Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

During this past month of May, we marked our third graduation ceremony with 120 students from Makaalu, Sofia, and a group of teachers graduating after successfully completing a 5-month training program. By attending  two-hour intense and hands-on class sessions once a week, these students gained skills  on computer hardware, software, word processing, Internet and email. The graduation ceremony  was celebrated with music and dance and was officiated by visiting guests from St. John's and Trinity Episcopal communities from Maryland and Virginia, USA who awarded merit certificates to all the graduating students.

This number brings us to a total of 115 teachers and 230 students who have been successfully trained and  graduated with computer litercy skills since the Learning Resource center was started in November 2011. Our dream of empowering our students and teachers with the skills for the 21st century is slowly becoming manifest! Thank you all for your great support.

"It was a great opportunity for my students to gain computer skills at the Kenya Connect LRC . Knowing how to navigate through a computer  is a solid foundation in building a bright educational future for our students. Our students are most grateful for the training."  Mr. Kilonzo:  Head teacher Sofia Primary School.

In the meantime, a new group of 180 students drawn from three different schools (Nunga, Kituiu and Mwaasua primary schools) have already  started their computer literacy lessons. Both Nunga and Mwaasua are located a long distance from the LRC and therefore the parents of these students have to hire a public bus to bring the students to the LRC. We are looking forward  to having a bus to transport students from far away schools in future.

The visting team also brought over 100 more books to the LRC ,therefore buidling up the library resource for our students and teachers. They also conducted a proffesional development worshop for teachers on interactive reading, with a lot of emphasis on reading aloud. Many teachers were able to check out books to use with their own students back at school.

Most important, we are glad to share with our donors that our project is now listed under Microsoft YouthSpark initiative. Microsoft YouthSpark will be running a Match Day on 25th June 2014. All donations made to our project on this day will be matched 100%. We  welcome our supporters to consider participating on the bonus day.

As always, we remain most grateful to all our donors. Thank you all for choosing to make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and teachers.

We are most excited to announce the inclusion of a tailored educational training resource in our computer literacy programs that is being piloted among 5 schools! 'Exceed Academy' as it is branded, is a e-learning module for English lesson for standard 5 that was developed by Jacaranda Designs and Avallain Africa. We have commenced  piloting this e-learning module among 190  students in standard five from 5 of our enrolled schools at the Kenya Connect Learning Resource Center (LRC). The beneficiary Schools include Makaalu, Mbaikini, Wamunyu ABC, Kambiti and Nyaani Primary Schools. The adoption of this training module has so far been a smooth transition as most of these schools have had prior training on basic computer skills.

'Exceed Academy' module has incoprrated  standard 5 English curricullum (as listed in the national primary sylabus) for the first term. The e-module takes learners through language building skills like reading, listening, writting, speaking and holding conversations. The e-module includes instructional tools like video clips, maps and charts, picures, audio recordings etc all which help boost the learner's enjoyment and motivation to learn. It is evident that happy students will achieve higher learning outcomes.  Another,  resourful feature about this e-module is that it is offering a link between the classroom and the workplace thereby bridging the existing gap between schooling and the work place. Students are presented with an opportunity to discover, explore and most important to apply knowledge. By and large, the lessons in the e-module are promoting communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity/innovation among our students. We are very excited that our team of teachers and students will be trailblazing pioneers as Kenya begins the process of integrating ICT in education. What a great leap forward towards our dream of bringing 21st century learning skills among the rural schools in Wamunyu, Kenya!

"Learning through 'Exceed Academy' is alot of fun and enjoyable than I have ever experienced before! Learning computer has made me to discover the opportunities I have in the future. I now want to be a computer engineer!"  Muthomi K.  - A grade 5 student at Makaalu Primary School.

We remain most grateful to you our donors for the great support in providing better education opprtunities for the children of Wamunyu. Your commitment and support is going to narture hope and a future among hundreds of thousands of children from our enrolled schools. Again, thank you.