Pending Famine in Ndandini - Scholarship help essential - you can help

January has seen the start of a new school year and should also be seeing the implementation of the solar light rent-to-own program at Kyaithani and Lower Yatta Secondary schools.  Last year there were slightly over 200 students in each of these schools.  So by the end of January there could be over 400 solar lights in use by these students. 

Because of donations from many individuals like you, last year we were able to provide 48 scholarships for the top achievers of these 400+ students.  There are so many more students whose parents also have difficulty providing the money for the school fees.  Life is very hard in the Kyaithani area and average income is less than a dollar a day.  So you can imagine that school fees of $300-400 per year per student is a real hardship - and many families have several children to worry about.

I hope that you can help support our scholarship program this year.  Any amount helps.  You can contribute on our blogspot  www.ndandini-scholarshipfund.blogspot.com .

Kimali, the principal of Kyaithani Secondary, has just reported:

We thank God for the good start of the New Year, 2017.  We have resumed schooling after a long vacation. The KCSE examination results are out and the Kyaithani Cluster schools have done well. The KCPE examination results were released earlier and the performance by the cluster pupils was impressive. We expect to receive better calibre of students in Form One, next week.

Thanks a lot and may God bless you for the good work you have been doing for the good of the Kyaithani Cluster pupils, students and villagers.

However, the villagers and students are facing another tough year.  As Eliud, the vice-principal of Kyaithani secondary reports:

The year does not seem promising for the area is very dry and rains have not been adequate to produce crops.  People here relay on rains for their crops and incomes , so we are likely to face a lot of challanges in terms of school fees payments.

Our partner, Kenya Connect, who will be implementing the solar light rent-to-own program has just advised:

We have had to postpone the issuance of solar lights from next week 10th to January 17th. Unfortunately, Kyaithani Secondary School has had to send almost all their students home to bring back school fees by today.  Eliud said that the students usually take a week plus before they can come back to school with the money.

Providing scholarships for these students is a big help for those students who get them.  Here are a few appreciative comments from the 48 letters that we received from last year's scholarship students when we visited the schools in October 2016:

You have relieved my parents of a heavy burden in paying the school fees of which they could not have managed on their own.  Frida  Form 1 Kyaithani Secondary School

Many students have been suffering a lot due to lack of school fees and you have helped them to get back to school.  Elvis  Form 1 Kyaithani Secondary School

Your sponsorship has enabled me to remain in school all day through and this has improved my learning. Mary  Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School

Since you took the chance to offer me a scholarship I have never been sent home for school fees.  I promise to work extra hard to get best grade.  Monica  Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School

I am really happy because of the change in my school fees payment because I have been attending all classes and not missing one due to lack of school fees.  Joyce  Form 3 Kyaithani Secondary School

My scholarship has helped me very much because since I reported in Kyaithani I have never gone home for school fees.  Aron  Form 2 Kyaithani Secondary School

Sometimes before your scholarship sponsorship I could be sent home for money and I could take some time at home which contributed to my failure at school.  Since your scholarship I have remained in school and have also improved my grades.  Gladys  Form 3  Kyaithani Secondary SchoolPresident of the student body)

You have helped many of us throughout the year by assiting in paying our school fees.  You have also bought us computers which are known to be expensive.  Our parents back at home appreciate this so much for they don't struggle now in paying the school fee.  Jacinta  Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School

Since I joined this school I have seen any students prosper in their lives due to your scholarships. I thank our Almighty God for giving you a heart of giving.  Mary Form 3 Kyaithani Secondary School

Before I had your scholarship I had always been chased for school fees now and then.  I am really grateful for your assistance.  Miriam Form 4 Kyaithani Secondary School

Were it not for your scholarship I would have had a very tough time in school since I would not have been able to pay for all expenses for my school fees.  Cosmos  Form 4  Kyaithani Secondary School

If it were not for you I could have faced hard times in my payment of my school fees.  Videllis  Form 4 Kyaithani Secondary School

If it were not for you I would not have come this far since my parent is a farmer.  She has low income and in our family we are two children and we all need school fees.  Form 3 Kyaithani Secondary School

I have benefited much from your scholarship and if it were not for you, probably I could not have been in school to achieve my dream, which is to be a doctor, as my parents are unable to pay all my school fees.  Shadrack  Form 3 Kyaithani Secondary School

