Mathare School Project

A School Project initiative is about to make a dream come true in the Mathare slums of Nairobi, Kenya.

Have a good look at the picture on the right. A child wrote on the back of this picture:

The school looked like this
before you came up to assist us.

The location of the school is the Mathare slum area, seven miles from the city center. The school caters to children who are orphans and street children from the slum area. The children receive a basic education, they are served a school lunch, and medical care is available for the 400 children who attend.

A grant was awarded by the Missionaries of Africa, to Mr. Simon M. Suvyu, the Headmaster of the school, and the money was put to good use:

• Nine classrooms were built.
• An office for the principal, ... a kitchen, ... and latrines were part of the construction plans.
• Desks, chairs, and tables were also provided.

But, the uniqueness of this school project is that there is a much greater incentive to work hard in school and to succeed, because if the pupils successfully complete their primary course, ...

1. They can start a Vocational Training Program (trade school)
2. For the boys, there is training in carpentry, construction, the Blacksmith trade, etc.
3. For the girls, there are sewing, weaving, and dressmaking classes.
4. Other trades may be added in the future.

The "trade school" will be income-generating for the school, and when the students have completed the training and are ready to return to their home village, they will recessive a set of tools, appropriate equipment, and materials to be able to work for themselves and their families.