We empower Nairobi children living in poverty to transform their lives through education and support, leading to employment.
In 2012, we had our first five students finish high school and in 2013 another twelve students joined their ranks. We have treated this first group of 17 as a pilot project as we worked to shape the Post-Secondary Program.
Based on our mission
The underpinning of the Post-Secondary Program begins with our mission statement which concludes with these words: “so they can transform their lives.” The question is, what is the measure of a life transformed?
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Rippleside third graders, members of an American Girl Reading Club, were inspired by books from the Addy series and decided to make a difference for Kenyan students. After reading the true story of Addy Walker, a black girl born into slavery, the four, Teagan Piecek and Kayli Bill, along with Teagan’s mom Jen and Rippleside teacher Kayla Hinkemeyer, wanted to do something culturally-based to expose others to the needs of people in other parts of the world. Read More:http://www.messagemedia.co/aitkin/article_c7ab6dee-9330-11e3-8f59-0017a4…
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.
[Read more…]Each year, students finishing 8th grade take the Kenya Comprehensive Primary Exam (KCPE) the results of which determine the caliber of high school they will attend. Prioritizing success, we dedicate resources to maximize KCPE performance, recognizing its significance in shaping students’ future prospects.
For instance, the initiative motivates 8th graders to engage in focused tutoring, enhancing their readiness for the upcoming examination.
The KCPE is a 500-point exam; the national average in 2013 was 244.
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