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!