Nursey

...the third year (2005)...

At the beginning of 2005, we paid a three-week visit to Kenya. Our local "correspondents" had notified us about a variety of issues we needed to address. It was important for us to go and assess these situations firsthand. 

Because of changes in the public school - for example, the class size had risen to 80 pupils - we felt it best to place our "graduates" in different circumstances. We put them into a half-private school, where they would receive more attention, and are in better hands. This new school required not only the usual school fees, but a contribution for teaching materials as well. 

We also recognized the need to reorganize the kindergarten itself a bit, in order to meet the developmental requirements of the different age groups. Thus, we split the school day into two "shifts." The nine youngest children attended the first shift, or "KG (kindergarten class) 1," from 8:00 - 12:00; the seven older ones, or "KG2," stayed much longer, from 8:00 - 17:00. All the children met for lunch together at about 13:00, along with their new teacher Miriam (hired Jan. 31st, 2005). Miriam is a primary school teacher with state teaching certification; she replaced the previous nursery teacher, Lucy. With Miriam's instruction, even the youngest children were eagerly and successfully learning English - a must for everyday life at Kenyan schools and with public authorities. 

During our stay, we were even able to start another project: purchasing a plot of land for the kindergarten. We only had three weeks to do so, in a culture and legal system so very different from our own, and with limited access to sites - not to mention the language barrier! So, it is a not-so-small miracle that, despite these obstacles, we were able to find and buy just the place we needed!

Before we could go back north, we had to get started with some urgent projects. First, we would need to start clearing the lot we had purchased. We hoped that the children's parents would contribute by uprooting the brush. We also had to hire a local contractor to build an enclosure wall around the property, as is customary in Kenya, and also necessary for security. It was our hope that this wall would be completed by our next visit.

In the meantime, our friends and other KiD supporters in Bremen had also been very busy. They organized a wonderful benefit concert for the kindergarten. The revenues brought our next projects closer to reality.

In October/November 2005, we again returned to Diani Beach, and - lo and behold! - around the cleared lot for the new kindergarten, stood a high wall with two gates! The sight filled us with thankfulness, joy - and a huge sense of relief!

But of course, the work continued, and we had to attend to many details. Among them was a fun one: to plan for another field trip for all the children. When we were back in Germany again, we learned that this trip, like the one before it, had been an unforgettable and wonderful experience for the children. Such experiences are a key to a happy childhood!

A quick mention of our costs for the year

In 2005, kindergarten enrollment, plus the number of "graduates" we continued to support, totalled 23 children. Our monthly costs totalled about 260.00 to 300.00 Euros (as always, depending on exchange rates), or 11.30 - 13.00 per child. As before, these costs included three salaries (Miriam the teacher, Miriam the cook, Joshua the manager), food, uniforms, school fees, fares to transport the "graduates" to Ukunda, medical care, field trips and "rainy day" reserves.

The "big kids" (KG2) at the blackboard with teacher Miriam.

The "obligatory" group photo of our kindergarten children with their teacher.

To the left of the road, near the palm trees, lies the site we purchased for the new (current) KiD.

The doorway had to be fitted by hand, while the cement was still wet.

Construction for our beautiful kindergarten building would begin here soon.