Angaza 2007

Editorial

A team from Emley inspecting school’s development project, Nov. 2007

This is the 4th Edition of KAG School newsletter, ANGAZA. The newsletter serves to inform, educate and entertain KAG fraternity – both in Kenya and abroad. Among the school’s achievements in the ending year is participation in the 2007 National School Music and Drama festivals in which the school emerged position 14th overall.

Academically, there have been great improvements, and most of the kids have been promoted to the next class.

In 2007, we were privileged to host teams from Earthwatch Program as well as the Emley African Schools Project (UK) that support our school.

In this issue, you will read about the KAG School Development Plan for 2008 and beyond. Currently the school is busy constructing an administration block and a dinning room expected to complete by early 2008. Other planned activities include electrification program and erecting a fence around the school.

In a special sermon delivered on the occasion to mark Palm Sunday (p.6) Mrs Rosemary Donnan challenges us on our contributions in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

Once again let me take the opportunity of thanking each one of you for making this year a success. May you have a very wonderful Christmas and happy New Year 2008.

School Board of Management

• Chairman: Joseph Gathonga
• Manager: Rev. Francis R. Ndoro
• Coordinator of international links: James G. Kairo
• Treasurer: Caroline Wanjiru

School Administration

• Headmaster: Mr. Harrison Kamere
• Accountant: Mr Alphose Okumu
• Curriculum Heads: M/s Doris Bagubagu, M/s Joyce Njeri
• Students Councilor Discipline: Mr. Christopher Michael and Irene Onderi
• Games Mistress: Grace Katana

KAG Story - past, present and future

A preview of a speech prepared by Dr. J. G. Kairo, Board Member, KAG School; during the KAG Special Day held on 26th Nov. 2007

Ladies and gentlemen, from its humble beginning in 2001, KAG School has grown to be a much respected institution of learning in Msambweni district. The current enrolment stands at 250 pupils of which 150 are boys. There are 10 teachers in the school; 6 of them ladies.

To cater for the increasing number of pupils at the school, KAG School depends on donations and education bursary from well-wishers, both locally and internationally. We are grateful to our European and American network for their continued support towards achieving the school goal. Our greatest support so far has been realized through the Emley African School Projects as well as the Earthwatch Volunteers who have been visiting the school since August 2004. Led by Rosemary and Dilys, this year we were very privileged to host 10 members from Emley that visited the school in November 2006. The total support received from Emley now exceeds £45,000 (approx. KSh6m).

KAG School is registered as a non-profit organization, and is adhered to reaching the unreachable through affordable quality education. While most private schools in Kenya charges fees in excess of £600 (KSh. 80,000) per annum, at the KAG School, the fees per year is £120. At the KAG School we do not discriminate on colour, religion, or sex. The school strictly follows national education curriculum.

Ongoing construction work at KAG School

Ladies and gentlemen, KAG School is very committed to enhancing education in Msambweni district in Kenya. We are currently in a major development program to improve our infrastructure. First and foremost the school is seeking ways to install electricity in the classrooms. Other development projects earmarked for 2008 and beyond include construction of IT Centre; library, dining hall as well as erecting a fence around the school. All these are estimated to cost approximately £10,000 (Ksh1. 3million)

To meet these challenges, KAG School board is seriously seeking donations from individuals, parents, and organizations. At the KAG School we embrace the saying that education is the key. It is the education we give to the children that will enable them to ‘rise’ and ‘shine’

Thank you.

Message from the Headmaster

It is with humility that once again I write in this 4th edition of ANGAZA magazine. I cherish the zeal and enthusiasm the school board of management, the sponsors, teachers, and pupils have shown in making KAG a great school.

Going places: KAG School’s Headmaster on the street of Seychelles – Aug. 2007

This year our school engaged itself with co-curricular activities. Our scouting/girl guide movement did us proud by attending camps outside the school. Our environment club also participated in this year’s National Wetland Day organized by Kenya Wildlife Service in Shimoni. To crown it all, our school participated in the 2007 edition of National School Drama and Music Festivals and emerged position 14 overall.

