Food Security Kenya Project #6337

Education & Support for Vulnerable Children, Kenya

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Jun 7, 2015
The Nyota Ing'arayo feeding programme

By Kate Robey | Charitable Trust Operations Manager

Dear Supporter,

When you walk through the courtyard of Nyota school during break time and you pop into the classrooms where students are drinking their morning porridge, you begin to understand the effect that this feeding programme has on these children. Without it, it is almost guaranteed that the number of students would drastically reduce. Hunger is prevalent throughout these slums and these children would go hungry far too many times in a day without the school and their dedicated cooks.

The school day starts at 7am and ends at 5 pm, and the children benefit equally from the guaranteed daily nutritious meals and their education. Without this feeding programme, the majority of the students would not be able to attend school because their priorities would shift towards food, not to school and a certified education.

Not only does the feeding programme guarantee the children staying at school for the full day and receiving the education they deserve, but it also increases their performance during lessons. The meals the children receive at Nyota always contain either beans or pojo (green grams) which provide them with much needed protein, as well as either rice or ugali (maize meal) which help them to feel full throughout the day.

The children continue to benefit with improved health, fewer absentee days and improvedacademic results. The GVI Charitable Trust and Nyota management are currently seeking donors to support this programme beyond the March 2015 school term.

Thank you for your continued support.

All the best,

GVI Mombasa

Lunch is served

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Mar 13, 2015
A New Plan for Olives School

By Sophie Birkett | Head of Operations

Dear Supporter,

Over the last 18 months we have looked at multiple pieces of land both in Bombolulu and in the surrounding areas. While we have found several pieces of land that were suitable and within our price range, our lawyer was unable to find the correct title deeds, meaning there was no proof that the land belonged to the person who was selling it to us. Other plots have, upon surveying, proved smaller than they appeared in the title deeds, deeming them too small to build a school on. The price of land in Bombolulu and its surrounding areas has risen drastically in the last few years as the area is becoming more developed. It is an incredibly difficult climate in which to purchase land.

Going forward, Olives have had to review their options. The first was to come to an agreement with the landlady and create a two year plan. Olives have a signed a three year rent agreement stating that the rent will not change for the agreed period of time. We are using a portion of the donations to renovate the existing structure. Making improvements on the roof, which will help to block out sounds from other classrooms, install glass slat windows to allow more light into the classrooms, and re-plaster the walls and put down new floors in the classroom.

A monthly contribution will be made over the next two years towards the teacher’s wages. This would mean that Olives’ teachers would remain consistent, which in turn has a positive impact on student academic results. Grades and results are extremely important to Kenyan parents, and improved grades will mean that parents are more likely to keep their children in education. Supplementing teachers’ wages frees up money that can then be used to pay school fees for children who come from impoverished families and are unable to afford them. Olives aim is to create a 60:40 balance, with 60% of the students paying the minimal school fees (£3.50/$6 per month), while the other 40% are supplemented. Families’ circumstances change day by day, so every month Steven reviews who is able to pay the fees, and who isn’t. The fees generated from those capable of paying go towards the teachers’ wages.

The remaining funds have been invested in to an income generating programme The objectives of the programme is to run an efficient and profitable business that will reinvest in its future to ensure that the business continues and provides regular revenue to help cover the running costs (rent payments) of Olives Rehabilitation Centre. This will enable the school to continue to offer an education that provides their students with a brighter future.

The income generating programme is a Tuk tuk business which is based on owning and renting out of two tuk tuks. Tuk tuks have become an affordable form of transport to many of Mombasa’s residents since their introduction. They take children to school, mothers to market, and families to weddings, not to mention that they are the only practical means of transport in Mombasa’s Old Town

The tuk tuk will be rented to a driver who will subsequently use it to generate an income for his or herself. This area could also be expanded on in future years by buying more tuk tuk’s generating more income.

In this way, we hope to help Olives become self-sufficient while maintaining an environment more conducive to learning.

Thank you for supporting this program.

All the best

GVI Mombasa

Links:

http://www.gvi.org

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Dec 24, 2014
Merry Christmas from Mombasa

By Sophie Birkett | Head of Operations

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