Vutakaka School

Looking forward

2011-12-27T03:58:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is a little different here. It has been 95 degrees all week, and Christmas was the hottest day so far! But we still enjoy holiday tunes, presents, and great food (we roasted a goat). And just like at home, the holidays are a great time to take a look at what we have done in the past year and what we hope to do in the future.

At Vutakaka, December always has a different feel – school closed on November 22nd and the clinic closed on December 16th so the staff can go home from Christmas (don’t worry, there is still care available in Takaungu over the holidays!)
That might sound relaxing, but we have to get ready for 2012! School opens on January 4th, so we have a lot of textbooks and school supplies to get delivered on time. A classroom is going up for our new Class 8, our first graduating class! We also have our plans in place to build 6 new toilets thanks to the Rotary Club of Darien – we should break ground on this right away in January!

Despite all the construction and supply purchasing, I have still had time to reflect on the great year we had in 2011. We had our first Class 7 students, which scored very well on their common exams. We are so excited for them to go onto Class 8, the last primary school class. Our teachers worked so hard this year, putting in a lot of extra tutoring time with kids that needed a little more time. The students got to do some great extra curriculars this year too: a big sports day was held at a local primary school, they went to Tsavo National Park on their field trip in February, and every Friday they played soccer with the local international school. It was another great year at school, and we look forward to having our full school (KG1 through Class 8) next year. We can’t wait to see how our students do on their Primary School exit exams at the end of next year! Our school farm is also up and running, thanks to a lot of support from American International Women’s Club of Genoa, the Rotary Club of Kilifi, and Emily Capello and the family of Carol Boland. It is so great to see the students and gardeners producing food for their lunches. It is definitely another step towards sustainability at Vutakaka.

The health department has had a busy year too! In June, we helped the government launch a 50 person volunteer Community Health team. The team collects data on every household in the villages and then tries to educate the families on better health practices. They can refer clients to the nurse, organize for emergency trips to the hospital, encourage HIV testing, and help pregnant women get proper pre- and post-natal care. In 2012, the focus areas for the health team will be pit latrine construction and malaria prevention.We are so excited about the CHW team and happy to be in partnership with the Ministry of Health!

We also looked at a new clinic this year, with the idea of opening new health services in the Mavueni area. This new clinic was built by a government program, but the Ministry of Health does not have the money to outfit it. The EAC would be able to finish it and hand it over to the government, who would then take up our staff and medicine costs. It also opens the possibility of a new Community Health team in that area, and the spread of our school health classes to more primary and secondary schools.

These transitions are the key to the EAC’s vision. We are working diligently to create a new kind of development – programming led by local needs, and built with local resources. In 2012, we look forward to reducing our programming expenses in health, and discussing strategies with the parents to find independent income for Vutakaka Junior School. Each year, we help more people with less money! So, thank you for being part of the EAC community – your help goes a long way towards sustainable change. Happy New Year from all the EAC staff in Kenya!

Kenya HQ reporting!

2011-10-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! My name is Kate Crowley and I am the Kenya Program Director for the East African Center. I’m excited to be blogging from KenyaHQ to make sure you get news about Vutakaka Junior and Nursery School as it happens. I'll also be blogging at our Vutakaka Health Clinic blog (http://eachealth.blogspot.com/) We hope you will take time to read our updates regularly and will be as excited as we are about what is happening at school.

Jen Hill, our US Program Director, has been out here working with us since the beginning of October, and we have been spending a lot of time talking about our programs, how to improve them, and how to move forward. Mostly we are just gushing to each other about how wonderful everything looks at the school!

The student’s exam scores for the Term 3 mid-term are trickling in from the teachers, and I am really excited by how they look so far. Our oldest students will be entering Class 8 (the last primary school class) next year, so we are very focused on our student’s performance and on how to improve it. At the end of Class 8, all Kenyan students take the Kenyan Primary School Exit Exam (KCPE). The score they receive on this exam determines which public high schools they are admitted to.

Kenyan high schools are broken down into 3 categories: National, Provincial, and District. The National schools are the best, and we hope many of our Class 7 students will be admitted to National schools following their KCPE exam next November. Be assured you will see a blog soon about how you can help support our students in high school (the government has promised for many years to reduce costs, but public high school still remains out of reach for many students).

Jen has also been getting lots of great pictures of all the extra activities we provide for our students. After school clubs are active and exciting. The student’s can chose from an HIV/AIDS awareness club, the gardening club, the drama club, the debate club, and many others. Jen also brought the wonderful Alessandra Delacruz with her to Kenya, and Alex is holding art classes with the students every day. If you want to see some of these great projects, connect with a student through our website (www.eastafricancenter.org) and we’ll send you a picture of a student and one of the great new art projects. We will follow that up with 3 personal projects from them each year.

Our farm is also up and running! Through donations from American International Women’s Group of Genoa, the Rotary Club of Kilifi, and in memory of Carol Boland, we were able to dig the well, buy a pump and a tank, build a stand for the tank, and set up our taps to service the farm. Our team is working hard to harvest greens, tomatoes, onions, carrots, eggplants, and green peppers for our students lunch every day, in addition to growing maize and beans during the traditional rainy season from April to June. It is a beautiful farm and something that I personally feel very passionate about. It is so amazing to see it working, providing food, and saving money each day!

This week is the mid-term break for our students, which means we will hold a parents day to give out the student’s midterm reports and give parents news about the school. Jen and I are going to take this opportunity to share with the parents all about how we fundraise for the school, and how we spend the money. Since the beginning, we have always believed in complete transparency for our organization: to our donors, AND to the community we serve. We want them to give their input into our school expenses, and to know exactly how much work goes into raising money, but we also want them to know how passionate we are about keeping these amazing programs going. We hope to further involve the parents next year in our budgeting and our local fundraising.

That is all for now from KenyaHQ. Remember that if you connect with a student you get updates throughout the year from our students, teachers, and staff AND you get the chance to support this wonderful education opportunity for students in Takaungu, Kenya. Kwaherini na asanteni sana!

2010 Successes and Partners

2010-12-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Student Spotlight : George Katana

2010-12-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

George is 14 years old and one of the best performing students in Class 4. George started his education at the public schools in Takaungu. When transfering to the Vutakaka Junior School, he had to return to KG3 because of the poor education he had been receiving at public school. Despite being older than other students in his class, George worked tirelessly and was almost always the number one student in his grade.

Three years after attending Vutakaka Junior School, George performed so well, he skipped Class 3 and moved directly into Class 4. Despite being a year behind, he has worked hard and is now performing at the top of his new class! A star student, George is also part of the Stay Alive HIV/AIDS education group, and the school bell-ringer.

George is the son of our ground's keep and his mother attends graduated from our adult education course where she learned to read and write. The EAC is brought to offer comprehensive services that, in many cases, benefit numerous members of families in a variety of ways!

