Angaza 2006

Editorial

I do hope that the end of this year finds you well. We are proud to present to you our 3rd edition of the ANGAZA newsletter telling you what we’ve been up to this year.

We have had a busy but rewarding 2006 which had teachers and pupils working very hard. We have also had new sponsors joining us this year and we would like to welcome them on board. You will not regret for having decided to partner with us.

The year had its challenges and we missed a school day when the bridge connecting the villages and the school was washed down with what meteorologists suspects to be El Nino. Luckily all our children and their parents plus teachers are safe. Some people were not so lucky and they had their houses and belongings washed away by the flood waters. Such incidences remind us how vulnerable humanity is to the forces of nature.

On a brighter note, the fundraisers have been at it again, working round the clock to ensure that the next class is up before the close of the year. What could we have done without you? Bravo for your dedication!

To everyone who has chipped in one way or another to make this year the success it has been thank you very much and may God bless you. May you have a very wonderful Christmas and happy New Year 2007!

School Board of Management

• Chairman: Joseph Gathonga
• Manager: Pastor Francis Rai
• Cordinator of international links: Dr. James G. Kairo
• Treasurer: Caroline Wanjiru

School Administration

• School Manager: Rev. Francis R. Ndoro
• H/Master: Mr. Harrison Kamere
• Deputy H/Teacher: Mrs. Elizabeth Katuthi
• Curriculum Heads: Miss Doris Bagubagu, Miss Joyce Njeri
• Students Councilor Discipline: Mr. Francis Muthaki
• Games Mistress: Mrs. Emily Nyabuto
• Scout Movement/Girl Guide: John Gatumuta

Message from the Headmaster

Congratulations to all teachers and pupils of this wonderful school for your hard work, diligence and discipline. We cannot forget countless other people that have invested their time and resources to make this happen. We also thank God for the people from afar that He has brought us. All this has been done in the hope that the child we are handling today will become a better person tomorrow both academically, physically, morally and socially.

Academic progress

The children have progressed well academically in the last two years due to the good relationship between parents, teachers and pupils. There has been an improvement of about 32% between last year and now and we aim to do even much better next year.

Building

Construction in progress

This year, we are happy to report an additional new classroom courtesy UK network through Mama Rosemary (God bless you). All together KAG School has a total of 10 classrooms, 3 in the Kindergarten and 7 in primary section. For the next three years, KAG aims to add 4 more classrooms that will cater for class 7&8, library and administration block. The school has a vision of building a computer room where our pupils can start computer classes at an early age. To achieve this goal we are seeking donations from our partners in form of old laptop computers as well as funds to enable us to construct a computer room. The UK network has already given the school 3 computers and we hope to increase this to 15. Thank you all.

Harrison Kamere, Headmaster, KAG School

School Noticeboard

• KAG School now has her own landline phone and internet connection. Feel free to call the headmaster on 254-040-52425 or 254 -040- 3300255 or email kg25.msambweni@yahoo.com
• KAG School has recently employed Mr Alphonce Okumu as administrative assistant in charge of finance and administration.
• To cater for increasing number of students in the school, KAG has employed 3 new teachers this year. These are: Mr. Gatumuta, Madam Kwekwe Ngonyo and one volunteer Mr. Michel Christopher. Michael will volunteer with us for the next 3 years.
• Our current enrolment stands at 210 children, 37 of whom are sponsored. Towards the end of 2005, we had a total of 180 children and so have increased by 30 children.

Activities

Extra- curricular Activities

• The school has continued to grow and so has the number of extra curricula activities. The International Ocean Institute (IOI) of Malta invited our school to participate in an art competition on marine life. We hope we shall have some of children’s work published in the IOI,s calendar for 2007.
• KAG Scouting Club participated in this year’s school camping at Perani on 22nd - 24th Sept. 2006. The event was organized by Kenya Scouting Society.
• The school also organized the annual educational tour for teachers and children to Bombolulu Workshop and Cultural Center. Bombolulu center is run by physically challenged people who make use of their crafting talents to earn a living and so be independent. They make handicrafts made of leather, metal, clay etc, sculptures of stone and wood and so many other things. After visiting Bombolulu, the children visited the Railway station in Mombasa where many of them were ableto see a train for the first time in their lives.

