I have just
spent three immensely positive days in Bondo District,
making sure that all arrangements are in place for the
start-up of activities at Got Matar. I wanted to make sure
that the 10 acres of land on which the school is to be built
really are available and not likely to be claimed by anyone.
We needed to agree on the construction plans and how the
building programme would be phased. Above all, it was
important to arrive at a consensus on who would do what. The
visit also provided an opportunity to insist on absolute
transparency in the handling of funds. Everyone agreed that
each month a summary of the amount of money received and how
funds have been spent would be pinned up on a notice board
on the school site for all to see.
The community is determined to get the first phase of
building completed by January, when the next school year
begins, so that the first batch of pupils can start studying
there. Between now and then, they aim to build a block with
3 classrooms, each with a capacity for about 50 students
with individual desks. Folding partitions will be used to
separate classrooms, so that, when needed, the building can
also serve as an assembly hall. They have already built the
foundations for a small school office and store-room which
will be completed.
Finally they intend to construct latrines
and wash-stands, and to complete a perimeter fence to keep
the sheep and goats out. Gutters will be put on all roofs,
and tanks built to conserve as much water as possible for
drinking, washing and irrigation. Part of the office roof
will be made of sheets of photo-electric cells to test out
the feasibility of eventually meeting the whole of the
school’s electricity needs from solar power, possibly later
supplemented by biogas.
John Rendel, the 25-year old founder of
the UK-based NGO PEAS (Promoting Equality in African
Schools), also came to Got Matar with two colleagues from
neighbouring Uganda. PEAS has already built one secondary
school in a poor area of Kampala, and should have completed
5 schools in Uganda within the next 5 years (www.peas.org.uk).
We came a long way towards agreeing on arrangements for a
partnership with PEAS. Under this, apart from managing
donated funds and transferring them to Kenya, PEAS would
share their experience in school building with Got Matar and
provide independent reports on progress which will be posted
on the website. |
Visitors
from outside Kenya who are aware of the devastating impact
of AIDS, malaria and hunger tend to expect to be confronted
with gloom and depression when they visit rural communities
such as Got Matar. They will be amazed to find exactly the
opposite. They will be surrounded by masses of joyful
children and greeted with song and dance. When they meet
their parents, guardians and teachers, they will witness a
determination to ensure a better future for the next
generation.
Adversity seems to bring out the best in
people. This bodes well for Got Matar Secondary School.
Andrew
MacMillan
1st October 2006
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