Live&Learn in Kenya School Classroom Construction

It began with a dream—one born around a kitchen table in Selb, Germany, and carried all the way to the red soil of Nakuru, Kenya. A dream that children living in the slums—so often overlooked and forgotten—deserved more than borrowed classrooms and broken desks. They deserved a true place for learning. A safe haven. A place that belonged to them.

Today, that dream stands proudly in the heart of Baruti as the Live and Learn in Kenya International Education Center—a vibrant, child-centered campus that has grown step by step over the past 25 years. Its buildings are not just stone and mortar. They are proof of perseverance, partnership, transparency, and belief in children.

In the early years, LLK worked wherever space could be found—rented rooms, borrowed buildings, overcrowded public schools. Sponsored children often sat on broken desks in classrooms that offered little safety and no consistency. Everything changed in 2007, when LLK registered as its own NGO in Kenya and committed fully to a bold new vision: to build a permanent education center, designed for children by people who truly cared about them.

Finding the right land took patience and determination. When a large, accessible plot near Baruti was finally secured, the future could be planted. The campus would grow in carefully planned phases—always aligned with the needs of the children and the funding made possible by donors and sponsors. First came classrooms, then the kitchen and dining hall, followed by sanitation facilities, offices, a clinic, a library, vocational spaces, labs, gardens, and playgrounds. Each building rose with community involvement, local labor, and locally sourced materials. Hope quite literally rose from the ground.

Today, the Education Center includes twelve bright classrooms from kindergarten through Grade 9, as well as a computer lab, science lab, and tailoring workshop. Thick stone walls, large windows, colorful walls, proper desks, clean water, and space to breathe make each classroom a place where learning feels safe and joyful. Every room tells a story—not only of lessons learned, but of generosity and trust.

From the beginning, care was as important as education. One of the first priorities was the kitchen and dining hall, now the beating heart of the campus. Here, hundreds of children gather twice a day for warm, nutritious meals, prepared in a modern, hygienic kitchen and shared in a bright dining space filled with laughter and conversation. No child is excluded. No child is asked if they have paid. Dignity comes first.

Health and imagination soon followed. A day clinic now provides first aid, basic medical care, malaria testing, and dental hygiene support, ensuring early intervention and prevention. Next door, the library invites children into worlds beyond Baruti, with books in English and Swahili, quiet reading corners, and tables for study and homework. It is here that many children begin to dream of futures once unimaginable.

Skills and empowerment are woven into campus life. The tailoring workshop trains young people in sewing, budgeting, and entrepreneurship—producing school uniforms and creating livelihoods. The science and computer labs give students hands-on experience with technology and experimentation, opportunities still rare in many schools in the region. Sports fields, playgrounds, and open spaces allow children to run, climb, laugh, and heal. Play is treated not as a luxury, but as a necessity.

Along the walls and fences, gardens flourish. Children learn to plant, care for crops, and understand nutrition and self-reliance. Families are encouraged to grow food at home as well, extending food security beyond the school gates. Rainwater tanks, a well, solar panels, guard houses, a cow shed, and carefully planned security structures ensure that the campus remains safe, sustainable, and resilient.

And now, one of the most joyful chapters has been added.

The MadPeaPod Day Care Center—completed and fully in use—has opened its doors to 30 lively three-year-olds, who now spend their days in a beautiful, safe classroom filled with color, song, and laughter. Guided by a loving, professional teacher, these little ones are learning their first routines, their first words, their first friendships. The center includes child-sized facilities, early learning materials, rest areas, and a secure outdoor play space designed especially for tiny feet and curious hands. For parents, it offers peace of mind and the freedom to work, train, or care for older children. For the children, it offers something even more precious: a gentle, nurturing start to life.

Every building on the LLK campus has been constructed with integrity—full transparency, local workers, community oversight, and careful reporting to donors. There is no corruption here. Every euro, every brick, every nail is accounted for. Many buildings proudly carry the names of donors, families, and fundraising groups whose generosity turned ideas into reality.

Visitors often say the same thing when they walk through the gates: this place feels different. It feels honest. It feels joyful. It feels alive.