Kindergarten Graduation

2010-11-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

The KG3 students graduated to primary school during school closing on Wednesday the 24th of November. Congratulations!

From 6th graders Muttaquina Salim

2010-10-17T18:40:00.001-07:00

My School

Our school is called Vutakaka Junior School. It is located in a village known as Takaungu. Our school has a spic and span environment. Pupils are always smartly and colorfully dressed. The routes which pupils pass through have beautiful flowers planted and these make the school look smart. The teachers are always kind and fair. The head teacher, Madam Catherine, is a very hardworking teacher. She always talks to us during assemblies and encourages us to work hard and be famous people like our president.

We always go to school earlier than usual. We get in classes and read before the teacher arrives. When the teacher comes, he sees the class arranged and pupils reading seriously. We then go out for collection. We collect all the garbage until the land is left bare with not even a paper of a sweet left.

After collection, we usually go to class and the teacher calls the register. We learn a lot and share ideas. We learn about the world and our country Kenya. English is the subject which the majority of the pupils like. They speak well, like Queen Elizabeth. Our teachers tell us to study hard and use the old adage “look before you leap.”

The memory of our class teacher will linger longest in my mind. She has a steadfast love for us all in school. She is for sure a great teacher. She always tells us the reality that the only parameter of success is hard work and dedication. When she hears that we are the best in the zone she erupts into joy and jubilation like hot magma. She breaks into songs and dance and she gives us a golden trophy.

When she enters our class, she always says “Disciplined pupils should not surrender to despair. The undisciplined pupils are passing clouds that will fade from the sky. Each pupil should not allow them to break their hearts. They can kill the disciplined pupils physically, but you should remain strong in soul, mind, and character and serve your fellow pupils faithfully.”

Early in the morning she usually speaks to us seriously. She teachers us two subjects: English and Social Studies. We always pass the two subjects and find we are the best in the zone. We always smile appreciatively exposing a set of pearl white teeth, thinking “for sure I have never before learned in such a blooming, great school.”

After the end of year exams we always have a trip to enjoy. We go for pleasure and for further exploring Our school is visited by foreigners often. We have many other clubs like games, quiz, debate, and agriculture. I really like my school like the way I like my parents.

- Muttaquina Salim

Students get outfitted for success!

2010-09-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Class 3 and 4 students received the second set of uniforms brought over from the US. Thanks again Rotary Club of San Mateo, CA!

Obviously, the students are pretty excited. We won our first game against much older children in these uniforms!

From 6th grader Ibrahim Ramadan

2010-08-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

"My school is called Vutakaka Junior School. It got it’s name from the names of the villages around it. The villages are Vuma, Takaungu, Kanyumbuni, and Kayanda. The name came from the first two letters of each name. Vu came from Vuma, Ta came from Takaungu, Ka came from Kanyumbuni, and Ka from Kayanda.

Vutakaka School is located at Coast Province in Kenya. Now, it has six classes and one is uncomplete. There are around two hundred pupils and seven teachers. Pupils sit at wooden desks and the classes are made of bricks and iron sheets. It also has a kitchen which is made of mud and two cooks work there.

Each class has several subjects. Classes one to three have similar subjects and four, five, and six have their own. The lower classes, that is one to three, have Maths, English, Science, Social Studies, and Religious Education. Class four to six have Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Religious Education, and Computer class, that is XO. Teachers, pupils, cooks, and other workers have a good time at Vutakaka. We pupils ourselves are very happy with what the teachers are doing. They are very hardworking as we are. All of them work hand in hand among themselves and to the pupils. Our teachers and pupils are kind, polite, and loving to one another.

The school routine is well observed. Pupils relax after every two lessons. The school has a playground for soccer, a pitch for basketball and volleyball. There are good players at the school and I am one of them. The groundskeepers have done a lot. They have planted all kinds of flowers around the school, big trees which give shade, and some vegetables. We pupils always enjoy excitedly as we eat the honey sweet watermelons.

There are three terms in one year. The pupils usually do some test at the middle of every term and at the end of the term. The whole zone is doing the same exams as each to her. After finishing, the teachers combine their marks and give them to the head teacher. The head teacher takes the marks to the zone office. The results are packed together and the winners are announced. My school is always being announced as a winner. The best pupils also come from our school.

Usually, after normal classes, we have some activities to do. On Monday we go for games, Tuesday we have the XO club, Wednesday we have clubs, Thursday we have quiz, and Friday we have debate. These activities help us to improve in class and in our normal speaking. The debate is my best activity together with games. We sometimes have a debate, quiz, or soccer competition. We mostly win.

After the end of the year, we always have a trip to any part of the country. That is when the Vutakaka School is excited. Buses come to collect us to the place we have planned to visit. The educational trips help us a lot especially in Social Studies. We are able to see historical sites live and the beautiful features. We really enjoy those trips. I love my school because it is helping the Vutakaka community at large."

-Ibrahim Ramadan

Vutakaka Students get Soccer Uniforms!

2010-08-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Vutakaka Junior School (VJS) students are enjoying their first sets of soccer uniforms! US board member, Libby Gluck, worked to get the uniforms donated by the American Youth Soceer Organization (AYSO) in Foster City, California. From the students at San Mateo High School who collected the uniforms to the Foster City Rotary club that supported them and to all those who helped in shipping and carrying the uniforms from one coast to the other and then from the US to Kenya (including Kathy Spergl who is currently interning in Kenya and Carrie Petler who will be there next month), many were involved in providing VSJ students with uniforms to play their daily soccer matches in.

Studies show that children's participation in extracurriculars has a positive impact on their education, confidence and social life. Sports and skills building clubs build "values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility, physical strength and endurance, competition, diversity, and a sense of culture and community". Again, this is the first time VJS students have had a change of clothes to play in and we are sure this will only strengthen the positive role sports will play in their lives!

Thank you to all those involved in making this impact!

Grant for Water Well Awarded

2010-06-02T15:28:00.001-07:00

Earlier this month, the American International Women's Club of Genoa (AIWC) raised $1,200 to fund the building of a water well.

As part of a larger project to create a sustainable farm that will provide food for the school's lunch program, the well addresses one of the most important parts of this preparation. That is, assuring a constant supply of water.

The school has tap water for day to day use, but using tap water for farming would raise monthly water costs to extremely high rates, especially during the dry season. This well which will be built on the school's property means that the school is assured a constant, free supply of water for the farm.

We are currently approaching the AIWC, and other funders, to complete this project as part of our mission to build long-term, sustainable programs with projects that can be managed by the community and continue without a large amount of outside funding.

If you are interested in contributing to this project, please contact Jen Hill (jhill@eastafricancenter.org or 347.330.2670)

Thank you to Margaret Canepa and the AIWC of Genoa!

