Give Hope to Kisumu's Underprivileged Children

Greetings and Gratitude from Team RKF!

Thank you for your continued support of our projects. Our last report gave detailed updates and progress from our School Meals Program and Meal Kits. Additionally, we also highlighted our favourite matching campaign, Little by Little! 

You can read the full report here: Upgrading the School Meals Program

We are excited to share with you updates from our newly selected group of scholars and the workshops held with them after the end of their respective terms. Along with these, we will also be sharing details of our Teacher’s Roundtable. 

New Scholars!

Frank, a beneficiary of the Scholarship Fund has completed his secondary school and just recently got accepted to pursue Psychology in one of Kenya’s top universities, Moi University.

We supported Frank for one year. While he was in Form 3, his family was struggling to pay his fee due to financial constraints. After evaluating his performance and having one-on-one sessions with him and the family, his determination to continue studying motivated us and a local donor to support him through his secondary school. 

Every year, especially after the national examination KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education), parents/guardians from financially disadvantaged backgrounds struggle to help their child transition to secondary school. Students with incredible potential and great dreams are left behind and have to compromise by settling down for environments and schools where the quality of education does not help them flourish. Frank's story mirrors that of many students we assist through our Scholarship Fund and like him, we are now supporting 20 students through our Scholarship Fund, including 3 who started with us last year and 17 new scholars (pictured above) who joined us this year.

Scholar’s Workshop: April 2024

Apart from financial support, scholars also receive termly mentorship, psycho-social support and personal development workshops throughout their secondary school education for well-rounded growth.

Our most recent workshop in April kicked off with exciting ice breakers as this was an excellent opportunity for new and returning scholars to interact, seek advice, and learn from one another. Thereafter, scholars were paired with accountability partners to support each other throughout their four-year scholarship journey. The fun began with human bingo and an energetic game of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Cups," setting a lively tone for the day. You can watch the video here: Head, Shoulder, Knees, Cup

This was followed by a storytelling session where scholars shared one-page summaries of novels they had been assigned to read during their break, delving into storylines, lessons learned, and their reading experiences. A valuable lesson shared was, "Life is an adventure rather than a competition." The day continued with a dynamic, timed puzzle-building activity to foster teamwork. 

We wrapped up by celebrating Frank, singing, and wishing him the best for his next adventure.

Day 2 was another enriching day focused on the themes of Belonging and Acceptance, as well as Accountability and Responsibility. Our CEO, Mansi Kotak, led a contemplative awareness session focussed on breathwork, guiding scholars through relaxation practices to manage stress. Teacher Anna, one of our facilitators, introduced the concept of belonging and acceptance. The afternoon, led by counsellor James Osteen, involved one-on-one conversations and practical activities emphasizing listening, providing correct feedback, and the importance of self-care for overall well-being 

Finally, day 3 included parents where we emphasized the importance of building an open relationship with their children. The day ended with our prize-giving & encouragement session during which we celebrated the top three scholars with the best academic performance. We also honoured the best storyteller and most improved scholar among other categories.

The workshop ended on a cheerful note with scholars hugging each other, wishing each other well in the upcoming term and exchanging goodbyes.

Scholars’ Workshop: December 2023

During the Christmas break last year, we held workshops with our first-set of scholars. To see how far we have come with them, read the details of the first workshop they attended: Update from our Meals and Scholarship Program

This time round, activities were divided among 3 days and over these days, scholars participated in a workshop aimed at fostering self-awareness and personal growth. On the first day, Tr. Anna led a session on "Understanding Your Purpose," encouraging active reflection and discussions on living a purpose-driven life, illustrated with stories and practical examples. The second day, led by Counsellor Osteen, focused on "self-worth" through personal conversations and an engaging peer feedback activity, culminating in the introduction of a new planning method.

The final day brought parents and scholars together to enhance communication and trust, followed by a recap session where scholars reflected on their learning and provided feedback. The workshop concluded with scholars watching the movie "The Blind Side".

