winkids

Land for School!

2011-05-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

For a couple of years, we have experienced and shared moments with friends across the globe. The Winslow kids education has not only provided a good reason to appreciate God but has also created a great impact and opportunity for volunteers and well wishers.

For many reasons, today, we find again another worthy opportunity to recognize your support in prayer and material. For your information, we have progressed well over the years and many children have benefited from this project such that their lives are more hopeful than they were.

We have leased a farm that we are working on that we hope to use its yields to sustain the project. Besides other needs, kindly we will like to bring this need of land to your attention. This is because the project is expanding and so needs more organization. For reasons here-below, we find it most appropriate and timely to address this need of land:

We are operating from a church building hall that we cannot partition to create a distinction between classes
The church doesn't have enough land that we can be allocated part of it to construct classes
The church doesn't have a play ground that children can play on
We need administration facility for the project that is very close to the children of which we cannot construct right in the church
We need to accommodate and serve the community more efficiently by creating enough space that would accommodate many people who are in need.

For these reasons, we have set up a funds raising program that will enable us to acquire a piece of land and put buildings on it for the project.

We kindly humble ourselves as we invite you to partner with us in this proposal. You may contact us on

winslowkids@gmail.com or deposit your donations to:

Account Details

Citibank NA

New York

Swift Code: CITIUS33

Fed wire: 021000089

Account No: 36201226

Of K-rep Bank Ltd (Branch 6600099)

Account Name of Recipient: Vincent Nyang’oina Mokaya

Account No. of Recipient: 001120015235

Physical address

P.O.Box 30405, 00100

Nairobi-Kenya

Thanks in advance!

By Vincent Mokaya

Creativity in ministry for sustainability!

2011-02-18T04:10:00.000-08:00

Some Children go WITHOUT a meal for lunch!!

2010-06-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

It has continued to be an experience that triggers sympathy within me. Today, I got the opportunity to spend most of my time with the children at the Winslow education center, Gachie. After playing together, sharing good songs with the children besides a class lesson on numbers, the hour for lunch meals was ripe. So I joined them as they prayed for their meals. Everybody participated. Unfortunately, not all had any meal for lunch. Some of them knew very well that nobody was to bring them any meal either.

At one time, it was never business as usual. I noticed two children sharing a seat; one eating and the other one watching hopelessly. For today, God provided for the ones who did not have through a well wisher from within.

I decided to share this pinching experience with my friends and just wish to appeal to all of you that it is my desire that all of these kids at least get a meal for lunch in future. As you can see from the photograph, one child is eating as the other hopelessly seats and ponders about what next.What can we do then? We have plans to plant crops that may see us start up a feeding program for all of these children and others in future! Pray for this center, children, parents/guardians, teachers and all that do participate in serving these children. You have a wonderful opportunity to also serve in this ministry in whichever way. Be blessed abundantly!!

By: Vincent N Mokaya

A life experience in reality!

2010-05-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Generations will always be there to perfect history. Young will always grow older to share experience and opportunities. This of course will differ from one individual to the other. Today I am so humbled to share with you a personal experience that changed my life.

It was one morning, of June 2005 when I walked down along one of the streets of Nairobi when one little street girl of about 6 confronted me. It was so cold and still drizzling. She wore a tattered, muddy dress. A look on her face suggested want.

" Please give me five shillings..." She begged.

Before I would reply to her, she suddenly ran away leaving me astounded. It was the city council security agents she had noticed from a far....they would beat them even to death.

I tried to look around for some time if I would see her again but in vain. I went home with a very big burden in my heart about the street children. I kept at times remembering this experience but did not have much to do. I desired I would do something to change a hopeless life but unable. One and a half years down the line, God asigned me a duty in a very unusual manner that I started a community center for needy children even when I did not have much money....

From that time, I have always desired to work and humly serve the children and the community and indeed, yes I enjoy their company..

Kazi Yake ( His Work) at Nyaigesa Baptist Church

2009-12-29T05:19:00.000-08:00

Judy Pitt, the Executive Director of KAZI YAKE ( His Work ); an organization she founded a couple of years ago and now working alongside teams of volunteers has a great vision for ministry in the rural villages of Kenya.