If it were not for you I would not have come this far in school because my guardian is not able to raise my school fees.  Jacklin  Form 3  Kyaithani Secondary School

 Without your sponsorship I would not have come this far as my parents have low economic status.  I have seen many students benefiting from the scholarships and have better lives.  I thank our Almighty Lord for giving you a heart of giving.  James  Form 3 Kyaithani Secondary School

I am the eldest in a family of four children and two parents.  I am aspiring to become a lawyer so tht I can talk and speak for the rights of the weak and disabled.  I thank you for your scholarship because if it were not for your sponsorship I could be at home heopless and definitely without the focus that I now have.  Benson  Form 2 Kyaithani Secondary School

Since my parents are of low economic status I could not make it if it were not for your scholarship donation.  Please feel very appreciated.  Isaac  Form 3 Kyathiani Secondary School

You have assisted me so much.  I had been struggling to get school fees for the past two terms before I received your scholarship.  Because you realized that it is important fo me to get enough education, I promise to try my best and work harder.  Hellen  Form 1  Kyaithani Secondary School

Photos of the 48 scholarship recipients for 2016

We have just returned from visiting all the 7 schools in the Kyaithani Cluster.  We are happy to report that great progress is being made in improving the academic performance in all 5 primary schools and the two secondary schools.

The Scholarship Program is a huge incentive for these students.

All the recipients told us how grateful they are for the help their families have received because of the scholarships.  Because of this help they have been able to attend school consistently.  Many students whose families have difficulty finding the money for the school fees are sent home until they can return with the required school fee payment.

There are now 410 students in the two secondary schools.  All come from very poor families.  Our 48 scholarships are a good start but we could do so much more if we had more donor financial support.

Below are photos of the 48 scholarship recipients at the two schools in 2016.

Thanks for all you do.  Terry & Jan

36 Kyaithani Secondary Scholarship Recipients in 2016

12 Lower Yatta Secondary Scholarship Recipients in 2016

First Scholarship Recipients - what has happened after graduation?

We've been asked "what has happened to the original 9 scholarship recipients given in 2011.  I'm glad to be able to provide this positive followup report from the principal of Kyaithani Secondary School - although you will see that not all graduates have been able to successfully secure financing to pursue their post-graduation dreams:

Jambo Terry. 
We are grateful to all those who conceived/ have been financing the Scholarship program. It has had a lot of benefits to the beneficiaries, especially those from poor family backgrounds. 

Of the original 9 recipients:
- two are pursuing Degrees under the Government sponsored program. 
- one has just joined a Government college to train as a Primary school teacher. 
- one is undergoing a 3-year training to be a Nurse. 
- one is taking Accounts-based training.
- one has gone for a catering course. 
- one is taking Vocational training.

- one has been struggling to raise money to pay for a Degree under the self sponsored program. 
- one prays to get finances to train at the University as a High school teacher. 

God bless the donors. 
Regards. Kimali.

Please continue to support our scholarship fundraising.  In 2016 we were able to provide scholarships to 36 needy and deserving students in Kyaithani Secondary school and 12 in Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School.  We have just returned from visiting these schools in Kenya and can tell you that every one of the 410 students in these two schools are working very hard to get their education and every one of them comes from very poor families.  We could do so much more to help these young people if we had more donations to the scholarship fund.

Thanks for all you are and can do to help us help these students.

Terry 

2016 Scholarships. Now available to girls in Lower Yatta Secondary as well.

Thanks to the financial support that we received from The Rotary Club of Sunshine Coast-Sechelt, the parishioners of St. Hilda's Anglican church, and some private individuals we have been able to continue our scholarship program for 2016.

Even more encouraging, and rewarding for the donors, is that we have been able to increase the number of scholarships from 35 last year to 48.  The great news is that this year, for the first time, we have been able to offer scholarships at the all girl Lower Yatta Secondary school.  12 of the 48 scholarships are for Lower Yatta students.

In the past 4 years we have seen the new Lower Yatta Secondary school grow from no students to the 208 girls that now attend in the four forms.   Between Lower Yatta and Kyaithani Secondary there are now 280 girls and 97 boys enrolled in secondary school.