After 25 years, Live and Learn in Kenya is no longer just a project. It is a living community—a place where children learn, eat, play, grow, and dream; where teachers teach with pride; where parents belong; and where the smallest learners are now cradled in care from the very beginning.

To everyone who funded a wall, sponsored a classroom, bought a desk, planted a tree, or dared to dream alongside us—
Asante Sana – Thank You.

You didn’t just build buildings.
You built safety.
You built dignity.
You built a future.

And every time a child walks into a classroom, laughs on a swing, or a three-year-old toddles into the Day Care Center with a smile—you are there.

With gratitude and pride,
Brique Zeiner

It began with a dream.

A dream born around a kitchen table in Selb, Germany, and built from the red soil of Nakuru, Kenya. A dream that children living in the slums—often overlooked and forgotten—deserved not just classrooms, but a true home for learning. A safe haven. A place that was theirs.

Today, that dream stands proudly in the heart of Baruti as the Live and Learn in Kenya Education Center—a thriving, colorful, child-centered campus. Its buildings are more than stones and mortar. They are symbols of perseverance, partnership, and progress.

And at the heart of it all: the children.

Humble Beginnings

In the early years, LLK worked in rented rooms, borrowed spaces, and overcrowded public classrooms. Sponsored children often sat on broken desks in dilapidated schools. There was no consistency. No sense of security.

The turning point came in 2007, when LLK separated from its former partner and registered as its own NGO in Kenya. With a new project manager came a renewed vision:

To build a full, permanent education center—designed for the children, by the people who cared most about them.

With the support of donors, sponsors, and an industrious LLK team with a reliable and trusted project manager, that vision began to take shape.

Finding Land – Planting the Future

It took patience and persistence to find the right location: a large, accessible plot near Baruti with enough space to grow—both figuratively and literally. Once the land was secured, it was time to dream big.

The campus would be built in phases, each one aligned with growing needs and available funding.

• First: Classrooms.

• Then: Kitchens, a dining hall, and bathrooms.

• Next: Administrative offices, a clinic, and a library.

• Later: A science lab, computer lab, tailoring workshop, and sports fields.

• And finally: The MadPeaPod Day Care Center—a gift for the smallest learners.

Each building was designed with input from local educators, construction professionals, and community members. Materials were sourced locally, labor was provided by local workers, and the entire community watched in awe as hope rose from the ground.

The Classrooms – Foundations of Knowledge

The first classrooms were built with thick stone walls, large windows, bright paint, and real wooden desks. Each classroom includes:

• A large blackboard

• Bookshelves

• Adequate lighting and ventilation

• Enough space for up to 30 students

• Colorful decor to inspire creativity 

• A sink for drinking fresh, filtered water

There are now twelve classrooms, covering Kindergarten through Grade 9. Additional rooms are a computer lab, a science lab, and a tailoring workshop.

Every classroom tells a story. A story of learning, laughter, and lifelong beginnings - and the kindness and generosity of the donors.

The Kitchen and Dining Hall – A Center of Care

A priority from the beginning, the kitchen was one of the first buildings constructed. The modern facility includes:

• Large cooking pots, burners, and prep counters

• Safe water access

• Dry storage and refrigeration

• Sanitary food-handling procedures

The dining hall, built so that it is attached to the kitchen, holds up to 250 students. It is a place of warmth, nutrition, and friendship. Children eat here twice times a day—no one is left out.

The MadPeaPod Day Care Center – A Miracle for Toddlers

One of the most beloved buildings on campus is also the newest.

Thanks to the generous support of MadPea Productions, and its global gaming community, a wonderful family whose name begins with Pod and several other donors the MadPeaPod Day Care Center became a reality in 2025

Designed specifically for toddlers and very young children (age 3-4), this cheerful, safe, and fully equipped building includes:

• Brightly colored playroom

• Soft mats and baby-safe furniture

• Early learning materials

• Nap room 

• Child-sized toilets and wash basins

• A fenced play yard with a shaded playground

The center gives the youngest children a healthy start to life—and frees up their parents to work, attend training, or care for older siblings.