These are things which as small as they may be, but put together add up to making KAG a great school. It is bravo to the participants of the activities I have mentioned and even those not mentioned by me.

I should also mention that towards the end of the 2nd term, I had a rare opportunity to travel to Seychelles and attend Coastal and Environmental Ecology Field Study that was funded by Earthwatch Institute in UK. While in Seychelles I was challenged by class 5 pupils of a school we visited who had set their own weather station. School children were involved in collecting environmental data, such as rainfall and temperature, and the records sent to national weather forecast station to assist them in their work. I found this approach very encouraging and I hope in future we emulate the challenge in our school. My entire trip was an eye opener for me and the school at large.

We therefore need to conserve our environment for better tomorrow. May I end by wishing our school every success and to thank all those who are involved in moldings of this school and indeed the community and our donors. Thank you.

Harrison Kamere, Headmaster, KAG School

Noticeboard

• During the 2006/07 FY the school employed four new teachers: John Mbugua, Grace Katana, Winfred Munyiva, Irene Onderi . The school also employed Bibi Juma Mwaganda as a subordinate staff in charge of cleaning.
• Our current enrolment stands at 250 children, 46 of whom are sponsored. Towards the end of 2006, we had a total of 210 children and so have increased by 40 children
• Next term starts on 8th Jan 2008

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Environmental Club.

Our school attempts to bring environmental ethics to the young. In February 2007, members of environmental club participated in National Wetland Day in Shimoni organized by Kenya Wildlife Service. Activities during this day included beach cleaning, singing, reciting poems as well as visiting historic site at Shimoni

A visit to Shimoni

Scouts and Girl Guides:

In March, 2007, the KAG School Girl Guide group was officially registered by the Kenya Girl Guide Association (KGGA). This registration will allow KAG School to benefit from KGGA including annual meetings and resource materials on girl child.

National Music and Drama festival.

In August 2007 KAG participated in the National Music and Drama festivals in which they attained position 14 overall

A visit to a dentist

Economist: I have a toothache. How much will it cost to extract one?

Dentist: Five hundred shillings.

Economist: And three teeth The more teeth you extract, the cheaper the cost. Three teeth would cost you 300 shillings

Economist: Extract six teeth I guess these will be at no cost

Anna Phyllis, Std 4

Boil over

Vijay: Sir, why do we always use boiled water?

Sir: Vijay, boiling kills most of the germs.

Bittu: Aah! Father, my tooth is hurting .

Sir: Vijay, please take Bittu to the dentist he has a toothache.

Vijay: How did he get the toothache sir?

Sir: Germs cause teeth to decay Vijay.

Vijay: Master, then why send him to the dentist? Let’s boil his teeth and kill the germs.!

Sir: Yaahg

John Gathonga, Std 6

Meeting the Millennium Challenges

This is a shortened version of a sermon given by Rosemary Donnan on the occasion to mark Palm Sunday on Sunday, 20th May, 2000 at the KAG Church, Msambweni.

My Dear Brethrens

This Sunday Christians from at least 32 countries in Europe are praying that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), set out in the year 2000 for a better world will be achieved. The date for achievement was set for 2015. We are half way there but have we met our targets? I think that we have much more work to do than we have done.

This world has enough for our satisfaction not for our greed

In 2000, the church defined MDG as the Micah Challenge (Micah 6 v8):

The Lord has told us what is good. What He requires of us is:-

• To do what is just
• To show constant love
• To live in humble fellowship with our God

The goals of this challenge are

• Reduce poverty by halving the number of people living on less than 1 dollar a day.
• Reduce the number of deaths of children under 5 years of age by three quarters
• Reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases.
• Improve water supplies and sanitation worldwide
• Tackle climate change causing droughts and floods throughout the world.
• Make Trade fair.
• Education for all.

So, what are Christians in UK doing to achieve this goal?