Today, I extract just to share part of her great mission work in Nyaigesa village located in the south Western part of Kenya, Africa! She has helped start a Baptist church in this village to share the gospel of Christ!

Several miles away from her motherland country, the United States of America, Judy chose to obey God’s call to go and serve Him in the very rural villages of Kenya alongside very needy people. In description, she is a matriarch of great vision.

I got the opportunity to worship in the same church during the festive time of Christmas of 2009. I made several observations and identified areas of need to share:

• There is a need of evangelism and discipleship for the growth of this church
• There is a financial need to construct this church building to make it complete
• There is a need to empower this community spiritually, academically and economically.
• They need clean water may be drilling a well can do

In all, we can too obey when God is calling us for ministry and can as well support great visions like Judy’s to serve our God!!!

Above all, pray for the gospel in RURAL Kenya!!

By Vincent Mokaya

Little Dresses For Africa, Kenya!!

2009-12-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas season again! Preparations to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ the Savior, the only begotten son, Messiah, Emanuel, the Morning star, the Prince of peace is on top gear. This is the time when pockets ‘talk’. People buying gifts for their loved ones and movement of people from urban areas to join families in the country side.

Ladies and gentlemen, however, in Gachie, a village neighboring the city of Nairobi, this great season is approached in a very different way altogether. Hear briefly about this village and may be marking a few items to pray for: Illiterate and unemployed youth have extended their time in drinking illicit liquor. Drug abuse like is no longer a crime as it is committed in broad day light without fear. All in the name “celebrating Jesus’ birthday’.

Majority of children in this village can sing Christmas songs but never imagine of gifts. Most of their parents have either lost their lives in crime or as a result of HIV and AIDS pandemic. This has led the village to having many guardians, mainly old, weak and poor grandparents than mothers and fathers.

Then today, when we distributed dresses that were donated by well wishers through ‘Little Dresses for Africa’ organization, it was observed that the donation was timely and well placed. One of the guardians confessed that since the beginning of the year, she has never gotten the opportunity to purchase even a second hand dress for her grand daughter due to financial lack. But for us it was an opportune time to speak the gospel and share the love of God through His only son =, Jesus Christ.

The children expressed their desire to know more about this Jesus whose love through His followers provided a dress for them. However, many had the same need but just a few managed to get at least one dress! We got encouraged so much that we wish to organize a bible club for them! We finally shared a meal and dispersed!

Winslowkids Education center Emerges the best pre-school in the community!

2009-11-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

The day started with a very tight schedule for pre-schools here at Gachie, Nairobi Kenya! Something unusual lay ahead of the many children. An expectation. Parents/guardians accompanying their children to public schools for interviews that would see some of them getting accepted in government primary schools to be part of the beneficiaries of the free primary education program that is offered by the Kenya government.

For your information, Early childhood is so expensive in this Gachie village like many of the villages in the country as they are run privately. Considering the economic struggle in the villages, many parents opt for the government primary schools once the children have the qualifications.

With the Winslow kids education center, I got the opportunity too to experience again this time about what goes on during the interviews. In total, 176 children were able to attend today's interview in Kamuiru Primary school here at Gachie. Except the Winslow kids education center, all other pre schools are privately owned and charge fees that many villagers cannot afford.

In all God is merciful and Gracious! The Winslow kids center that has no facility performed so good that it emerged the best of all the academies that participated. The picture uploaded here bears the subject performance of one of the children from the center. He is an orphan.

Ladies and Gentlemen who value education, these children from the Winslow education center have gone through hardships for the time we have been together. They hardly have a meal for lunch and even we thank God friends of goodwill provided a uniform for these kids! In spite of all these hardships, they have really managed the interview.

For now, they are facing another challenge of acquiring a school uniform for the new school they are set to join next year.

Finally, the teachers need sponsorship for their salary allowances for the previous sponsor is unable to continue supporting them due to financial lack!
Keep these children in prayers!!

By Vincent Mokaya

A BLESSING MOMENT AT THE 'EDGE' OF 2009!

