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DESCRIPTION: RAINWATER CATCHMENT & SANITATION PROJECT, NAKURA, KENYA.
THE PROJECT: The Rotary Club of Encounter Bay proposes a rainwater catchment and sanitation project for the benefit of 550+ children at the New Life Africa International School and Orphanage in Kenya. The project will specifically service a new toilet block constructed in 2013 (with some direct assistance provided from the RCEB). It will also service amenities in a newly constructed school building. A budget of approx $15,500 AUD is required to make this project a reality. We seek support of District funds through a grant to supplement our own contribution of $11,000.
THE NEED: Extremely limited water supply currently exists on site, with children carting water via a small container dipped into a 44-gallon drum. The newly built school housing 400 students and teachers requires water for the toilets and amenities. The school does NOT receive financial support from the Kenyan government and relies on goodwill, individual donations and child sponsorship.
BENEFICIARIES: The Rotary Club of Encounter Bay first became aware of school needs in 2005 and has been involved with the school since then. The school is providing a vibrant education for street children, slum dwellers, rubbish dump families, homeless and disadvantaged children. Our club has assisted by providing uniforms for all students, and members have visited and trained teachers and students (especially in sewing) to encourage a level of self-sufficiency and to establish income-generating activities. The club has also provided assistance and supervision in recent building projects, utilizing local labour and enhancing community spirit and skills. Our most recent focus has been the building of the toilet block where Mr David Virgin from our club has provided expertise in both the planning and supervision.
The 6 pictures below are quite exciting. Taken July 2014, they show the New Life Africa International School now complete (but requiring water). The new Computer Room is a dream come true for all who attend.
The new school building 2014
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Generous donations made the computer room possible. |
The Computer Room |
Entrance to the Computer room
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How good is this!
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A new classroom and proud scholars |
One class of happy students - uniforms provided by the RCEB. |
Photos taken 2013 by David Virgin while supervising the building of new classrooms and library
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Stone is the cheapest building material in this area of Kenya |
Uniforms
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Uniforms at the Dump Site School
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Existing Classrooms. And site of Future Boys Home |
Toilet Block - not bad for around $30,000
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Classroom Block from the road |
 Almost everything is done by hand
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An amazing structure for only $330,000 |
Graduation at NLAI
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Above images captured by David and Janice Virgin Nov 2013
Hi to all Rotarians,
It is now the 8th week since arriving in Kenya. It has been a very busy and rewarding experience.
My main role has been to oversee the construction of a 3 storey
classroom building which also includes a library and computer room. In
addition a toilet block has been built. There is a main building
contractor and I just keep an eye on things for the school
administration. At times the quality of work challenges what I feel is
an acceptable standard and one has to compromise lots of times. There
has been an enormous fundraising drive for these buildings but there is
still quite a shortfall and quite a lot more money needs to be raised.
It is so amazing to see how the conditions at the school are improving
but there is still a need for other projects around the school. The
most important next project will be building of a home for the boy
orphans who still live in one big room and have triple height bunk
beds. The children from the slums really appreciate their chance to
have some education and when you have the opportunity to visit some of
the children in their homes you realise just how they live in extreme
poverty. They live without running water, power, and often a family
with many children live in one small room. Often they go to bed hungry
and the only food they have in the day is what they get at school.
We have attended the class 8 graduation and that is the class Shari
started with in 2005. The students just finished their National exams
but very few will get the opportunity to continue to high school. It is
pleasing to see the impact our Rotary Club has had at this school with
all students now wearing uniforms. Our continued support is very valued
and at occasions like the graduation service sponsors are always
thanked. The children are always reminded that people from other
countries support their school.
It has been great to come out of retirement and all the smiles of the children makes the experience a most worthwhile one.
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New Life Africa International is the name now that the Filadelfia School is called. We need to start using this name from now on. We are very excited to see the improvements at the school but much more needs to be done.
There is a plan for a new classroom building and this is very much required. At present there are some classes which are held in rooms with no windows and no lights so it is difficult for the teacher and the children to see and concentrate. After enough fundraising occurs for this then they still want to build the boys orphanage house as the boys are still accommodated in triple height bunk beds in the same small room where they have always been. So in these respects there is still much to be done.
On the positive side the school now has a small library, a computer room and the dressmaking room. Most of the equipment for these rooms has been donated from Denmark. Also the children are now able to eat the provided daily meals in a large room and this is much more hygienic than when they ate in the class rooms. At meal time they all are given a metal dish and tin mug and this is another improvement we have seen.
With respect to Rotary's help with the uniforms we are continually told by teachers, parents etc about how thankful they are that the children have the opportunity to be wearing a uniform. The school jumpers now have a logo with the school name as well as the motto 'strive to excel'. The children are supplied each year with a new uniform, a pair of shoes and now also a small school bag. Of course for many they only have one extra set of clothes so the uniforms get a fair amount of wear in the period of a year plus of course the kids grow out of them. So the funds we send are just so important and together with some money from the student sponsorship program they are able to have these uniforms. It is a huge expense in the school budget but it has a very top priority.
In the earlier years when they had no uniforms the students were ridiculed around this area and were called 'parking boys'. The other better off children called them this as they were from the slums and would only end up with the worst jobs available. (That is of course if they got work!) So now they look as good as students from any other school in this city and you can't underestimate how important this is for their self esteem.
At the city dump they have also started a small nursery school and the children at this school also are provided with a uniform. We visited some of the homes of these small children and it makes you want to cry as they are just constructed from materials salvaged from the dump.
We have also visited the homes of a couple of the students from Shari's class and these were typical of the 'normal' homes they come from, so it is really distressing. One girl who will be next year's girl school captain lives in a 'house' with only one room, no bathroom and no kitchen. There are 5 living in this place and we took an extra roll up mattress so now 3 children don't sleep on the floor. There is no room for this to stay permanently on the floor during the day. We arrived with this gift at 6 pm and it was dark and of course no power and not even money for candles. These experiences are very disturbing. We could only just make out the contents of this room and the lack of the most basic worldly possessions. And yet yesterday this girl won an area competition for public speaking. She is very very bright.
Regards David and Janice
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