Kenya
The Situation
The Sacred Heart Primary School for Disadvantaged Children will be built at Racecourse, Eldoret, in Kenya. The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Uganda/Kenya province will build and run the school. The majority of Racecourse residents lost their jobs, businesses, and property during the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. The people moved to slums and still have not recovered economically. About 90% of them earn their living through small-scale retail businesses such as hawking, roadside selling of household items/vegetables, and casual labor at construction sites. Others, especially women, work as house helps by day, earning less than $60 USD per month. About 4% are engaged in farming. The school enrollment in this area is 18% lower than the national average of 35%. And 80% of children under 5 years who should be enrolled in school are not attending. Among older students, the dropout rate is up to 10% due to pregnancy among girls and the search for employment with motorcycle riders among boys.
Sisters’ Response
The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, accomplished educators in Kenya and Uganda, will build the school on land owned by their Province. They will not only run the school but will also promote social cohesion and unity among the children, parents, and staff from different ethnic communities in response to tribalism, a practice that seems to be strong in this area. This will be done by opening the school to children from all tribes, employing staff from different ethnic communities, and through joint extracurriculars and other activities among the children and those from other schools.
Funds Needed
$40,000
How Will Funds Be Used
The funds will be used to enable the sisters to buy iron sheets that will be used to roof the classroom block.
Systemic Impact
Building a new school to serve these children will provide them with a strong educational foundation. It will address the root causes of unemployment, poverty, and tribalism.