Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

Just imagine every night in your home it's dark at 6:00 p.m.  Your may have homework and reading to do, but there is no electricity.  The only solution is a tin can filled with kerosene which is lit, but it's dirty, smelly, and not the safest.  As mentioned in our last project report, Kenya Connect began a solar light program using SunKing Pico lights.  This "rent-to-own" project provides families the opportunity to purchase a light for $1.00 per month for 8 months so their students can have a light to study and read with in their homestead.  We are thrilled to announce that since July, 900 SunKing Pico lights have been distributed in the community with only a handful of parents missing a payment!  When the students receive their light and instruction on how to use it, they also receive a log sheet so Kenya Connect can monitor how they are using the light-- perhaps it's for a school assignment, or reading, or to do a chore.  We will be analyzing this information in the next couple of months.

Along with the advent of light, Kenya Connect had another successful year of computer classes at the Learning Resource Center with 287 students taking STEAM classes in partnership with Level Up Village including Global Inventors and 3D Printing.  Another 102 student learned basic computer skills including turning on the computer, wordprocessing, and internet searches.  For students who have never seen a computer or used any sort of technology, this is HUGE.

As we are making 21st Century Connections with our computer training, we are also continuing our work to strengthen literacy skills through our library book borrowing program and professional development workshops.  This year 665 books were borrowed from the Learning Resource Center (a new record) and 47 teachers attended professional development workshops and 22 participated in on-line webinar training.  

All of these programs are a direct result of donors like you.  Kenya Connect is able to offer computer classes, book borrowing, and professional development programs because of the many generous people who helped to build and equip the Learning Resource Center, who provide operational support for our ALL KENYAN staff, and who help us to continue to develop innovative ways to break down barriers to education for students in Kenya--- like our SunKing Light program.

We hope you have marked November 29, GivingTuesday on your calendar.  On that day, donations will be matched at 50% for one-time donations and 200% on recurring donations, all until funds last, beginning at midnight thanks to a generous donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Your donation will help us to build on our many successes and assist us in making 2017 even BIGGER AND BOLDER year for Kenya Connect!

Again, our heartfelt thanks for your continued support.

Links:

• ONE Blog on Solar Light Program

It's exciting to see students in Kenya connecting with students in the U.S. to discuss global problems and to work together to design, print, and test an invention! This month, Mbaikini, Makaalu, and Kituiu Primary Schools are partnering with schools in Texas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Connecticut, and Arizona through Level Up Village (LUV) in their Global Inventors Class.  Students in this class will learn about one of the most innovative technologies of our time - 3D Printing - and how to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to create and print (and take home) a series of awesome designs! Through this course, students will exchange video messages and together, they will come to identify and learn about a global issue, and will then collaboratively design, print and test an invention to help solve that issue!  

This enrichment program enhances the education of our students in Wamunyu and helps them to think critically about an issue, to work collaboratively with a peer, and to design a product.  Now in our second year of working with LUV classes, teachers in Wamunyu have reported that students participating in these classes are more engaged in their regular classes and school work, and looking at problems and questions in a new way.  

This program WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE without the support of donors like you, who helped us build the Kenya Connect Learning Resource Center and have continued to provide operational support for programs like this.  Our LRC remains the only center of its kind for 100km and our staff continues to provide enrichment programs in basic and advanced computer classes, reading and literacy programs,  professional development workshops and leadership training for students.

We are also thrilled to announce that this summer Kenya Connect initiated a "rent to own" solar light program so that students can read books borrowed from the LRC in their homesteads at night.  Barriers like the lack of electricity in homesteads and the limited access to books hold students back from reaching their full potential.  

Kenya Connect remains committed to breaking down barriers to education for children living in rural Kenya (many in extreme poverty) and to providing enriching and engaging programs to support them in being students of the 21st Century.   We encourage you to visit our website and to "like us" on facebook to learn the latest on our work.  We are deeply grateful to you for your continued support in making these programs possible for the students at our 55 partner schools.

Links:

• Global Inventors!