We'd love to be able to provide more scholarships (we only provide 48 for 377 students) and especially provide more scholarships for girls (we only provide 28 for 280 girls enrolled).

Hopefully we will be able to successfully spread the word about how the scholarship program is both helping the student recipients and also helping increase the overall academic achievement level of both schools.

We'd love to have you join our group of scholarship supporters.

Thanks

Terry

Some Letters from 2015 Scholarship Recipients. Very Touching Reading!

Greetings Donors and Friends

Below are six letters which I have just received from some of the scholarship recipients from this 2015 school year.

You will see that your support which has allowed us to provide 35 scholarships this year is very much appreciated and is making a very real difference in the lives of many students in the Kyaithani area.

Please take a moment to read them all.

Please help us again this year by making a donation (just use the "donate" button on the right side of this website).  It will be the most appreciated Christmas gift that you will give!

We now have over 325 students in the two secondary schools in the cluster of 7 schools that we support.  We'd love to be able to increase the number of scholarships that we provide so that we help more of these very poor kids to complete their secondary school education.

Thanks

Terry

Letter from Benson (Form 1)

Letter from Faith (Form 1)

Letter from Stephen (Form 1)

Letter from Purity (Form 1)

Letter from James (Form 2)

Letter from Frida (Form 3)

Photos of the 2015 Kyaithani Secondary School scholarship students

Here are some group photos of the top 10 students in each form at Kyaithani Secondary.  In January there will be 4 forms in each of Kyaithani Secondary School and Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School.  That will be almost 400 students.  Hopefully our donations to the scholarship fund will increase so that we can provide more than the 35 scholarships that we were able to provide this past year.  Every one of these students come from extremely poor homes where huge sacrificies are made by their parents to meet the school fees.  Thanks for all your help.
Terry

Form 1 Kyaithani Secondary School

Form 2 Kyaithani Secondary School

Form 3 Kyaithani Secondary School

Donors increase 2015 scholarships to 35. Great emails from Kyaithani Secondary

Because of the generosity of our donors, we have been able to increase the number of scholarships for Kyaithani Secondary School students this year (2015) to 35 from 29 last year.

Thank you, our donors, for your ongoing generosity and interest in these students from a desperately poor and famine prone area of eastern Kenya.

Below are two emails just received today (17June) from the Principal of the school and from the President of the students.  They so clearly state how much the scholarships mean to the students and how much benefit they are providing.

We encourage everyone to keep supporting this scholarship program and help spread the word to others who might be interested in also helping.  Terry & Jan

Email from the Principal, Kyaithani Secondary School

Jambo Terry.

The scholarship program is one of the major ways in which the donors have influenced the lives of students in Kyaithani High School. In addition to helping the bright needy students acquire education, the initiative has inculcated a spirit of healthy competition among the learners leading to improved academic performance and as well built a name for the school in the locality.

As we appreciate the economic fact that resources are scarce and the tedious task of mobilizing funds from donors, we pray that God works out a way to get more donor funding to even expand the program.

Regards. Kimali

Email from the Student President, Kyaithani Secondary School

Hello our kind and loving donors. I am Carol, President of the student body of Kyaithani Secondary School, writing on behalf of my fellow scholarship recipients.

Our appreciation and gratitude to you is beyond what we can explain. Most of us had almost lost access to education.

We met today and when we discussed your goodness to us we asked our teachers for your contact addresses just to extend our gratitude to you. Feel loved and appreciated by us for your kindness to us. Those of us who are in the fourth level (grade 12) promise to work hard to earn ourselves good certificates. Our dear principal and teachers have offered to us both moral and academic guidance and through them we have enjoyed peace and kept disciplined.

The bad news about the fire that burnt two boys sleeping houses at our school in May caught us at a surprise but taught us a lesson that we could be having some enemies either from within us or from around who either don't love us or envy us. We have learnt today from our teachers that our donors are working some good plans to replace the lost items and we thank you in advance.

Our trip to Nairobi that you sponsored us several years ago is very fresh in our minds and we keep on talking about it to our juniors who had not joined the school by then. There is constant supply of water from the borehole and we enjoy and make use of the installed lighting system. We have had a chance to email students in Chatelech Secondary School today and we hope this will continue.

We look foward to your next visit in our school

Bye