IT Training with DOTKenya
Wed, Feb 22 2012 07:49
| Student Events, Graduates
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| Kesho secondary graduates setting up email accounts |
It's been really well attended with over 70% of our graduates coming in every afternoon; some even come in the mornings too for some extra tuition with their peer, Mbigo who happens to be a quite a hotshot on computers!
It's lovely to see our new resource centre being used and but the greatest pleasure is seeing what fantastic young men and women the Kesho graduates are becoming; empowered, self motivated and optimistic about their futures.
Many will go on to study for diplomas and degrees over the next year or two and others will find jobs. What ever they decide, we'll be there to support them.
Comments
Graduate's Go Sailing with 3 Degrees South, Kilifi
Fri, Feb 10 2012 01:00
| Student Events, Graduates
Kesho graduates had the most awesome time yesterday.
3 Degrees South in Kilifi has very generously offered for free a 5 to 6 day sailing course for Kesho students to take them up to RYA Level 2 Certification.
I can't tell you how much fun was had. Our first volunteers were 9 students who graduated from secondary school in December.
The 8 to 13 year olds Kesho children will have their turn starting on Wednesday 22nd. A great activity to add to our Enrichment Programme.
Thanks Anne, Jo, Kevin and Hanni for this fantastic community effort to get Kenyan Kids Sailing. You're experience, professionalism and boundless enthusiasm was what made it such good fun for everyone.
Kesho's journey
Wed, Jan 4 2012 05:59
| Resource Centre, Achievements
It's been a great journey for the students as well as the committee and staff. Over the years we have grown from sponsoring 3 or 4 children in 2005 to over 250 in 2011. By listening to what the children told us and responding to their needs we now not only provide financial support we also have a whole host of enrichment activities which we arrange during the holidays in response to their requests.
Here is our journey in pictures.
From 2005 until 2008 Kesho sponsored around 50 children and our small committee, led, as it still is, by Zena Salim, all worked from home, using the local restaurant (Members Club) overlooking the creek once a term to meet the students and offer some academic advice and encouragement.
Here is our journey in pictures.
From 2005 until 2008 Kesho sponsored around 50 children and our small committee, led, as it still is, by Zena Salim, all worked from home, using the local restaurant (Members Club) overlooking the creek once a term to meet the students and offer some academic advice and encouragement.
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| April 2006 - meeting students from Kilifi Members Club |
It wasn't until June of 2008 that we opened an office and employed MacKinlay, who, thankfully, is still with us. The office was shared with Upendo Orphan Support Group and we spent a very happy year there.
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| A committee meeting in the gardens at Upendo |
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| We loved our rooms downstairs but it was just too crowded |
Before long students were asking us for a quiet place to study, away from the hustle and bustle at home. We listened. And in December, 2009 we cleared a small area upstairs, negotiating car doors and rubble and provided them a desk and some chairs. It was hugely popular.
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| December 2009 - very early days - students negotiating car doors to study quietly! |
In 2010 Beatrice joined the team and in 2011 Sandra joined too. With over 250 children being sponsored we needed an energetic and committed team to run our secondary and primary enrichment programmes. From experience and from listening to children, we appreciate that giving financial support isn't always enough. By starting an enrichment programme for students we're able to offer opportunities to enhance their academic, emotional and social development. This includes activities such things as story time and reading support for the little ones, and careers days, entrepreneurship training and
empowerment workshops for the older ones.
It was due to the success of these programmes that we then had to find a larger space. The upstairs was still the preferred spot - it just needed patience to wait for completion.
empowerment workshops for the older ones.
It was due to the success of these programmes that we then had to find a larger space. The upstairs was still the preferred spot - it just needed patience to wait for completion.
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| The preferred space - April 2010 - walls were plastered - nowhere to study though |
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| April 2011 - nearly there....floors swept - certainly good enough to host events, seminars etc. during the holidays. |
It was worth the wait! On Jan 3rd we moved upstairs. It's bright, breezy and has space to provide students with all the enrichment activities we ever dreamed of.
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| Here we are on day 2 of our move upstairs. Light, breezy, spacious. Worth the wait most definitely. Ask the students...they already love it. |
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| Mac on the Kesho office verandah enjoying a peaceful moment before we moved upstairs! |
Kesho moves up!
Wed, Jan 4 2012 05:36
| Resource Centre
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| 1st day in our new offices and resource centre |
Kesho moved up - upstairs and up in the world on January 3rd this year. It was 18 months in the waiting but worth every minute! We've now got room for our offices as well as our resource centres. These include areas designated for nursery play, primary reading, secondary study, computer access and training as well as an open area for hosting seminars, workshops, films....
As you can see we're still in the process of hanging curtains but we'll be ordering extra tables, shelves and resources in the next few weeks. Very exciting!
It's truly wonderful to have such a light and breezy space at long last. Come and visit us anytime - we can even make you a cup of tea now without climbing over boxes and tripping over the computer wires!
On the previous post you can see some pictures of our "climb" upstairs over the past couple of years. As you can see we've been pretty cramped, moving around car doors and rubble but you can admire our resourcefulness and improvisation skills!
Any new sponsors out there?
Thu, Dec 8 2011 02:32
| Fundraising
Is anyone able to help?
Now, we don't often do this, but we're putting out a call for help as we're desperately in need of extra sponsors to enable us to support the very brightest children on the coast of Kenya at top National secondary schools.
The way it works in Kenya is that those students who get the best grades at the end of Primary School (that's only 1% of the total entrants on the coast) are offered places at the top secondary schools or "National Schools". Once there, they have access to great facilities and teaching staff and hense 85% of them go on to join University; an amazing opportunity which not only helps build the future leaders of Kenya but also helps break the cycle of poverty within their own families and communities.