Teachers and pupils of KAG School at the Railway station, Mombasa

Environmental Education

• Capacity building: Through International Ocean Institute East African Office, KAG school was invited to participate in Environmental Training Workshop for teachers in December 2005. Two teachers represented the school. Through their training, the teachers have been disseminating knowledge learnt to children by establishing tree nurseries as well as tree planting in the school compound.
• Mangrove Walk board. Close to the end of 3rd term our Class 5 pupils had a wonderful time visiting the Gazi Mangrove Walkboard Project. This project is new and it highlights the uniqueness of mangrove environment, uses, threats and conservation efforts both nationally and Internationally. Mangrove forests provide wood for the people and home to fish and other marine animals

For a long time mangrove forests have been treated as wastelands but as scientists have continued to study them, it has become evident that their value is much more than most people can imagine. The children had a chance of asking questions about these rare forests and by the end of the visit, they realized that they too had a role to play in mangrove conservation. We hope our school will get a chance to participate in future mangrove replanting campaigns.

Tour of mangroves environment

by M/s Kwekwe & Michael

FROM OUR SPONSORS

……but the Greatest is love

My family and I have been sponsoring Amina’s education for nearly two years now. We’ve received letters and photos of Amina, her family and the school where she is taught. We live in the Peak District and my two sons (aged 8 and 6) attend the local village school. They have access to clean running water, electricity and proper drainage. The school provides science and sports equipment, arts and crafts materials, computers and virtual white boards. Sponsoring Amina has helped them to understand that not everyone is lucky like them. This year the children donated £25 which provided the school with another desk. Sadly we learnt earlier this year that Amina’s mother had died. The school has now set up a bursary system to help children in Amina’s position who without some additional monetary support would no longer be able to attend the school. In addition to sponsoring Amina’s education, we now send £25 each month to the bursary fund so that Amina is able to stay with her Grandmother and siblings and continue with her education. It is easy to lose sight of what is important between work and home commitments. My children are lucky as they have access to a free education and free health care. Sponsoring Amina has made me realize that a small contribution from one family can make a huge difference to another. I hope that one day we will meet Amina and her family and have the opportunity to visit the school and meet the staffs, who are making a difference to the lives of the people in their community.

Beth Meeds, Yorkshire, UK

FAREWELL

Lawrence Roberts lost his battle to cancer.

Together with his wife Mary, they sponsored a pupil at KAG school. They were active fundraisers and Lawrence particularly liked selling raffle tickets. He is missed.

Emley African School Projects

By Rosemary, Dilys and the team, UK.

Fundraising has been in earnest this year since I last wrote to you. It started with the yearly African Fayre last November in the church when we baked, made jam and had a raffle, tombola, hand made craft stall and bric a brac. We served lunch of home made soup and sandwiches and everyone enjoyed the day. Over £1000 was raised on the day thanks to the huge amount of work by our team and the support from the village of Emley. Films on the value of good education in Kenya have generated more funds and Sponsors for students and desks. St. Peter’s Primary School who have supported us several times in the past wish to continue the support by sponsorship.

A scene in the 2005 African Fayre - Emley, inset - Rosemary

St. Luke’s church Overton has invited me to speak twice this year to their Ladies Group and have continued their support especially by sponsoring desks. In May a local Brass Band had a charity concert which generated some more funds. In June we had a stall at the Rotary fete in the park where we sold African jewellery and carvings and second hand books which made £250. It is nearing the end of the year and days are getting shorter and colder here in Europe. We have gathered the fruit from the gardens and Gods harvest has been good this year. We are busy making jams, chutneys, cakes and pies to sell at the African Fare and we hope to have another good day.

