The children of hundreds of families who were displaced to Eburra during tribal clashes which erupted in parts of Kenya in the late 1990's, are set to build a long awaited new school, following the preparation of plans for the re-development of Thome Primary School, in the area.
The existing temporary school structure, made by the local community from mud and reed is to be replaced by newly built permanent classrooms, while a block of pit latrine toilets, fencing, landscaping, and a system to harvest rainwater from the school's roofs is also to be installed.
Thome School, which currently caters for a school population of just under 150 is expecting that number to rise significantly once a proper school complex has been built.
The project has attracted additional support from a group of Irish visitors who travelled to Eburra during Self Help Africa's 2007 field visit, with members of the party pledging to raise upwards of €20,000 towards the €50,000 cost of the work.
Thome Primary School was initially established in 1996, when the children of families displaced by pre-election ethnic clashes set about providing a facility where their children could attend school.
School chairman Joseph K. Ndegwa and his parents committee lobbied Kenya's Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to provide the facility with five teachers, while in the recent past they received support from the Anglican Church of Kenya, who funded the construction of a water tank, and provided tree seedlings to be planted on the school lands.
Self Help's Gilgil Project has also rowed in behind the project, and is to support the construction of a new school block, of new latrines, and the provision of fencing around the compound.
Project manager Rebecca Amukhoye says that existing facilities are completely inadequate, and that many children don't attend school as a result. As a result of the low level of attendance, Thome School only receives a small grant from the state Free Primary Education (FPE) programme.
'They are in a difficult catch 22 situation at the moment, but once these improvements have been carried out, we are optimistic that conditions will be improved not just for the present students, but also for future generations who will be hoping to attend Thome School', she said.
'The community who live here arrived in difficult circumstances. It is also a harsh climate that is very prone to drought, but we are optimistic that by improving the school facilities, it will pave the way for other positive developments to take place in this area', Rebecca Amukhoye added. |
Self Help Africa in Kenya |
Self Help Africa began working in Kenya in the late 1990's - initially in partnership with the Franciscan Brothers at Baraka Agricultural College, and in more recent years as a seperate, independent agency.
The organisation continues to work closely with Baraka College on a Beekeeping Extension Programme and other activities, while it has also established it's own area based development programmes in the Rift Valley Province. |
