Shining Hope for Communities

Field Trip to the National Museum!

2011-06-07T10:00:00.001-07:00

In 2009, The Kibera School for Girls had two wonderful volunteers: Kate O'Reilly-Jones and Matt Podolin. Both have stayed involved since then, and a few weeks ago they used their tax returns to sponsor a field trip for The Kibera School for Girls! The trip had an amazing itinerary: a visit to Kenya's National Museum, followed by lunch out. After lunch, the girls went to the snake park, and then had a thrilling experience on paddle boat rides in Nairobi's main park. They capped off the day with an ice cream treat. We can't thank Matt and Kate enough for giving the girls this incredibly fun and educational experience!

From Kate:

When Matt and I started volunteering at the Kibera School for Girls in the fall of 2009, I was struck by how many kids in Kibera never leave the slum, despite living minutes away from a bustling city center. Their parents certainly can’t afford bus fare to take them into town, so most kids in Kibera spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week surrounded by metal shacks and dirt roads slippery with sewage.

The Kibera School staff works tirelessly to prepare their students to excel, both within Kibera and wherever the girls choose to go in life. Still, I realized that it might be tough for a six-year old to imagine succeeding at life outside Kibera (college? medical school?) if she has never really seen life outside Kibera.

With this in mind, we took the girls on a zoo fieldtrip that winter, hoping to give them a unique experience and show them a glimpse of the world outside their own. Since they enjoyed it (and other school trips that followed) so much, Matt and I thought it would be fun to sponsor another fieldtrip this past Friday – this time to the Nairobi National Museum and the park. The hope was that by giving them a day free from the stresses of Kibera, they would have a chance to relax, learn something new, and think about all the possibilities the world has to offer. And of course, eat massive amounts of ice cream.

Kennedy and President Clinton

2011-04-05T11:45:00.001-07:00

We couldn't be more proud of CEO Kennedy Odede, who was featured on a panel with President Clinton and Sean Penn at the closing plenary of CGIU!

This was a conversation that you don't want to miss! Watch it here (beginning at 18:00).

cgiu on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Here are some of our favorite quotes from the session!

From President Clinton to Kennedy:

"...this is kind of a breakthrough in Kibera, what you're doing for young girls and women, it's a breakthrough that has to be done everywhere."

"why are you so moved by him? Well he's impressive he got out of this horrible slum, he's at Wesleyan. He gives a good speech, he's charismatic, but oh my God he still cares about all those people he left behind and he knows that a bunch of them could do what he's done if they just had the same set of chances. He sees them. You think about all the people in the world today who are never seen... I'm very grateful that there are people like Kennedy...who are helping."

From Kennedy!

"It's time for a revolution. It's not just Africa---it's everywhere. It's time to change the world."

"The ideas that you have can change the world."

At Shining Hope, we are thrilled to see how Kennedy's ideas really are changing the world, day by day. We too are grateful for people like Kennedy, who really "see" people.

March 24th was World TB Day!

2011-04-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Johanna Justin-Jinich Clinic had the amazing opportunity to participate in a festival commemorating World Tuberculosis Day!

Along with other distinguished partners, including DREAM, Medicine Sans Frontier and the U.S. Center for Disease Control, Shining Hope and clinic staff marched through Kibera in a parade to spread awareness about this serious, but treatable, disease.

The parade concluded in Kamkunji, where performances, including a play and poem read by our community health workers, and speeches where staged for government representatives and the Kibera community. Information booths, VCT and TB testing sites were also set up at the event, encouraging everyone in attendance to know their status.

The event was a huge success and a major step for the clinic. Our fantastic new administrator, Angeline, is hard at work coordinating more special events and relationship for the clinic- keep up the good work!

Weather Field Trip

2011-03-10T21:54:00.000-08:00

This week, the Kibera School for Girls took an exciting field trip to the Kenya Meteorological Society to cap off their latest science unit: weather.

