High School Scholars Go to Safari Walk

CoKF Holiday Bash

On Friday, December 11th Children of Kibera Foundation held a holiday bash for all the students and teachers. It was a great end to the school year and the special two week camps that were held for Red Rose students and sponsored boarding school students. Students and teachers alike danced to popular tunes and enjoyed each other's company. Students ate candy and biscuits, had dancing competitions (see video below), and enjoyed pilau and soda for lunch. It was a great way to end the year and kick of the holiday season!


Japheth enjoying the microphone


Some students eating pilau


Dancing!

Friends from class three join together in celebration!

Even the teachers were dancing!

A very talented competetor in the girl's dancing competition.

December Camp for High School Scholars

Children of Kibera's high school scholars spent the last two weeks participating in their December break camp, organized and facilitated by CoKF interns, Jackie Espana and Joscelyn Truitt. On the first day, the fourteen students elected to cover a variety of topics, all of which interest and inspire them at home and at school. The group agreed to discuss self-esteem, peer pressure, time management, healthy relationships, drugs and sex, and health issues that plague Kibera, such as HIV/AIDS. Throughout the two-week camp, run from 9 AM to 1 PM daily, the students participated in fun activities, discussions, and art projects. The first week introduced topics such as self-esteem and self-awareness. The group practiced assertive language to combat peer pressure, debated the influence of media messages on young people, and talked about decision making. Students composed self-awareness collages and participated in a positive poster making contest, to determine the most creative poster with the most positive message for Kibera's youth. The facilitators organized a self-esteem photo shoot, where each student had the opportunity to organize and design a photo shoot set representing a positive self-image. The photos were printed and distributed on the last day of camp.
Below: Students work on their self-awareness collages.
Lynette and Lowry design their positive message posters.


The second week introduced a different set of topics, immediately set off by heated talks about gender roles perpetuated by societal beliefs and customs. Students shared emotional coping methods pertaining to common but complex emotional reactions. They discussed relationship issues and the boys shed light on teenage male behavior for the girls, and vice versa. The group even touched on the cultural beliefs and emotional effects of female circumcision. The talks shifted to sexual behavior as the group intensely explored HIV/AIDS. Two days consumed discussions about biological and behavioral causes and effects, thoughts about stigma, and society's and the individual's role in the spreading the disease. The students read personal accounts of individuals living with the virus (from Stephanie Nolen's 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa) and explored the political stakeholders and major players in the AIDS epidemic in Africa (from Helen Epstein's The Invisible Cure: Why We Are Losing the Fight Against AIDS in Africa). The final days introduced straightforward information on sexually transmitted infections, safe sex practices, and the effects of various drugs on the individual. As official camp came to a close, Jackie, Joscelyn, and Jeff treated the students to a day at Nairobi's Safari Walk, where they watched lions groom themselves up-close and cheetahs pose in the tall grass far away. As a final treat, the scholars and facilitators attended the Red Rose Holiday Party, where everyone danced to popular music and ate biscuits and pilau. All in all, the camp was a success and the students demonstrated impressive insight and clarity on issues that can be so difficult for young people to discuss.
Left: Hassan and Fred create their positive message poster.
Below: Conso, Zeinab, and Yasmin work on the design for their positive poster campaign.

Above: The boys and Conso pose for their self-esteem photo shoots.

Below: Kevin shares his self-awareness collage piece.

Above: Starting off the day with yoga and stretching.

Above: Students participate in "A Pat on the Back", where each writes positive qualities on the back of each student.

Above: The girls form falling trust circles.

Angels - Holiday Greetings from CoKF

Lutheran Primary Receives Computer Lab

The Children of Kibera Foundation (CoKF) and the Lutheran Primary School celebrated the official opening of a newly-donated computer lab on Wednesday December 2, 2009. The computer lab, the third under CoKF's KiberaOnline Schools project, is equipped with nine computers, tables and chairs.

The ceremony was graced by Elizabeth Penniman, visiting parent and donor from the Potomac School in McLean, VA. Ms. Penniman travels to Africa frequently as the Vice President of Global Advocacy, Public Policy, and Communications for the Elizabeth Glasier AIDS Foundation. Bishop Walter Obare of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya and other members of the local church and school leadership also attended the ceremony.

Around 9 AM, the guests, Lutheran Primary staff, and Children of Kibera sponsored boarding school students, who are home for break, watched as Ken Okoth and Ms. Penniman cut the blue ribbon revealing the brand new computer lab. All the guests filed past the balloons and into the lab and stood by as Ken said a few words about the importance of computer education. Ken also reflected on his own experiences coming from Kibera, a rather inspiring story for each scholar present. Ms. Penniman expressed her pride in and gratitude towards CoKF and towards Ken, who taught her own daughter back in the US. She personally greeted each scholar, encouraging them to continue their educations and pursue their goals. A few other Lutheran staff members expressed their appreciation and excitement for the lab to start running regularly and recognized the responsibility that comes with such a donation.

Following the reception, guests signed the guest book and Ken presented Ms. Penniman with a CoKF T-shirt. CoKF is very excited to contribute to the rebuilding and refurbishing of the Lutheran School and Springs of Life Church community, especially after their church was badly damaged during the 2007 violence. The lab will serve not only the children at the primary school, but the church youth group and other members that come from the far reaches of the Kibera slums. Please click on this link for an album with more photos from the celebration.

December in Photos

Introducing the Graduates!

Angel, a proud PreUnit graduate, proudly shows off her cap and gown while lining up to begin the festivities.

On Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the Red Rose Nursery and Children's Center held a graduation ceremony for all eight classes- Baby to Class 5. The Pre-Unit students, taught by Teacher Sophia, were the first to march in to announce the commencement of the ceremony, dressed in purple caps, gowns, and face glitter. Although all classes celebrated the "moving up" to the next class, it is the Pre-Unit class that is officially graduating into primary school.

After introductions were made, the each class either recited a poem, performed a play, or sang a song for the fifty-some parents and guests present. Classes 4 & 5 composed a fantastic series of dances and songs, each representing a different tribe. Following the presentations, Principal Bulouma said a few words about the importance of education and parent involvement, and gave thanks to the volunteers and to Children of Kibera for our on-going support to the school. The mother of Ken Okoth gave an address to the parents, reminding them of their important role in the education of their children. Members of the board and Red Rose teachers were introduced to the audience and each said a few words about their roles at the school.

Finally, each student received a small gift from his or her teacher, and the school awarded special gifts for outstanding students: Most Punctual, Best English, Best Behavior, etc. The ceremony was followed by a generous meal of pilau, meat, and soda. All in all, the kids couldn't have been happier to share the occasion with their parents, friends, and teachers.

Here's some shots from graduation, click to enlarge

In this video, the PreUnits walk into the ceremony

Congratulations Red Rose!