2009-11-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

Busy moments again for the ‘towards the edge of 2009’ is here! The poor like the rich, young like the elderly, students like professionals, believers just like the pagans are busy thinking about festivities that are due in a few days!
In Kenya, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination is in progress while those of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education are due in a week!
Besides, 26 Winslow Kids too are looking forward to be interviewed in the process of trying to secure opportunities to see them get accepted in public primary schools for first grade in 2010!

Behind the curtain of the on-going events lie a secret! A classical distinction is evident and active. The ‘haves’ and the ‘lacks’ share one thing. Just the Oxygen! In this behind the scene, the little advantaged in community never even want to remember an occasion! They hardly afford a celebration expense! When other children from able families do crafts and make Christmas ornaments to give to adults during the gift exchange and even decorate cakes and enjoy other refreshments their poor friends go sometimes without a simple meal!
But the bible instructs; "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that" (James 2:15-16). Romans 15:26 is a great example of where funds were gathered for the needy saints in Jerusalem

For this reason, the Winslow kids Community like previous years, is preparing a sharing hour with the needy in community! During this time, for Christmas celebration, we are expected to share the birth story of Jesus Christ, share a meal and disperse clothing too to the needy members of the Community!

We have started collecting the clothing and even the funds for the meals! We appreciate the volunteers who are working with us from the community and even overseas especially to prepare dresses for girls and even donating toward the event. May God Bless us together.

By Vincent Mokaya

sautivin@yahoo.com

Mission continues in Gachie, Nairobi-Kenya!!!!

2009-07-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

Likoni Ferry- Below

On Tuesday , July 7, 2009, 9:41a.m, part of the Wayland mission team led by Mr. and Mrs. Dr Richard Shaw arrives at Gachie west Baptist church ready, well equipped, and in full gear to serve in the children ministry! Wow! In an expectation mood, the children standing by the door to the church hall usher the team in! During the day, a variety of activities take place Romans 6:23 (the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!) being the main scripture!
During this mission time, through door to door, out reach and evangelism, personal testimonies and the word of God are shared and a couple of people from the community accept Jesus as their savior!
In the process, Dr. Shaw and the team assisted by pastor John Nzibo presides over a child dedication service. The child Phyllis is named after one great mother from the First Baptist Church of Plain View Texas, who loves children and has a caring character!

The team winds up missions at Gachie by offering a two day free medical services and attention to over 500 hundred people from the community who to date do appreciate these wonderful services as well as longing for similar missions in future!

The Winslow Kids Community looks forward to partnering with entities and individuals of the same mind; working towards uplifting the little ones in communities! We need you in prayer most! Currently we are working on how to raise funds to purchase a plot for this education program. You can contact us for more information about this issue on winslowkids@gmail.com or sautivin@yahoo.com!

Now on behalf of this community of Kids; the Winslow kids, the staff of this education program, all participants, my family and my self do appreciate you all who made their contributions in prayer, encouragement and financial back up to make everything possible. I thank God for the love He continues to nurture in His people! Thanks in advance and be blessed abundantly!

By Vincent N Mokaya,

Gachie west, Nairobi-Kenya!

The winslow Kids Education mourns Eliakim!!

2009-05-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

The Winslow Kids Community mourns Eliakim Okech, one of their own! This wonderful son aged 4 joined the Winslow Kids Education Centre on 5th, January,2009. He has been a source of great joy to this community of Kids. He was a very bright son. Last term, he scored very well in the end of first term examination where he was ranked the third best performer in his class. Before they closed for April holidays, he actively participated in the church beautification project where he planted a flower and watered it twice a day every week day along side his coleagues!

He is son to Mr.& Mrs. Okech. He was the fifth and last born in this family of five siblings!

He met his death accidentally on the 29th of April,2009. He fell to a 17 feet deep pit while playing with his young friends! The scan and Xrays indicated a severe head injury that damaged the head and caused bleeding deep into his brain. He spent four days in the ICU but all in vain.

He was finally burried today and never to be seen, heard speaking or ...... again!!

Truly it is a grief moment for US ( the School community).Please pray for this Kids and their families! Amen!!!

Beautifying the house of God!