The students have been studying an array of topics in weather for the past month--cloud formations, shadow-lengths, temperature, and weather instruments, to name a few. Our favorite student question of the day: "Where is your barometer?"

They were enthralled to see these professional instruments in action. The day culminated in the release of a weather balloon into the atmosphere, and a private presentation by a weather-forcaster.

Looking forward to returning again next year!

Shining Hope's Volunteer Opportunities!

2011-02-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Are you interested in coming to Kenya to volunteer with Shining Hope for Communities? We have new opportunities open for summer and year-long volunteers at our projects in Kibera! If you are interested in living abroad, doing development work, and changing lives, you may be perfect for one of these positions.

We are looking for enthusiastic summer volunteers to work primarily at the Kibera School for Girls for our new Summer Institute. To read more about it, please click here.

We are also looking for interns to help run our programs in Kibera for a year. To read more about these opportunities, please click here.

Please pass the word on to anyone you know who would be interested. We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you for helping us reach our goal!

2011-02-14T03:42:00.000-08:00

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who made our matching campaign such a great success. Newman's Own Foundation has officially matched your $50,000 in donations!

To read our note of gratitude, please click here.

And here is our thank you video:

Margaret's Safe Place girls update!

2011-02-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

The girls at our boarding facility, Margaret's Safe Place, are doing incredibly well! They are all flourishing in the house under the care of our school's social worker and they absolutely love living together as sisters!

This weekend we visited the house and they paused their game of soccer to enjoy lollipops!

From left to right: Matron Ishmael, Lucy, Beldin, Prudence, Sarah, Ciro, and Faith

KSG Parent Meeting

2011-02-07T22:37:00.000-08:00

The Kibera School for Girls held a meeting for all of its parents this past Friday. Baba Diana (Father of pre-kindergarten student Diana) is the Chair of the Parent Committee. He can be seen here preparing his notes at the KSG library, where the meeting was held. The Parent Committee consists of 6 highly dedicated parents who meet every week. They help plan meetings with all of the KSG parents to discuss important issues.

The most recent parent meeting discussed topics relevant to the start of the new school year, such as class reassignment. We held academic assessments at the end of 2010 and have moved some students around according to their skill levels. Our Administrator George and Baba Diana explained this carefully to the parents. We also gave away clothing donated by a Kenyan company, which the parents were extremely happy to receive.

It was a very successful meeting!

We Have Vaccines!

2011-01-28T04:24:00.000-08:00

The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic officially received vaccines today in Kibera! We are all very excited about this new development for our child wellness program.

Pictured here is our nurse Katherine holding one of our new vaccines. Katherine sees all of our expectant mothers and young pediatric patients at the JJJ Clinic!

KSG Students Brushing Their Teeth!

2011-01-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Kibera School for Girls has a new tradition -- brushing teeth together after lunch! Each of our students has a toothbrush with her name on it. They have learned how to properly brush their teeth (with toothpaste) and are so excited to own their own toothbrushes! The SHOFCO compound turns into a tooth-brushing-party around 1pm every day.

It is adorable to watch!

Sarah's Trip to the Eye Hospital!

2011-01-18T04:11:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, we took our student Sarah to Lions Sight First Eye Hospital in Nairobi -- a wonderful facility specializing in all kinds of eye care!

Sarah has been suffering from chronic allergies that make her eyes inflamed and itchy, causing her to scratch them and impair her vision. They checked her symptoms and her vision yesterday at her appointment. We came in expecting Sarah to need a surgical procedure -- an injection of steroids directly in the eye -- but were relieved to learn that she no longer needed the procedure!

The doctor is optimistic that Sarah's allergies will decrease as she gets older, and was happy to tell us that the prescription eye drops have made huge improvements for the inflammation and itchiness of Sarah's eyes since her visit last month! Thanks to the generous help of her wonderful sponsor, we have been able to take Sarah for regular follow-ups at Lions Eye Hospital.

