October 2011
Education in Kenya

" Education must be seen as at least
partially an effort to produce
the good human being, to foster the
good life and the good society."
Abraham Maslow


Free education for all was introduced in Kenya in 2003 as it was recognised by the authorities as a basic human need and also something that could help to alleviate poverty and strengthen the economy in this impoverished country. However, being such a poor country only school buildings and teachers are provided by the authorities. They do not provide things such as desks and chairs, or uniforms. These items must be bought by the parents. But as most parents are too poor to afford such things many children have to go to school half naked.
It should be understood that a uniform does not just make children look nice. It is an important part of education, especially in Kenya, as a uniform allows pupils to consider themselves as equals no matter which social class they come from.
In 2011, after travelling through Kenya and seeing for herself the problems schoolchildren were facing, Ann Baron decided to create the Karibu Reve Association in order to address this specific problem. The operational area of the association is on Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria. The island has a population of 18,000 and 20 primary schools. Most people rely on fishing to make a living, and more than 60% of the islanders live on less than $1 a day. The region also has Kenya's largest number of children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
So far two schools on the island, Sena and Ramba, have been helped by the association which provided 754 uniforms and 30 desks and chairs. The people of Mfangano are grateful for the help the association has given to them so far in providing for their children's educational needs. The association is truly a beacon of hope for those who share the dream to help poor African children receive a satisfactory education.
Your donation will help the association provide a schoolchild with a uniform, a desk or a chair.
Your donation will allow the association to realise the dream for many children who are currently in school and also help to create more places for children who are waiting for a chance to go to school.

Tom Mboya Otieno, local coordinator.