Transforming Lives: The Gift of a New Kitchen for a School in Nairobi
Our World Community Service Committee has funded projects in many areas of the world. In February, I was privileged to visit one of the projects in the Kibera Slum area of Nairobi, Kenya. To learn a little more and see some photos, click on Read More…
Kibera is home to an estimated 700,000 to 1 million souls in the city of Nairobi. Within the slum you can find a few schools, one of which is the Shammah Splendid School for students in grades 9 to 12. They are unable to attend regular government schools due to the inability to pay government fees, but their parents are determined that they should get an education. At Shammah School, a few of the parents had started a small lunch program whereby they provided a meal at lunch time, cooked in a small, rudimentary cooking pot over an open fire in the dirt of a courtyard.
Dan Munyori, a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Nairobi Karengata, learned of the school and, because of the connection with our Club on a previous project, asked if we might be able to provide about $10,000 US to build a proper kitchen for the school. The project was approved and the kitchen is complete. Dan took me to the School to see the kitchen and meet with the staff and students. What a privilege! The lunch program is functioning well – they have proper cooking vats,although they still must heat them by burning wood. .hey have a sink with water and a storage cupboard for the food; The students also get a healthy drink at their morning and afternoon breaks. The Principal told me that attendance has improved, the students had performed very well on their recent government exams and their fitness levels had improved to the point that their soccer team had defeated one of the top private schools in Nairobi. In spite of their surroundings, the students attend classes in smart, clean uniforms and with sparkling white socks!
It was such a pleasure to visit the school and see the results of such a worth-while, relatively small project from our Club. We really do make a difference!
Below are a few pictures from the school, showing the kitchen, the Rotary plaque at the school and a small group of the students, teachers and the three Rotarians who went with me.