Interested in helping a KSG student like Sarah through sponsorship? To learn more, please click here.

SHOFCO's Research Project!

2011-01-06T09:29:00.001-08:00

Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) recently completed its first research project in Kibera. We trained 20 community members from Kibera to conduct interviews and use GPS units to randomly locate the participants’ houses. Programs Director Ari Tolman led this training and helped create a comprehensive survey that covered all aspects of life in collaboration with our research team. The SHOFCO interviewers successfully completed interviews with over 1,200 households in Kibera.

We are so excited to enter the data and analyze the results! The goal of the survey is to assess people’s true needs in Kibera and SHOFCO’s impact over time. We will conduct the survey again one year from now, and every few years after that.

On December 18^th we held a huge community celebration at the SHOFCO Community Center to thank the community for participating in this important project. Over 1,500 people came to enjoy food, music, and a raffle drawing. We are thrilled with the success of this project!!

Many Ways to Make a Difference

2010-12-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

There are times when I am so touched by how many people find a unique way to participate in our work. The matching challenge from Newman's Own Foundation is really an invitation to all of our supporters to get creative and help us maximize our impact.

I was really touched and inspired by this story from one of our amazing supporters (and a sponsor of a student at the Kibera School for Girls), Chad Smith. Read what Chad has to say, and perhaps get inspired with ideas of your own!

"Last year our neighborhood created a luminary walk at Christmas time. Candles are placedin little white lunch bags which line the sidewalks. As the sun sets, the candles are lit and the illumined bags trace the sidewalks with light. It is a beautiful sight. A dozen neighbors or so go around caroling and the evening concludes by gathering for wassail, hot cocoa and desserts. It all makes for a lovely evening.

This year instead of only taking in a beautiful experience, the neighborhood wanted to do something beautiful as well. Each house chipped in for the cost of the luminaries, but in addition, agreed to give to a community development project. One of the neighbors came across an article in a magazine this past summer about work being done in one of the largest slums in the world and submitted we give to the project. $500 dollars was raised for Shining Hope through the luminary walk.

Instead of only taking in a beautiful experience, a little neighborhood in the Chicago suburbs was able to reach out half way around the world and do something beautiful."

-Chad Smith

Thank you so much to you Chad, and to your community. Our work is really only as strong as the grassroots movement of support that we are building. $50,000 ---- here we come (but only with your help!!)

Newman's Own Foundation hosts a $50,000 matching campaign for us -- Now through the end of January!

2010-12-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

Every day at our projects in Kibera is filled with significant victories—a clinic opening, a new boarding facility for students like five-year-old Sarah who was abandoned by her parents, a student reading for the first time. We want to express our gratitude to you for helping us to make these moments, and many others, possible. We asked a mother of a student at our school if she had a message that we could share and she said this: “Tell them that they have given me the best gift possible—just by caring about Shining Hope for Communities they have given me hope that tomorrow will be better than today, because today is already better than yesterday.”

We need your help to continue making a profound difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the residents of Kibera, Kenya—Africa’s largest slum. Our work is not possible without your support.

This holiday season Newman’s Own Foundation is hosting a $50,000 matching campaign! Help us make this match!

This means that every dollar you donate to Shining Hope for Communities this December and January will be doubled, allowing your gift to go twice as far. You can track our campaign's progress on the homepage of our website by clicking here!

Every dollar counts—$5 feeds an entire class of students for an entire day, $25 feeds an entire class for a week, $250 provides all of our students and staff with a daily meal for a month. Please give now to give the most. You can make a donation online by clicking here or by mail to Shining Hope for Communities, 14 Red Glen Road, Middletown, CT 06457.

Peace and best wishes for a happy holiday season,
Jessica Posner & Kennedy Odede & the whole SHC Team

P.S. Please consider helping our campaign by forwarding this information on to friends, family, and anyone else who might be interested. Thank you so much!

