Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

“I didn’t know that books could be so colorful!” remarked at parent at Kaitha primary school. Over the last several weeks, our Library team has been visiting partner schools interested in being part of the School Mobile Library Program. Part of our process to enroll new schools in the program is to have our Literacy Team, led by Librarian Esther Muinde, meet with parents at the school to share information about the importance of reading. She, Sharon and Rael talk about how reading helps with student achievement and future career success while at the same time talking about how reading expands students’ horizons and nurtures creativity and critical thinking. They also talk about the sheer joy of reading and how books can be funny, touching and also full of knowledge.

One of our goals at Kenya Connect is to shift the culture and community to be one of readers. Having the only library for over 100km and a host of programs including the Reading Challenge, LitClubs, LitMoms and a free weekly Saturday Storytime is opening new pathways for encouraging reading. Programs like our Girl/Boy Empowerment Program to reduce teen pregnancy and gender-based violence use affirmational books and books about feelings to help students build confidence and self-esteem. Books also explain trickier topics like consent, respect and boundaries. 

We are grateful to donors like you who are helping us bring the joy, wonder and knowledge of books to students, parents and teachers in rural Kenya. Your support is creating a new generation of readers excited to explore the world through books. At our parent sessions in May, it was especially heartwarming to see parents at the sessions sharing books with their toddlers, something that would not occur without Kenya Connect.

As you may have heard in the news, Kenya has been experiencing catastrophic rains. Mudslides, flooding, and washed out roads occurred in parts of the country. Fortunately, our community has not experienced the devastation that other regions have, but it has affected school openings. As schools have been closed, our staff has sprung into action to offer additional enrichment activities at our Learning Resource Center and the Library Learning Center. 

Just imagine children seeing a 3D printer in action! This week, 20 students attended a training on 3D printing and learning about the applications of 3D printing. They brainstormed ideas for future applications and how they could create new products. Mentor Maureen led the class which included an introduction to tinkercad, a software used for 3D design. These future innovators are learning about and preparing to try 3D printing first hand!

Simultaneously, students are creating in the Makerspace and making cool toys out of cast-off items. Toilet paper tubes, plastic bottles, corks, and bottle caps are terrific materials. These students are having fun creating in safe space.

Upstairs from our Makerspace is the library. With schools closed, children are coming to the library to read. We have books for all ages including adults! The only library for over 100 miles, students, teachers, and parents are able to experience the joy, wonder, and knowledge of books. To hear how our library and Literacy Programs are making a difference, listen to our fourth podcast in the Voices from Our Village series! 

Thanks to donors like you, we are able to keep our doors open when schools are closed. During the planned school break we offered computer boot camps, makerspace activities and leadership programs. When the school break closing was extended due to the rains, we were able to pivot quickly to meet the needs of our community and through offering an array of learning activities! We are grateful for your support. Your generosity means we can respond quickly to provide hands-on learning for our community, especially during challenging events.

Warm regards,