Help us support girls’ education

As I've mentioned before, the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project doesn't concern itself only with baboons. We also take pride in supporting the local community. Our newest project focuses on supporting high school education for girls in the area.

This is a group of female students at Il Polei Secondary School in front of their dorm. Like most of the schools in rural areas, students that live too far to walk in every day can board at their high school.

Principal John Ngumba (below, left), and Deputy Principal Ndegwa (right) are inspiring leaders in this community. Together they are working hard to improve the educational environment, especially focusing on girls' education. Historically, girls' education has not been a priority in traditional cultures of rural Kenya. Things are changing, but they are changing too slowly for John Ngumba. He works tirelessly to keep his students focused and the community supporting their attendance in school. 

When we approached John about what we could do help out at the school his answer came almost immediately: they need a new girls' dorm. Why? To accommodate more girls. 

Here's a look at a the current girls' dorm at Il Polei Secondary School:

The simple tin structure does the trick.

The students sleep in bunk beds and keep their belongings in tin trunks.

The high ceilings and few windows keep the structure cool enough during the hottest times of year.

After the tour of the dorm itself we saw a little more of how they live at the school:

This is the shower, a tin enclosure where buckets of water are carried and used to wash.

Laundry is hung out to dry on acacia bushes.

These are the girls' toilets.

They also have a vegetable garden on site that the students help tend.

So, what would it take to provide a new dorm? Here's a breakdown of the costs:

The estimate for a new girls’ dorm is as follows:

                  Foundation               $7,900

                  Roofing                    $2,200

                  Wall materials          $6,700

                  Labor                      $4,200

                  Total                      $21,000

For 21,000 USD we can provide space for another 42 girls (at least!) to board at school. And you can help. The current CABS crew is trying to raise this money with our family and friends from home.

Ways to help:

1. You can donate now by following this link to the UNBP website: http://www.baboonsrus.com/7.html

2. You can contact Ann Cole (hellocoles@comcast.net) or Debbie Roberts (debvroberts@yahoo.com) to organize another method of donation

3. And if donating money is not your thing, we are also hoping to gather some sanitary napkins and underwear to help girls stay in class during their periods - again contact Ann or Debbie to help on this front.

Thank you for any and all support you can provide.

      -The current CABS crew