NAIKA’S Homework Clubs
An approach to Promote Academic Excellence in Nairobi’s Majengo Slums
The Home Work Clubs: An approach to encourage Academic Excellence in Majengo Slums
Pupils at Malezi Primary school in Majengo. Photo/ADS Kenya
As the Kenyan Government works towards achieving 100%
transition of students into High school and the full implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in the Education sector, one of the factors that stands to be considered is the access and quality of education. The Education Ministry’s Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2019 on “A Policy Framework for Reforming Education and Training for Sustainable Development in Kenya” observes that ‘Expansion of education in Kenya over the years and ongoing education reforms has created increased demand for infrastructure and introduced new categories of need….” It further appreciates that ‘There are many issues relating to infrastructure across the sector. These include availability, appropriateness, quantity and quality.’ Among the populations affected with these are the slum areas. Access to quality education in these setups is limited by the already overstretched public Services system. Maintaining the standards of education therefore requires for complementarity between Government and Private actors so as to ensure that such populations are not disenfranchised. With the roll out of the Free Primary Education (FPE) program in 2003, there has been a surge in the number of learners attending public education facilities in urban areas. This however, has been counterproductive since is has compromised the quality. As a result, many non-formal education centres have come up to accommodate those who are left out and can’t afford education in
private schools. The Anglican Church of Kenya is currently also involved in the provision and support of education services in her about 5,000 schools that are ACK sponsored. As an extension to this, the St. John’s Community Centre, (SJCC) Pumwani-a church run establishment under the Anglican Development Services (ADS) NAIKA (Nairobi, All Saints cathedral & Kajiado); is implementing a program that enables pupils to conveniently study outside school hours. Anchored in their Child development Project, the program targets children between 6-8yrs in the Majengo slum area. Christine Otieno, a Social Worker at SJCC explains that the children-about 900, have been grouped into 18 special interest Clubs which are organized by the communities. Among them are the Homework Clubs.
Christine Otieno
To help reach out to more people, Mobile reading clubs have been formed. In this, the resource person walks around with reading material and establishes adhoc sites where pupils gather to read. Members of the Homework clubs bond and constantly help each other in their studies. This has enhanced communal success since there is follow-up on the progress of the pupils.
Most households around this area are small and congested and so
The benefits of this program have led to improved performance of the students in school. The number of pupils who attend school has also risen since most of them enjoy their studies. There has also been a significant drop in crime involving minors within the area as the children are engaged in school. Previously, there were high rates of cases of drug abuse and irresponsible sexual activities among the youths.
the environment doesn’t allow them to study well. This necessitates the need for establishment of an avenue that provides for an safe environment for the pupils to study and do their homework without undue interuptions. SJCC has resourced centres which have been set aside for the homework Clubs to be conducted, between 5:00pm -7:00pm. Reading material, furniture, lighting equipment and patrons who assist the children are provided at the centres
Other clubs focus on Economic Empowerment, Talent development and child protection. SJCC is also working towards establishing more reading facilities to accommodate more pupils. Further, a scholarship program is being implemented and those who qualify are sponsored to proceed with their high school education. SJCC has also created linkages that ensure that other needy and bright students access scholarship funds that are offered by other public and private institutions.
SJCC Centre has partnered with local government authorities to ensure that the facilities that are used are established within safe and child friendly setups. The patrons who are engaged during the sessions are volunteers whose responsibility is coordinating and maintaining discipline. There are 3 Homework clubs that are currently active and cover about 9 villages in Majengo.
Grace Kavoi, who runs the Malezi Primary School, a nonFormal Education facility used by some of the Homework clubs, she says that the program has impacted the lives of many children in the area. SJCC supports the school with reading material. Grace notes that “more children are now attending school since reading materials are being provided at school for free.”
How the Church and Community Mobilization processes (CCMP) is transforming Lives: Lucy Kariri’s Story. Most people thought that she would not manage to take care of her family since she mostly depended on her husband. Her late husband also had an uncleared loan facility with a local Saving Scheme. The total loan amount was Ksh. 350,000. Being the next of kin, she assumed the role of repaying the loan, adding up to her other responsibilities that included educating her children and taking care of them. In 2016, Lucy enrolled for the Church and Community Mobilization Process (CCMP) trainings organized by the ACK Thika Diocese. Through the training, she was able to identify her resources like – 2 cows, a bore hole, a piece of land and the business. She decided to sell the two cows so that she could raise some money that would enable her offset part of the loan and take care of other family expenses. Her bore hole was manually operated and so she decided to improve its efficiency by purchasing an emersion pump. She then could sell water and get a profit of Ksh. 300 per day. She also established a kitchen garden where she planted vegetables for her household use. Lucy also engages in soap making business, animal & poultry keeping.
Lucy Kariri
Lucy Kariri, 44, hails from Gatukira village in Murang’a County.
In 2015, she lost her husband who was a teacher. The couple had 3 Children. Apart from being a teacher, her husband opened a business for her, though he would manage it. He also took care of almost everything they owned as a family. Upon her husband’s demise, Lucy became the laughing stock of the community.
In 2018, Lucy had saved enough to enable her clear the loan. The money used for this was from her various small businesses. She is also able to pay the school fees for her Children. She says that “CCMP came at the right time for me since it has helped me realize my potential in the midst of pain.” Lucy’s transformational story has inspired the community that “even when the bread winner is no more, God provides by opening our eyes to see what he has placed before us.” Lucy is now a CCMP facilitator and seeks to transform others through forming groups to share the word and promote the savings culture in the community.