2009-03-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

”Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem”:-- Ezra 7:27 New King James version BibleTwo things Ezra blessed God for:1. For his commission. If any good appear in our hearts, or in the hearts of others, we must own that God put it there, and bless him; it is he that works in us, both to will and to do that which is good.2. For his encouragement: God has extended mercy to me. Ezra was a man of courage, yet he ascribed this not to his own heart, but to God's hand. If God give us his hand, we are bold and cheerful; if he withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever we are enabled to do for God and those around us, God must have all the glory.
For the Winslowkids at the Gachie West Baptist church, it was their day to worship and thank the Lord for all that He has done in their lives by doing what they could; Beautifying the house of the Lord.
Despite the dry climatic conditions, the Kids have agreed to water the plants twice a day to make sure the House the Lord is beautiful. And if it pleases the Lord, then may He forgive us of our sins and on behalf of the country and shower us with rain to end the longest drought that has been experienced in Kenya!

By Vincent; Gachie West, Nairobi-Kenya

New desks for Winslow Kids- Gachie west, Kenya!!

2009-03-11T23:12:00.000-07:00

While you may be admiring these beautiful photographs, please remember to pray for God's blessings upon the following people: Dr. Richard Shaw, Ms Phyllis Wall and all that contributed to support these needy kids with the desk provision. Remember also to thank God for giving you the opportunity to realize that He can use His people to bless others!
When we look forward to celebrate Jesus' death and ressurrection in the coming holidays; Good friday, may we bear in mind that Jesus expressed alot of love toward us. So besides all the praises and worship, I wish to remind you to do a love expressing act to your neighbor. On the same context, if you may be willing to join us in our concern to extend Jesus' love to the little advantaged by giving them clothing, sharing a meal and finally teaching them about jesus, you are very much appreciated in advance and can email us through; winslowkids@gmail.com for more information! Thanks a lot. May the Lord God bless us all mightily!!

By Vincent N Mokaya,
Gachie west, Nairobi- Kenya

A stone wall fence 'stands' against insecurity at Gachie west-Kenya

2009-02-22T05:08:00.000-08:00

A rock fence ‘stands’ against insecurity!

The Gachie west Baptist church temporary building now stands firmly behind an indigenous stone fence. The entrance gate to the church compound sends a warning signal to the strangers cautioning them against uncontrolled movement to the building.
Besides the food deficiency that the children are undergoing while at the center, the children and teachers to the Winslow kids program are proud of the wall protection against many kinds of threats that existed previously!

However, it was not an easy task to construct this rock structure. Men volunteers from Texas and Kenya at times wiped their faces of sweat due to heavy duties that lay in their hands; carrying 36 inch long rocks, mixing of the concrete, sand as well as pulling water from seventy-five feet deep well; manually. Of course, women also cooked delicious meals and prepared drinks for these volunteers.

Amazingly, unlike other places where men on construction do so freely, at Gachie west armed guards kept vigil over the loitering ‘young men’ of the back street to scare them away. These young men some times carry lethal items under their garments as they seem to be ever in a ‘hunting’ mission mood.

During the construction period, the Kids also got an opportunity to receive new experience. Two volunteer ladies; Mickey and Ashley taught them new songs, told them bible stories and shared with them in games. What overwhelms is when the kids enquire about the next time they will see the gone volunteers!!!

On behalf of the Winslow Kids community, the center staff and myself, I take this opportunity to appreciate you all; Dr. Shaw (Director Wayland University- Kenya program), Mr. Bill Walker ( Texas), Mr. Jerry ( Texas ), Ms. Mickey ( Texas ), Micah Evans ( Wayland university student ), Ms Ashley ( student Wayland university), Andrew Lancaster ( Wayland student ) and all the well wishers who prayed for this mission and even contributed generously to effect the availability of the required mission funds.
May God continue blessing us together!

Posted by Mr. Vincent Mokaya,
Email: sautivin@yahoo.com
winslowkids@gmail.com

Uniformity

2008-10-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

Inset is Mr. Vincent, The Director of this center!

'Thank you.....thank you...... thank you.....' is the simple but very effective sentence that the children have applied to express their appreciation to the uniform donors!

Truely, to most of these children it is their first day to put on a new fabric in the name of school uniform. Also to this education center that was started three years ago, it is the first day to have all the children in uniform.

As you can see, from the photographs, their physical appearances 'confess' the changes effected.

