Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

2019 was another banner year for Kenya Connect! So you're probably wondering, what does 9422 mean?  It's the number of books in our library (which has grown from 5800 in 2018).  Our bus drove 3082 kilometers delivering books and a total of 2557 students and adults hold library cards.  We've been keeping track of numbers and our impact, and we invite you to learn more by reading our Highlights 2019 Report.

The new Kenyan School year commenced earlier this month, and our students are already engaged in 21st century learning.  They are participating in LevelUp Village Global Inventors and Global Storybook Classes.  Our clever inventors are building solar lights using computer assisted design (CAD) while our youngest pupils are building castles and bridges with recycled materials.  These well designed classes incorporate technology and hands-on learning and are a whole lot of FUN!  Their classroom teachers ask our Director of Technology, Patrick Munguti, what he does with the students since they come back even more excited and eager to learn!

Meanwhile our library is almost at 10,000 books!  Since the beginning of January, our Magic School Bus and Reading Rover Truck have been making the rounds to the twenty schools participating in our library program.  The students are thrilled to have access to books once again including those written and published in Kenya.  Our staff is preparing for World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) with our newest partner LitWorld.  Along with participating in WRAD, we will be launching LItClubs at two schools and will beginning a LitMom program (if you're on social media, check out our posts on Feb.5th to see WRAD Wamunyu-Style.)

We've hired two new staff members, Cornelius Mumba and Monicah Kyalo.  One of Cornelius' projects is to support the GiveLove Compost Toilet program.  When asked what he is looking forward to this year Cornelius mentioned, "I am happy to see how students at Miondoni SS are using the compost toilet.  I am looking forward to seeing how students at Maanzoni PS and other schools will enjoy using the new banks of toilets once the construction is done"

Mercy Mutua, Program Assistant,  has big plans for our rent-to-own solar lights.  Mercy commented, "It would be my great joy to see1000 more  lights issued to Kenya Connect partner school students by the end of this year.The students will use the lights to study and read at home at night since most of the homesteads don't have electricity. This will help to improve the students' performance."

All of these programs are as a result of donors like you.  We couldn't do these well-designed initiatives without our friends.  Throughout 2020, we will be keeping you in the loop on how your support is making an impact for the 18,000 students and 500 teachers in our community.

Our deepest thanks!