Partnering for Education: RC Kilifi, KESHO and KilifiKids

The second set of a series of videos shot by Erik Michielsen during the epic tour by KilifiKids Organization committee is finally out. In this video, we hear about how the partnership between these three like-minded organizations  have helped improve the lives of over 300 students to date through primary and secondary school sponsorships. 

Follow this link to the awesome video, where we get to hear first hand accounts of the details from a few of the students: RC Kilifi, KESHO & KilifiKids partnership

Background

RC Kilifi is a keen partner in the sponsorship of selected bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds within the community living in Kilifi County. The club partners with robust Rotarians from RC Amersham (USA), spearheaded by one of KilifiKids founders, Michael Olsen. Out of the 25 students (16 girls, 9 boys)  in secondary schools currently under its wing, two of them are in prestigious national schools (Nairobi School and Limuru Girls), while the rest are in provincial schools located in Kilifi county. 

With an initial target of 50 students, the program is now in its third year of running. However, the clubs are facing the challenge of drying up of funds, as fees for the various schools keep on escalating each year. The average cost of sponsoring a secondary school student at national level is almost twice that of sponsoring one at the provincial level. Due to this, no extra student was selected for sponsorship this current year, with the funds available just enough to sponsor the students currently in the program. Despite this, the partnership has achieved commendable results as can be heard in the video interviews.

Is school-based education all they get?

The students need more than just their school fees to be paid in order for them to have the opportunity to rise up to their potential and sustain the momentum. As part of Kesho's Youth Development Programme, the students are exposed to academic guidance and counselling during the holidays by Rotarians from Kilifi, Moving The Goalposts (MTG) and other partners. Some students are also involved in Kesho/Rotary/MTG peer support groups in their schools.  In addition, several open days have been held during the year 2010, including a Careers Day, a Reproductive Health Day, and a Parents Day to expose the students to pertinent issued that are of great concern to their academic development. This year RC Kilifi  hosted an open day targeting the Rotary sponsored students, to orientate them about the work of Rotary in the community and the world. The event was well attended with the Rotarians allowing the students to talk freely, get to know each other,and giving motivation speeches and the raison d'etre of Rotary Clubs worldwide.

My name is..

Open session, where motivation talks,
problems encountered in school, and what Rotary
is all about were discussed.

"A student does not live on books alone",
so to speak.

Ruth, an active Rotarian-to-be, shows us how to jig
in the warm up session.

One on one interaction with the students

Rtn Zena gives a wrap up of the day

Envisioned future plans

RC Kilifi and KilifiKids are working in earnest to see that the initial target of sponsoring 50 students is met, and that all the students perform well in their exams, despite the setbacks. The first cohort of Rotary sponsored students will graduate from their respective secondary school at the end of 2011 (12 in total). Students who gain a C+ or above in their KCSE examination are selected through the Joint Admission Board for subsidized degree-level education in the public universities. However, competition is quite tough for the spaces available in the universities for the degree of choice, thus a candidate has to perform exceptionally well. All  not lost, however, as a range of other tertiary institutions exist for diploma and certificate-level training. 

With the community's and other well-wishers support, our students will be assured of access to quality education, and an opportunity to make lemonade from the lemons we have. We also hope to mine and mould quality leaders at this young age through mentorship in the ideals of Rotary.

One big happy family of students and Rotarians.