A Getaway to Relax and Strategize.

After four years of commitment, focus and successful completion of high school education, our high school scholars- class of 2012, had the opportunity to spend two days at a getaway camp to unwind and strategize for their next stage in life.

At exactly 10 am, a group of 11 scholars and three CoKF staff left Nairobi for Lukenya Getaway. This trip was organized to give this group of extremely motivated youth from Kibera a chance to unwind after a month long end of high school examination exercise in a relaxing, quiet environment away from home.

Swimming was the first activity in the program of activities; the group enjoyed a quiet pool under the clear skies of Ukambani plains. After two hours of ‘free styling and breast stroking’ the team took a five minutes drive to the summit of the campsite where a sumptuous lunch of chicken, vegetables and ugali was beckoning. After lunch was free time. Some slept while another group went for a nature walk.

In the evening everyone gathered and pulled African armchairs to watch the orange fireball sink. As a surprise, just before super was served, our Executive Director showed up at around 9 O’clock with a big cake in hand. At a round table, each scholar had the chance to share his/her experiences in high school and as a CoKF scholar. Ken took this opportunity to congratulate the scholars and got them thinking of the limitless opportunities that lay in front of them. 

“Let not our investment in you go to waste, stay focused, keep off bad company, don’t do drugs”- Ken Okoth

The conversations was followed by a huge feast, a whole goat was there to be eaten, grilled and stewed. And as a mark of accomplishment everyone had a piece of the cake. As Ken drove into the pitch dark woods back to Nairobi, the volume of the stereo was cranked up. Some only danced for an hour and left for their tents to retire for the night while some danced till the small hours of the morning.

As we drove back to Nairobi the next day, everyone seemed re-energized and ready to tackle their next stages in life: preparation for SAT, community service, upcountry journeys… we wish our class of 2012 scholars all the best in their endeavors.

"Were it not for the CoKF scholarship, some of us would not have attended high school"-Apollo Hospital Hill High School

Children of Kibera Foundation would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who in one way or another contributed and enable this group attain high school education. 

 To enable us see more children through high school, please make a generous gift here

Sisters in swimsuits

Serene camp site

This is NYU library

Class of 2012 scholars

Graduation, Prize Giving, Thanks Giving Ceremony at Red Rose School.

Wednesday the 21^st of November saw Red Rose School hold a ‘three-in-one’ ceremony. 24 children graduated from kindergarten and are set to join first grade in January 2013, on the same day a thanks giving ceremony was held for the 16 pioneer eighth grade students set to sit their national exams (KCPE) early December, their ticket into high school education. Academic and extracurricular excellence was also rewarded.

 With the District Education Officer and other community leaders in attendance, the program begun at 10:30 am. To set the mood right, brilliant and thrilling performances from each class were showcased, this was followed by awarding of top performers in the academic and extracurricular activities. Top three pupils in each class received books, pens and other gifts from the school management.

The awarding ceremony was followed by the graduation ceremony of the 24 kindergarten pupils from Red Rose School. Neatly lined up and looking spectacular in their silky navy blue gowns, the sense of accomplishment and pride could not be hidden in their faces. With cheers from the other students and their parents urging them on, the procession and awarding of certificates was truly inspiring. If only you could see each student step forward to receive a certificate and a symbolic solar lamp; all these with their parents beside them under a flood of cameras flashes.

“It’s amazing how my girl has grown up fast!”- A parent (overheard)

The journey through primary school for a child from Kibera is often long and full of uncertainties. Coming from a challenge filled background, dropping out of school is a usual issue for this kind of children. However, the Red Rose family had something to smile about. Being a registered examination center, the school is set to have its first ever candidates sit national exams from December 4^th-7^th. This is the exam that determines their high school entry.  We wish all our 16 candidates the best.
The ceremony was concluded with speeches from: our Executive Director-Ken Okoth, Cooperative Bank, Kibera branch Manager-Mr. Evans Agina and the District Education Officer-Madam Ann Shiundu. With the importance of, and investing in education being the overlying message.

“We have to invest in our children’s education for
they are the ones who will be running our economy some years to come”-

Madam Ann Shiundu District Education Officer
 

Red Rose School Class of 2012

You can proceed to the next class

All the best in your national examinations

Congratulations for the brilliant performance

looking fabulous

we are proud of our achievements

Solar Lanterns for Kindergarten Graduates As a Symbol of Hope

CoKF attended a string of kindergarten graduation ceremonies over the past two weeks. This is a decisive and arguably the most important step in the lives of these children. This is their gateway into primary school education and subsequently into secondary schools and even university.
Still, the number of students from Kibera graduating from universities is very low from. As a symbol of hope and accomplishment, CoKF gave out 80  solar lanterns, one to each child.

A part from symbolically lighting their academic futures, the solar lanterns also offer these children a free, clean efficient way of studying at home. The solar lanterns thus replace the dim dangerous and kerosene polluting lamps.

We at Children of Kibera Foundation would like to see this lot have more amazing graduation experiences in coming years--- high school, university or college, and even graduate school.

This solar lantern project would not be possible without our partners: LitWorld and the LitProject who enable us give out the lamps free or at a subsidized cost. 

Let the solar lanterns brighten your futures-

Madam Anne Shiundu D.E.O Langata.

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Class of 2012

Brightening futures

Shinning bright

Celebrations are in order

CoKF Attends, Supports Mbagathi Primary Prize Giving Day.

Children of Kibera Foundation attended a prize giving day ceremony at Mbagathi Rd Primary School Yesterday. This was our first ever visit to the school as it was formerly in Dagoretti constituency. Our first engagement with the school saw us donate 200 exercise books and 72 solar lamps. This was topped up with an inspirational talk from our Executive Director-Ken Okoth.

Mbagathi Rd Primary School is one of the oldest in Nairobi, prior to it being taken over by Kenya government upon independence, it was known as King George II. With the redrawing of the electoral boundaries, it has now shifted from Dagoretti constituency and found its way into the newly formed Kibra Constituency.

A significant number of its student population coming from Kibera, the annual prize giving day ceremony was our ideal moment to establish a relationship with the school’s fraternity. With the parents, students, teaching staff, school board and the entire community well represented, through our executive director, the gathering got to know what we do and how they could access our offices.

Meters away from the main event, CoKF staff hosted a table and carried out onsite scholarship and bursary application as well as handling questions from the community. As an addition to the prizes pool, CoKF donated 200 exercise book and 72 solar lanterns that were awarded to top performers. We believe that this is just the start of a fruitful relationship and hope to have the first student from the school securing a full scholarship from Children of Kibera Foundation.

"This partnership could not have come at a better time; I know better things are yet to come" –Deputy Head Mistress.

 

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Happy to have you around

Students registering for scholarships.