Will you HELP TO SEND 135 STUDENTS TO NAIROBI for a one day field trip?

We are going to send some, and preferably all, of the 135 students and 12 teaching staff from Kyaithani Secondary School on a one day educational field trip to Nairobi.  To send the whole school will require 3 large buses.  The students would leave the school in Kyaithani before 6am for the 4+ hour drive to Nairobi and not return until after 9pm, so its a very long day.  To rent the 3 buses and provide the students with food and water during the day will cost $3600.

We have arrangements for September 20, (2012) as the day for this to happen.

Most of the students have never been far from Kyaithani and never to Nairobi!  They have never seen any of the animals that we all love to see on safari in Kenya.  We are planning for them to attend the one hour viewing of the baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.  Then spend some time with the Rothschild Giraffes at the Giraffe Center.  And finish up with some time seeing the interesting displays at the Museum in Nairobi.

The principal of Kyaithani Secondary School is very excited at the prospect and thinks it will make a major difference in the lives and understanding of the students.

If you would like to help us make this happen with a donation, please click on the DONATE HERE button at the right.  Canadians will receive an immediate tax receipt for your donation.

We need your donation before September 7th to be able to finalize all arrangements.

Thanks for your interest in the students of Kyaithani and the future of the community.

Terry & Jan

New Student Letters show benefits of Water

Here are two letters recently received from students at Kyaithani Secondary School (using the internet-enabled PC and camera donated last year).  Your donations are making a REAL DIFFERENCE in the lives of the students and villagers in the Ndandini and Kyaithani area!

Dear Terry and Donors, 25/6/2012

Let me take the golden chance to salute you, I would like to register my appreciation on behave of our community for the water that have brought very close to us, actually it has assisted us very much.

 

For one it has been used for domestic purposes like for example we used to make ten kilometres bringing livestock to the only available river which is called river Tiva. Last year a number of cattle died because they were not able to walk for long distances in search of water. Again water supply has led to time management , since i used to walk for far distances going to fetch water after school, now am utilising my time while, I normally walks half kilometre where i cannot take more 30 minutes.

 

Secondly it has created job opportunities, like for example the driver for tractor has got job since he was being trained on and he had lacked a job and due to your provision of tractor he has got job and he is happy on that, he will educate his children and also to cater for his family needs.

 

Since the water is very near, they have capture up their mind to use water for making bricks to earn some money which will cater for their satisfaction. And due to this they will be tired and they will not get time to engage in drug abuse.

 

Finally request from our community members if possible the water should be piped to the six schools so that everybody to feel comfortable. Thank you

Compiled by

EMMACULATE KASYOKA (a form 4 student)

 

TO: Donors

Hope you are fine. I write to thank you for the water provision project to our community with the inclusion of the tractor donated to us. We are grateful for your kindness and humanity as per benefits and output of your concern. The water project has helped in and benefited us in the following ways:-

1.       Improvement of hygiene as the water provided is very clean and safe for consumption and domestic use.

2.       Creation of employment in reflection to the driver of the tractor, care takers of water tanks, watchman and others.

3.       Supply of water to the school; so children don’t carry water to school every day from their home which is tiresome.

4.       Simplified fighting deforestation due to the availability of water to be use in planting trees.

5.       Reduced wastage of time when going and coming from the river.

6.       Some people use the water to plant vegetables and fruits like pawpaw and passions

7.       The water is making us turn our school into a ‘green school’ because we are watering our small trees. This will make them to survive during this long dry hot season.

Actually you have acted as role model to our society and we promise to utilise the water in the best way. May God bless you.

From: John Mbithi Form 4 student

Here are a couple of photos they also sent.  (There are more on our project website at www.ndandini.blogspot.com )

Scholarships to be given for 2012 year

A BIG THANKS to all our donors! 

Because of your great support of the Kyaithani Secondary School scholarship fund this past year, we will be able to continue to provide the $300 scholarships to each of the 9 scholarship students who received them last year.

As well, this year we will be providing additional scholarships to the 7 new students who have excelled this past year and have joined the ranks of those previous 9 scholars who have achieved being in the "top 3" in their school year.  Each of these new scholarships will be for $150.