Stay Alive Competition

2010-03-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

The 2nd Annual Stay Alive Day was held Friday March 19th at Vutakaka Clinic and Nursery School site. Students from Takaungu Primary, Vuma Primary, Mkwajuni Primary, Vutakaka Junior School and Kazinuni Primary came to compete for the Stay Alive trophy.

Starting in 2008, the EAC’s health education program began to focus heavily on HIV/AIDS awareness and education. We use the PEPFAR “Stay Alive” curriculum, an abstinence program for children aged 9-14 years. We are now running this program in 5 different local schools, holding one session at each school each week. There are currently more than 500 local students attending the program.

At the EAC, we recognize how important it is to organize and host events such as these. Not only do they provide an opportunity for students from several local schools to come together, have fun, and share what they have learned, but we are also strengthening our connections and support of the public school system.

Last year, students from Takaungu Primary School took home the top prize, and held the trophy for the year. This year we were joined by Kazinuni Primary school, where the EAC health education cirriculum was introduced in January by Mary Canada, a Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Kazinuni.

The day began with music provided by Big Bounce Sound as all the children and their teachers began arriving. The students had been told to prepare one poem, skit, and drama each. Because they had only started health education in January, Kazinuni only had time to prepare a skit, and would not be in the running for the top prize. The judge for the day was Vutakaka Junior School teacher Omar Kazungu. He promised to be fair and unbiased.

The first performances were the poems. Vutakaka Junior School and Mkwajuni Primary gave fantasic performances, followed by solo poems from Vuma and Takaungu students. Next came the songs. These ranged from a rap song performed by Vutakaka Junior School to traditional dancing by Mkwajuni and Vuma.

The last segement was the skits. Vutakaka started with a hilarious skit the students had previously performed for a big crowd at World AIDS Day in Chonyi. Kazinuni was second, and performed a very informative skit, with wonderful performances by the younger actors. Mohamed Said, the EAC health education instructor, was very impressed with the amount of information Kazinuni students had learned in such a short time. The skits from Takaungu, Vuma, and Mkwajuni were equally well prepared.

After more music from the DJ, Omar was ready to announce the results. Best poem went to Mkwajuni school, best song and skit went to Vutakaka Junior School, and best overall performer went to Phillip from Kazinuni which resulted in huge cheers for the newcomers.

The winning school for the day was Vutakaka Junior School - the Vutakaka students and their health education teacher, Saade Abdallah were pleased when they heard the announcement! The students all began the trips home to their respective schools.

We at the East African Center are proud of the students' accomplishment and look forward to hosted next year's competition!

-Kate Crowley
Kenya Program Director

Takaungu community raises $3,000 for classroom at village Harambe*!

2010-02-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

*HARAMBE: Swahili term that means "working together in unity" or "let's pull together". The harambe concept is used throughout Africa to initiate projects that require people to work together and pool their resources. The event is also a party, uniting the community in working toward the chosen cause.

Takaungu, Kenya - February 19, 2010- The Takaungu community held its largest Harambe ever for Vutakaka community center. The Harambe was thrown by the school parents' committee to raise funds for a new classroom.

Each year a new classroom is needed to accommodate our growing student body. In the past, classrooms have been built with funds from the West Seattle Rotary, the Pangea Foundation and individual donors. This year, the parents and teachers wanted to contribute to demonstrate the community's appreciation of the efforts made by groups and individuals just like you!

Invitations were sent to community and local government officials, including the village's Chief and Sub-Chief as well as current and former Ministers of Parliament (MPs). In true Kenyan fashion, live music and dancing students welcomed the Harambe's guests, including several local politicians and celebrities Geoffrey Murhambi, Fahim Twaha, and Joseph Khamis.

Students performed for the group while Master of Ceremonies, George Samuel, introduced each of the speakers. William Charo, head of the parent's committee spoke about the needs of Vutakaka School. Kate Crowley, EAC Kenya Program Director, addressed the work being done in the United States to support the community. Community leader, Fahim Twaha, spoke about the ways in which community members could support the work of Vutakaka despite limited financial means.

A basket was passed and the support was overwhelming. Following the general collection there was a live auction where people bid on ducks, pieces of thatched roofing and items made by the sewing cooperative. Parents then took turns taking the stage and expressing their appreciation and dedication to the work being done at Vutakaka School and Community Center.

The day ended with dancing and celebration over the announcement that over 220,000 Kenyan shillings had been raised (the equivalent of nearly 3,000 US dollars!) Kate said of the evening, "As people slowly made their way home, the feeling in the air was magical. Everyone was smiling, dancing, and chatting about the new classroom that will be going up in the near future."

To say that $3,000 is a large sum of money to this community is an understatement. Where most people survive on less than $1 per day, every cent counts.

Will you join them our Takaungu community for this joint effort? We must all pull together to show that each parties' hard work and sacrifice not go unnoticed.

Join the Haramabe by matching our Kenya contribution. Together we can collect $5,000 in the next week and break ground on the new classroom next month.

The average attendee gave $20 (almost 15% of the average salary in Eastern Kenya).

Can you match that contribution at $40 and make the ultimate declaration that we are committed to supporting them in their pursuit of happier, healthier, and more productive lives?

"What an inspiring event and a strong testament to the community's commitment to its partnership with EAC and its future." - Jared Watkins . EAC US Board Member

End of Year Report from the Head Teacher Catherine

2010-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

The 2009 school year was a great success, beginning on January 5^th and ending on November 30^th. In the course of the year, two long-term teachers left for other positions and careers, Madam Ummi and Mr. Musa. We were sad to see them go, but we replaced them with two wonderful new teachers Madam Malemba and Mr. Omar. With the OLPC grant, we hired a new teacher, Mr. Onesmus, to replace Madam Anita who was promoted to computer teacher. We have our most competent and committed teaching staff yet! We finished the year with a total of 231 pupils taking the final exam.

Here are just some of the exciting things that happened at VJS in 2009.

Student selection of a new board of prefects

Introduction of award pins to be worn by the top scoring student each term

Strengthening of parent-teacher relationships through termly parent-teacher conferences

Strengthening the level of teaching by working with teachers on ways to overcome weaknesses

Achievements:

Our academic targets were achieved. VJS performance is well above average – most classes scored at the top of the Shariani Zone.

Computer classes were introduced to Class 4 and 5 this year through the OLPC grant. The students are very excited!

Electricity was hooked up to the school, also through the OLPC grant. This will mean many exciting things in the future!

The teaching staff received more development from the Ministry of Education this year. Many teachers attended workshops and seminars on new curriculums, and two teachers even traveled to Rwanda for the OLPC computer training!

The students participated in many extracurricular activities – interquiz competitions with neighboring schools, a district girls football tournament, camping for the Brownie’s troop, a school field trip to the law courts in Mombasa, and many Stay Alive drama presentations.

