g n i c u d o r t n I Project Kenya The CLC community enjoys a very special connection with a school in Embul bul Kenya, just outside Nairobi and has been involved in sponsoring dozens of students, funding capital works and supporting educational and vocational programs. A number of staff and students have also had the opportunity to visit and work at the school in Kenya which educates and feeds students across nursery, primary and secondary classes, most of whom are from poor and displaced families and many are orphans.
In 2000, Fr. Kevin McGarry began a program to feed some street children, and as they sat under a tree, he began to teach them. Later that year some very rudimentary buildings were acquired and Br Beasaung Catholic Education Centre began. On the first day, 128 children registered for this school and these children were the poorest of the poor. Many of them were between the ages of 8 and 13 years, mostly girls, who had never been to school for even a day in their lives.
Through the support of Edmund Rice Foundation, the families of Embul bul now have a modern fully equipped school called the Edmund Rice Catholic Education Centre which welcomes students of all tribes, religions and cultures and has 770 students across primary and secondary levels.
CLC began by sponsoring students as sponsorship allows students to complete a full year of education and they are provided with a hot meal each day, which is for many, the only meal of their day.
In 2012 and 2013, staff and students visited Embul bul and after the incredible experience of working alongside the Kenyans, Project Kenya at CLC was formed.
Since then, CLC has been involved in and supported the installation of water bores and tanks, equipping workshops for families to learn skills and gain employment, sponsoring dozens of students and the very important Girls Protection and Empowerment Program.
This program was initiated by CLC students when they were visiting and working with the school in Kenya and they heard about the plight of some young girls. Without the opportunity of an education, and for some no family to protect them, they were very vulnerable to all the risks and potential exploitation that come from lack of family and poverty.
Funds were raised annually to rent rooms in the village and organise some care for these very vulnerable young women.
In 2018, the CLC community committed to raising funds to build a permanent safe house within the safety of the school grounds for the Girls Protection Program. We raised nearly $28,000 from a walkathon, and during 2018 and 2019 lots of events were held to enable the building of CLC House.
Unfortunately, the impact of Covid during 2020 delayed the completion of CLC HOUSE . The impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in Kenya has been quite severe with schools closing on March 16 2020 and not re-opening until January 5 2021. However, CLC House finally opened its doors on Sunday January 10 2021 to welcome the eight girls who will be the first group to benefit from the facility.
The first CLC House group comprises three girls from Form 4 and 5 from Form 3 (Year 11). Once the Form 4 exams are finished, it is anticipated another four girls will join the group.
The girls were at serious risk of not being able to complete their education if CLC House was not available.
The CLC community continues to raise awareness and funds to support the ongoing Girls Protection Program at CLC HOUSE and the education of students in Embul bul.
Funds raised tonight will go directly towards developing CLC House further.