March

The Kilifi Kids is continuing to expand its reach in Kenya.  We have grand plans to make smart, effective investments in the future of the region.  To do this, we are assembling a team of dedicated people here in the United States to support the efforts of people in Kenya:

• We want creative leaders: We're looking to build something new.  That takes innovation and leadership.
  
  
• We want business people: Our efforts will be centered around making a sustainable, lasting impact on the region--and the best way to do that is through business and social entrepreneurship.  We want people who can analyze the needs of the community and find solutions to problems.  These are the problems that business people face every day.  We want to apply that to Kilifi.
  
  
• We also want people conversant in technology, especially mobile technology: A revolution in Africa in the past decade has been the spread of mobile phones and other communications technology.  We are looking to leverage this technology, specifically in health support services.
  
  
• We want expertise in public health:  Kids can't do what they need to do if they're sick.  One of the goals for the next phase is to build on the health component we've already been successful in. 
  
  
• We want expertise in international development

Kilifi partners and Rotarians John Abweo and Lucy Ochola were featured in a piece the Coast Province news highlighting their efforts to distribute food to 151 families in Kilifi.  As we've mentioned, Kilifi is experiencing drought conditions, and Kilifi RC is taking the lead to ease the hardships of the people.  

This was not just food delivery: additionally, Kilifi RC worked with Kilifi Ministry of Health staff to oversee collection of biostatistics for scientific studies at the district hospital.  Finally, Kilifi RC boosted education by distributing dictionaries to the children present.

See the article in Coast Week

January

As a general news update:  Kilifi has been experiencing a very serious drought for the past months, with up to two million people in the Coast Province (made up of Kilifi District and two other districts) at risk of starvation.  While there is a great mobilization of assistance to the region, this puts tremendous pressure on the economy which is largely based around subsistence farming. 

Kilifi Rotary Club is doing what it can to help the situation, and we will be sharing updates as they come in. 

Read a Daily Nation article for more info.

December

Girls at Bahari Girls
Secondary School

Bahari Girls Secondary School, where Kilifi Kids commissioned the installation of 20 computers for students, has found the program so successful that they are going to increase head-count and hire a full-time computer teacher.  This represents a major investment in computer training in a country where schools' funding is often stretched just to meet daily operating costs.  We are excited to see the results in the girls' knowledge.

Sign from a School in Kilifi

The 13 students have completed their first year of secondary school, and we've seen some amazing results from the kids.  Take a look at the annual report for a letter from Georgina about what her life is like at school.  

The work that these kids are putting in is amazing--they're up by 4 AM, work all day, save one hour for soccer, and then are in bed by 10 PM.  Also, on their holidays from school, a large number came into Kilifi to help with KESHO's rummage sale to raise funds.  We definitely hope they keep it up all the hard work!

November

Looking to next year, 8th Grade/Form 8 students have taken their KCPE's and are now on break.  When results come out in January, KESHO staff and Kilifi Rotary will be interviewing the top students and determining finanical need.  Kilifi Kids is looking to support another 12 to 13 students, on our way to our initial grant, supporting 50 students in four years.  

See what a home visit/interview might look like in the video on the left.

October

Thanks to the hard work of Alex Maina, an Interact Club has been founded in Kilifi.  Kids from Kilifi are traveling to KEMRI about twice a week to learn about computers and to converse with kids from the United States.  We've arranged for Interact students from Brookfield East High School, sponsored by the Elmbrook Rotary Club, to converse with Alex's students.  Currently, as we figure out how best to build connections, we're using the internet portal Facebook as the medium.

As we continue to develop a sustainable solution for Internet in Kilifi schools, the planning with Campbell High School in Cobb County, GA for a fully developed curriculum is proceeding.  

August

It's been a great inaugural year for Kilifi Kids, and we've put together the highlights in our Annual Report.  

The report pairs an overview of activities for this past year with plenty of photos of Kilifi and Kilifi Kids activities.  Most notably, the report tells the the stories--many in the kids' own words--of the children helped by Kilifi Kids' partners and supporters.  It is a great example of how individuals can make a huge difference in the lives of children across the world.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in our activities!  We look forward to even greater things this coming year.

July

Elmbrook Rotary Club and District 6270 will be supporting Kilifi District Library with a grant designed to allow for the install of computers and the provision of Internet to the library.  