Women and Youth Groups Urged to Embrace SACCO Model. (Additional reporting by the Kenya News Agency)
The Archbishop with some of the delegates during the Five Talents’ Fundraising Dinner at his residence in Nairobi on the 15th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Nakuru Diocese
has advised women and youth to join Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs) to attain economic empowerment. According to the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr Joseph Muchai, the youth who comprise 70 per cent of Kenya’s population lack a proper saving culture due to lack of commitment. Bishop Muchai stated that women empowerment will benefit hugely from SACCOS unlike banks where they will be required to have securities to access loans. Speaking in Nakuru during the launch of the Diocese’s ACK Imani Talent Sacco, the Bishop singled out 3,600 youths absorbed countrywide under the paid Public service Internship Programme (PSIP) as individuals who need to join SACCOS to save funds for the future. With support from Five talents, a global partner, about 5 SACCOs have been established by Dioceses across the country with this set to increase over the next few years. Bishop Muchai said that with the Government’s investment of Ksh. 1 Billion into the PSIP programme, SACCOs presents the best opportunity for the interns to save capital that will enable them initiate income generating projects.” Five Talents Board Kenya Chairman Rt. Rev. (Dr) Gideon Githiga said the five Saccos in Thika, Embu and Nakuru regions have already been registered, having satisfied the conditions set by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA). The Nakuru ACK Imani Talent Sacco already has 2,086
from the eleven sub-counties of Nakuru County. Bishop Dr. Githiga said members of the co-operative will be required to save at least Sh100 per month and would qualify to borrow up to three times their savings after making consistent deposits for six months. The loans would attract a one per cent interest. He stated that the church is committed to the economic empowerment of women in the County and that the friendly loan interest terms offered by the Saccos have been crafted to encourage them to venture into small and medium scale business. The SACCOs, he said, were open to both Church Members and non-church community, youth and women groups. Earlier , several ACK Bishops underwent a training on Sustainable Development organizaed by Five Talents. The Archbishop also hosted a Fundraising Dinner for Five Talents at his residence.
Delegates during the Launch of the ACK Nakuru Diocese’s Imani Talent Sacco on the 16th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
Delegates during a training organized by Five Talents at the All. Saints Cathedral, Nairobi on the 15th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
In Pursuit of Peace:
ADS Kenya scales up InterCommunal Peace Building Efforts in Transmara.
Women peep into an abandoned building in Kilgoris. Photo/ADS Kenya
ADS
Kenya has partnered with FHI 360, to launch a peace building project in the Transmara region of Narok County. The Project seeks to deepen inter communal Peace Building efforts in the area whose population is drawn mainly from various communities. The area has over years experienced outbursts of Ethnic and clan violence. The most recent wave of attacks left atleast 2 people dead with scores injured. The violence was sparked by a Border conflict between Two Maasai clans in Lolgorian within Transmara West Subcounty in Narok county.
communities and has been categorized by conflict between the Kipsigis and the Maasai over land related disputes, boundary disputes, divisive politics, ethnic antagonisms and competition. The project seeks to improve the capacity of community leaders, women, youth and faith-based groups to conduct consensus building forums on healing and reconciliation and Improve the environment and space for national dialogue processes.
Since 2017, ADS Kenya implemented an inter-communal peacebuilding program in the area with support from Bead for the World. This helped in downscaling the magnitude of the clashes in this area by understanding the causes and designing early warning systems and mitigations strategies. In this new project on Building Bridges to Unity within Narok County, ADS seeks to enhance interventions to promote peaceful coexistence among communities by strengthening social and ethic cohesion, building on the success of the previous project. The goal of the project is to increase inclusive and non-ethnic narratives that builds confidence in the national dialogue processes, among communities that live in Transmara West and East Sub-Counties of Narok County. Transmara is inhabited in majority by the Maasai and the Kipsigis
A Road done by the goverment to mark the Boundary between warring factions in Lolgorian, Transmara West in Narok county. Photo/ADS Kenya
Pictorials
Delegates during a training organized by Five Talents at the All. Saints Cathedral, Nairobi on the 15th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
Delegates during the Launch of the ACK Nakuru Diocese’s Imani Talent Sacco on the 16th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
A Beneficiary of the Five Talents Program narates his story during the Five Talents Fundraising Dinner at the Archbishop’s Residence on the 15th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
ACK Bishops attends a training organized by Five Talents at the All. Saints Cathedral, Nairobi on the 15th of October. Photo/ADS Kenya
A Peace Building Advocacy Meeting with Community leaders in Kilgoris on the 9th of October.
ADS Kenya Peace Building officer, Dr. Willis Okumu (l) listens in during a community Meeting to gather Community Experiences in Intercommunal Peace Building. Photo/ADS Kenya
Photo/ADS Kenya
Anglican Development Services (ADS) Kenya Bishop’s Road, Opp. NSSF Building ACK Language School Building, 2nd Floor P.O Box 40502-00100 Nairobi. Tel: +254 20 2718801, +254 20 2714752/3 Email: adskenya@africaonline.co.ke/newsdesk@adskenya.org www.adskenya.org
Our Regions Pwani
Eastern Mt. Kenya East
Mt. Kenya
NAIKA
Central Rift
South Rift
North Rift Nyanza
Western