EXPAND! School Programming

With class sizes sometimes numbering over 50, students lack the vital individual attention necessary for success. Similarly, teachers often have both the passion and the patience but not always the resources or experience with urban teaching methods to tackle their challenges. Other extenuating circumstances such as malnutrition, hunger and a lack of family funds for school uniforms can hinder a student from reaching his-or-her full potential. Therefore, EACEF has designed a host of initiatives, such as mentorship and teaching programs, to help community leaders raise the standard of education at each partner school.

The Rafiki Food-Fund Program:

The Rafiki* Program provides all supplies for the kitchens that are constructed during the Chakula Phase. Responsible for feeding between 150-500 children every day, the program ensures that every student receives nutritional necessities. Rather than perpetuating a system of handouts, however, the Rafiki Program provides the framework for a partnership between EACEF and each school community by engaging the help of both parent networks and local organizations. Timelines and target goals eventually place ownership of food supply in the hands of community organizers, who oversee volunteer farming operations on idle land given over to school use. For more information, see the Empower! Initiative.

*Kiswahili for "friend"

The Ndoto Mentorship Program

The Ndoto* Program hosts innovative mentorship opportunities between students of primary schools and senior schools. Based off of the initial success from the mentorship program between Mount Kenya Academy and Kirimara Primary School, the program inspires a cooperative spirit between primary and secondary school students through weekly mentorship meetings. During each tutoring session at the libraries built under the BUILD! Initiative, the tutors track the students' performance and are able to give them individualized attention in their weaker subjects. The tutors are in a unique position to balance the overcrowded class sizes with personalized lessons, and their accessibility creates a comfortable environment that many teachers are unable to provide. The mentors additionally serve as role models for the students who may not have otherwise known anyone who made it to secondary school, always encouraging the primary students that they can make it!

*Kiswahili for "hope"

The Mwalimu Teaching Program:

The Mwalimu* Program seeks to better equip EACEF Partner School teachers with the skills and solutions necessary to meet the demands of a challenging classroom. Currently in the development stage in Central Kenya, the Program hosts seminars once a month at various community centers to engage teachers from Chania, Kilimara and Mount Kenya Academy in discussion of teaching strategies. Teachers are able to learn the latest methods of instruction as well as engaging activities to better convey certain concepts to their students.

With the introduction of new learning resources and infrastructure, EACEF believes in the importance of a continuing community dialogue on the subject of how best to target both the students’ struggles and the implementation of new solutions. The Mwalimu Program therefore also strives to provide an open forum for a wide discussion of topics, with issues ranging from how to combat the drastically high rates of young female drop-outs to encouraging better health observations both in the classroom and at home.

*Kiswahili for "teacher"

The Mavazi Uniform Program:

The Mavazi* Program aims to provide uniforms and shoes for the primary school students. Many children in the rural areas walk to school barefoot and must wear the same burlap uniform throughout their school years. Through a developing venture as part of the Empower! Initiative, EACEF will provide the necessary supplies and train individuals to produce the uniforms themselves, rather than having them sourced to Nairobi or Kampala at high expenses. The Mavazi Program will ensure that a lack of clothing and shoes will not limit these children's education.

*Kiswahili for "clothing"