Rotary offers opportunities where partnering multiplies the impact of a Rotary Grant. A vivid example of the benefits of partnering is a partnership between District 5020 and District 5030 to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education in Kenya.
Photo Caption: Education Team and Kenyan educators
Through the wonderful network of Rotary plus having 2 Rotary Districts share the mutual goal of enhancing the educational system in Kenya, a Vocational Training Team (VTT) was formed and a 2 year VTT for $135,120 was drafted, fund-raised for and approved in 2017. The networking took place when information on a District 5020 education grant was publicized and District 5030 became aware of this educational work where a small, inexpensive, computer could be used to provide a massive educational library through a NGO called World Possible.
After discussions between Kenyan educators and the 2 Districts took place, a mutual goal was formulated where a US based educational team would travel to Kenya and teach Kenyan teachers how to engage students in the learning process through STEM rather than just having students memorize facts/figures and then take exams to see how successful the students were with memorization.
In Kenya, the educational system is modeled after the British educational system where National Exams are taken at the end of 8th grade and at the end of 12th grade. A student must pass these exams to advance to high school and then on to a University. Doing well on National Exams is essential for a student to move up the economic ladder as an adult. Many Kenyan students were doing poorly. So a highly qualified USA based educational team was assembled in 2017 and traveled to Kenya to teach techniques where the student is the center of the learning process instead of the teacher.
Over 60 Kenyan secondary educators were brought together and training in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Math STEM educational techniques was taught in 2017. In 2018, over 90 Kenyan secondary and primary educators were brought together for the purpose of learning how to be better educators through STEM learning. Fourteen schools from Taita Taveta County and 9 schools from Baringo County participated in the training.
As part of the learning process, Kenyan teachers taught STEM classes in the local primary and secondary schools using the STEM techniques they had been taught. This training was video-taped and then critiqued. Teachers were shown how technology could enhance the learning process in Kenya. Document cameras, projectors, Wi-Fi boosters, chrome books, laptops, etc. were used by the Kenyan teachers and these teaching aids were provided to the schools. County and national educational officials visited the training and discussions are on-going on how the STEM training techniques can be exported to other schools in Kenya.
As part of the VTT, teachers of the 23 schools formed Professional Learning Communities(PLC’s) where there gather regularly to share struggles, successes and help each other improve their teaching skills. Without the District partnerships involved in executing the VTT, the impact would not have been as far reaching and as successful as it has been.
Photo Caption: Chris & Bob Cairns receiving thank yous from the Kenyan teachers (Necklaces are post-it notes with comments, some of which are quite moving)
