As you may already know, for the next 10 weeks we will be working with Kakunga Girls Secondary school representing Education Partnership Africa. We hope this blog will be interesting to those considering being project workers for EPA, and for those who were kind enough to help us in fundraising the £1800 to be invested in the school.
WEEK 1
Emily: We arrived at the EPAfrica central house on the afternoon of the 1st feeling bedraggled and ready for a shower. We were greeted by the security man, Griffin, and a variety of cattle, poultry and goats. This bode well for supper. The house was cool and welcoming, so we immediately felt at home and we wasted no time setting up our mosquito nets and preparing to shower.
Bea: A complex network of mosquito nets, string and tape quickly emerged. Water for showers was less forthcoming as there was no water supply. We masked the smell in mosquito repellent. Although weary, our spirits were lifted by the contagious laugh of Bishop Nicholas, who we hosted that evening, and who bravely sampled our spaghetti and chocolate.
Emily: During the first few days in Kakamega, we had a packed training schedule with our wonderful project manager Kate and somewhat lack-luster coordinator Matt (joking! He is also wonderful). In the evenings we aimed to relax with some fun card games. They turned out to be rather more intensely competitive than relaxing.
Bea: More relaxing was our evening on the 3rd. After a busy day of training most of the group headed to bed early. However, Emily Matt and I found ourselves talking with 2 Kenyans Ringtone and Billy late into the night. Ringtone explained he had been abandoned as a child and grew up on the streets, yet managed to make it as a famous singer and now tours schools as a motivational speaker. He turned his motivational speaking and performing prowess to attempt to persuade Emily to marry him, but to no avail.
Emily: Indeed when I mentioned my lovely boyfriend waiting for me at home, he assured me that the Bible clearly states that “the best is yet to come”. It was all fun and games and we had a really enjoyable evening as a group. Please see below one of Ringtone’s performances. (#friendsinhighplaces).
Bea: On the 4th we all headed bright and early in our smartest clothes to the Head-teachers’ Conference. We were really excited to meet Kakunga Girls’ Principal, Mildred, who was the only female principal of a school EPAfrica is working with in Kakamega this year. She immediately gave us a big hug and told us we were “her Kakunga girls”. After meeting the principals over “African tea” and mandazi we sat down to discuss four of the big issues facing the schools: funding, gender, post-secondary opportunities and health.
Emily: We really were able to learn a whole lot from the head teachers, and were inspired by how aware and open they were when discussing the various issues. I found the discussion on female education particularly heart-warming, as most of the principals were male but were regardless very clued up on the issues girls face, such as poor encouragement from traditionalist parents, pregnancy and “boy-girl relationships” and menstruation.
Bea: It was saddening to hear that many students finished school unable to find long-term employment due to fierce job competition and an increasing demand for university qualifications. At the district schools EPAfrica works with, at most a handful of students can be expected to achieve the grades required (B plain) to earn a state-funded university place. Although the Principals acknowledged it was important to provide the students with information about alternative routes such as other forms of training, they stressed the sheer lack of such avenues.
Bea and Emily: The best is yet to come 