We introduced extra reading time and a handwriting class for students who were struggling with the basics. This has boosted the performance of the remedial students greatly!

Many teachers began their bachelor’s or master’s degree work this year.

Challenges:

Lack of sufficient school buildings. There are no administrative buildings and too few toilet facilities

With more resources, the teachers could offer more exams and quizzes to the students.

More teacher rewards would help motivate the teaching staff.

Recommendations:

Parents need to become even more involved in their children’s education. The right to education for a child should be explained so parents understand the importance of children coming to school every day, on time.

The school can introduce monthly exams to further prepare students.

Build an administrative building, and a temporary class to house religious classes, where students are broken into two groups.

Hire a floating teacher to assist with workload of teachers as we add more classes every year.

Thank you to all from distant places who support VJS. In every way, the school continues to be central to lives of so many.

Sincerely,
Catherine Munga

Individual class reports from end of year 2009

2010-01-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

KG1 - Margaret M. Kimolo

This is the first time many of these 30 pupils had attended school. I helped them through practicing a lot of coloring to improve their small motor skills to prepare them for writing work. During the second term, some of the weaker children were identified and helped with remedial work. The main challenge during this term was working with the children who were having problems expressing themselves in English.

Third term began with most students able to identify numbers and read and write capital and small letters. All the children were able to respond to questions in English. The challenge for this term was the addition of religion on the mid-term exam. Many of the children were unprepared for this, but most performed above average.

By the end of the year, I noticed that three children were still having difficulty recognizing numbers and letters. These children will repeat KG1 next year. There were not too many absences this year, but I worked with those that did have trouble with attendance and discussed the issues with their parents. The entire required syllabus was covered this year, and the children were well-prepared to enter KG2.

KG2 - Malemba Mwenba Mwadime

During the first term of the year, the main challenge was reading and recognition of words and letters. Extra reading work was given using the library at the school.

During term 2, four children were moved up to KG3 because of very high performance. One new student was received from KG1, and three transfers from other schools. The mid-term was difficult due to the addition of Kiswahili and religion, but through hard work, our final score was raised to 439 out of 500. The main challenge of term 2 was handwriting, but many students were able to read sentences on their own.

During term 2, most children were able to read and write sentences, and many could recognize numbers up to 100. The challenge was with those students who were having trouble with reading and writing numbers, and whose handwriting was behind the other students. Some of these students will need to repeat KG2 next year. The year finished well with a final mean score of 436.

KG3 - Faith Munyiva Nzuki

This was a good year for KG3. During the year, we had some changes with 4 students being promoted from KG2 during the second term, and 2 children transferring schools. All the syllabus topics were covered during the allocated time. Challenges were met by working with the other nursery school teachers, and by meeting with parents of struggling students. By the end of the year, all students were able to read words, sentences, and story books and can write well. They will all be promoted to Class 1 for 2010.

STD1 - Onesmus Chai

Some of the students began the year with problems in reading and writing. These were overcome with extra help during reading and study time. The class was strong this year as no students transferred or dropped out, and no new pupils joined. This meant that all pupils progressed together, finishing the year with all being able to read and write well. They will all advance to class 2.

STD2 - Saade Mohamed Abdallah

Class 2 began well with the students reading and writing well, and able to speak English fluently. During the year, their reading, writing, and math skills greatly improved and they were ready to be promoted to class 3 by the end of the year. Some students needed extra help in reading, which also improves their English, and they were coming to school early, or reading during lunch break. This greatly improved their performance.

The parent meetings during term 2 also helped to create a better relationship about education between teacher, parent, and student. With the parents being more involved in their children’s education, attendance and homework completion rates have improved.

STD3 - Mundigi Nyaga Joseph

When school began, some of the students were not performing well and were scoring below 60%. With hard work, by the second term, many had raised their scores. During the second term, 7 new learners joined the class from other schools due to open spaces. Their performance was far below the performance of the other students, and many of them had trouble with English.

Mr. Omar, the English teacher for class 3, worked especially hard with these students. Some students were also given an extra half hour of reading each day. This extra time has improved their performance. By the end of term 3, 23 out of 29 students were scoring more than 80% on their final exam.

Other achievements for the year include improved discipline over the course of the year, cooperation between class teachers and parents, and a high annual scoring average of 370 marks.

STD4 - Mary Okelo Atieno

This was a good year for class 4, despite low performance compared to other VJS classes. The syllabus was fully covered for the year, so the class is up-to-date. Revision of exams was taken very seriously, which pupils assigned different topics to cover with the class. Quizzes were added during the term to better prepare students for the final exam and to make sure they understood the material. The class 4 students were very active in sports, interschool quizzes, debate club, and the XO classes and club.

The biggest challenge this year was students get bored sitting in class for so long due to strict requirements in Kenya. This was overcome by encouraging students to fully participate in games during lunch break, and in all after-school activities. Parent-teacher discussions were also held during the term to reduce absences and late arrivals.

STD5 - Omar K. Kazungu

This was a wonderful year for class 5. The class really excelled academically, and enjoyed the XOs, sports, clubs, and the field trip. In the beginning of the year, it was seen that the challenges for the students are reading, handwriting, absenteeism and late arrival, and failure to complete homework. This was handled through parent-teacher meetings, extra reading time in the early morning, and the addition of a volunteer handwriting teacher (a parent) to teach weekly classes to the students.

During parent-teacher meetings, every party (parent, teacher, student) promised to do their best to ensure the best education and future for their child. This was shown to work by greater attendance, better class participation by students, and more students attending closing day.

The students particularly excelled during their XO classes and the computers have helped them to have even more enthusiasm about school. They are all ready to be promoted to class 6 next year.

VJS Students participate in World AIDS Day!

2009-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

The East African Center’s Nurse, Community Health Workers, Health Education team, and teachers participated in two AIDS awareness days this week, in celebration of World AIDS Day this year.

On the 1st of December, the EAC participated in a district-wide World AIDS Day celebration in Chonyi, a very rural area in Kilifi District that does not have adequate healthcare coverage. The EAC partnered with the Ministry of Health, Red Cross, USAID, Scope, and many other local organizations to hold a celebration filled with speeches, music, dance, and drama at the District Officer’s compound in Chonyi village. The day began with a large procession filled with drums and signs, bringing many local residents to the site of the celebration. At the event, Vutakaka Junior School’s (VJS) students performed a play about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. There were testing stations set up to test for HIV/AIDS and speeches by people living with HIV/AIDS. Everyone in attendance agreed it was a wonderful, informative day!

On Friday the 4th of December, the EAC held our own AIDS awareness day to bring the information and testing specifically to Takaungu. The Vutakaka Community Center was filled with balloons and informative signs, and music was provided by a local DJ. The day included speeches, a drama by the VJS students, a dance by the adult education class, and a quiz with prizes at the end of the day.