Kesho has pledged to sponsor all these high achieving students and hence, in January this year, after Equity Bank had sponsored about half, we took the remaining 11 students from Kilifi and Ganze Districts.
While we can continue sponsoring these 11 students in 2012, we don't have enough funds to sponsor any new "National" places next year. Being offered a place at a National School is an opportunity such students really can't miss and for Kesho to overlook their need due to a temporary shortage of funds would be criminal really don't you think?
These kids are definitely worth the investment.
If you're able to help please contact us on info@keshokenya.org
Thank you and a very Merry Christmas!
The Kesho Team
Now, we don't often do this, but we're putting out a call for help as we're desperately in need of extra sponsors to enable us to support the very brightest children on the coast of Kenya at top National secondary schools.
We need to raise a total of Ksh880,000 or £6,300
by January, 2012!
The way it works in Kenya is that those students who get the best grades at the end of Primary School (that's only 1% of the total entrants on the coast) are offered places at the top secondary schools or "National Schools". Once there, they have access to great facilities and teaching staff and hense 85% of them go on to join University; an amazing opportunity which not only helps build the future leaders of Kenya but also helps break the cycle of poverty within their own families and communities.
Kesho has pledged to sponsor all these high achieving students and hence, in January this year, after Equity Bank had sponsored about half, we took the remaining 11 students from Kilifi and Ganze Districts.
While we can continue sponsoring these 11 students in 2012, we don't have enough funds to sponsor any new "National" places next year. Being offered a place at a National School is an opportunity such students really can't miss and for Kesho to overlook their need due to a temporary shortage of funds would be criminal really don't you think?
These kids are definitely worth the investment.
If you're able to help please contact us on info@keshokenya.org
Thank you and a very Merry Christmas!
The Kesho Team
Christmas Craft Day 2011
Mon, Dec 5 2011 01:26
| Student Events
Another wonderful Christmas Craft Day on Saturday morning (3rd Dec) for Kesho and Upendo children. About 70 children came and we stuck with our usual, hugely popular, theme of making decorations with beads, stars and ribbons, pipe cleaners - you name it... The creations get more and more wacky as the day progresses and the imagination flows. The last ones hurriedly put together before everything gets packed away are my favourites!
We'll be sending all our sponsors a decoration through the post later this week - you may even get it in time to hang on your own christmas tree..... but don't hold your breath!
Have a wonderful Christmas from us all at Kesho
and thank you, asante, tunashukuru sana, for all your help
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| It was lovely - everyone was so busy. |
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| One of many beautiful arrangements |
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| Sandra, Kesho's Primary Programme Officer helping peg up all the amazing christmas creations |
Student Events reach new heights in 2011
Wed, Nov 23 2011 02:15
| Student Events, Achievements
We've hosted more student events this year than any other; over 17 in fact!
The events are completely child centered and part of our growing commitment to our Enrichment Programme in which we are promoting the personal, social and academic development of our students.
Events have included craft and reading sessions for the nursery and primary children, and a careers day, first aid workshop, a university field trip and tuition classes for our secondary students and graduates.
The attendance and feedback has been tremendous. When we move upstairs to the larger resource centre space (hopefully next week), the opportunities for offering more enrichment services will be even greater.... the sky's the limit!
The events are completely child centered and part of our growing commitment to our Enrichment Programme in which we are promoting the personal, social and academic development of our students.
Events have included craft and reading sessions for the nursery and primary children, and a careers day, first aid workshop, a university field trip and tuition classes for our secondary students and graduates.
32% of Kesho Graduates at University
Mon, Nov 7 2011 07:49
| Graduates, Achievements
50% of Kesho sponsored students are now in University (32%) or College (18%) studying for a Degree or a Diploma and a further 7% are in the process of applying.
That's an amazing achievement; the district averages for Kilifi and Ganze are that only 2% attend University and 10% attend either college or university to undertake a degree or diploma.
Keep it up guys; we're cheering you all the way.
That's an amazing achievement; the district averages for Kilifi and Ganze are that only 2% attend University and 10% attend either college or university to undertake a degree or diploma.
Keep it up guys; we're cheering you all the way.
38 Kesho sponsored students have graduated from primary and secondary school since Kesho started in 2005; this is set to double next year!
Kesho continues to sponsor students beyond school by paying their college fees or contributing towards their upkeep while at university.
Ngala Lemic - Welcome to the Kesho Team
Wed, Oct 12 2011 01:16
| Graduates, Achievements
We're delighted to have Ngala Lemic join the Kesho team. He has taken over from Ambrose who has just left for Nairobi University. Lemic will be working in the office until the end of the year helping with general duties, gaining IT skills and work experience as well as being a role model and mentor to other secondary students sponsored by our programme.
He's settling in so well and watching him now you wouldn't believe that only a month ago he'd never used a computer.
Lemic is a really dynamic young man. He graduated from Ribe Boys secondary school in 2010 with a B plain and will be called to Maseno University in January next year to study Sociology.
In November last year, after leaving school Lemic, from his own initiative, set up a children's football team in his home area, with around 35 members, with the idea that football could be a vehicle for change. Many of the children in his area were not in school and he was concerned about their futures. Once they joined the team they would talk to Lemic about the importance of education and he'd inspire them to study. He was the perfect role model having struggled himself to finish school; and indeed would have dropped out of secondary school had Kesho not sponsored him.
He's proven to be a great role model for young people and we'll be proud to be supporting him again in his new challenge at University next year.