• We pray constantly for a just and fair world where everyone is equal and wealth is shared.
• We write letters to the Prime Minister and politicians to make laws that make the world a fairer place. Laws to reduce carbon emissions and make rules of trade that are fair and just.
• We protest out side the Parliament buildings to bring attention to all our greed.
• We ask questions about where our commodities come from, and buy from shops that ensure correct prices have been paid to the farmers and workers. Also that working conditions are not bad for the labourers. No child labour.
• My friends and I made our own Millennium Goal in 2000 and that was to improve the education in a small area of Kenya by building a school.
• I think half way to the millennium targets we in Emley village U.K. have nearly achieved our Micah Challenge.

My challenge to you today is you make sure that you act justly with each other, show mercy to everyone and walk humbly with your God.

I hope in 2015 I can meet my Brothers and Sisters throughout the world without shame that we did achieve these goals and meet the Micah challenge.

May the Holy Spirit guide us all this Pentecost and always Amen

May God Bless you all

My Birthday Cake

Saida Hassan. KG1, 5yrs

Ali: What do I do when I swallow a rat?

Hassan: Swallow a cat to eat it.

Ali: Why do giraffes have long necks?

Hassan: Because they hate the smell of their feet.

Brian Njuguna, Std 4, 11yrs

WHAT OUR SPONSORS SAY

Letters from UK

Like most people, we had a vision of Kenya long before our trip, of its people and its culture. Our relatives in Yorkshire Mike and Dilys Williams are regular visitors to the area and had painted a vivid picture for us, but the reality far surpassed our expectations and 10 days proved to be far too short a visit.

From our casual walk along the dusty road from the hotel to Ukunda where we stopped for a 'soda' at The African Pot', bought souvenirs from Joyce and Alice at The Arts Boutique, bartered with Jacob who showed us to his 'office' (a log on the beach) and negotiated for our purchases. To our 3 days at Finch Hattons in Tsavo West where our fellow visitors were crocodiles and hippos and we were 'lulled to sleep' to the sound of bullfrogs, the whole experience was wonderful.

But by far the highlight of this holiday was our visit to the school and our meeting with Mr Harrison and the children, particularly Evelynne and Zuena whom we have recently sponsored together with our son Adrian and his wife Lisa.

The Headmaster, Mr Harrison, is very proud of his charge and quite rightly so, like a parent whose child is obviously doing very well. With more building to be done and ambitions to fulfill, he is still only part way through his journey but what he has achieved so far with his dedicated staff is quite obvious.

From the cheery, cheeky, fresh faced younger children in the kindergarten, to the older children, slightly calmer, a little less cheeky, yet still very cheery, the school has an optimistic atmosphere about it. We felt privileged to see pupils in their classes and to hear their happy song of welcome.

In six short years the school has flourished and this growth is in no small way due to the hard work and enthusiasm of a band of people in Yorkshire headed by Rosemary and Jim Donnan, assisted by Mike and Dilys Williams, Rita Sparrow and a host of others who unfortunately we do not know, who have done amazing fund raising work since the idea was first conceived.

The vision we had prior to our visit has now been superseded by reality and the knowledge that this is a country full of hard working people with wide smiles - the majority of whom speak perfect English – we left Kenya with a determination to return in the not-too-distant future.

Malcolm and Gill Wheeler / September 2007.

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

• School fee per child per year is approximately US$ 250 (equivalent to £110 or €160). This money is enough to buy lunch, stationery, uniform, pay teacher and transport the kid to school for one year. Primary education in Kenya lasts for 8 years.
• You can also give a one off donation inform of desks (1 desk will cost £25).
• 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.: 094 113 121 558
• Swift code : KCBLX

*for a follow-up please let us know when you send donation directly into the school account

A Trip to Behold

We had heard a lot about Kenya and its people from our friends who have been here before. We had seen photographs, video clips and we were told about the problems, which some Kenyan people faced on a daily basis for example, unemployment, poor housing, and lack of clean water, health and education. Yet despite all that, we didn’t truly understand.