Our Head Nurse, Valerian (far right), and his assistants tested 55 individuals throughout the day, and all in attendance received information about HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment. The day was an enormous success, and the EAC is extremely proud of the staff for working so hard to pull it off. Thanks to Krystle Dowling for a great job organizing the day!

Term 2 Exam Scores and School Rankings

2009-07-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

Below are the rankings and the average scores for the schools in the Shariani school zone which covers the northeast portion of coastal Kenya. As you can see, Vutakaka typically ranks in 1st among the over 25 schools and scores are often twice as good as the local Takaungu Primary School.

Standard 1:

1. Vutakaka Junior School - 440.60
2. Shariani Academy - 414.71
3. Baharini Primary - 352.75
17. Takaungu Primary - 264.86

Neema Yaa - 477
Esther Mwangombe - 475
Nelly Rongoma - 472

Standard 2:

1. Vutakaka Junior School - 380.28
2. Kadzinuni Primary - 325.70
3. Takaungu Primary - 318.18

Ghalib Twaha - 490
Saumu Katana - 483
Moza Twalib - 483
Khamis Answar - 480

Standard 3:

1. Vutakaka Junior School - 369.36
2. Majajani Primary - 345.85
3. In His Grace Academy - 333.41
24. Takaungu Primary - 221.34

Josephine Safari - 480
Fatma Aboud - 474
Abubakar Ahmed - 474
Dominic Chai - 470

Standard 4:

1. In His Grace Academy - 298.34
2. Vutakaka Junior School - 283.86
3. Mtomondoni Primary - 250.51
22. Takaungu Primary - 181.85
The scores for this class were lower across the board because the Ministry of Education changed the exams this year. There was a disconnect within all schools between what they were teaching and what was to be required of them on exam day. We are working to ensure that our students improve for the next exam in December!

Albert Masha - 389
Aisha Mohamed - 377
Said Aly - 371

Standard 5:

1. Vutakaka Junior School - 307.30
2. In His Grace Academy - 305
3. Baharini Primary - 264.25
21. Takaungu Primary - 216.59

Ibrahim Ramadhan - 435
Mohamed Aboud - 418
Najash Fauz - 405

Top KG Students:

KG1, Average - 388

Duri Ahmed - 495
Amina Al-Amin - 493
Nabahan Rashid - 492

KG2, Average - 439

Ilifatt Jamal - 494
Grace Baya - 494
Athman Juma - 493
Ahmed Hussein - 491

KG3, Average - 432

Lilian Ngala - 499
Nancy Daniel - 487
Lilian Kenga - 485

Letter from the Head of School

2009-07-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Greetings to you all from Takaungu! I would like to first take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for the support you offer to our school. Vutakaka Junior School is excelling academically, and that is our greatest achievement for the children of Takaungu and the surrounding villages. The results speak for themselves. At the end of Term 1, we placed 2nd and 3rd in the zone from the grades that we offer, classes 1 through 5. We have managed to improve during this term. As of the second mid-term exam, we are 1st place in our zone for grades 1-3 and 5, and 2nd place in the zone for grade 4. We are so proud of our students and teachers for working so hard to be on top!

This level of academic achievement has only been possible because of support from our sponsors. The ability to provide our students with textbooks and other reading materials, as well as to create a supportive environment for our teachers and staff has been crucial in reaching our goals.

In Term 2, we were given the gift of technology through a grant of 100 XO laptops. In my first letter of the year, I said that we were aspiring to train our pupils in modern technology. This is now a ‘dream come true.’ Our pupils are learning fabulous new things with their laptops and we believe this will bring their performance and their futures to greater heights. I appreciate the collective efforts involved in introducing our students to the XO laptops, and want to thank everyone involved in making this happen.

We are still running the various clubs at our school, and these help to nurture the students’ natural talents and abilities. Students are exposed to new activities and social environments through the garden club, the drama club, and the debate club, to name a few. Our sports teams also continue to help students develop. This term, we took our girls football team to a competition in collaboration with Moving the Goalpost, an organization dedicated to providing girls with the opportunity to play football. The greatest challenge for our sports program is the procurement of sports attire. The families of our students cannot afford uniforms, and our students are forced to play in their school uniforms. In the future, we hope for donations of or assistance in purchasing uniforms for girls football, boys football, basketball, and volleyball.

Despite all of our achievements, there are still challenges faced. If efforts can be made to overcome some of these challenges, Vutakaka Junior School (VSJ) can continue to be such a top school. Our biggest need now is support for infrastructure. VJS is growing every year, and we want to make sure we can offer our oldest students a place each year in the future. We need to build more classrooms, toilets, offices, and storage space at the EAC’s primary school property. Our lunch program is one of the most costly but important parts of our school. Every day, students who would otherwise not eat lunch are given a nutritious meal. We need your continued support to make sure our students are well nourished each day and ready to learn.

Again, I want to thank you all for the support you have already given, and the support you will give us going forward. This school is changing the lives of the students and their families in the Takaungu sub-location, and we must continue to provide this important service to this community. I welcome you all to come to Kenya and visit us and see the school in action for yourselves.

Best Regards,
Catherine Munga
Head Teacher
Vutakaka Junior School

Day 1 with the XOs!

2009-07-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

We gave the XOs out to both class 4 and 5. All Priyanka could get through in the class time for each class was rule coverage, recording which kid has which laptop by taking the batteries out and writing the barcode number, turning on the computers (choosing color and writing name), using the mouse, opening the calculate function, doing some small calculations, and then shutting down. The kids were really excited!

We had been using the new classroom for Std 3. We decided yesterday that we would covert it back to a computer lab for the rest of the year. The 12 benches and tables will go in, and we brought a huge locking cabinet over from Vutakaka that the kids will lock their laptops in at the end of the classes.

The new Junior School classroom!

2009-07-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

Each year, we add another grade to our school to ensure that the students that have been with us from the beginning can stay with us until high school. Currently, we have KG1 through STD6 by 2011, we will go all the way through STD8 (which is similar to 8th grade in the States).

With the grant we received this year from OLPC, we were able to build one more classroom. This classrooms are set up for the use of the computers and will allow us to accept even more students to the school! By the end of the month, we will have electricity wired to these buildings!

As he second term of the year winds down, students are getting excited about the new XO laptops! The third term, beginning in September, will prove to be an exciting one for the school with new classrooms, 100 laptops, and electricity!

The Takungu community meets their XOs!

2009-07-07T08:08:00.001-07:00

Today, the XOs were introduced to the Standard 4 and 5 classes and their parents! The meeting was a huge success and everyone is very excited about the program. There have been 5 teacher trainings so far and 2 teacher meetings about the laptops. The teachers have learned the following programs: chat, speak, write, Tam-tam mini, scratch, distance, etoys, memorize, and record.

