Post-Kenya blues have set in since our recent visit although the next one is at least in sight. It was a very enlightening trip both for our schools and for the supporters who came with us, many of whom work in Special Educational Needs, a relatively new area in Africa's education systems (Rwanda is paving the way with an inclusion policy that aims to include all educationally vulnerable children in mainstream schools http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/aug/30/rwandan-schools-open-up-disabled?INTCMP=SRCH).
Whilst schools in Kenya tend to be very community-centric with active Parent Teacher Associations, Nandi Hills Township has made significant strides in involving parents in their children's education and in helping to educate them, too. All of which prompted some interesting discussions between the Township teachers and our visitors who found a lot of common ground and learnt quite a bit.
Elimu is involving Nandi Hills Township in the beginnings of an Elimu Support Network for the schools we work with so that they remain connected and can share ideas with one another as well as with UK schools.
The trip also included a visit to Greenfields, a sister school to Kipriria whose UK partner we will be announcing soon, and a catch-up with Stalion whose re-development needs as much support as we can muster!
Events are currently being planned, including a party in early March, while Lucy Strutt, an artist who also photographed our latest trip, is designing Elimu Christmas cards. These designs will be unveiled here later this week. All proceeds will go to Stalion so if you would like to buy any or even sell some on our behalf, please contact joanne@elimufoundation.org.uk
And finally... another big thank you to The Priory. The school donated 10 laptops that it no longer needs for use in our Kenyan schools. Kipsamo School was the first delighted receipient last month and is now in the process of connecting itself up to the internet. It is just waiting for our rep. Sally Sang's technologically-savvy daughter to return from university and install a modem!
This will be the first time the school has had a computer and internet access, both of which mean a great deal.
Please keep an eye out for more news in the next few days.
Jo
Nandi Hills Township is Elimu's newest partner school in Kenya which we aim to link with the UK in the near future - and a growing champion of Special Educational Needs. It is the largest public school in the area and has one dedicated SEN teacher. The school works to identify and, therefore, to accommodate SEN children in class and with exams and ensures they have access to a counseller. This is also the case where parental output is low and for vulnerable older girls who are at risk of falling away. Children are kept in school as much as possible while teachers have been known to dip into their own pockets to pay for new uniforms and text books.
Elimu is involving Nandi Hills Township in the beginnings of an Elimu Support Network for the schools we work with so that they remain connected and can share ideas with one another as well as with UK schools.
The trip also included a visit to Greenfields, a sister school to Kipriria whose UK partner we will be announcing soon, and a catch-up with Stalion whose re-development needs as much support as we can muster!
Events are currently being planned, including a party in early March, while Lucy Strutt, an artist who also photographed our latest trip, is designing Elimu Christmas cards. These designs will be unveiled here later this week. All proceeds will go to Stalion so if you would like to buy any or even sell some on our behalf, please contact joanne@elimufoundation.org.uk
This will be the first time the school has had a computer and internet access, both of which mean a great deal.
Please keep an eye out for more news in the next few days.
Jo
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