The Joy and Pride of Prize Giving Day

One can feel the excitement at Elite Schools as Prize Giving Day approaches. The grounds of the school are given a thorough grooming, tents are erected, 1500+ chairs are set in place and the sounds of the students rehearsing songs and dances can be heard all over campus.

On the morning of the event exhibits by science and maths clubs are on display along with the exhibits of the Red Cross and other civic groups.

The school marching band,dressed smartly in their maroon uniforms, along with a large contingent of Kenyan girls and boy scouts begin the festivities as they march onto the field and then pass in review before the attending dignitaries. Groups of students from kindergarten to Form 4 entertain with delightful songs, native dances and skits.

After remarks by the principle and school manager, the guest of honor, professor Dankit Nassiuma, Vice Chancellor of Kabarak University, gave the keynote address.

Then began the most important part of the day's activities - the presentation of awards to the outstanding 2011 students. How our hearts swelled as many of the children acceptinawards were our own Makena children.

Awards given were as follows: John Muiruri - Bugle; Simon Mwangi - Most Disciplined;
Samson Machohi - Maths, Chemistry, Geography, Computer; Rose Waithira - Biology, Chemistry, Business Studies, Maths. Our students were now holding multiple trophies when the most prestigious awards of all were announced - the awards for Best Boy and Best Girl. Best Girl? Our own Rose Waithira who received a very large trophy while 25 of her extended family stood and cheered. Her relatives made the long, uncomfortable Matatu ride from Maraigushu to witness this extraordinary day in the life of their family. After the close of Prize Giving Day all of the attendees were treated to lunch by the school owners. All in all, a very memorable day!

Sharing Easter with the parents and guardians

A tired cow was just one obstacle on the steep, rocky road that curves up from Naivasha to the village of Maraigushu where the Makena families live. Power poles finally parallel the road, but so far none of our families can afford the $400 connection fee. The parents and guardians were waiting for us at Isabel Muthoni's grandmother's home and welcomed us warmly. During a two hour meeting, we discussed the future of our high school graduates, new administrative policies and heard all their comments, suggestions and questions.
When our dialogue ended, the much needed rain pounded on the metal roof. The raucous sound prevented any further conversation. A delicious Kikuyu lunch, prepared by the families, was served.
We were thrilled that University student Simon Ngure had traveled eight hours to spend the day with us. He enjoyed taking photos with the camera we provided him. (See his photos below.) Also, our Wellsprings High School students, Mary Wanjiku and Martha Waithera celebrated this holiday with us.

Reunion with students at Nyahururu Elite Schools

Shortly after dropping off our bags at the Waithaka's home on the Elite campus, we walked outside and two students, Naiomi Wairimu and Hannah Njeri, ran to give us welcome hugs. While the children finished their exams, we waited impatiently to spend time with them and share the books you donated. Starting with our first student interview, we were so moved by their enthusiastic response to the opportunity to choose more than one book. When told she could have three books, Virginia Wangui carefully made her choices, then held up the fourth book and-with a big smile-said, "Ple-e-ease?" Of course we said yes. This was just the beginning of an afternoon filled with the same awed response from the other children as they left with three or more books of their own. On our last night in Nyahururu, we called in all the junior students to look at the remaining primary/kindergarten books. Although our youngest child is in fifth grade, we watched as they scrambled to select every book including the kindergarten materials. It's hard to imagine kids in America being this excited over paperbacks.

Samson Machohi received a prestigious scholarship to Strathmore University.

Solomon Wanyoike is studying veterinary medicine.

Hannah Wanja is enjoying her accounting studies.

Meeting with some of our University students

We spent a lovely Sunday evening relaxing with three Makena kids who are kids no longer. Hannah, Samson, and Solomon are now confident University students. Hannah is the first child to enter the Makena program. Looking radiant ( she confided she's
In love) Hannah brought two friends along to meet us. They are all juniors in accounting at Kenyatta University. Samson received a scholarship to Strathmore University where he is studying business and Information technology. Solomon is studying veterinary medicine at the University of Nairobi. All of them said they dream of international travel some day. Sweet.

More Elite campus flowers

Campus flowers

Blogging?

Well...we had hoped to enjoy blogging, using this as a way of journaling and capturing all the special, productive and sometimes hilarious happenings that mark our every day in Kenya. We knew that internet access might be sparse, but we had no idea how rare our opportunity to connect with you would be. When we arrived in Nairobi, we were told that a ship had pulled into the port of Mombasa and promptly dropped anchor right on an undersea fiber optic cable, severing it. So we could expect to have very little Internet access during our stay. That has proved to be the case. Finally, here in Naivasha, we are online. Outside,the season of the long rains seems to have finally begun. The dusty earth is responding to the downpour by giving off the most lovely floral fragrance. The people here, so many of them farmers who grow food for their families, pass us, hold out their hands to catch the raindrops, look at us and say, "What a blessing. It is a blessing."----- Only one little boy, like children everywhere, sings in perfect English, "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day..."

Arrival

Coming into sparkling Dubai, all gleaming white marble and shiny steel---the call to prayer echoing thru the airport---I learned that I could not pick up my luggage. Because our connection to Kenya left in less than 24 hours, they preferred to keep it for me. The next day we arrived in the jangle that is Nairobi and the luggage belt broke, so my luggage somewhere in the maze. After two hours of asking every baggage official I could find where my luggage might be, I found a young woman in the neon-baggage-official vest to help me. She promptly asked for my baggage tags and disappeared into the throng. Just when I was sure I had made a huge mistake handing over my luggage tags, she reappeared, my bags in hand---giving me hope for Kenya's future. Anne

I'm on my way to Dubai where I will meet up with Anne Batzer, MCF volunteer extraordinaire and dear friend. I left B'ham at 6:30 am headed for Dallas. At 12:30 I departed Dallas on Emirates Airline at 12:30 pm headed to Dubai. We are scheduled to arrive at Noon. Flying time...14 hours and15 minutes. The flight back from Dubai to Houston is 16 hours long! That's enough whining. Anne I'll arrive in Dubai tonight and we will continue on to Nairobi tomorrow. I like this airline - efficient, well staffed, friendly, beautiful flight attendants with great uniforms and new equipment. Can't wait to see Charles, Francis, the Waithakas and most of all our students.

Sorting and packing books for Kenya

Makena Children's Foundation volunteers, Elizabeth Willey and Bert Brosowsky, help sort and pack books for our trip to Kenya. Friends, family and strangers from Alabama, California, Florida, Texas, Oregon and Virginia donated mor than 400 books

Kenya 2012

Jambo:
Makena Children's Foundation President Sherri Mills and I arrive in Nairobi Saturday, March 31 for a whirlwind couple of weeks of warm reunions, important meetings and work with our Kenyan management team, Francis and Charles Karanja. We look forward to connecting with each child, their families and their school personnel. 

One focus for us this trip is checking out options for vocational training for our high school graduates who did not score high enough on their exams to receive government support for college.

We look forward to sharing information with you on this blog whenever we can.

As always, thank you for your generous support,
                                                                       Anne Batzer

Changing the world...one child at a time