Bryan is going to spend the day setting up the server and the computers at the school. He is going to train Omar (the Standard 5 teacher) in the tech side of things, so that if problems arise in the future, Omar should be able to work out the kinks. The deployment to the students is happening Monday (standard 4) and Tuesday (standard 5). Unfortunately, we will be using the generator to charge the computers initially as the electricity is still not connected.

The remaining computers will be given to the current Standard 3 class next year (thereby covering 4-6). Priyanka is going to make a spreadsheet to record which computer is given to each student. Even though the laptops won't go home with the kids, ownership is still important. We met with some visitors from OLPC last week. They feel very strongly about sending the computers home with the students, but Priyanka, Bryan, and I think that cannot happen until next year at the earliest. We feel that it is pretty much a fact that the computers will last for a shorter amount of time if they go home with the kids, but we are willing to pilot it next year.

Priyanka has been working hard with the teachers to develop lesson plans for Term 3 using the XOs in Science, English, Math, and Social Studies. Breona and Jen, back in the States, will add to the lesson plans and help support them by caching websites to help support the lessons.
For the rest of Term 2, the students will be learning the laptops during one PE class per week and two Creative Arts classes per week. There will also be optional after school hours four days a week (two for Standar 4 and two for Standard 5). During the school break, the students will have the first week off, and will resume studies with the computers the second week of break.

Because of Madrasa everyday during break but Thursday and Friday, students will come in August 13 and 14, August 20 and 21, and starting on August 24th, Madrasa takes a break and they can come every day until school opens on the 7th of September if that schedule suits everyone involved. This gives the students and teachers a lot of time during break with the computers.

The teachers involved will be Anita, the computer teacher, and Saade, who has been on leave and agreed to work in August to make up for time lost. She will train on the computers and will be able to assist Anita. Other teachers are welcome to come in during the break but are not required to.

Term 1 update

2009-07-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Vutakaka school teachers have reported on the progress of each of the classes after the first semester of 2009.

KG1 - Madam Kimolo worked with the KG1 students on the basics; counting and writing numbers and letters, talking about pictures, and practicing their English. They learned the parts of the body, names of domestic animals and fruits and about different things in their environment. Margaret said of the challenges they faced this semester, "Some children were very young and are fresh from home and therefore had trouble concentrating in a school environment. I helped them by having a lot of singing and poem recitation to make them gain interest in school. Many of the children could not hold pencils well so I helped them by doing a lot of coloring and scribbling to strengthen their finger muscles."

KG2 - Students in KG2 practiced spelling and dictating words focusing on 3 letter words and vowels and began adding and subtracting. Malemba Mwadime helped them practice their English "by learning the Kenyan flag and its colors, utensils, domestic animals, parts of the plant, parts of the body, wild animals, and the types of weather." Malemba used visuals to help students make the connection between numbers and values. By the end of the semester, students were better able to draw pictures from imagination or their memory.

KG3 - Madam Faith had students in KG3 counting from 1 to 100 in English, adding and subtracting in the double digits, and praticing the tough sounds like ch, th, and sh. Students in this grade began being able to read entire books and to develop their handwriting.

STD1 - STD1, which is similar to 3rd grade in the US, is the first class at Vutakaka Junior School. Here students begin to rotate through different subjects such as science and social studies. Charts and photographs line the classroom that help remind students of what they learned in the primary school and to help them transition to the new subjects and syllabi.

STD2 - Saade found that STD2 students began enjoying class more throughout the semester as the courses are becoming more creative at this level. Their discipline and focus has improved as well as their energy due to the physical exercise they are getting each day at the school. This grade incorporates more life skills into lessons, such as problem solving, health, and enviromental education. Saade attributes this to their higher interest and performance levels, as well as self-esteem, at this grade.

STD3 - Teacher Joseph helped students become fluent in Kiswahli and English and to prepare them for the upper level classes they would be taking the next year. He used lesson plans to create awareness of the challenges
ges students face in day to day life. Joseph stressed the importance of independant reading skills throughout the semester.

STD4 - STD4 is the first class of upper primary and the first year that students attend school until 3:30pm everyday. Science classes are facilitiated with more experiments and social and religious students (required to be taught by the state) become more advanced. Madam Mary found students becoming even more engaged and creative at this level.

STD5 - Preparing for State exams is a major focus of this grade and STD5 students learned the value of reaching out to teachers, peers and parents to assist in their studies. Students at Vutakaka received the highest scores in the district and were awarded for this by the state last month!

Top Students of Term 1 2009

2009-07-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

KG1 - Amina Al-Amin, Grace Baya, and Nabahan Rashid

KG2 - Reuben Mumba (right), Linet Karisa, and Khamis Ali

KG3 - Lilian Ngala, Nancy Daniel, and Mohammed Ali

STD1 - Robert Mumbo, Musa Unda, Lilian Moses, and Samuel Kalama

STD2 - George Katana, Moza Twalib, Baraka Kaingu and Saumu Katana

STD3 - Jospehine Safari, Mary Emmanuel, and Lucky Chai

STD4 - Albert Masha, Aisha Mohamed, and Rehema Kenga

STD5 - Ibrahim Ramadhan, Muttaqina Salim, and Mohammad Aboud

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) awarded for Vutakaka!

2009-05-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

A team of graduate students, Breona, Emma and Cecila from the University of Washington, and Jen, Priyanka and Bryan from the New School, have been awarded a grant from One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)! Some of the team will participate in training in Rwanda with other groups that have been awarded this grant and then will depart for Takaungu with 100 laptops for the Vutakaka students! This is an amazing achievement and we are so grateful to be able to inroduce this new type of knowledge and skill to the VSJ students!

OLPC's mission is "to create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate. They become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future."

We will continue to update you as the program is designed and implemented! We hope to have the students contributing to this blog and possibly creating one of their own! In the meantime, please take a moment to learn more about the OLPC and the amazing work they are doing all over the world!

Congrats and thank you to team who has worked so hard on this grant and project!

Stay Alive Competition

2009-03-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

The first annual Stay Alive Inter-School Competition was held at Vutakaka Junior School on March 20th, 2009. Stay Alive is an EAC sponsored HIV/AIDS education program. With four participating schools, more than 250 students aged 9-14 receive classes on HIV/AIDS through the Stay Alive program. Head CHW Mohamed Said and Standard 1 class teacher Saade Mohamed are the faculty coordinators for the Stay Alive group and led the team in the annual inter-school Stay Alive competition!

Vutakaka Junior School hosted the festivities. In attendance were students from Vutakaka, Mkwajuni Primary School, and Takaungu Primary School. Unfortunately, Vuma Primary School were unprepared for the event and therefore did not compete. Students from the surrounding schools met at Vutakaka at 9am along with our experienced adjudicator Mr. Chirou and our guest of honor, EAC-Kenya board member George Odhiambo.