World Aids Day in Kibera, 2010

2010-12-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

Today, December 1st, is World Aids Day, and the community of Kibera came together to commemorate. The Community Health Workers of the JJJ Clinic and members of SHOFCO joined a Kibera-wide parade, marching to music from the Kenyan Police Band. The CHWs handed out fliers advertising the clinic and its services as they marched, and passed out condoms to all who asked.

We stood out in our bright blue t-shirts as we carried our makeshift banner at the front of the line, leading the parade to the final rally at the railroad tracks.

This World Aids Day theme was "Universal Access and Human Rights," and everyone in attendance resolved to help embody this theme.

Today, we urge everyone to remember that the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over, even if it sometimes feels far from home.

The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic is Now Open!

2010-11-23T06:50:00.001-08:00

The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic opened its doors to the community last week! With the opening, all 67 students from the Kibera School for Girls came for a special clinic, so that our clinicians can get to know and follow the health of all of the girls.

The Community Health Workers have been spreading the word, recruiting patients throughout Kibera to come receive personalized and quality care -- and there has been fantastic feedback! One of our patients told us she came because she had heard that "such good services were being offered at this clinic."

The last few days have proved the need for a clinic here. Our clinicians have already stitched up a gash in a patient's face, treated over 10 cases of malaria, and followed up with the sickest of our patients.

We are excited to see what an impact the clinic will have and are proud of all of our Kenyan staff for making this abstract idea a reality!

Our new boarding facility - Margaret's Safe Place - is now open!

2010-10-27T23:45:00.001-07:00

As of yesterday, five of our students have officially moved into Margaret's Safe Place -- our new boarding facility housing our most vulnerable girls. They are living there with our school's wonderful social worker. The girls have been eagerly anticipating moving into the house all week. According to her kindergarten teacher Julia, one of the girls kept asking, "Is it Wednesday yet??"

After school let out, the girls walked to the house with teacher Julia, our administrator, our social worker, and several of our American volunteers. We were struck by how few belongings they had -- one of our volunteers realized she had more in her day's backpack than these girls had in the world. The walk over was very sweet; the girls held hands the whole way there, and we could see the start of a lovely new family dynamic. When they arrived, we gave them a tour of the house, including their new backyard with banana trees! Teacher Julia is seen here helping the girls feel comfortable in their new home.

The girls excitedly ran up the stairs and discovered their names on their doors:

... and they were thrilled about their new rooms with bunk beds, flip-flops ("slippers"), toothbrushes and toothpaste, towels, and of course... beanie babies!

Once they had settled down about their new "slippers," the girls were enchanted by the window. They are not accustomed to having more than one level in a home, and are definitely not used to a room with a view. They stood in front of the window for several minutes pointing out anything they could see.

The girls are so happy to be living with their friends - it is such a wonderful environment for them. They quickly figured out that they can play together whenever they want now, and they didn't waste any time! They had a blast running around in the front yard:

Once the girls had seen their new house, we sat down at the living room table to have a little soda to celebrate their big move. We are incredibly grateful to Margaret and Bob Patricelli for giving these girls a beautiful, safe home!

Our Girls Went Shoe Shopping!

2010-10-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, our students at the Kibera School for Girls got a very special treat. Not only did they get to go on a field trip to town, but they also got to take home a brand new pair of shoes and three pairs of red socks (to match their pull-overs)!

This special day, sponsored by our generous supporter Eric Weider, put a gigantic smile on each girl's face. They will proudly wear these shoes every single day, and we cannot thank Eric enough for such a thoughtful gift!

Several of our girls had never before seen downtown Nairobi, and none of them had ever owned brand new shoes. An anecdote from the day -- several girls had never looked in a mirror before, so they had a great time checking themselves out and making faces at the Bata store's mirrors!

Who doesn't love shoe shopping?

"The Gadget" - a Gift from the EDC

2010-10-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Kibera School for Girls has a new favorite piece of technology -- nicknamed, "The Gadget."