KAG Cricket team posing for a photograph

It is said a ‘picture paints a thousand words’, but that is still not enough. The only way for us to fully appreciate and understand was to come and see for ourselves. We were honored by the warmth of the welcome we received also that what little we had done in raising money for certain projects, had been so greatly appreciated by all concerned. We will never forget the smiling faces and the constant greetings - ‘Jambo’, ‘Karibu’ and ‘Asante’.

We (Nick & Chris) are members of Rotary International, who have been involved in a number of projects in the Msambweni district, what was formally Kwale District, in the south coast of Kenya. In respect of KAG School, Rotary has supplied desks and materials so that first aid could be taught in the school, so far four courses have been run.

In recent years the Emley African School Project under the direction of Rosemary Donnan and Dilys Williams has raised a substantial amount of money; the amount of which is nothing less than amazing. It was staggering to realise and actually see what has been achieved since the fundraising started and what can be achieved under careful management by the KAG Headmaster and Board of Governors. There were many illustrations of this including the rapid construction work now under way at the primary school.

We cannot begin to describe the joy of seeing the children in their classrooms and later visiting some of the sponsored children & their families at their homes. We had the opportunity of handing over a quantity of cricket equipment, which had kindly been donated, then teaching John and John (teaching staff) the basics of cricket! They later told us that four classes had now participated and had taken to this ‘new’ sport.

The dedication of all members of staff (teaching & support) was unprecedented, the conduct and educational development of the children under their care was a credit to all. We also saw how many others had supported the school in some small way, by purchasing desks and other items; in particular dedications by someone who we knew (Elsie Mountain) but who we did not know had been involved.

The climax of the visit was the excellent end of term graduation ceremony, in which we again had the privilege of being involved, feeding the graduation cake to the pupils and presenting them with their certificates. The entertainment provided by other pupils was a joy to behold; they were so enthusiastic about everything they did.

Our two weeks in Kenya was all too short, we have taken many photographs and have lots of film to remind us of our time with you. We also hope that with these ‘pictures’ we can try and explain to others the good work that is being done here and how much more can be achieved with financial support. We will recommend that others visit to see for themselves, so they too can really begin to understand that there is real merit in supporting the Kenyan people and the work at KAG School.

We were proud to have helped in some small way and will continue to do so, not least by sponsoring the education of your children. So ‘Kwaheri’ or ‘adieu’ - until we meet again!

Nick & Jan Hunter and Chris & Annette Taylor - 30 November 2007

About Emley African School Projects

We are a small group of friends living in a village called Emley in the UK. The group is jointly managed and run by Jim and Rosemary Donnan and Michael and Dilys Williams. The team consists of Rita Sparrow ( Dilys's sister), Mary Roberts ,Susan Greaves ,Pam Westerby, Blanche Pickard, Irvine and Sylvia Gannon.

We hold an African Fayre in November each year involving all the team, and a few extra helpers on the day, to whom we are very grateful. Throughout the year Rosemary does film shows accompanied by Dilys and Rita as the very valuable sales team. Occasionally we hold special events such as tea in our garden which was very successful earlier this year. Michael and Jim also do various other things to promote the cause and are invaluable in carrying heavy boxes, moving furniture, visiting the bank and Michael does the accounts.

Rosemary Donan

Meet some of the fundraisers: L-R Hind row: Hazel,Rita,Irvine,Sylvia Front row: Pam, Dilys, Rosemary

Children’s Corner

A Day to Remember……….

KAG in a musical poem: HIV & AIDS

It was on Monday morning, the weather was cool and calm. The sun was dazzling in the clear azure sky as we were waiting for the hired matatu. This is the day we had been waiting for a long time. We were traveling to Nakuru for the 2007 National Schools Music and Drama Festival. Our school was presenting a choral verse.

There and then the matatu came in a neck- breaking speed. It pulled up short to where we were. We cheered, jumped up and down like frogs during rainy days. Bubbles of joy burst within us. We quickly made a queue and boarded peacefully, one by one. We were 25 all together, 22 pupils and 3 teachers.

