Good News from Kenya!

Dear KCEF Friends & Partners,

The school term has just ended in Kenya, both students and teachers now have a seven week break before beginning another school year. After all of these years, and after working through the perils/closures of covid, it seems like a good time to reflect on what has been (and is being) accomplished in the lives of our students and teachers. We have just recently heard from a number of them.

AUSTINE ANYANGO, teacher at Kicoshep School, wrote to express her gratitude:

“The new curriculum in Kenya has demanded new teaching materials, text books and supplies. You at KCEF have helped to provide these for us. The daily feeding for our students has promoted their health, and improved daily attendance dramatically. The students are now equipped with computer skills which will help them in transition to a digital world which was unknown to them”.

VALARY AKINYI, 7th grader at Kicoshep, expressed thanks for the daily hot breakfast & lunch:

“This has improved my attendance at school and performance in class. Many times at home there is no food and I find it very hard to study. I am so grateful that the school provides these meals for us each day, and I am anxious to return to school every Monday”.

SELINE MUNYASA, founder of Blessed Children’s Centre in Kibera slum wrote to reflect on our many years of partnership:

“When we met you, we had nothing but one room which we used to call school. Students sat on the dusty floor, and roof leaks were a big problem. The classes were separated by hanging grain bags. Our partnership with KCEF has taken us from grass to grace! Now we have good, separate rooms for each class. Teachers are paid a full salary each month, all year. We are able to give our students much needed meals each day. Our teachers are being trained to improve their skills, and the learning of their students”.

Head Teacher MICHAEL MAINGI of Mawewa School in Mathare slum wrote to say:

“Your impact on Mawewa has been immeasurable since the first day you set foot into our school. The feeding program has been so impactful—for both health and good academic results. The computers you introduced to us have enabled us to open the world to our learners who were only confined to the immediate slums. Now we have children who want to pursue careers in IT! At a personal level, KCEF challenged me to pursue a diploma, a degree, and—God willing—I shall be starting my Masters degree soon. Many other teachers here have pursued further education through the KCEF revolving loan fund”.

These are just a few of the notes and emails we have received in the past few weeks. They are so encouraging to us—and we trust they are to you as well. Thank you for standing with us, as we continue to stand with our 2000+ students—and their families. Please continue to help us as we carefully and prayerfully work with all of them to move “from grass to grace”.

Gratefully,

Craig Hammon (KCEF board chair)