We are still in need of DESKS for these needy children. If your heart directs you to give us any support, never hestate, Email sautivin@yahoo.com, winslowkids@gmail.com for more information.

We are planning to say a VERY Big thank you to God for his continued love toward us by preparing a special meal for the less advantaged in this community of Gachie- possibly for Chrismas. If you may may be willing to donate to this need, you will be blessed too.

For now, We wish all of our well wishers, friends and enemies a merry Xmas and a wonderful new 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Vincent Mokaya - Gachie, Kenya

As I had indicated in my previous post, Dr. Shaw from Wayland University, plainview, Texas and other potential donors have made a great provision to these children. Sixty one needy children are today in new school uniforms. Thanks a lot and continue extending love to the less fortunate in society!

Appeal for Desks

2008-09-29T23:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks a lot to all that have given us support in any form! This appreciation extends to Dr. David Howle of Wayland University and his Sunday class for their will to supply this center with funds to pay for one more teacher. We have already received some funds for the same purpose. May the Lord almighty supply to their needs also!

Our appreciation also extends to Dr. Rick Shaw who is also working out with other donors to supply this needy children with school uniforms.

As indicated in the previous posting, the Winslow Kids are in need of desks among other needs so that they can be much comfortable in their studies. So, we are as well appealing to our friends to keep praying for this need and as well can donate towards this need whenever they get an opportunity to do so!

Thanks in advance and may God bless His people!

By Mr. Vincent,
Children ministry - Gachie West Kenya.

Wayland mission team in Gachie west-Kenya, 21/07/2008

2008-09-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

http://howle.blogspot.com/ ( Read on education Kenya)
It was a very busy and daily travel operation week from Brackenhurst- Limuru, to Gachie West, Nairobi-Kenya!The Wayland mission team led by Dr. Shaw and Dr. Howle, was very organized, cooperative and always flexible. Cathy, Dr. Howle's wife was also in the company of the other mission team members namely; Mica, Ashley, Jessica, Kelsey and Lucas.Their love, commitment,and determination towards the children was overwhelming.The efforts made by the Texas people and the Kenyan nationals to accomplish the July, 2008 mission in this insecure Gachie village are highly appreciated!

The new games, songs and bible stories taught by the mission team have always remained lively in this kids community.
The voluntary act from the entire team caused a great memorable impact in the Gachie west community. However, the criminal act at the back street involving two mission members who were held at gun point and finally robbed of is highly regrettable!
Much thanks to the entire group who in one way or another contributed to effect this Kenyan mission. Thanks also to the women and men who were always available to prepare meals, serve them, provide protection to the team as well as assist in translation besides leading the children in games, songs and stories!
We have joined the global village now through this site. We wish to appeal to this global community that in this Gachie west village do exist several vacant ministry opportunities. It requires more volunteers especially the children and youth ministries. As a result we take this opportunity to welcome all that may have the opportunity to minister to the less fortunate in this Gachie village whenever ministry opportunities shall crop up.

Finally, Glory be to God who made the mission a success!

From Vincent, Gachie west- Kenya!

Winslow kids community- serving Gachie,Kenya

2008-09-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

The Winslow Kids (K) CBO
C/o Los Angeles times
P.o.Box 57, (00621)
Village market, Nairobi-Kenya
Email: winslowkids@gmail.com
Contact person: Vincent N Mokaya

Introduction

The Winslow Kids (K) community based Organization was founded in 2006. It was meant to provide solutions and answers to the basic needs that were realized in the GACHIE COMMUNITY: A LOCAL VILLAGE FOUND IN CENTRAL Kenya.
This village name, Gachie, is very familiar to the ears of many Kenyans and even the foreigners due to the insecurity that is rampant everywhere
It is very evident that the majority of the dwellers of this local community hardly can afford a meal in a day and in most cases they regard education a secondary need or a luxury that is reserved for the rich. For instance, among other needs they cannot afford a school uniform, a single-simple meal for lunch to keep them in school.
In this community, most of the children from poor house holds do not benefit from the free primary education that is heavily funded by the Kenya government through the public primary schools as they cannot afford to pay for the pre school private owned academies.

