Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

"I am happy when I see students doing new things and loving it. One of the teachers at Kituiu Primary School asked what I am teaching students because they are very excited anytime I arrive at the school for the LUV class." Patrick Munguti, Director of Technology and Education Programs.

Since September Kenya Connect has expanded our technology classes with the expansion of LevelUp Village  (LUV) classes.  Focused on science,158 students at three of our partner schools in grades 5-8 are taking the following classes: Global Inventors, Global Water Crisis and Global Scientist.  

Combining hands-on learning with digital course content, students in the Global Scientist Class are learning about building aquifers and how human activity can pollute the water in the aquifers. Experiments using filtration and distallation give students a clearer understanding of the challenges of clean water. Using the scientific method, students in the class will work with their peers in the U.S. to design a project.

Students in the Global Water Class are also learning about the challenges of clean water and issues surrounding drought.  The students in Wamunyu know first hand about the crisis that they and their families face when the rains don't come.  As a result of Climate Change, the rains have shifted and are not coming as frequently.   This class helps the students learn about solutions.  Using Tinkercad, an online design program and following engineering design cycle, the students are creating a design to solve water problems and print it using 3D printer. 

Global Inventor, has been a favorite class of Wamunyu students.  It solves the problem of the lack of light at their homesteads through creating a solar light using Tinkercad and our 3D printer.  Students in the US, who partner with our Kenyan students, learn about the challenges of the lack of energy infrastructure and work alongside with their peers to develop a solution.  

Thanks to donors like you, we are able to expand our students' horizons and knowledge through these dynamic, fun and interactive classes.  Your support provides the technology infrastructure, internet and staffing to ensure success for our students.

Teacher Kivuitu, Kambiti Primary School remarked, “Students are so excited to learn in the LUV classes. The technology accompanying the classes makes them more authentic and exciting to the students.”

These classes are one of our strategies to empower and engage our students and teachers with 21st century skills and learning.  Thank you for supporting the work of Kenya Connect and opening our students' minds through these invigorating and exciting classes!  If you're not doing so already, follow Kenya Connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a daily update of our work!

Asante Sana!

There's excitement brewing in Wamunyu!  It's the third and final term of the Kenyan School Year and students in Wamunyu are eagerly engaging in our expanded programs!

Partner Level Up Village (LUV) has introduced new STEM classes for upper primary students.  Thanks to a LUV grant, Kenya Connect has purchased 20 new chromebooks to help us deliver interactive classes including Global Water Crisis, Global Inventors, Global Scientists and Global Doctors DNA.  Through this program, Director of Technology Patrick Munguti, will be guiding Wamunyu students in partnership with children in the U.S. on learning about these important topics.  This week students at Maakula Primary School were the first students to pilot using the chromebooks and the new class, Global Water Crisis.  Included in this class is guest discussions with water engineers from Kenya and the U.S. The goal is to provide practical information on the challenge of clean water while providing students the opportunity to develop innovations!  In the upcoming weeks we will be introducing Global Acoustic Musician with 40 classes of grade 1 and 2 students.  Not only are these classes fun, they incorporate the tenets of the Kenyan Curriculum including critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and digital literacy.

Our new Reading Rovermobile delivered books to Sofia Primary School.  Teachers Catherine and Karen were excited to check out books to use in their classrooms and the children were thrilled to select new books.  Sofia is part of our Reading Challenge Program with the students reading 25 books in three months.  All students who complete the program will receive a special Reading Challenge String Bag with school supplies.  We continue to enroll new schools in our library program and just this week we received a shipment of 100 new books for our library!

We continue to be focused on the challenges girls face in school.  As the term commenced, more of our locally made Wings Poa Reusuable Sanitary Pad Kits were distributed at Maanzoni Primary School.  Having this product means girls don't need to miss school during their monthly menstrual cycle.

All of these initiatives would not be possible without GlobalGiving donors like you!  Your support is essential and ensures that we can continue and expand our robust programming to empower and engage students and teachers to be successful in the 21st century.  Thank you for being a donor and a friend.  If you love hearing about our work, please consider following us on facebook, twitter and instagram to see daily updates.

Since we know we are all still learning, we wish you joy and learning and happy reading!

Cheers!