KENYA　SCHOOL 　PROJECT　　
　　

JEARN NEGAI Connection Suwako Nagata

We plan to build a school （NEGAI International Education Centre) in Kaimosi in the west part of Kenya with my husband and my Kenyan friends. In Kenya, primary schools (from 1st grade to 8th grade) became obligatory in 2003 for the first time.
Students don't have to pay the tuition but there are no lunch service at public schools and there are 80~90 students in one class, especially in the countryside. The students have to share the desks, chairs, textbooks, notebooks and pens in the classroom of the schools without electricity and tap water. Sometimes snakes sneak in there. They come to school from the long distance after finishing carrying water from the rivers and ponds or picking the twigs for cooking. However their motivation to study is very high. They eagerly listen to their teachers and copy from the old blackboards or remember the lessons very clearly. At primary schools, they are taught in English, so most children speak English as well as their mother tangue and Swahili language.

I went to Kenya with my family and friends in 2006 for the first time. We visited 2 primary schools in the suburb of Kisumu City and we were warmly welcomed by the teachers and the students there. They are very cheerful with beautiful smiles but about 70 % of these children lost their parent(s) because of HIV/AIDS and have to live by themselves. The principal of one of these primary schools is taking care of 7 children who lost their parents, besides his own 8 children, for example. There are no facilities like an orphanage.
During our stay in Kenya, I was asked by some children for money for the tuition of a high school. At that time I felt helpless for myself though those children were so smart.

 I have worked for the local government in Japan as a teacher for 35 years. I'd like to change my lifestyle in a new world and want to seek what I can do for Africa. Last year I happened to meet Mr. Ombajo Edward in the youth summit conference in Kobe and shared the dream of building an ESD school in Kenya. ESD stands for Education for Sustainable Develpoment. We aim to teach "the environment", "peace", human, "rights","gender free" and so on.

I retired from my teacher’s job in Japan this March. My husband and I started to build a school in Kaimosi, Kenya and we will go there in September.

Our plan for the school is for example, we would like to teach Japanese and ESD to the boys and girls of 15~18. About 20 students already started to learn computer skills with a young Kenyan teacher there since March. Our dream is spreading to the idea of organizing an eco tour and invite people from Japan and other countries. Actually we started to build guest rooms too and we can accommodate 16 people at a time. Also when we go back to Japan we would like to take Kenyan youth to Japan for a cultural exchange. We have another plan to take 1~2 Kenyan students to next iEARN conference in Taiwan, too. We are full of dreams and hopes!

Please join us to support us and enjoy with us!

Please come to Kaimosi, Kenya for an ECO tour or spread this website to your friends!

ECO TOUR website: http://www.dhcblog.com/kenya/category_16/

Suwako Nagata:  nerudasuwa@yahoo.co.jp