I just returned from my 13th visit to Kenya in the past seven years. My overwhelming impression from this visit is that the core elements of the Primary and Secondary Programs are working incredibly well.
We have focused on improving our selection processes in the past year and I believe we are recruiting an ever-higher caliber of students. This is important as we know that good students in primary school generally have the best chances of success when they become adolescents.
Our staff in Kenya is dedicated and impressive. We want you to get to know them so will begin profiling one person in each of our upcoming newsletters. Read about Naomi Kamanda in this one. We’ll be bringing Naomi to the U.S. in September and I hope you’ll have a chance to meet her in person.
We have worked to shape our Post-Secondary Program throughout 2013. You can read about what happens to students once they finish high school in the article about the “Evolving Post-Secondary Program” as well as a profile of Marline Wanjiku, a 2012 graduate now in our Post-Secondary Program and currently working at Digital Divide Data.
We had a fantastic class of students finish 8th grade in 2013 and our first students in the history of the program were admitted to National high schools. These schools are supported by the government and offer the highest academic standards at the lowest cost – a winning combination! However, to be admitted a student normally has to achieve marks above 370 out of 500 as four of our students did. This year I am proud to say that our staff presented our program and pressed our case and secured an additional three slots for children who scored slightly below 370. That means we will have a total of seven kids attending National high schools this year.
There are so many examples of children who are taking advantage of the chance you are giving them in life.
Thank you for your support! It transforms lives.
Paula Meyer, President
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