I end my message with these thoughts:-

It is not always easy to raise these large sums of money and manage now, the large number of sponsored children but it would be impossible to achieve such excellent results without the outstanding dedication of the Headmaster Harrison Kamere, the teachers, and Kairo who work tirelessly to make KAG School ‘Rise and Shine’.

May God bless you all.

If you want to help a child at KAG School….

• School fees per child per year are approximately US$ 197 (equivalent to £110 or €160). This money is enough to buy lunch, stationery, uniform, pay teacher and transport the child to school for one year. Primary education in Kenya lasts for 8 years.
• You can also give a one off donation in the form of desks (1 desk will cost £25).
• You can give money to the Bursary fund set up for Orphans.
• Sponsors are encouraged to send their support through Mrs. Rosemary Donnan, 15 Tyburn Lane Emley, Huddersfield, HD 8 9SR ENGLAND.Or directly to the school account using the address below:-

• KAG Nursery & Building Project
• Kenya Commercial Bank (LTD)
• A/C No.: 113 121 558
• Swift code: KCBLKENX 094

Chidren’s Corner

A visit to Bombolulu Cultural Centre

Bombolulu Cultural Centre is the place where the physically disabled people stay and learn to make things like handicrafts and jewellery using local materials. Some people are dumb; others deaf and others are have no hands or legs. They make very beautiful things. There is a school on the compound where they can take their lessons

There are different workshops where these people can work and they are very serious. The leather workshop is where all leather items are made like purses, shoes and belts. There is a mobility Aid workshop where they manufacture wheel chairs of all kinds. This workshop was opened in 1994 and so it is 12 years old.

They at times get problems because they have to import some things from China and it takes a longtime. There is a Soldering workshop where all the necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other ornaments are made. The other workshop is where they coat the ornaments with gold and only the workers are allowed and so we did not see the inside of it.

This place is very interesting as almost all the workers are disabled. We learnt that those people my be ‘disabled but they are able”

Janet Osunga, Std 5, 11 yrs old

Let me tell you about my Class

My name is Abdalla Suleiman. I am talking about our class. We have eighteen boys and eleven girls andI am a prefect. We have three rows and pupils sit from Number one up to twenty nine. Our Class teacher is Madam Njeri. I am a good boy, I obey my parents. I like my class a lot.

Abdalla Suleman std1,6yrs old

Where do you Find Msambweni Division?

Msambweni division is found in Kwale district, Coast Province. It is headed by a Division Officer. The main economic activities in Msambweni are fishing, farming and tourism. In Msambweni there are no industries for employing people.

The main tribe is the “Digo” tribe which has the “Nondo” and the “Msambweni” divisions. Their dialects are different. The staple food of the people is maize meal and cassava When a baby is born, people called ‘Masheshe’ to come and pray for the baby. Children are named after their grandparents.

Traditional houses are made of mud and coconut fronds and it is men who build. The Digos used to pray in Kayas (Shrines) but nowadays most of them have become Muslims and so they go to the mosque for prayers.

Many children in Msambweni drop out of schools while still young. The boys go to the sea to become fishermen while girls get married early. It is only recently that people in Msambweni have started valuing education.

Amina Said Goda Std5,13 yrs

Map of Kenya showing Msambweni

The day of the floods

It was Friday morning. Dark clouds had formed in the sky. Strong winds blew from the West

Whoever was in bed needed another blanket to cover himself. Heavy rains followed. It rained cats and dogs that day. At the end there were puddles of water everywhere. Rivers were full of water too. The bridge near our school was overflowing with water too. The most affected areas were Kilifi and Kwale districts at the coast province. In Kilifi 5 people drowned in the floods while in Kwale 2 people died. The following day, it continued raining although the rain was much less. They were the worst two days this year.

Zainab Mzee, Std 3, 11 yrs old

Visitors book

We were privileged to receive a number of visitors into our school this year.