Students receiving scholarships this year are:
Form 4:  David (new), John, Anna (new), Kelvin, and Felistus N.
Form 3:  Felistus K (new), Faith, Syombua, and Maureen.
Form 2:  Shadrack, Joyce (new), Sophia, and Joseph.
Form 1:  Mary (new), Titus (new), and Frida (new).

Thanks again.  Please keep the scholarship fund in your giving plans for 2012.  Every one of the students are deeply appreciative of your generosity - as are we.

Terry

Letter from Alex - a teacher at Kyaithani Secondary School

Here is a recent letter we have received.  It is very interesting and shows how much the students are anticipating the arrival of potable water at their school and how they are thinking about how they can help get more food grown in their village.

Alex also mentions the teachers' desire to take some of the students into Nairobi on a field trip to expose them to the city and to see some of the very informative and potentially life-changing attractions such as the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Bomas of Kenya.  We think that would be great.  Perhaps this is another thing that our donors could support?  Let me know your thoughts ( terryumbach@hotmail.com ).

Terry

"Its amazing and wonderfull to learn about life in canada. I wonder how you survive in such an hostile climate?Then you must find kenya too hot! such climatical conditions are part of what we teach our students and to them and even us it sounds mystery.

Its now 13.05 pm and our students are out for lunch. part of whom have found themselves in the photos in the computer have not believed it.Very soon you will be receiving emails from our students who are eargerly learning the computer.

The tanks have been installed in the school and from the water we are expecting to get, the students have suggested that we plant vegetables to supplement their diet.

The beneficieries of the scolarships are doing quite well in their academics and as teachers we have high expectations on their performance.

we have plans to take our students for a trip in Nairobi to expose them to some places like museum, animal orphanage, bomas of kenya and other place we feel relevant. our prayers is that our parents will be able to finance the trip.

We are lucky to have a very supportive and loving principal who ever since has offered guidance to both the students and teachers. We are in the process of registering our first candidates for the National examination. Hows the education system structured in Canada?this will be their final exam afterwhich those who qualify will be selected to join universties late next year.

The research I did recently using the computer was based on the school based chalenges that affect performance in the primary school sector in my district. I will send it to you and you get to know the hindrances to good performance among the pupils in our place.

I guess its at night in canada when we are enjoying sunshine here and therefore I wish you a well continued sleep. Thanks and God bless you"

Alex Musembi, Kyaithani Secondary School teacher

Letters from the Nine Scholarship students 17Jan12

This past September we provided an internet-enabled PC to the Kyaithani Secondary School and set up email accounts for the administration, teachers and students.  We are in regular correspondence now with the administration and teachers.

Here are the first letters of 2012 from the students.  Unfortunately, just as for the past 14 years or so, the much needed and anticipated rains have again failed and the area will be short of food and families will have little income - finding it hard to pay the school fees for their children to go to school.

You will read of this and other things of interest in the letters.

All students and teachers - all of us - appreciate your support of the scholarship fund.
Terry
                                                                                                                                                           

17/01/2012

Dear our loving donors through Terry,

I will be glad if you receive this letter and wish to get the information about our December holiday. I also thank you for the contribution to my education.

As we had broken for the holiday, we had conducted for a tuition for the former form threes and twos. The environment was harsh for us. We sowed some of the foodstuffs and due to low rainfall, we couldn’t harvest anything from our shambas. This has caused many of us to lack food and also some pasture for our cattle.

Life at school is not so hard. I am still working hard to achieve the best goal if possible. Last term I was position 3 in a class of 34. I’m still putting more efforts in my academic and also in curricular activities. My promise is that, I’m continuing to work hard to achieve the best grade.

What I have to tell you lastly, is just to say thanks and congratulations to you and donors. I appreciate you too much. May God bless!

Thanks in advance

Yours sincerely

Sophia (Form 2)

Our dear donors through Terry,

Much   greetings from I Shadrack. Hope that you are fine and you’ve got a happy new year. I am fine on my side and going on well with my education. Last term I studied very hard and attained position 1 out of 34 students.

We had gone for a December vacation which took a month before the opening date of the school. During the vacation, we had no holiday tuition except our former form threes and form twos. However, I used to spare sometime at home especially during my leisure time to read and for my academic purpose.

