Education has been on hold for thousands of Kenyan children since schools closed their doors in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. As schools in Nairobi's informal settlements prepare to reopen in January 2021 without any government support, they need your help to create a safe space for children to return to learning. Dignitas believes that all schools should be vibrant places for children to thrive and succeed so that no child is left behind!
Schools in Kenya have been closed since March 2020, leaving many children at home and desperate to have basic learning and well-being needs met. For the 60% of Nairobi's population who are marginalized in urban informal settlements, this was the first in a series of steps that, whilst necessary, have threatened the well-being of children and families. Schools face a myriad of challenges as they plan to reopen safely for children in January and need support to create vibrant learning spaces.
63% of children in Nairobi's informal settlements attend community schools that rely on support from families and communities. With school closures having extended from March-December 2020, these schools have had no source of income, and many have struggled just to keep their buildings in tact. Teachers have gone unpaid for many months and there is no resource to meet the demands of reopening. Your support will ensure schools safely reopen and get children back to learning.
Thousands of vulnerable children are at risk of being left behind after prolonged school closures. Many children living in urban informal settlements are reliant on school not just for learning; but for protection, nutrition and many other aspects of their well-being. Based on projections by the World Bank , 10 months of school closures will amount to over a year's loss in learning. 87% of African learners are already in learning poverty making it vital that they return to school in January!
