Nursey

...the tenth year (2012)...

Much has happened at KiD in the past few months, but our most important news is that all of our KiD children are well, thank goodness! Other than the usual childhood bumps and scrapes, we have had no worries!

We, the KiD team (in Kenya and in Germany) are full of joy and thankfulness for the success of our projects - the ones you make possible with your generous support. We invite you now to take a few minutes to sit back, make yourselves comfortable and catch up on the latest developments at KiD. Let’s "leave" Germany now and travel back to Kenya….

Enter the school grounds with us, through the blue metal front door emblazoned with the yellow KiD logo. To our right, we can see the kindergarten building as well as the playground, and to our left, the gleaming new KiD school building: sand coloured, two storeyed, with two classrooms on each floor. A portico in front connects the classrooms, and leads to the stairs. The small white columns of the balustrade, and the open, Asian-influenced, star-shaped pattern in the block enclosure wall around the staircase, give the building a cozy, welcoming appearance. We are absolutely overwhelmed and more than a little proud of our beautiful new KiD building.

As you know, our idea for the school has been "gestating" for a very long time. Two years ago we began weighing the pros and cons of expanding KiD to include a primary school. During this period, we visited Kenyan schools again and again for inspiration, and had countless conversations with principals and teachers to gather their input. We spent many nights brooding about whether and how to proceed. As we mentioned in our last letter to you, all the while we were mulling and researching, you already assured us of enough support that we never had to worry about whether we could afford to found and build this, our new school. We would have certainly given up, without your support.

Now let’s enter one of the first- and second-form classrooms on the upper floor, both of which are already finished, and have been up and running since the beginning of this school year. Twelve wooden tables stand in rows facing the blackboard. Little schoolbags in many colours hang on the chairs. Directly in front of the blackboard sits the teacher’s desk with little towers of the children’s workbooks on it. A few arithmetic problems remain on the blackboard. Cool wind enters through the window, bringing with it the joyful voices of the children in the play yard outside. It is recess time, and while the girls are swinging, playing in the sandbox or jumping rope, the boys are playing football. All are healthy, and, as always, in a good mood.

Yes, we can say it: our school is flourishing. Whereas in one Ukunda public school we saw 102 children in one (!) classroom, at KiD we have only 20 children in the first form and 23 in the second. They enjoy a comfortable working atmosphere, maybe even better than in some German schools. So our KiDs are learning at school as they have become accustomed to do in the kindergarten: with much joy, diligence and discipline.

The reputation of KiD has increased tremendously in the community. The residents of Diani Beach are proud of KiD, and are excited about the high standards of the school. More and more parents with financial means are able to pay the school fees, meaning we expect to be able to waive the school fees of the poorer children someday in the not-too-distant future. Step by step we are approaching our long-term goal: for KiD to stand on its own feet, financially, no longer dependent on donations. We also intend to continue mingling boys and girls, poor and wealthier children, as well as those of different religions; all of these objectives are in keeping with the original concept and ambitions of this project. 

In short, we are thrilled with our school. And not only us! Edward, Joshua and the entire KiD team radiate so much happiness that the Kenyan sun has to compete for the children’s attention! Now we are legally registered under the name Kindergarten in Diani and Academy. Who’d have thought it two, three years ago: ACADEMY! Incredible! Really incredible! And we know - without you it wouldn’t have been possible at all.

A big "thank you" to all of you! 
We are proud, and you should be, too!

After touring the school, we had many hands to shake: those of Edward, Joshua (the manager), our teachers Maryam, Agnes and Elija, and also our new teacher Amidah, who just started this year. Amidah is Maryam’s sister, and she began earlier this year with a three-month provisional contract. Always cheerful and helpful, Amidah did a brilliant job, so we decided to hire her on a permanent basis. She teaches the first form.

The children wash their hands, then queue up in a long, orderly line in front of Ruth’s kitchen. Ruth is the oldest member of our KiD team. She is the cook and the "unacknowledged boss" of the whole on-site team. Whatever this calm and affectionate woman with the big cooking spoon says, will be done. Even our managers have to acquiesce with a smile! Today everybody gets a big spoon of ugali (mush) from her. Then we sit on wooden benches at the tables in the roofed dining corner. It is quiet, with only the sound of our tin spoons scratching against the plates. The children eat, eat, and eat. We can only shake our heads. It is a mystery to us where the children put all the food. With a smile, the staff tell us: "We farmed this corn on site, and also these bananas, tomatoes, beans, and papayas." Our gardener John is doing a good job: KiD’s self-contained vegetable farm is growing and flourishing. So, once more we are gratified, this time by proof that our decision to do our own farming was the right one. 

After lunch, it is siesta time. The kindergarten children are having their midday break. We retreat to the shade. One item remains to be discussed: our bus must "retire." We think it has earned its "pension": we bought it six years ago, when it was already seven years old. After 13 years of almost daily use over bad roads and in salty, humid air, the signs of wear and tear are everywhere. As our driver Peter explains, rust is the worst offender. The body of the bus is covered with rusty spots, and even the floorboard has rusted through, so that Peter can watch the road without looking through the windscreen! It is very difficult to get spare parts for this "old" model. By the end of last year we had decided to buy a new bus. If you’ve already been "along for the ride" with us for a awhile, you will know, from previous newsletters, exactly what such a purchase entailed: shaking countless hands, looking at countless vehicles, bargaining with bankers and dealers, and even with dealers who wanted our money but did not have any inventory! Prices were settled and revoked. After much work and sweat, we finally found and ordered a bus. It’ll be available at the end of July/ beginning of August. Peter is happy, and he, too, knows, whom he can thank: it is you - our supporters and friends!

Well, our time in Kenya is coming to its end and we have to return to Germany. But before leaving the grounds of the kindergarten - that is, of our kindergarten and of our academy - let’s take a last look at our new school. The first two forms are swarming up the stairs, yelling, into the first floor and dispersing to the two classrooms. It is becoming quiet again. It is lovely and warm. A light breeze is blowing and we are glad and happy with our joint accomplishment. Again it has proven true: Much is possible in Kenya. However, it can only happen if people get involved - whether by working on site or in Germany, or by sharing their good ideas and suggestions, or through their donations. KiD is a project, and a project is only as good as the work and ideas of the people involved. So we thank you all very much indeed! Only with your help could the KiD project have developed to what it is now, and only with your continued support will it be able to endure and to grow.

Just like you, we are grateful for our blessings, and eager to see what good will happen next - in fact, with your help, we continue to work to make it happen! 

Forward EVER - Backward NEVER, that’s our motto. 

On behalf of 125 children we say: "Thank you! Thank you! And again, thank you!"

The new KiD school building! Manfred Linder, from our team in Germany, inspects and "approves" the new exterior. For bigger picture klick here

Our second form KiDs respond enthusiastically to teacher Elija, who uses his sense of fun to inspire their diligence and discipline.

Each of the first two completed classrooms is furnished with 12 wooden desks and 24 chairs.

Joshua on our KiD farmland. It is almost time to bring in the harvest. We harvest 3 times a year.

All of our 125 KiDs in one photo, kindergarten children and school children together. In the first rows stand the youngest; behind them stand the older ones; in back, the KiD team from Kenya. For bigger picture klick here

Peter, our bus driver with the "old" KiD bus. Even from a distance, the rust was obvious!