By Sharon Runge | Executive Director, USA
"Look at how tall my tower is?" says Mweni at Muthetheni PS. Mweni and her friends are building spagetti towers as part of partner LevelUp Village's Storybook Engineer class. These grade 1 and 2 students are learning how to collaborate together and critically think as a group in this hands-on activity that is designed to rescue the characters of the storybook that was read to them. Future activities will include building bridges and boats. Complimenting the Kenyan competency-based curriculum, the LUV program helps build confidence and engage learners in hands-on activities in a creative way.
While these students are building towers, other students are creating Heart Stories during the afterschool LitClub program. After piloting the program last year in two schools, we have added four more schools to this LitWorld program. The LitClub program is built around 7 strengths: Belonging, Curiosity, Friendship, Kindness, Confidence, Courage and Hope through hearing stories, creating artwork and telling their own story. Teachers have been asking our staff, "What are you doing in this program? The students are so engaged in learning now and willing to ask questions in class!"
In our quest to become "The Village that Reads" and to nurture reading, our 3rd annual Reading Challenge was launched with some help from Garrison Forest School students who created colorful reading guides. This year's theme is "Water" and the guides are filled with word games, fun facts and other activities surrounding water. Students are challenged to read at least 25 books and the girl and boy who read the most books will be crowned King and Queen Readers. Edith, our The School Fund Student who scored 10th overall nationally on the KCSE exam, has been part of the team issuing the Reading Guides to the students before she heads to University in October. Sharing her story is motivating students to read and achieve in school. The students flock to her and are excited when she is the intern handing them their guide.
All of these engaging enrichment activities are thanks to you! Your past donation has provided funds to support our talented staff, provide resource materials and enable us to engage students with meaningful programs. As a result, we are seeing students eager to learn, asking questions and being prepared to be leaders in life.
On Wednesday, July 14, Kenya Connect will be participating in GlobalGiving's July 14th Bonus Day campaign. As our new LRC Annex is being built, our staff is dreaming of materials to help us reach more teachers, students and parents. Will you wave your magic wand and help our dreams come true? Donations of $100+ are eligible for matching funds from GlobalGivng AND the Kenya Connect Board is offering $7500 in matching funds. Just think, a donation on July 14 will be matched in two ways!
Thank you for your past support. Students at our 62 partner public schools are joyfully participating in a wide-array of learning activities thanks to you!
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