Since this is a new year and am in a new class, I have planned to work extra hard in learning activities to ensure that at the end of it all, I will have to achieve my target.

Last year, I performed well in my academics. However, this did not impress me a lot since I did not achieve what I wanted. I will work harder till I achieve my goal.

Lastly, I am looking forward for your reply.

Yours sincerely

Shadrack.    (Form two)

Dear donors through Terry and Janet

I hope that you are fine. The other side I am also fine. First I thank my God for a new life He has given me. I again thank you very much for the care you have taken for me. I also congratulate your donors for hard work they have done. I am very happy because of that.

I am very happy for the money that you have sent for me last year. It was used in a right way. Some was used as a school fee and the rest was used to buy the uniform. Last year I studied very well and now I am in form two. I would like to tell you I am in academic and in sports. Last term I managed to attain position 10 out of 34 in my academics.

I wake up at five o’clock whereby I prepare myself and walk to the school. Then I settle down and start reading. I read for about one hour. Then at twenty minutes past six I get out and start cleaning the school compound.

We go for   games in every Thursday, Friday, Saturdays and Mondays. Then on Tuesdays we go for guidance and counselling. On Wednesday we go for Christian union. When I go home I help my parents doing some duties. Lastly may God bless you all.

Yours sincerely

Joseph   (Form two)

DEAR OUR BELOVED DONORS THROUGH TERRY

Let me take this golden chance to salute you, how have you been since the last time we communicated through the mail? It is my hope that you have been progressing well. To me, I have been doing very well in school and as well as at home.

For one, I would like to thank you for your sponsorship you have been offering to me since last year second term.  For sure, it has really helped me very much even my parents. Secondly,  the electricity, system that you have offered to us. It is helping many students in the school.

I read very hard in my studies and I managed to attain position 2 out of 37 students. I promise to continue putting more efforts.

After we closed the school on November, we had a holiday from which we benefited very much. At home we performed some duties such as, farming and grazing. We grew crops such as beans and maize. Unfortunately, the rainfall was inadequate and the crops dried up. For now we are experiencing very hard time.

Lastly, I would like to wish you a very nice and joyous new year full of God’s blessings. Thank you very much.

Have a nice time.

 Yours faithfully,

Faith

TO OUR DONORS THROUGH TERRY

I thank you for providing support to my education. We had broken for our December vacation on 22^nd November 2011. After one week we came for our holiday tuition which took two weeks. After our tuition we went back home to help our parents.

At home we used to help our parents on weeding in order to get high yields to cater for our health. We worked hard in shamba although rains did not rain enough so we lack food at home. Last term we did exams and I managed to get position 5 out of 37 students.

We opened schools on 4^th January 2012.  I am working hard to achieve my grade so that I may shape my future. I usually come to school at 4.00am to learn because you have provided us with lights.

I appreciate for your support and request you to continue supporting me and other needy students in our school. May God bless you and your families.

Yours faithfully,
Maureen   (Form 3)

DEAR OUR LOVING DONORS THROUGH TERRY,

I would wish to thank you for your support together with the other donors so that you may provide for my education and my good stay in school.

We broke for our December vacation on 2^nd November 2011. After a week at home, we attended our holiday tuition took two weeks. After the two weeks were over, we went back home.

At home, I assisted my parents in weeding. We weeded hard so that we can get a large  yields but the rains were inadequate. By this, I mean that, in the shambas there were no yields. So there is scarce of food in our village.

The school opened on 4^th January 2012. The school operations started going on as usual. By this, I mean that, I am still working Hard to achieve my goal so that I may build up my future life. Last year I performed well in my Exams and I was position 3 out of 37 but this was not my goal. This year I have targeted my goal of which I am working hard to achieve it. I usually go to school as early as 4.00a.m in order to make use of the provision of the solar power.

I appreciate for your support and I wish you also support our loving students who are needy. I am eager to receive your reply. Thanks

Yours sincerely,

Syombua   (Form three)

DEAR BELOVED DONORS THROUGH TERRY

Let me salute you most warmful regards. Since last time we communicated, I would like to thank you for the sponsorship that you are still offering to us.