It’s a place of giggles, songs, and chubby hands learning to count.

The Administrative Building – Where Care is Coordinated

The administration building is the engine behind daily operations. Inside are offices for:

• The Project Manager

• Two Social Workers

• Volunteer and visitor coordination

• Finance and record-keeping

The building also houses a meeting space for staff and community workshops.

It is where problems are solved, children are registered, and dreams are turned into plans.

The Clinic and Library – Health and Imagination

Next came two crucial additions:

The Day Clinic

• Offers first aid, basic medical checkups, malaria tests, and dental hygiene support

• Staffed by a nurse and rotating medical volunteers

• Ensures early intervention and preventative care

The Library

• Shelves full of books in English and Swahili

• Story time corners for young readers

• Tables for study groups and homework help

• A quiet space for imagination to bloom

The library is one of the children’s favorite places. They read about other lands—and begin to dream of traveling, teaching, building, helping.

Special Purpose Buildings – Empowerment Through Skills The Tailoring Workshop

• A vocational space where youth learn to sew

• Produces school uniforms for LLK students

• Teaches entrepreneurship, budgeting, and craftsmanship

Many graduates of the workshop now run their own businesses or support their families through tailoring.

The Science Lab and Computer Lab

• Interactive learning spaces equipped with real tools and technology

• Allow children to experiment, explore, and prepare for exams and the modern job market

• Few schools in the region offer such hands-on resources

Sports and Play Facilities – Bodies in Motion, Hearts in Joy

Children need more than books. They need physical activity. LLK built:

• A huge playground with swings, slides, climbing frames, and seesaws

• A soccer field used for matches and tournaments

• A volleyball court and open space for running, skipping, and dancing

Play is not just fun—it’s therapy, teamwork, and joy.

Farm and Garden – Growing Learning

Along the school walls and fences are neat rows of vegetables and maize. Students learn:

• How to plant and care for crops

• About nutrition, biology, and agriculture

• The value of patience and self-reliance

Families are encouraged to replicate the gardens at home, creating food security beyond the school gates.

Security and Support Structures

The campus is safe and well-maintained with:

• Two guard houses

• A dog kennel for security dogs

• A cow shed for a milking cow that contributes to the kitchen’s dairy supply

• Rainwater tanks and a well for filtered and sustainable water use

• Solar panels to reduce electricity costs

All Built with Integrity

Unlike many school construction projects in similar regions, LLK builds with:

• Full transparency

• Local workers and suppliers

• Community involvement in planning and labor

• Ongoing inspections and reporting to donors

• Long-term sustainability in mind

There is no corruption. Every euro, every brick, every screw is accounted for.

Donor Impact

Many buildings have been named in honor of donors or fundraising groups. Some examples:

• MadPeaPod Day Care Center – Sponsored by MadPea Productions, a family with Pod at the beginning of their name and other donors

• Science Lab – Funded by a family foundation

• Tailoring Workshop – Built from sales of handmade crafts from Kenya and Germany and sold at markets, fairs, and raffles

• Library, Administration Building, and Clinic – A birthday gift project from a family from Seattle, Washington

Sponsors have the option to contribute toward construction projects big and small—everything from new toilets to full classrooms.

What Visitors Say

“Walking through the campus was like walking through hope. Every building has a soul.” – Maria, Switzerland

“I’ve seen many school projects. This one is different. It’s honest. It’s joyful. It works.” – Peter, Germany

“The daycare center brought me to tears. These babies are so loved.” – Kiana, Denmark

What’s Next?

LLK’s vision continues to grow

More vocational spaces are being planned

• The school garden is expanding.

• There’s a dream of adding a small performing arts space—for drama, music, and dance.

Every new project depends on people like you.

To every donor who bought a stone, funded a wall, sponsored a desk, or dreamed alongside us—
Asante Sana – Thank You.

Your generosity built more than buildings.
You built possibility.
You built safety.
You built a future.

And every time a child walks into a classroom, laughs on a swing, or learns to sew a button,
you are there.

Brique Zeiner