In preparation for the competition, the students practiced their own songs, poems, and skits about HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol use, and the rights of children. The day began with the three schools delivering poems and songs, and ended with some informative, hilarious and thoughtful skits. Performances were done by individuals and groups that demonstrated their understanding of the importance of these issues in their lives.

Mkwajuni Primary School had one of the funniest skits. Though Vutakaka Junior School was well prepared and used great props, Takaungu Junior School was judged the 2009 Stay Alive winner. They received the Stay Alive trophy, which they will hold until next year’s competition. The day ended with juice and snacks for the students, and a lunch for all the participating teachers and distinguished guests. Takaungu Primary School students walked home singing and holding their trophy high.

While the EAC’s own Vutakaka students were upset at receiving 2nd place, they vowed to work hard throughout the year preparing for next year's competition! We were honored to host the local schools and are looking for more ways to bring together the students and faculty and to support the public school system.

pictures:
1. Stay Alive students waiting for event to begin
2. EAC faculty Stay Alive team with trophy
3. Vutakaka Girl Guide performs a poem
4. Takaungu students song and dance
5. Mkwajuni students first skit

Letter from the Head Teacher

2009-02-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Partners,

Greetings to you all! I hope this letter finds you all well. Vutakaka Junior School is progressing very well in its 8^th year of operation. The school has two sub-sections – with three Kindergarten classes and five Primary School classes. Currently, we have 227 pupils enrolled, with 114 boys and 113 girls. Despite some recent staff changes, we are moving into 2009 with a very competent teaching and supervising staff.

Vutakaka Junior School (VJS) engages its pupils in both curricular and co-curricular activities. Academically, the pupils are exposed to a quality education, which is shown in our school’s performance (the majority of our students score above 80% repeatedly a significantly higher percentage than any of the public schools in Kenya). VJS is currently one of the top schools in the Kilifi District.

Every year we add more activities for the students outside the classroom. This year, sports are a huge part of our program with students regularly competing in basketball, football, volleyball, and netball for both boys and girls. With these activities, our students are well nurtured physically and are improving their talents. The students are also engaged in a number of clubs including a gardening club, a debate club, a drama club, and a Girl Guides unit (like Girl Scouts). These clubs help students become more comfortable expressing themselves in a crowd, and give them the opportunity to pursue hobbies they are interested in.

Because of your support, our students come to school prepared, with their minds on education. This year, every student has received a new uniform, and will soon get a new school bag. We also provided every student with all the exercise books, pencils, and erasers that they would need. This alleviates a lot of worry that the families and the students have when preparing for school, and allows students to focus all their energy on excelling in class. The free lunch and porridge programs also provide valuable support to students and their families. Students are not able to focus if they have not had a proper mid-day meal, and for some students, our lunch is the only good quality, nutritious meal that they receive all day.

In conjunction with our health department, our students are provided with life skills training, and HIV/AIDS awareness. At last years closing day, the HIV/AIDS awareness class adapted a popular Swahili dance song to share their knowledge with parents and staff about abstinence and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Our students also get to go on a field trip every year. For many students, this is the only time they get to leave the Takaungu sub-location. Last year, the students went to Malindi, an international city about an hour north of Takaungu. They learned about Vasco de Gama’s exploration of the Kenyan Coast, visited a coastal cultural museum, and ate a picnic lunch at the beach.

We are still a young school, but our students and staff have big dreams for the future. Some include teaching foreign language classes, educating our students in how to use a computer and the internet, and expanding to include a secondary school.

All of the students, teachers, and staff at VJS greatly appreciate your support for the 2009 school year. We wish you a prosperous and happy 2009!

Sincerely,

Catherine Munga

Head Teacher

EAC Christmas Cause Walk and Holiday Bazar for Vutakaka

2008-11-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

I would like to invite you all to The East African Center’s 1^st Annual Christmas Cause Walk and our Annual Holiday Bazar!

The Cause Walk is a great opportunity for those looking to create a new Christmas Day tradition for their families, as well as those who don’t celebrate the holiday and are looking for something fun to do on the 25^th!

All proceeds raised from the event will go towards building a new classroom at the East African Center’s Vutakaka Junior School in Takaungu, Kenya. To prepare for the event, simply fill out the registration & sponsorship forms. All are welcome! So help spread the word & join us in making a real difference this holiday season.

WHO: Anyone interested in establishing a new Christmas Day tradition with their friends & family

WHAT: A walk benefiting the East African Center’s Vutakaka Junior School in Takaungu, Kenya.

WHERE: Green Lake Park (check-in at Green Lake Community Center), Seattle, WA

WHEN: Christmas Day (December 25^th) at 12 noon.

WHY: To capture the season’s spirit of giving and togetherness, by helping those who need it most.

Are you hoping to get a head start on this years holiday shopping? Looking for a one of a kind gift for your loved one? Then please join us at our new University District office for an afternoon of shopping, gorgeous products from our sewing cooperative & holiday cheer!

WHAT: An afternoon of fair trade shopping & yummy spiced cider! All proceeds will benefit the EAC's efforts in Takaungu, Kenya.
WHEN: Saturday December 6th from 10am-4pm
WHERE: Our new office- located in the gray house immediately north of the rear entrance of the UW bookstore's University District location. (Behind MJ Feet, in the ally between Bartells & The U Book Store on the AVE). Look for the Red & Green Balloons!

Our 2008 goal is to raise the funds necessary to build one new classroom for the students of Vutakaka Junior School in Takaungu Village, Kenya.

Hope to see you there!

Emma Nierman

The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women & Children

Director of Education Programs . enierman@eastafricancenter.org . 425-681-2459

Welcome to the Vutakaka School blog!

2008-09-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Future Sponsor:

The Vutakaka Junior School in Takaungu, Kenya opened its doors in January of 2004, offering nursery level classes for 60 children. In 2005, due to extreme demand for quality education in the area, we expanded our school to include a 1st grade class. Every year since, we have added an additional class of 30 students. Today we offer kindergarten through 5th grade cases to over 175 pupils.

We are thrilled with the progress our students are making and know with the completion of our school these children will have the necessary skills and education to continue on to quality secondary and tertiary programs. Unlike other schools in the Kilifi District which have upwards of 200 students in a single class, the Vutakaka Junior School maintains small class sizes and adequate resources and classroom materials. Each student is provided with textbooks and all teachers receive continuing education.

Last year, with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the EAC acquired a 6.5 acre plot for a new school near our current site. With the generous help of our donors we have built three new classrooms on the land and are very excited to continue construction with the help of additional funding. Our goal is to raise the $20,000, needed for the construction of two new classrooms by the end of next year.

In the meantime, classes are moving forward and the students of Vutakaka continue to rely on your generous sponsorship. Your donation of just $285 will fund one student’s education for a full academic year. This donation covers the cost of school fees, a complete uniform, shoes, books, school supplies, a lantern (to study with at night), a backpack, comprehensive health care services, and a nutritious daily lunch.

