3/20/10 Visiting Kenyan
Connect with the EFAC scholarship students as Rod and Nancy, the organization's founders, report from Kenyan as they meet these children.
Labels: Visiting Kenya
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Connect with the EFAC scholarship students as Rod and Nancy, the organization's founders, report from Kenyan as they meet these children.
EFAC STUDENT TOPS DISTRICTS IN ATHLETICS
Benedict Larambee form 2, kaaga Boys School placed first in the districts and will once again participate in the nationals.
Rod and I visited kaaga Boys' School and learned that Benedict was off at the district competitions so we piled the other five boys in the car and went to find him. As we arrived he was running his last race and came across the finish line about 100 yards ahead of the nearest competitor. As soon as the race finished the cows waiting patiently nearby crossed to the other side. Benedict limped over and his sprained ankle was wrapped in a now filthy ace bandage as he was running barefoot.
Benedict is from the northern region of Kenya in Samburu. His family is nomadic so he has spent a lot of time walking with the herds. He is an amazing athlete and we have high hopes for his national Kenyan ranking.
We took the boys to the shoe store for school shoes and yes we did buy Benedict his first pair of running shoes as they are required in some of the races.
I am so glad he is thriving in and out of the classroom and is no longer herding cows.
It is inspiring to see these young lives change so dramatically.
Nancy Van Sciver EFAC President
Rod and I visited kaaga Boys' School and learned that Benedict was off at the district competitions so we piled the other five boys in the car and went to find him. As we arrived he was running his last race and came across the finish line about 100 yards ahead of the nearest competitor. As soon as the race finished the cows waiting patiently nearby crossed to the other side. Benedict limped over and his sprained ankle was wrapped in a now filthy ace bandage as he was running barefoot.
Benedict is from the northern region of Kenya in Samburu. His family is nomadic so he has spent a lot of time walking with the herds. He is an amazing athlete and we have high hopes for his national Kenyan ranking.
We took the boys to the shoe store for school shoes and yes we did buy Benedict his first pair of running shoes as they are required in some of the races.
I am so glad he is thriving in and out of the classroom and is no longer herding cows.
It is inspiring to see these young lives change so dramatically.
Nancy Van Sciver EFAC President
Labels: Kaaga Boys School, Student Spotlight, Visiting Kenya
IMPOSSIBLE DECISIONS
Our visit to the Bahati girls School resulted in some confusion. We had planned on placing 6 girls at this wonderful school but only had been able to place 5. When we arrived we were greeted by a sixth girl facing going home for lack of fees so we said we would consider her application. Within in an hour we had a situation where the "real sixth" girl showed up and we had seven girls and then miraculously an eighth needy girl arrived.
Sister Magadelen, head of the school, had the three girls into her office to tell us their stories and we were to choose the sixth girl. Yes it was a "Sophie's Choice" kind of decision.
Needless to say all 3 girls were fabulous and we now have 8 scholars at Bahati. Sister Magdelene is compassionate, personable and very cagey!
If anyone is interested in sponsoring a very bright and impoversihed student please cntact us at info@educationforallchildren.org.
Sister Magadelen, head of the school, had the three girls into her office to tell us their stories and we were to choose the sixth girl. Yes it was a "Sophie's Choice" kind of decision.
Needless to say all 3 girls were fabulous and we now have 8 scholars at Bahati. Sister Magdelene is compassionate, personable and very cagey!
If anyone is interested in sponsoring a very bright and impoversihed student please cntact us at info@educationforallchildren.org.
Nancy
Labels: Bahati Girls School, Partner Schools, Visiting Kenya
Vanessa Grant School
We have travelled to the Nakuru area are are staying with Hamish Grant, a third generation Kenyan, who owns and operates the 4000 acre Gogar farm. One of his projects is building the Vanessa Grant girls secondary school here on the farm. We are so impressed with his project that we have placed 27 form one (freshman) and form 2 (sophomore) girls in the new school.
We met today with Joan, the new head mistress, and find that our missions are totally aligned. In a country that tends to favor male education and discourage female education, there is a huge need for top end girls schools. We believe that Vanessa Grant is going to be one of the gold standards.
One of the key players is Johnny Oslow, one of Hamish's life long friends and a former head of school, is heading of the construction project. Johnny has done a superb job of designing and building the new facility - at an average construction cost of $11/square foot.
Vanessa Grant has a state of the art computer facility, an ingredient I have mentioned in previous posts which we consider absolutely essential for 21st century education. The last IT step will be a WiMax link to the nearby 3G cell tower which will put the school on line.
We love the Vanessa Grant vision and are excited to be a part of it.
Rod
We met today with Joan, the new head mistress, and find that our missions are totally aligned. In a country that tends to favor male education and discourage female education, there is a huge need for top end girls schools. We believe that Vanessa Grant is going to be one of the gold standards.
One of the key players is Johnny Oslow, one of Hamish's life long friends and a former head of school, is heading of the construction project. Johnny has done a superb job of designing and building the new facility - at an average construction cost of $11/square foot.
Vanessa Grant has a state of the art computer facility, an ingredient I have mentioned in previous posts which we consider absolutely essential for 21st century education. The last IT step will be a WiMax link to the nearby 3G cell tower which will put the school on line.
We love the Vanessa Grant vision and are excited to be a part of it.
Rod
Labels: Partner Schools, Vanessa Grant School
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE
I am looking out over miles of African plains with nothing to break my line of sight but distant Mount Kenya clear against the horizon. We are in northern Kenya at the spectacular Lewa Downs conservancy. This morning we took a horse back ride. The wild animals have no fear of people on a horse, only on foot. So we were able to get within a few yards of zebra and giraffes. Really quite amazing.
But what is more amazing is that I am connected to the world through a plastic modem and a 3MB 3G cell tower out there somewhere.
I am convinced that this new Internet connectivity is going to change Kenya. While the politicians squabble and pontificate, this country is moving forward at an accelerating pace. The students we support need to be on the leading edge of that change.
We have been having lots of discussion about how we make that happen. One thing is clear. All partner secondary schools must embrace technology as a key component of their curriculum.
One school we visited got rid of their computer lab because they needed an extra classroom. That is not the answer we are looking for.
Signing off from deep, but no longer dark, Africa,
Rod Van Sciver
But what is more amazing is that I am connected to the world through a plastic modem and a 3MB 3G cell tower out there somewhere.
I am convinced that this new Internet connectivity is going to change Kenya. While the politicians squabble and pontificate, this country is moving forward at an accelerating pace. The students we support need to be on the leading edge of that change.
We have been having lots of discussion about how we make that happen. One thing is clear. All partner secondary schools must embrace technology as a key component of their curriculum.
One school we visited got rid of their computer lab because they needed an extra classroom. That is not the answer we are looking for.
Signing off from deep, but no longer dark, Africa,
Rod Van Sciver
Labels: Visiting Kenya