Education For All Children Blog

MPESA - cell phone banking

I went to a shopping mall Saturday to get a modem for our lap top so that we can continue to communicate once we leave Nairobi. I could hardly get into the Safaricom store past the long line of people depositing their weeks pay to their cell phone. For folks that have never had a bank account, this service, called MPESA, is a revolution. They used to hide this money in a mattress. Now they have a safe place to store it.

But it gets better. MPESA allows you to transfer money from cell phone to cell phone. It is like a free wire transfer service. Your can buy items in a store and charge them to your phone. You can pay all your bills like we do with on line banking. The phone also becomes your ATM at any Safaricom store which seem to be located every 50 feet in this country.

MPESA is a great example of technology opening opportunities and changing lives.

I thought it was so cool, I had to buy a phone.

Labels: Technology, Visiting Kenya

Diminutive in stature and huge in compassion and in personality Starehe girls head of school, Margaret Wanjohi, runs a highly disclipiend and innovative school for the poorest and brightest students in Kenya.
Rod and I (EFAC founders) spent the day at Starehe discussing school operations and meeting the 20 girls EFAC sponsors.
The three things that struck us most were the Institute, the geographic and ethnic diversity and the self discipline. Head Wanjohi is responsible for all of these.
The institute is a computer program for graduates who must wait 18 months to begin their university studies. In a country with a huge unemployment issue these 18 months provide no stimulus for the graduates so Ms. Wanjohi has designed a computer program for her graduates followed by internships with businesses while they wait to attend the university. Starehe also provides room and board during this "gap" period.
Diversity; 10,000 students applied to Starehe for 80 places this year. The application process is rigorous academically but even more so in terms of need qualification. Every student is a scholarship student and must prove that there are no means available for school funds.
Self discipline: Dormitories, daily meetings and dining halls do not require faculty supervisors. the girls live the "Starehe Way" and this includes being able to self monitor.
Starehe girls School is a model for the world and we are proud to be a sponsor at this school.

Labels: Partner Schools, Starehe Girls School, Visiting Kenya

Greatings from Nairobi.

We arrived Tuesday evening about 10 pm Kenya time, grabbed a good nights rest and quick shower and headed off to meet the 10 new first year and 10 second year EFAC scholars at Starehe Girls school. The girls are all wonderful and excited to get into the new school year. Microsoft has assisted with a major upgrade to the computer lab with new desk top computers. They are also assisting with the construction of a wireless tower so hopefully the school will soon have broadband.

Today we visited Insinya Girls school, a new partner school this year. There we are sponsoring 3 wonderful young women - Brenda, Esther and Charity. Total strangers a few weeks ago, they have already formed an endearing bond. You would think they had spent their entire lives together. Charity wants to be a journalist. Esther is going to be a doctor. I am not sure what Brenda will do, but she will be great at it.

We are off to Naivasha Girls and Kijabe Boys schools in the morning where we meet 12 more new students. Both are new schools to the program.

Labels: Moi Isinya Girls School, Partner Schools, Visiting Kenya

Labels: EFAC Events

President Clinton, in November 2009, visited the Franklin Pierce house in Concord, NH. He spoke at the celebration of the recent renovations funded by the New Hampshire Political Library.

EFAC founder, Nancy VanSciver, attended the event and met with President Clinton following the ceremony. New Hampshire Political Library board member Steve Duprey interviewed Nancy.



Steve: What did you and the President discuss?

Nancy: I asked him to sign his book Giving because it had been influential in
helping me to formulate a vision for Education For All Children.

Steve: What in Giving influenced the nonprofit you founded?

Nancy: President's Clinton's mission regarding developing countries involves
donors giving poor countries the capacity to help themselves. This is
a powerful message and naturally includes providing education
because education definitely increases capacity.

Steve: What were President Clinton"s thoughts about your nonprofit, Education
For All Children?

Nancy: The President asked several questions about EFAC and our mission. He
stated that Kenya, which is our first initiative in the developing
world, is psychologically the most important country in Africa and
that educating the youth there is essential to Kenya's development.
He also talked about his support of Kenyan Noble Peace Prize winner,
Wangari Mathaai, in her reforestation efforts in Kenya.

Steve: Do you think you can expect support from the Clinton Foundation?

Nancy: I am extremely pleased to have President Clinton's endorsement.
An opportunity to be included in the annual meeting of the Clinton
Global Initiative is certainly on my wish list.

Labels: Clinton

This year the Sundance Film Festival will present the amazing documentary, A Small Act. This documentary shares the life changing story of Chris Mburu, a young Kenyan primary school student, who thought his hopes were lost when his education ceased at age eight. To Chris's surprise Hilde Back, a Swedish citizen and Holocaust survivor, answered his wishes by making the small act of paying $15 per term and giving Chris the opportunity of an education.

Unknowingly to Hilde, her generosity resulted in global effects. Chris went onto Harvard Law School and now works for the UN as a human rights lawyer. To show his appreciation and the importance of his education, Chris started a scholarship program in his own village, named after his former benefactor, The Hilde Back Education Fund.

Many years later and after many successes, Hilde and Chris united and developed a wonderful friendship. We can only hope the power of this documentary encourages others to make a small act, which could ultimately benefit many lives. It is going to take a series of small steps to change the big world.

By Lisa Van Sciver

Labels: Importance of Education, Making a difference