Teenagers/ youth in this Gachie community have turned their hopes of survival to cruel and crude means of earning a living. Male youths have joined armed criminal gangs and even participated in drug trafficking. Where as female youths have become commercial sex workers to earn a living to support their poor families. As a result, HIV and Aids is spreading like hamattan in the Sahara consuming young and productive lives leaving behind hopeless orphans under the care of God’s mercies through a few committed people who care for their needs. Those who are lucky to have parents have remained vulnerable and destitute.
Members of this Gachie community depend on agricultural products supplied by the neighboring communities. This is due to the dry climatic conditions in most of the months of the year. As a result, the prices are relatively higher!

The issue of insecurity has threatened and scared away community / social workers from this locality.
As a needy community, the Winslow was designed to focus on the development of children and serve them well to ensure that this community’s bad image is changed

Our vision

Existing out of common compassion for the children, the Winslow Kids (K) community believes in the value of education and voluntary as a critical element for child and community development. The Winslow Kids (k) community envisions the full implementation of universal education for Kenyans for the advancement of children’s rights through the creation of self reliant and sustainable families and communities. That through holistic, multidisciplinary approach to development, families and communities will have the capacity to uphold the right of the child and meet the needs of orphans, vulnerable and destitute children.

Our mandate

TO:

Create and promote awareness about challenges of poverty on orphans, vulnerable, destitute and less advantaged in community.
Improve the quality of life, enhance and promote education opportunities for the needy in community through economic empowerment and sustainability approaches to the poor and weak households.
Create partnerships and linkages between Kenyan communitie4s as well as the global community to facilitate cross-cultural understanding and citizenship.
Work in collaboration with agencies committed with community empowerment and sustainability focused on development and stability. The intention is to build reciprocal empowering relationships for the organizations and communities through creative projects and fund raising.
Focus on activities meant to provide solutions to the immediate and future community needs.

Value

Utilizing holistic, multidisciplinary approaches to development in order to embrace the multiple dimensions of poverty, community development and sustainability.
Addressing the local and global reality on poverty in community instability as integrally inter linked. The Winslow (K) community’s work is guided by the belief in collaboration with projects linking local and global issues.
Education and good health as a critical tool for the advancement of families and communities.
The connection for elimination of all forms of discrimination in community based economical strengths.

Programs

(i) Education center
Program overview

Winslow Kids (K) Community based education center was started in 2006. It is located at Gachie west, a village in central Kenya. It is currently serving the needy community with pre school education through an education program that is operating from the Gachie west Baptist church.
After realizing the need in this community, the Winslow organization decided to set up this education center on 04/12/2006 to immediately start serving the needy children aged from the ages of 3-6 years. The whole issue was initially run by volunteers whereby it was able to recruit one of the volunteers to serve as a full time instructor to the children. Since then, the Center has been run under the care of volunteers as there were no funds to recruit more staff.

It has been evident that through voluntary, so much can be achieved in any given society. As a result, it has since been made a policy that volunteers who shall demonstrate proficiency in their service; stand better chances of appointments in the future whenever opportunities shall arise!

The program has ever served its clientele, the little advantaged / neglected in society as much as its capability. This has been appreciated always in many ways from the community. The clientele to the program have also had their roles to play in the program. For example, they have ever been available to perform cleanliness duties at the center and also provide some reading/writing materials for the children.

During its first year of operations, 2007, 21 children were able to join the first grade in the public primary schools. This means that they became part of the beneficiaries to the Free Primary Education Program that is heavily funded and run by the Kenya government. This year, 2008, 25 of the children at the center are expected to graduate to join the first grades in the public primary schools.

To achieve its goals, the Winslow is expecting to recruit many volunteers besides full time and part time employees in the future for better services to many people who are now becoming part of its clientele. It is also expected that the Winslow education program shall collaborate, affiliate and even partner with parties of similar interest both locally and globally to accomplish its vision of serving the needy/ less fortunate class in the community!

BACKGROUND INFORMATION/ STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The Kenya Government’s expenditure on the pre school programs is only one tenth of the national education budget (or $0.61 per child per year). This compares to 60% of the education budget going to the primary education, 15 % for secondary education and 22% for universities. The great majority of the costs of the pre schools are borne by the communities and external donors (Myers 1992:23).