Teachers’ Roundtable

Teachers are the cornerstone of our community, serving as the vital link to our direct beneficiaries: the students. With their deep understanding of both the students and their communities, teachers are crucial in setting up our programs and providing essential feedback from the beneficiaries. They are our extended hands in the field, ensuring our initiatives are effectively implemented and impactful. 

Our teachers’ roundtable brought a selected group of teachers from the schools that we partner with for an interactive day filled with insightful conversations and lessons. School representatives introduced their communities and as we moved into the session, with the guidance of our facilitators, they shared the challenges they were facing. 

Through this interactive roundtable, we will be utilizing the vital insights and feedback from our partner school teachers to better address the challenges faced by the communities, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and impact of our programs.

Links:

• Support a Scholar Today!
• Read our latest report from our Girls Project!
• Subscribe to RKF's newsletter for more updates

Greetings and Gratitude from Team RKF!

In our last report, we highlighted the impact of the Meals Kits on the lives of our beneficiaries. For a detailed overview, click here: A Plateful of Relief. 

In this report, we are pleased to share further updates, including the resuming and upgrading of the Meals Program in schools and the ongoing efforts to provide long-term food security to families in Kisumu.

Upgrading the School Meals Program…

During the pandemic, RKF repurposed its Meals Program into Meal Kits to ensure children had access to meals at home. As schools reopened, challenging economic conditions left struggling families even more vulnerable. Recognizing this, the continuation of Meal Kits supports not only students but also their families, providing crucial support during difficult times.

One such community is Alendu Primary, a rural public school with a population of over 600 learners. Most families reside on inherited lands and rely on income from fishing or selling vegetables. Many face financial hardships as they are elderly and responsible for caring for their grandchildren due to various life circumstances such as the death of their own children or their absence in search of better opportunities elsewhere. We partnered with Alendu in 2022 to provide Education Packs for students and since then the community has also been a beneficiary of the Meals Kits.

Time and time again, we have highlighted the importance of students receiving on-site meals at school. According to The World Food Programme (WFP), malnutrition in early childhood can lead to cognitive deficits, poor school performance and reduced productivity later in life. Providing school meals and nutrition interventions can improve school attendance and academic achievement, particularly among girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Empowering the community: Training Cooks

At RKF, our goal has always been to empower communities and foster ownership of school programs. Before implementing our program, we involved the community in selecting parents who could gain part-time employment as cooks for the program. They received an intensive 3-day training covering hygiene, stock management, queue management and time management. Additionally, they provided key feedback to help ensure smooth daily operations as a key step towards community ownership of the program.

A Successful Pilot Program

Students who are part of the program receive two nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) and a fruit at least once a week.

Their menu for the Meals Program is:

Monday: Rice and green grams

Tuesday: Ugali and cabbage/sukuma wiki with a fruit

Wednesday: Chapati and beans

Thursday: Rice and green grams

Friday: Githeri with potatoes

Uji (a highly nutritious, local porridge made out of millets is served every day for breakfast.

Since the start of the program a few weeks ago, 4,090 meals have been served taking the total number of meals served through the RKF Program to 823,868 Meals. And we only hope for this number to continue increasing.  

Meal Kits for families

Families continue to receive Meal kits and since our last report, we have served an additional 83,420 meals to 778 families (3890 beneficiaries). 

Little by Little: Small Donations, Big Impact

Our favourite Little by Little Matching Campaign is only 3 weeks away. Starting from the 8th of April 2024 to 12th April, GlobalGiving is giving away $200,000 in matching funds by matching 50% of all donations up to $50. 

Please note: this is the only Little by Little Matching Campaign this year and everyone is gearing up to give to RKF as we celebrate the completion of 8 years.

Be a part of this celebration and make a donation that will help us continue running our School Meals Program in communities like Alendu.

Links:

• Become a Patron: Make a Recurring Donation
• Read our latest report from our Girls Project!
• Subscribe to RKF's newsletter for more updates