The Education Development Center (EDC) has generously donated this mini-projector (actually called a "razorBee") to our school, along with technical support and training, as part of its worldwide testing to see if it can be useful in marginalized schools which do not have reliable power sources. As "the gadget" is updated, the EDC will provide us with newer and better versions! Our SHOFCO Coordinator, Peter, has accompanied our teachers for several weeks to receive weekend training on how to use "the gadget," and how to download videos and programs for it. Now our teachers can show videos of anything they can imagine!

Our students' favorite video on "the gadget" so far is a song that teaches them about the 5 senses. Watch the video below for a clip of them singing their new favorite song!

Thank you, EDC!!

Sex-Ed Classes with our SHOFCO Girls

2010-10-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

The shocking statistic that 66% of girls in Kibera trade sex-for-food to survive, some as early as age six, is devastating enough on paper. But the lived-reality of the rampant violence against women and girls that Shining Hope works with necessitates action. That's why this June, Shining Hope took on a new initiative: to provide the young female participants of the SHOFCO youth programming with the tools to protect their physical and emotional sexual health.

In addition to weekly soccer practice, for the past few months, over 20 SHOFCO junior girls (under 18) have been coming together on Sunday afternoons in the Shining Hope Community Center for facilitated workshops addressing all physical and emotional issues associated with growing up: puberty, menstruation, sexually-transmitted infections, contraception, sexual assault prevention and response, and self-esteem. In these interactive workshops, the girls have gotten the opportunity to create and discuss tough relationship scenarios, learn about different methods of protection, play games, and ask "anonymous questions." In addition, these workshops have been included monthly sanitary napkin distribution and weekly snacks.

Yesterday, we took a mini-field trip with the girls group to Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi for an afternoon of outdoor games and team-building. It was so much fun!

In the near future, we plan to host high-school peer-facilitators from Kibera trained in health education, and a guest speaker--a survivor of sexual assault from Kibera. In the more distant future, we hope to expand this program to provide more resources for these incredibly at-risk teens: our wish list includes annual school uniform distribution, art-therapy, and more field trips. Stay tuned!

Sally and Betsy's Book Party Raised Over $700!

2010-10-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend and board member Betsy threw a party last weekend for her sister Sally Koslow's new book - With Friends Like These - and the proceeds went directly to the Kibera School for Girls!

By donating the books and inviting 15 close friends over, Betsy and Sally raised over $700 in one day!

Sally did a book reading, a discussion of the writing process, and led a discussion about friendship in general. Betsy gave a short talk about the Kibera School for Girls and everyone was excited to help our project.

For more information about Sally Koslow's work, please click here. Thank you so much, Betsy and Sally!!!

If you are interested in hosting an event to help us fundraise, please contact Leah: Leah@hopetoshine.org

SHOFCO Clean-Up in Kibera!

2010-09-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, our SHOFCO Youths organized a wildly successful "Kibera Clean-Up" based at our new Shining Hope Community Center. Over 200 Kibera residents turned out for the event, and the mood was fun and upbeat. Everyone was excited to be cleaning up the neighborhood!

Participants received lunch in our Community Center as well as a bright blue Shining Hope for Communities t-shirt. The shirts have our new logo on the front and Kennedy's original SHOFCO logo (from 2005!) on the back. We plan to host Clean-Ups twice a month to encourage community involvement and unity.

The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic of Kibera

2010-09-24T03:41:00.000-07:00

The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic of Kibera needs your help! Do you work for or know someone who is connected to a hospital, a health facility, pharmaceutical company or a clinic? Do you have connections to a medical laboratory, or even a lab equipment provider? We are looking for in-kind laboratory equipment donations so that we can provide on-site diagnoses for our patients…but we can’t do it without you! Please, spread the word, and help us connect with a hospital or other facility that can provide the following equipment to help thousands of patients in Kibera. Consult our wish list below for guidance, and we thank you in advance for your support.