History indicates that the first pre schools were started in the 1940s by and for the exclusive use of the European and Asian communities. Later, pre schools were developed in Kenyan locations, in the urban areas and on coffee, tea, sugar plantations to serve the workers’ children. This means that children in rural villages whose parents/guardians were not employed in the plantations did not benefit from the pre school education. After Kenya’s independence, pre school education expanded throughout the country under the Harambee spirit (self help spirit) that was fostered by the late President Kenyatta. In essence, this meant that whenever a community defined a need, it would create a program to meet that need. In this case, many village parents united, identified a location for the class, and a woman (teacher) to care for the children 3-6 years of age. They also contributed equally to cater for the teacher’s salary allowances.

The Harambee spirit was however met with unintended obstacles leading to negative consequences on the pre school education. This idea of equal participation/ contribution did not get well with less fortunate. So the community was divided into two classes; well off class and the less fortunate who included the orphans, vulnerable and the destitute. This division changed the whole idea of community Pre School to individual commercial pre schools (academies). At this situation, the poor in community almost forgot the idea of education as it became so expensive. To worsen the matter, the government did very little to solve the problem. This implies that poor population in Kenya cannot even attend the free primary education program run by the government through public primary schools as they lack the mandatory pre school experience qualification to effect an admission in the public primaries.

At this point, ‘educational independence’ to the poor in Kenya is still a nightmare. This is because like in 1940s, children of the well off still enjoy the pre school education which seems to be reserved for them.

To fight for ‘education independence’ among the poor in the Kenyan communities, a well organized and needy focused idea like the Winslow Kids’ is required to rekindle and claim the lost hope of literacy among all children in Kenya regardless of the economic class in society!

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

GOAL NO. 1: To eliminate illiteracy among the needy in community
Objective 1: By setting up non profit education centers to serve the less fortunate class
in community.

Objective 2: By providing teachers (instructors) to the education centers to ensure
Children are served well.

Objective 3: By providing learning/ instruction materials for proper learning

Objective 5: By educating and encouraging the community on how they can apply
Similar concept to safe the needy/ less fortunate

GOAL NO. 2 : To effectively utilize the idea of voluntary as a major factor in serving the Community

Objective 1: By expanding the voluntary team by recruiting students from child
Development training centers

Objective 2: By collaborating with local churches in offering short term programs to
Train more people on voluntary.

GOAL NO. 3: To propagate God’s word in the community

Objective 1: By ministering to the program clientele through seminars

Objective 2: By including biblical lessons in the school program

GOAL NO. 4: To learn from the global community

Objective 1: By affiliating with local and global partners with similar
interest.

Clientele
The clientele to this program has been drawn from this Gachie community. These are mainly people whose economic power is never relied on as it has been crippled as a result of poverty. They include Widows, Widowers, single parents and grand parents. Needy children including orphans, between 3-6 years of age are the main beneficiaries in the education program. Parents/ guardians to these children have also been economically relieved through the same program. For example, private academies in this community charge minimal fees of Kshs. 2500 per term for each child where as the clients to this program get the same service freely. This means that in every household of the clients, there is a financial relief of kshs. 7500.
Currently, the educational program has a population of 61 needy children.
On their side, the clients have been very cooperative when it comes to playing their roles which include preparing the children for school as early as 7:30 am five days a week, availing themselves at the study center for routine cleanliness daily during week days, providing some study materials (mainly a writing book and a pencil), and also attending meetings at the school whenever asked to.
During the proposal preparation, a lot of the material was directly extracted from this clientele through interviews concerning the needs and proposition on how to get established!
The desire of many people requesting to join the clientele team indicates that the perception of the program in this local poor community is good. As a result, there is confidence between the clientele team and the program as well as a good relationship.

Methods
The primary methods for achieving the goals and objectives of the project will be:
The expansion of the existing education center to accommodate many needy households.
To recruit more volunteers to the program to enhance the workforce required to encounter the ever growing population at the center.
To raise more funds for the establishment and development of the center for better and quality services.

Moreover a Documentation/Dissemination plan will be developed by staff to guarantee the systematic collection of information about the operation of the project and provide the basis for sharing information with other similar projects.

Staff/administration

The project will employ three full time two part time staff.