I revised very well last term and after doing exams, I attained position 5 out of 26 students.

We had December holiday tuition, from which we benefited as we pushed on with the syllabus. We had a nice Christmas and a prosperous happy new year. We also helped our parents cultivating and doing other manuals like fe3tching water and firewood.

Otherwise we are doing our best in academics and co-carricular activities as we have now begun athletics and clubs are now thriving on  well. Just hope for God’s favours to us.

May God bless you in all your endeavours.

Yours faithfully

Felistus (Form 4)

Dear Donors

I hope you are fine. Am also fine. Am glad and happy for your concern and donation towards me and our school. The gifts you gave to us last year have marked a great revolution in our school and our society. We all thank you for that. I know you eager to know of my life since I wrote to you last year. Over the December vacation I was busy cultivating crops (beans, peas and maize) on our home farms. However the rains came irregularly leading to poor harvests. We also celebrated the holidays that is Christmas and happy New Year.

Last term I worked hard in my studies and I attained position 2 out of 26 students.

After opening the school on 4^th January 2012 we did an opening exam, which is under marking now. It is  in this year that I am registering for K.C.S.E(Kenya Certificate  Of Secondary Education) final exams in secondary school education level since it is the last year I would like to work hard so as to achieve my goals.

It is only through you, our school administration and our God that am still going on with education. Since now I am in school I will continue to write to you frequently. May God bless you and your Nation, so as to also extend your mercies to other needy people.

Yours faithfully,

John (Form 4) 

Dear Donors through Terry

I am very grateful for the support that you have offered so far. I am appreciating your support to me and also the school in large. The solar power which you installed in our school is really making me to achieve my goal of being an accountant. I was position 4 out of 26 last term and I am exploiting myself fully in terms of discipline so as to perform well in my final Exam. I normally arrive at school at 5.00am so that I can settle early in class before the normal classes and duties.

Actually, our administration staff is also putting more effort so as to make us attain our goals. Our school is really developing because even we are receiving other students from the other schools which mean that the school is developing.

Because soon and very soon there will be no scarcity of water due to the tanks which you installed in our school, the school will start shining because even our young trees won’t dry up due to scarcity of water. when I am at home, especially when the  schools are closed up I normally assists my parents and I have about one an hour for private study and then I takes some minutes for leisure before proceeding to the next activity which might be in church so that  I can grow both academically, physically and spiritually.

Lastly, is that due to the good things which I have named there above which you have done together with the administration staff I together wish my fellow student we will be able to achieve our goals

Thank you

Yours faithfully

Kelvin

WE VISIT KYAITHANI SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS (SEPT30/2011)

During our recent visit to Ndandini and Kyaithani we had the opportunity to talk with each of the 9 students who received a $300 scholarship this past year.

They are all studying very hard for their final exams for this year.  Many of them are coming to school by 4:30am each day to study using the newly installed solar lights at the Kyaithani Secondary School.

There are now 112 students in 3 forms.  As Kimali, the principal of the school, told us "every one of the students comes from a home which is desperately poor and is making huge sacrifices to send their child to school".

There are many more students that could be helped if we could raise more donor funds to supply these $300/year scholarships.

While we were there we also were privileged to be able to deliver an internet-enabled PC, a 32" LCD TV, dvd player, the full National Geographic magazine library (on a hard drive), many educational DVDs and a camera - all made possible by your donations.

The students recited a poem to us for you:

"Donors.  We asked for water and you gave us water.
Donors.  We asked for light and you gave us light.
Donors.  We asked for education and you gave us education (the scholarships).
We thank you.
May God bless you,
and bring you long life."

Terry

THANKS FOR THE SOLAR LIGHTING

Here is an email we just received from the principal of the Kyaithani Secondary School where we recently completed the installation of a solar system to light two of their three classrooms.

Terry

Jambo Terry

It gives me a lot of pleasure to see the students making use of the solar light to improve their academic performance. The young girls and boys get to school as early as 4:30 am to do morning preps. This greatly compensates for the unfavourable conditions at most of the family backgrounds. 

Please thank all the donors.

Keep up the good work. 

Regards  Kimali