Establishing a school for a rural Maasai community that embraces the best of the traditional culture while preparing children for an international future.
Target Group
In the first stage children up to the age of 10, stage two will include all children of primary age (to 16 yrs in the Kenyan system) unemployed youth and the many adults who have not attended school in the Olng’arua area.
Objectives
To build education centre, near the Olng’arua Manyatta, that serves the local community and provides a foundation for these children’s future education and life. Currently the nearest school is 2 hours walk away, the large elephant population make this too dangerous for young children. The school will give the children a healthy meal each day and deliver inspiration and learning with a wide range of educational tools. The school curriculum will embrace local culture and the community so that children grow with a healthy and positive attitude to their heritage. The centre will also provide, during evenings and weekends, vocational and further education facilities to young people and adults who have had little or no education.
Methods
The emphasis of the project is to embed excellent modern teaching methods within traditional Maasai education and culture. Rural schools are always at the heart of the community and we will encourage community involvement and use of the school for community activities. Initially the school will comprise 4 classrooms, toilets, a kitchen and a store however expansion will continue to include more classrooms, a dining area and teacher’s accommodation. Construction will be from a combination of traditional and modern materials to provide weatherproof buildings that blend with the environment. The buildings and outside area have been designed to facilitate creative learning, such as wall materials that are reusable work boards, an area of hard flooring outside for large art projects and group or individual work spaces in the outdoor ‘classroom’ area. The school will have a wide range of educational resources including toys, books, stationary, and musical instruments all of which are rare in most Kenyan schools. The daily meal, possibly their only food of the day, will be nutritious, varied and include fruit and milk. Teachers at the school will be Maasai speakers and members of the community will be encouraged to participate in the school; telling traditional stories or teaching the crafts and skills that are customarily part of a child’s education.
What We Need
Volunteer teachers and teaching assistants to help provide a varied education with an international outlook. School equipment. Funding to continue to build and furnish the school. We are also looking for adult education and vocational skills specialists to help deliver courses that develop the skill set of the young adults in the community.