Project Director (fulltime) – Responsible for hiring project staff, overseeing project development and operation, establishing and maintaining links with local government agencies, global agencies, budget and will be the main contact person. The project director will be Vincent N Mokaya (author of this proposal).
Center Assistant (full time)-Responsible for running the center, organizing for new admissions as well as teaching the children at the center.
Volunteer coordinator (full time) - Responsible for recruiting volunteers, scheduling volunteers at the center as well as teaching at the center.
Sub-staff (full time) - Responsible for maintaining the structure and appearance of the center as well as picking and delivering parcels/letters.
Governing board- A 7 member Board made up of parents/guardians and religious leaders. Responsible for sanctioning the operation of the center, providing feedback to the project Director on center policies and operation and serving as a viable link to the local community

Needed resources

Personnel
The project director belongs to the voluntary team. He has been working and running the project part time. However, there is need for him to be fully committed to the project for its well being and establishment. As a result, a monthly salary allowance is required.
There is need of monthly allowances for a sub ordinate staff.

Facilities

Land
Currently, the education program is run from a rented Gachie West Baptist church building hall (above). It is difficulty at times to handle the three classes (divided according to ages) at a time as there is no any partition to separate the classes. There is no room to construct class rooms to accommodate the many needy children who are locked out of the program due to lack of the class room facility. The class organization is not as it is required. There is need to have a piece of land for construction of the class rooms, school library, administrative offices, playground which are not available at the moment.

Equipment/Supplies

Needed equipment
Chairs/tables for the class and administrative offices.
Computer/monitor/printer/copier/digital camera

Needed supplies
School library ( text books and study materials)
Paper/pencils/crayons/chalk/duplicating supplies and materials preparation.

Sustainability
An economic activity is very essential if at all this program must transform this community. It is realized that the utilization of the locally available natural resources and labor can provide the required long term solution to the hardships in this locality.
As a result, the Winslow kids (k) CBO have identified a niche for economic empowerment; Producing and marketing of agricultural products. This, if successful will directly employ the jobless in the farm from the poor households of the Gachie community and provide ready markets for the rural farmers who cannot afford transporting their produce to the markets where they can fetch good prices for their commodities. On the other hand, the profits obtained can relieve sponsors and project financiers of more funds meant to pay for workers allowances and general running of the project. As a result, a starting capital is required!

Budget

PERSONNEL
Director………………. $ 4200 p.a
Center assistant………. Already sponsored
Volunteer coordinator…. Already sponsored
Sub-staff………………… $ 1200 p.a
Sub total………………. ($ 4200 + $ 1200) = $ 5400
FACILITIES
1. Land ……………………. $ 12,900
2. Buildings……………….. $ 3000
Sub-total…………. $ 15,900

EQUIPMENT
Chairs/tables for the class and administrative offices…. $ 500
Computer/monitor/printer/copier/digital camera……….. $ 870
Sub-total …………………....$ 1370

NEEDED SUPPLIES
School library (text books and study materials)……… $ 2000 Paper/pencils/crayons/chalk/duplicating supplies and materials preparation…… $ 250
Sub-Total…… $ 2250

ECONOMIC PROGRAM
Starting capital ………………….$ 9,000
Pick up van …………………….. $ 14,300
Sub-Total…………. $ 23,300

BUDGET SUMMARY( year one)

Personnel
$5,400
Facilities
$15,900
Equipment
$1,370
Supplies
$2,250
Economic program
$23,300
Sum total
$48,220

Evaluation will be done by a hired evaluator. A formative evaluation will be used.
Formative primarily qualitative in nature, will be conducted through interviews and open ended questionnaires. The clientele will be asked about the day-to-day operation of the project, benefits obtained and other questions to provide feedback for the ongoing improvement of the operation of the project. The project evaluator will meet the with the project staff to share the findings from the formative evaluation effort. Periodic reports will be prepared that identify the major findings of the formative evaluation and how they have been used to improve the project operation.

Any comments are highly welcome and appreciated in advance!

Readers can contact the author, Mr. VincentThrough:

Email: sautivin@yahoo.com, winslowkids@gmail.com

I will be keeping you with about the Gachie community, Central Kenya.