Research has shown that when girls are educated they marry later, have fewer children and higher incomes. The general nutrition and health of everyone in the community improve, and the risk of contraction of HIV is reduced. We are proud that our school is not only increasing the opportunity for education, but providing the highest quality education available in our area. The EAC is confident that given the opportunity, these children, boys and girls, will be agents of change in their communities for generations to come.

Thank you for helping the EAC save lives, build bright futures, and transform communities.

Emma Nierman

Director of Education Programs

Close of School Day

2008-08-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

Another semester has come to a close and we sent the students off with a bang! Attended by parents and other members of the community, the celebration started with a performance by the drama club! The play, "Multiple Choice" was written by three interns from The New School in New York and directed by our primary school teacher Mr. Sanga. All their hard work and practice paid off because the play was well received by the other students, their families and the community members attending the event.

Next, a group of students performed a local Giriama dance and one of our adult education students recited a powerful play about the challenges and importance of educating girls in Eastern Kenya. A local karate group demonstrated their skills for the audience. Before the student achievement awards were announced, the volunteers and interns performed a dance they choreographed for the students to a popular song in Kenya, "Anita". The volunteers and interns had been working with the students for months through the school and health center and were happy to make them laugh on their last day of school!

Class test results were announced and the top 3 scoring students and the most improved student from each class were called to the front to be recognized and given a prize. Their scores and averages are competitive with some of the best schools in Kenya and far surpass the scores of students in the local public school. We hope to be able to reach out to more of the community as the school grows and offer as many students the opportunity to take advantage of this education as possible.

To end the day's events, Vutakaka's new Girl Guide (Brownie) club performed an induction and flag raising ceremony that was lead by two representatives from the Mombasa Girl Guide chapter. Girl Guides "offers girls and young women opportunities to learn and develop as people and to participate fully in the welfare of their communities". The representatives attended our close of school event and remarked how impressed they were with the school, the teachers and the students. We feel fortunate to be able to offer this group of girls this opportunity!

As the close of school day ended, parents thanked teachers for their influence in their child's life and the EAC for bringing this school to their village. We here at Vutakaka thank you for making it possible and continuing to support these students as they work to expand their opportunities through education and by getting involved in school organizations. See you September! View more photos in our Close of School Day photo album.

Game Day at Vutakaka!

2008-08-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated Game Day was held after the last finals were taken and just before the last day of school. The day was the perfect opportunity for the students to celebrate their successful semester and to bond with other students and teachers. This year was especially exciting! Teachers divided all students from KG1 through STD4 into four groups. Each group wore their team color on a ribbon tied on their wrist.

Students representing their team took to the tracks, sometime in sacks or tied to the leg of their friend, to challenge each other in a series of events. The teachers took their turn and raced a relay run around track with their students cheering them on! Other events included a long jump and even a dance competition. The day was full of smiling faces and laughter! Check out the Game Day photo album!

Vutakaka Hosts World Population Day

2008-07-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

In 1968, World leaders proclaimed that every individual has the basic right to decide freely and responsibly the number and timing of their children. But since then, lack of access to information, and social and religious pressures have prevented the realization of this right for hundreds of millions of women. World Population Day exists to recognize, reaffirm, and celebrate the right to plan your family. On this day each year, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) offices throughout the world enlist the help of local organizations to promote awareness of family planning. This year the East African Center’s (EAC) Vutakaka school grounds in Takaungu was chosen as the site for the World Population Day celebration.

Family planning is a major issue in Takaungu and the surrounding area. Religious and traditional beliefs put pressure on families to grow large, creating strains on the overall health and educational and economic opportunities for the family. The event was attended by hundreds of residents from the community, local chiefs, and district officers.

Vutakaka staff and volunteers, with administrative help from Germany-based health group DSW, the Maria Stopes organization, and the Takaungu public dispensary staff, assisted women seeking family planning counseling. Another 445 individuals were treated for general health issues, and 26 people took part in Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV/AIDS (VCT). UNFPA also provided free anti-malaria drugs, anti-biotics, and contraceptives which were administered throughout the day. Acrobats, actors, dancers, and musicians also performed to entertain and educate the crowd.

The EAC is honored to have been chosen for this event and grateful to help promote the right to family planning and health in Takaungu! For more photos, visit the World Population Day photo album. Learn more about UNFPA and World Population Day.

Becoming a sponsor

2008-07-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Future Sponsor:

We are so glad you have decided to join our efforts in providing a better life through education and community development in Eastern Kenya! Student sponsors will receive personal email and post mail updates and photos with information about the individual student they are sponsoring. These updates will include a picture at least once a year as well as health and academic evaluations of the students. Sponsors will also be able to follow along with the activities at Vutakaka on the school's blog and have access to the Vutakaka photo albums both which are updated regularly.

We realize how important it is for sponsors to keep in touch with the students and make every effort to communicate with sponsors throughout the year. If you feel a special connection with one of the students, for instance if they are a Girl Scout and so is your daughter, please indicate to us that you would like to receive information about that specific student (or those specific students if you are sponsoring more than one student).

Thank you for making this effort! Your support is appreciated by those of us at the EAC and invaluable to the students of Vutakaka.

There are 3 ways to become a sponsor of a student at Vutakaka:

Please choose between a monthly donation of $23.75, a yearly donation of $285, or a one-time donation of $285 to sponsor a student.

Donate online
Print, fill out and mail the sponsor form below
Call 425-681-2459 to pay by phone

Please feel free to email us at sponsor@eastafricancenter.org with any questions!

PAYMENT FORM:

If sponsoring by mail, print and fill out this form, address envelope to EAC at PO Box 95703 Seattle, WA 98145. If paying by check or money order, enclose payment with payment form. (no form is needed when completing sponsorship online).

NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO RECEIVE YOUR SPONSORSHIP

I would like to sponsor _______ student(s) by donating $285 each year for _____ year(s)

I would like to sponsor _______ student(s) by donating $23.75 each month for _____ year(s)

SPONSOR INFORMATION

Name________________________ Phone_____________________

Email__________________________Address_____________________________

DETAILS

Do you want to receive more information, pictures & correspondence from your child or children as the school year progresses?

YES____ NO_____

Would you like your sponsorship to automatically renew year to year?

YES____ NO____

Would you like to sponsor a specific student?

YES____ (indicate name(s) below and we will send you information about the student(s) you have listed) NO____ (we will send you information about the individual student your money is sponsoring)

_________________________ _______________________ ________________________

SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT

Check or money order: ____ Credit Card: ___

Type of Credit Card: ____________________

Credit Card Number: _____________________________

Expiration Date: ___/___ Sec Code: _______

Signature: _______________________________

PLEASE CALL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS or to give your payment details over the phone: 425-681-2459