Background and setting…
Ajigo is in the far west of Kenya, near the township of Bondo and only 10-15 kilometers from Lake Victoria…an hour’s drive west of the regional city of Kisumu. The country is generally poor, with most people either subsistence farmers or living from small businesses such as retail outlets, mechanical repairs etc. Earlier this century western Kenya spent several years in the grip of drought which has eased somewhat. The AIDS epidemic ravaged eastern and southern Africa in the last 20-30 years leaving about a million orphans in Kenya.
Kenya is a republic. The economic situation is poor (according to the World Poverty Clock Kenya is the eighth poorest country in the world) and in recent months there has been significant civil unrest, including riots in Nairobi and other major cities. Apparently, there has been no such trouble in the far western area where Bondo and Ajigo are located. The dominant religion (85%) is Christianity, with about 10% of the population claiming to be Muslim.
The school…
The school is owned and administered by a CBO (Community Based Organisation – a registered local non-profit, non-political and non-governmental organization) called Africa Arise. The school is totally run and staffed by members of the local community, and the Board of Directors of the CBO consists entirely of local citizens. The CBO also provides home-based childcare and supports local widows.
The Kenyan Dept of Education does run public schools, but they are few and far between in rural areas and are chronically under-funded and under-resourced. Hence, they permit and register private schools that are required to adhere to a set curriculum.
Aim of project…
To provide basic primary level education with a Christian world view to village children to address illiteracy where children turn to drugs and stealing because they
can’t access education where the nearest school is far away.
Beneficiaries
About 180 children per year and their families. They will benefit by receiving an education and working at a farm owned by the CBO during the school holidays. (The farm grows a small number of crops to supplement the school lunch program).
Project schedule…
The school has been in operation since 2011. Australian fundraising commenced in 2018 and will be enhanced from early 2025 by the introduction of tax deductibility through this HADA project. The continuity and growth of the project is dependent on the outcome of a second project, Bondo Building Project.
The children are from very poor families and the project will provide education, food and resources free of charge. Each student receives porridge during morning break and a nutritious meal for lunch.
Staffing of the school…
School teaching staff already have Diplomas of Education, and the cook and security guard have relevant training and qualifications. Additional in-service training will be provided as and when needs are identified.
You can help…
If you are able to support CBO to provide education, food and resources for these children…enabling a brighter future away from drugs and crime, please click on “Donate to this Project” on the right sidebar. Thank you!
All gifts are tax deductible and will benefit this project in their entirety except for bank fees.