A visit to Lake Nakuru National Park

The bus started the journey some minutes to 1.00 O’clock.. After traveling for about seventy kilometers, some of us took their forty winks. I felt heavy eyed but tried my best not to sleep. I enjoyed viewing some features like plateaus, hills and plains. The bus reached Nakuru at 5.00 O’clock the following day. The area was so cold such that our heavy woollen jackets couldn’t stop the hostile weather. At exactly 10.00 am another matatu drove by and took us to a Shammah college . The director was thrilled to see us and tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she welcomed us. She showed us where to sleep after a friendly conversation. We practiced harder before the big day. The following day after breakfast, the journey to the venue set the ball rolling.

We reached Nakuru Lions School at about 4.00 pm. After performing, we took our seats and waited for the results. When the results were read out, we were position 14. Although it was contrary to our expectations, we were happy having defeated many schools. It was quite a trial.

The teachers had promised us that they would take us to Lake Nakuru Narional Park and they did what they had promised. . At 7:00 pm we went to the bus station and came back to Msambweni. Come rain come sunshine the day will forever be inscribed in my memory.

Hassan Konzi, Std 6

TONGUE TWISTERS

• She sells sea shells on the sea shores of sychelles.
• Seyyid Said said that Sadik said that somebody said the stalled shop was his.
• If Cantai can tie a tie why can’t I tie a tie?
• Americans can can what can be canned but they can not can what can not be canned.
• Betty bought a bit of bitter butter, but the bit of butter was so bitter that Betty bought a better bit of bitter butter.

Visitors Book

In 2007 our school received a number of visitors, both from within and abroad;

• March 2007: the Deputy Director of Education from Nairobi, Mr Magochim made an official trip to the school
• August 2008: We were privileged host 8 Earthwatch volunteers in our school. One of the volunteers, Ms Rowena Luscombe, of Barclays Bank (UK) remained with us teaching for a day.
• May, 2007: Our sponsors Jim and Rosemary Donnan as well as Malcolm and Gill Wheeler visited the school. In the same month we received Jayne and John Barton of Manchester UK.
• November 2007. The school hosted a 10 member delegation from Emley African Schools Project, UK. The team donated stationery, game equipments and bought text books.

List of KAG School Sponsors

KAG has continued attracting sponsors from all over the world. Since space cannot allow us to list all the support we have received from well wishers globally, I will only provide hereunder a list sponsors that have paid fees 2007 to the children at the KAG>

Individual Sponsorships

UK

• Jim and Rosemary Donnan
• Jim and Rosemary Donnan
• Dilys and Michael Williams
• Rita Sparrow
• Shelley and Malcolm Wild
• John Bullimore
• Bill and Pat Sutton
• Mary Roberts
• Algie and Sue Vassis
• Algie and Sue Vassis
• Mike and Flo Bradley
• Christine Cummings
• Mrs Kershaw
• Gillian and John Emms
• St Peters School x2
• David and Susan Walker
• Beryl Brookes
• Shirley Jackson
• Jim Huggins
• Jane Waldron
• Rev. Christine Bullimore
• Brian and Pam Westerby
• Jonathan Julia and Anna Watkiss
• Jan and Nick Hunter
• Barry Bowden
• Beth Meeds
• Anita Leversidge
• Juliet Clara and Alice
• Mike & Lissete
• Algie And Sue
• Dianne Hughes
• Gill Hague
• Miss Phyllis Jubb x2
• Mrs Jean Haigh
• David And Susan Walker
• Brian And Carol x2
• The Rotary Club
• Whitechapel Church
• Mike, Penny, Isabelle and Felix
• Gill and Malcolm Wheeler
• Adrian and Lisa Wheeler

Scotland

• Mark and Sarah

The Netherlands

• Marijke De Boer

USA

• Pete Cypret
• David Grenier

Cooperate sponsorship (UK)

• Rotary Club Horbury and Ossett
• Saint Peters Primary School

Our Dear Sponsors,

Although most of us have never seen you, we are grateful for what you have continued doing to change our lives .We love you very much .May God bless you and have a merry Christmas and have a wonderful 2008.

Message from Sponsored Children