With a "District Simplified Grant" from the District Designated Funds (to throw a little Rotary jargon out there), Elmbrook and the District will be supporting the refurbishment of the room designated for computers, including installing desks and improving physical security of the room.  As the library is a few hundred meters from government offices with access to Internet, Kilifi RC will also plan to run communications fiber to the library.

The provision of 15 computers, along with computers for three schools, has already been made with Computers For Schools Kenya with previously allocated funds. 

June

Though it was a very wet day, a lot of people from Kilifi turned out for the deworming.  In addition to the medication and dedication, there was a lot of talk and education about how to keep healthy.

Please look through the slideshow, or see the album of photos.

Kilifi RC president John Abwao
hands out the medication

From Charles Mbogo, head of Kilifi RC's deworming project:

On the 24th May, we convened at Bale Primary School to Launch the Deworming Programme where more that 900 school kids received Abendazole and Praziquantel. The occasion was graced by the Provincial Medical Officer (Coast Province), Dr. Anderson Kahindi accompanied by the District Medical Officer, Dr. Tsofa and other Medical Staff. Several Rotarians attended the occasion and assisted the teachers and MOH staff in dispensing the drugs.

This is extremely exciting news.  Teachers were previously trained to assist and to understand how to take basic steps to improve sanitation.

Thanks to all of Kilifi Kids' donors and team members.  This is going to make a substantial difference in a lot of young lives.

April

Kilifi Kids was honored with the designation of "Showcase Project" in North Carolina Rotary District 7680.  Kilifi Kids was chosen from all international projects in the District.  Thanks to John Barrigner and Dilworth Rotary for their support.

The Kenyan national government opened Pwani University College last year as an option for students from Kilifi and across Coast Province.  The college is a "constituent college" of Kenyatta University, the second largest in Kenya.  Within 3 years, the university will be a full-fledged university.

Positive sign for education levels in Kilifi.  There are about 600 students, and apparently it's making the sleepy town of Kilifi a bit more lively.  

Kilifi is also home to an agricultural college and several technical schools.

March

As you may have heard, Kenya had a contested election in December.  Thankfully, Kilifi escaped the brunt of the violence.   It is located in the eastern-most area of Kenya, and it does not have the same tribal make-up as areas  with unrest.   The focus of the fighting was in the western provinces (Nairobi and the Rift Valley.)   There were a few disturbances immediately following the election, but within one or two days, day-to-day life returned to normal.  Our partners in Kilifi  are optimistic that those difficulties are in the past.  For Kenya as a whole, there has been a political compromise reached between the two disputing parties, and violence in Kenya seems to have subsided.  It is a very difficult 

The real effect, however was on the local tourism economy, and many of the workers in the local hotel industry were laid off.  Unfortunately, kids are the most susceptible population, so support of Kilifi is more important now more than ever.

February

We are very excited to annouce that the first 13 high school students have been selected to receive the Kilifi Kids 4-Year High School Scholarship.  School began last week and these gifted students, who otherwise do not have the means to do attend, will receive a full high school education.  Thank you for the hard-working Kilifi Rotarians and KESHO members who gave up a week of their time to interview and select the scholarship recipients!

Moving The Goalposts is an organization in Kilifi that does great work in teaching girls to be confident, ensuring equal education and promoting female health.  The club is centered around soccer--girls compete in teams and then are given education and seminars off the field.  Kilifi Kids supports some girls from MTG, and we're honored to play a part.  It's a remarkable organization.

It was not surprising, therefore to see their response to the political and ethnic violence in western Kenya (Kilifi is in the east of Kenya and has been spared from the violence.)  In the director's own words: 

It is difficult to work in such trying and sad circumstances but in MTG we are building the leaders of tomorrow who we hope will be compassionate and think about every Kenyan in development, regardless of where they were born. We collected clothes, sanitary pads, blankets, food etc which we took to the Red Cross for people in the displaced camps. Bear in mind these things came from poor rural girls, whose families often survive on less than a dollar a day. But they came in their droves with small bags to help out their Kenyan sisters and brothers who are suffering so much. Such actions matter when it comes to healing the nation.

You can't help but be hopeful for Kenya's future with children like this.