Kijana Educational Empowerment Initiative

Kijana plants 1200 trees in Honor of Wangari Maathai

kijana_admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:52:59 +0000

In October 2011, Kijana officers in Kenya and students in various schools planted over 1200 tree seedlings in honor of the late Wangari Maathai, who passed away in September 2011. Professor Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement- which is credited with planting over 40 million trees in Africa, was the 2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Tree planting is dear to the mission of Kijana and one of the first activities we embarked upon as an organization. We planted these trees to honor, cherish and encourage the continued legacy of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. In the photo below, students at Ematsuli Secondary School, pose with some of the trees that they planted. At left in the photo is former Kijana Kenya chairperson, Bishop Charles Anabaka.

Boom in Ebusiloli Alums at University

kijana_admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:36:46 +0000

Ebusiloli Secondary School- our flagship secondary school- is seeing a large expansion of students going on to the University. This is a direct result of our longterm and sustained commitment to the school. In the early 2000s, Ebusiloli was sending at most one student a year on to university. Today at least 14 Ebusiloli alums are studying at various Kenyan Universities or on their way. Rhinah Ondiso was the first female student from Ebusiloli to go on to the University (at University of Nairobi and now recently completing at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas). Since 2007, 6 more young women from Ebusiloli have entered university, including Rhodah Musimbi, Bether Kangu, Christine Minayo, Ruth Apisi, and Millicent Afandi. Many of these alums gathered with headmaster Naman Anjichi at Ebusiloli for a small reunion in December. The community is proud of the growing number of students with higher education. It is a testament to the development of the school, including strong leadership, the commitment of the students, and the partnership with “Kijana.” Congratulations students, teachers and Ebusiloli community.

From left: Principal Naman Anjichi, John Mulima (Kenya Polytechnic University

College- University of Nairobi), Bether Kangu (Kenyatta University), Ruth Apisi

(KenyaPolytechnic University College- U of Nairobi), Richard Otanga (Kisii

University College-Egerton University), Kennedy Oywaya (Maseno University);

Front: Elisha Odongo (Kenyatta University) Back: Rhoda Musimbi (Kisii

University College- Egerton University), Christine Minayo (Maseno University),

Robert Ouko (University of Nairobi), Elphas Otanga (Karatina University College-

Moi University), Jack Onjote (to join Maseno University). Absent: Peterson Ongong’o and Beverlyne Kenyani.

TBS Students collect 3000 books for Mwituha Library

kijana_admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:30:35 +0000

Students from The Benjamin Upper School International Club (in Palm Beach Gardens, FL) held a holiday book drive for the new library at Mwituha Secondary School- recently built by “Kijana.” The students collected 3000 books of a huge variety of titles which we will be shipping over to Mwituha. The diversity of titles and number of books should make Mwituha amongst the best equipped rural schools in Kenya. Students from The Benjamin School in this photo stand outside the van of books they collected awaiting transport to the “Kijana” office. We are grateful to the TBS International Club for their initiative and energy in striving to enrich the reading opportunities of their fellow high school students in Kenya. Thank you TBS International Club for your contribution toward a “global partnership for development.” We look forward to showing photos of the books arriving at Mwituha in a few months.

Kijana contributes to artistic growth in Bunyore

kijana_admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:01:03 +0000

Students perform on the stage of the new amphitheater at Mwituha Secondary School- financed by “Kijana” and developed under the guidance of Kenyan architect Jeremiah Awori. The beautiful new multi-purpose structure will house thousands of books and encourage the advancement of the visual arts and architecture in western Kenya.

New Mwituha Library

kijana_admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:20:54 +0000

Members of the Mwituha School community are proud and appreciative of the new library/amphitheater we have constructed at Mwituha Secondary School The opening ceremony was held in July of 2011. Students have a new comfortable place to enjoy reading. We are busy working to add resources to develop one of the best and most creative educational structures in western Kenya. In this photo students are studying in the recently completed library.