Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

Our fabulous new Library Learning Center has a wonderful Makerspace! You may be wondering, "What is a Makerspace?

"A makerspace is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools.  These spaces are open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs and have a variety of maker equipment." (makerspace.com)

The Kenya Connect Makerspace is equipped with art supplies including paints, glueguns, beads, tissue paper, popsicle sticks, and colorful paper; games and puzzles; a photo printer and tools; and sewing machines. Students who participate in the Saturday Storytime program and school break camps come to the Makerspace to create, play games, and make puzzles. Most days we have 6-10 LitMoms visit the Makerspace to use the sewing machines to create laptop cases, kimono vests, table runners and dresses. The space is usually filled with laughters and smiles and the sound of women chatting as the sewing machines hum.

One of the volunteers on a recent trip brought a portable photo printer. During the Saturday Storytime, each child had their picture taken which was then printed out. The children were fascinated when watching the printer whirling away and seeing their image come to life. The children then decorated frames for their pictures.  Mentor David shared, "When I was in the market, one of the children ran up to me to show his picture. He was so excited to have a photo of himself."

Sometimes the children create a group project. Recently, the learners made unity flowers by tracing their hands on paper. We put them all together as a flower to show unity! They loved seeing the power of creating as a group!

Our staff loves using the Makerspace too. During a monthly staff activity, the team played games. They had fun, as the children do, in playing games and learning together.

Having a makerspace that is equipped with a plethora of resources is thanks to donors like you. We greatly appreciate your support that is helping children and adults in rural Kenya to rich learning and income generating materials.

We also wanted to let you know that the 9th Annual Kenya Connect 5K is being held Virtually and LIVE on Saturday, April 1. We would love to have you join us by signing up HERE

We hope you find time to create too!

Teachers are at the heart of education. A great teacher inspires and creates an interactive environment of learning.

For the last decade, Kenya Connect has been dedicated to working with teachers in our partner public schools to provide ideas and guidance for new modes of learning. Historically, Kenyan classrooms were based on rote learning. Today, teachers in Wamunyu are shifting to student-centered learning and are incorporating techniques that include students working together to make a sense of the materials presented. As a result of our training, teachers are incorporating the techniques of “turn and talk,” “group problem solving,” “students learning through inquiry,” and “mistake making” by teachers to see if students can catch them because they have understandings of the material. As teachers have incorporated these methodologies in their classrooms, they are seeing a more engaged classroom, students learning on a deeper level and improved test scores.

New to the Kenyan curriculum is computing and coding. We applaud this addition, however many teachers in our community do not know how to use or teach computing. This, compounded with the lack of devices in school and the lack of knowledge of coding, is detrimental to rural learners like ours.

As a result, Kenya Connect began a “Computing in the Classroom” program last year. This year, thanks to our partnership with Team4Tech and the Raspberry Pi Foundation, we are expanding our work to train teachers on how to teach computing and coding. We begin our coding program in a non-tech way. Teachers learn about coding through explaining the logic of coding. This helps them understand the foundation before they even use a device. We then move to the next level using "Go Robot." Once the teachers are firm in the concepts and in using computing, they can be teaching computing and coding in their classroom.

Your financial support is helping us to purchase additional computers, resources, and the staff to train teachers. Whether it is helping train with teaching methodologies or providing computers, it is assisting us to strengthen education with resources and tools to help our teachers be not just great, but inspiring! Thank you for your support for our many programs to strengthen education. We could not do it without education champions like you!