Wish List:

- Haematology analyzer: 18 parameter, specific feature, Neutrophils and Lymphocytes absolute and relative count

- Semi Automated Clinical Chemistry analyzer: Over 30 clinical chemistry analytes

- Bio-Ocular Microscope

- Autoclave

- Centrifuge, 4-6 tubes

- Incubator, 28 Litres

- Waterbath

- Hot air Oven

- Roller Mixture

- Serology Shaker

Please email Health Services Director, Ilana Nelson-Greenberg, ilana@hopetoshine.org, with any questions, or if you are able to help!

Groundbreaking Study Released Today

2010-09-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Groundbreaking study released today: for every year of primary education that women receive the under 5 mortality rate drops 10%!

Groundbreaking findings are released today in a study in The Lancet. Researchers found that:

For every year of education that women in developing countries get the under five mortality rate drops 10%!

The mother’s education has a greater impact on child survival than economic household characteristics or increasing income.

Mother’s education is a more decisive influence than the education of the father.

The impact goes beyond just the children of an educated woman: the study found that children of poorly educated mothers are also less likely to die in areas where overall female educational attainment is higher.

Read the articles here:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)61417-1/fulltext

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)61257-3/fulltext

Then follow us on twitter @hope2shine and become a fan on facebook!

Our Wish-List!

2010-09-06T03:35:00.000-07:00

Have you been looking for a way to make a donation directly to our projects in Kibera?

We have a new Wish List through Amazon.com that allows you to do so from the comfort of your computer! To browse, simply click here.

Please consider donating today. But because shipping to Nairobi is tricky, so before you purchase, please let Development Director Leah Lucid (leah@hopetoshine.org) know about your order.

For a more complete wish list, please visit our website by clicking here.

Jessica Gordon volunteered with us in Kibera yesterday!

2010-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

We had a special volunteer, Jessica Gordon, come visit us in Kibera yesterday! Jessica was a Community Health Worker (CHW) in the Peace Corps in Madagascar a few years ago, and joined us before going back to visit her friends there. She led a workshop with our CHWs about her time doing health work in the Peace Corps, and taught creative theater games to our 1st and 2nd graders at the Kibera School for Girls. It was a wonderful treat. Thank you, Jessica!

KSG went on a field trip to see animals this week!!

2010-09-01T08:07:00.001-07:00

The Kibera School for Girls went on an amazing field trip Tuesday to see animals in four different locations! The trip was sponsored by the Giraffe Centre and our Programs Director Ari Tolman's family in honor of Ari's birthday (also Tuesday).

The trip started with the arrival of the huge Giraffe Centre bus to Kibera. With everyone watching, our adorable girls excitedly filed onto the bus in their beautiful uniforms. Many of them had never been on a bus before, and were more excited about the bus ride than the animals! So sweet. We did have several cases of carsickness, but that was to be expected...

Our first stop was the Giraffe Centre, where each girl got to feed the giraffes and even kiss them if they were brave enough! Then they attentively watched a video about wild animals in Africa.

Next we boarded the bus again to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, where the girls got to watch young elephants drinking milk from giant-sized baby bottles!

After that, we boarded the bus again to head over to Momba Village for a yummy lunch and to see crocodiles. One hilarious moment was when the tour guide jokingly pretended to throw a baby crocodile into the huddled group of girls. The girls quickly ran away in a panic with a chorus of high-pitched screams until they were convinced that he was only joking.

While there, our girls noticed their moon-bounce castle from far away and started jumping in place on the grass to show how much they wanted a turn in it.
After seeing the crocodiles, we couldn't resist giving them a surprise treat of jumping in the moon-bounce castle -- they had a blast!

Our last stop was the animal orphanage within Nairobi National Park, where our students got to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, ostriches, baboons, and more! We then returned to Kibera feeling tired and happy. It was truly a special day.

Throughout the trip, we were proud of how well-behaved our girls were -- especially since the Giraffe Centre usually only allows students over the age of 10. And most importantly, the girls were incredibly happy!!