• July, 2006: Delegation of teachers from Belgium. The team promised to assist, however, possible to get a few computers for the school.
• August, 2006: The schools hosted 10 Earthwatch Volunteers. As in the past, the team donated stationery and game facilities. The team also planted trees in remembrance of their visit.
• October 2006. Sr. Juliana Kinaghua from sisters of St. Joseph Mombasa visited the school. The mission of the visit was to familiarize with herself of what makes our school shine.

by Emily Nyabuto

Earthwatch Volunteers love KAG School Msambweni

List of sponsored children and their sponsors

• Faith Rai (F, age 11, class 5): Jim and Rosemary Donnan, UK
• Mwanarusi Harun (F, age 9, class 1): Jim and Rosemary Donnan, UK
• Janet Osunga (F, age 11, class 5): Dilys and Michael Williams, UK
• Mikidadi Hamad (M, age 13, class 3): Rita Sparrow, UK
• Fatuma Bakari (F, age 10, class 3): Shelley and Malcolm Wild, UK
• Bakari Machafu (M, age 12, class 3): John Bullimore, UK
• Kadze Masoud (F, age 13, class 3): Bill and Pat Sutton, UK
• Pius Mwaura (M, age 9, class 3): Mary and Lawrence Roberts, UK
• Abdulhamid Khamisi (M, age 12, class 4): Rotary Club Horbury and Ossett, UK
• Ismail Ibrahim (M, age 9, class 3): Algie and Sue Vassis, UK
• Mwanamvua Mbwana (F, age 12, class 4): Algie and Sue Vassis, UK
• Ali Swaleh (M, age 14, class 4): Mike and Flo Bradley, UK
• Mohamed Swaleh (M, age 10, class 3): Christine Cummings, UK
• Abdul Faki (m, age 12, class 3): Mrs Kershaw, UK
• Swaleh Rashid (M, age 12, class 4): Gillian and John Emms, UK
• Hadija Mchambi (F, age 9, class 3): Rev. Christine Bullimore, UK
• Brian Njuguna (M, age 10, class 3): Brian and Pam Westerby, UK
• Asha Rashid (F, age 11, class 5): Jonathan Watkiss, UK
• Ali Mwasema (M, age 12, class 5): Jan and Nick Hunter, UK
• Mohammed Shee (M, age 12, class 5): Barry Bowden, UK
• Amina Said (F, age 13, class 5): Beth Meeds, UK
• Hassan Konzi (M, age 14, class 5): Marijke De Boer, Holland
• Joseph Gitundu (M, age 9, class 2): Anita Leversidge, UK
• Faunzia Bakari (F, age 11, class 5): Mark and Sarah, Scotland
• Teresia Leboo (F, age 9, class 3): Pete Cypret, CA, USA
• Gladys Nyambura (F, age 11, class 5): Juliet, UK
• Binti Said Goda (F, age 13, class 5): Mike & Lissete, UK
• Mohamed Mbwana (M, age 10, class 2): Algie And Sue, UK
• Mbwana Kassim (M, age 10, class 2): Richard Kirby, UK
• Zainiab Mzee (F, age 11, class 3): Dianne Hughes, UK
• Stella Kasyoki (F, age 12, class 3): Gill Hague, UK
• Chadama Rashid (age 13, class 4): Miss Phyllis Jubb, UK
• Haron Bunyo (M, age 12, class 4): Mrs Jean Haigh, UK
• Winny Harrison (F, age 13, class 5): Saint Peters Primary School, UK
• Ahmed Hassan (M, age 13, class 5): Saint Peters Primary School, UK
• Mkasi Musa (M, age 13, class 5): David And Susan Walker, UK
• Mariam Ali (F, age 13, class 4): Brian And Carlo, UK

Our Dear Sponsors

Although most of us have never seen you, we are grateful for what you have continued doing to change our lives. God bless you and merry Christmas and have a wonderful 2007

Message from Sponsored Children