By Sharon Runge and James Musyoka | Executive Director and Field Director
Students in Kenya began their new school year in January. For some of our students, it was their first year in secondary school, while others continued their education at their current primary school. And as schools opened their doors for a new year, Kenya Connect has begun a new year of technology classes including specially designed classes by Level Up Village! We have 55 students from the Mbaikini and Makaalu Schools taking a 3D Printer Class using Sketchup through Level Up Village. It is an amazing and engaging opportunity for these students!
Meanwhile, we continue to grow our library with books authored and published in Kenya. More students are reading at the LRC and at their homesteads. Thanks to the "rent-to-own" light program, over 1,300 lights are now being used by students in Wamunyu. Students are reporting a 20-30% increase in reading and studying as a result of these lights. We will continue to expand this program to boost literacy and education in the community.
Our newest program, the reusuable sanitary pad project is being piloted with our ACCESS program girls and girls at Nunga Primary School and the Wamunyu Special School. As part of the pilot, we are asking girls basic information about how they manage their monthly menstrual cycle and whether they would be willing to try the reusable kit. In pre-survey questions, 20-25% of the girls reported missing school due to their monthly period. Although many of the girls are using disposable sanitary pads, they cite the cost as an on-going problem. We will be piloting our reusable product with 70 girls to see if it is more cost effective, comfortable and reliable than what they are currently using. One of the teachers from participating schools commented, "Can increase retention, transition, completion among our girls." and another said, "that is good, it will help our girls very much. Please issue them as soon as possible, we will appreciate very much.
All of our programs would not be possible without donors like you! We continue to be able to break down barriers to education and provide innovative and best practices in learing because of the financial support we receive from our friends and donors.
And we are thrilled to announce our Kenya Connect "Magic School Bus" will arrive at the end of February! It is currently being built in Nairobi by Isuzu. This bus will bring students from distant schools to the LRC and bring much needed resource materials like books to the teachers. We will be posting more on this project once the bus arrives!
The entire Kenya Connect team and the thousands of students and teachers we serve continue to be deeply appreciative to you for your financial support. We look forward to sharing our progress in this new year.
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