Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

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!

We are excited to report that we have introduced more STEAM lessons from Level Up Village (LUV) to include Global Conversations courses on various books between students in Kenya and abroad. In this past month of May, a group of 21 students from three local secondary schools; Mbaikini, Nyaani and Mwaasua secondary schools have been reading and exchanging reflective ideas on "The Giver” a book authored by Lois Lowry with their counterparts in Eastern Middle school in Connecticut, USA. Through the LUV platform, the students were able to exchange four video letters related to the book. The course culminated with a Skyped call where students from both schools asked and answered questions from each other. The excitement of the students from both sides was beyond measure when the skype call connected and they were finally able to see each other! The virtual connection brought a more personal connection among the students than ever before!

 “Although I kept watching the videos that my partner Prathit shared with me through the LUV website, the skype call was the highlight of my experience of The Giver course. I never imagined in my life that it could be possible to talk to someone through the computer one on one!”

Evans – Mwaasua Secondary school

 “It was wonderful seeing my students transform from shy and soft-spoken in front of the camera to confident, self-possessed speakers. I was thrilled with the international exposure incorporated into the class, as well. It was so cool they were able to form relationships with students two continents and an ocean away!”

Alexis – Kenya Connect Teacher (Fulbright Funded)

Our partnership with Level Up Village continue to open doors for more students to engage in STEAM. During this summer a group of students from New Canaan County School in the USA are currently exchanging ideas about creating their own video games through video letters with students from Wamunyu Junior Academy. The students are learning to develop the video games using the Scratch Program. Through this program, the students are being introduced to creative thinking while horning their analytical and innovation skills.

When I played video games on my father’s mobile phone, I never thought I could make my own game one-day! I am so excited to learn how to create a video game of my own!

Rahma - Student Wamunyu Junior Academy

At the same time, a group of 72 new students from Kituiu and Mbaikini primary schools have started learning basic computer literacy classes at the LRC.

It is as a result of all these innovative learning experiences happening at the LRC that this center has become a resource of admiration by leaders from other rural areas of the country. A few weeks ago, we hosted a team of leaders from Kuria West led by Ambassador Wambura, the Principal Secretary in the Office of the Deputy President who visited Wamunyu to learn about the programs being implemented at the LRC with a view to begin a similar center in their rural village. At the same time, Karibu Center in Thika has expressed admiration of the programs offered at the LRC.

We remain forever grateful to all donors who have been supportive of these innovations that keep fuelling the next generation with the best skills and practices necessary to be successful in the 21^st century.