produce foodstuffs that are consumed within the family household.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
Vigetse Primary School was established as a result of community’s initiative to enhance the educational development of the children from the local community in order to reduce the local illiteracy levels. The school was also initiated to offer a forum where the community members could meet to enhance the process of implementation of community development activities and thus champion on a common course that is to improve the living standards of the local community members. The initiation of Vigetse Primary School came in handy with the many challenges that affect the community. Their struggles can be defined as follows: Alcoholism, drug and substance abuse; unreliable rainfall due to the effects of human activities on the local forest cove; early pregnancy for teenage girls that over the years resulted in school drop outs.
The school offers primary education in the Kenyan educational curriculum 8-4-4, which is the first level, where children undergoes an eight year training system in various subject. This stage is basically a point at which a foundation in the life of the child is laid from which they can now be able to build on in achieving their talents and goals in life Most community members are small scale farmers who are not even able to produce enough food to support their own families. The school has over five hundred students who undergo basic primary school education. The school is also involved in nurturing the young kids’ skills, guiding and counseling and thus career development.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
Nyabosongo Bena Academy Primary School was established as a result of community’s initiative to promote the literacy levels in the community. The initiation of Nyabosongo Bena Academy came in handy with the many challenges that affect the community. Their struggles can be defined as follows: Alcoholism, drug and substance abuse; cultural practices that sometimes have had negative impact on the growth of the community; early pregnancy for teenage girls due to cultural practices. This school is a turning point where parents are advised to give their children an opportunity to pursue their academic dream that is aimed at enabling them to fully participate in the productive development of the community structures and thus making life better for the generations to come. Most members of the community are small scale farmers most of home only produce food stuffs that are not even enough to support the wellbeing of their families.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; sports and clubs management; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
The Polytechnic started as a community based initiative in support of the need to realize self-development. It was difficult to consolidate the community resolve until in 2008 when the process of obtaining legal status ensued and this was followed by frantic efforts by development partners to support the community to realize its objectives.
In 2009, an international voluntary service program was organized by KVDA and this jump-started the construction of the first administration block that is yet to be completed as the inaugural step to develop the infrastructure at the Polytechnic. Current student enrolment is approaching 100 and this comprises of boys and girls, the majority of whom have completed their Primary and secondary school education and yearn for career development. Teaching fraternity is made up of 7 teachers and the Polytechnic sits on a one-acre land owned by the Polytechnic.
Project activities:
Educational development of the students; sports and career development; guidance and counseling.
Volunteer tasks:
Teaching; career development; community awareness programs on emerging community issues; institutional development.
Minimum stay:
3 months
Maximum stay:
12 months
Financial contribution:
Participation fees is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to cover the entire duration of placement at the project and monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
What is included in the participation fee? •Airport transfers •Accommodation and food while in the project (breakfast and dinner will be provided in project) •Orientation and evaluation including board •Transport to and from the project
What is not included in the participation fee? •Cost of drinks like soda, bear, mineral water etc. •Cost of sight seeing •Visa costs •Local traveling
« I think our work has really opened the eyes of the youth there. I think that, because of our presence, some local youths got the chance to learn about other cultures which they wouldn't have otherwise. »