Professor McAlear Visits the Kibera School for Girls

2010-08-28T07:21:00.001-07:00

The Kibera School for Girls had a very special visit this month from Wesleyan University’s Professor Mike McAlear and two of his sons, Matthew and Thomas! Professor McAlear gave a wonderful, interactive lecture to our girls about the water cycle in Africa. His lecture included an experiment with test tubes he brought for the school (along with a whole suitcase of donated goods). Matthew and Thomas were also put to work in our school library. We cannot thank Professor McAlear and his sons enough for their generous donation of supplies, time, and energy!

Opening Ceremony of our Shining Hope Community Center and Bio-Latrine Center!

2010-08-28T05:34:00.000-07:00

We officially opened both our new Shining Hope Community Center and our Bio-Latrine Center this week! The opening ceremony included songs from the students at the Kibera School for Girls, speeches from Kennedy and Jessica, and speeches of gratitude from community members. A Senior Representative from Umande Trust - the organization who built the technology for the Bio-Latrine Center - also spoke. We provided food and drinks, as well as balloons for kids in the neighborhood! It was a truly happy occasion.

The Community Center will house a public library and computer center, is currently where our Community Health Workers are being trained until the JJJ Clinic opens, and has a large multi-purpose room that is already being used for community meetings, celebrations, and the SHOFCO Women’s Empowerment Project (SWEP). We are so excited to see what other creative uses our Community Center will get!

The Bio-Latrine Center houses our beautiful new pit latrines and showers, located adjacent to the Kibera School for Girls. Its technology converts waste into methane gas, which can then be harvested for use. There is also a hand-washing station and a water tank attached to the Bio-Latrine Center. The Bio-Latrine would not exist without the generous support of the Platkin-Teutsch family. We would also like to thank the Newman's Own Foundation for supporting the expansion of this project.

We plan to have clean, filtered water technology as the next step to this project!

Video from Kibera World Cup

2010-08-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

Check out our newly released video from Shining Hope's 1st Annual Kibera World Cup, held earlier this summer. To watch, click here.

Kennedy is in the New York Times today!

2010-08-10T00:01:00.001-07:00

Kennedy Odede, our Co-founder and Executive Director, wrote an op-ed "Slumdog Tourism," which was published in the New York Times today (Tuesday, August 10th).

In his article, Kennedy brings to light many of the issues surrounding slum tourism from the residents' perspective -- based on his personal experience. His article provides a unique opportunity to share the largely unheard opinion of people from Kibera, Africa's largest slum, with one of the most widely read newspapers in the United States.

Please join us in celebrating Kennedy's accomplishment by reading his Op-Ed here.

Peaceful Voting for Kenya Referendum

2010-08-06T01:01:00.001-07:00

We are all very happy to say that the voting this Wednesday was peaceful here in Kenya.

Thank you for your concern!

Referendum Vote Tomorrow, August 4

2010-08-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

We are holding all of Kenya in our thoughts tomorrow during the vote for the constitution referendum. We have hope for peaceful, respectful voting nationwide.

For general information about the referendum, Click Here.

We sincerely do not anticipate any problems here in Nairobi or Kibera, and we will update you again after the voting results are released to let you know everything is alright.

Sending love and peace,
Shining Hope for Communities

Progress Report: the Johanna Justin-Jinich Clinic

2010-07-30T05:43:00.001-07:00

We are incredibly excited about the progress of the Johanna Justin-Jinich clinic! The first floor of the two-story structure is complete, and workers (many of whom are school dads) will be starting on the second floor next week. The clinic will be outfitted with a friendly waiting room, examining rooms, maternal care, a laboratory and a pharmacy.

The community health worker trainings have been going fantastically. A woman from Kibera, who has been a community health worker in Kibera for over 10 years, leads the sessions, which have covered topics ranging from HIV/AIDS and TB care to the pathology of cancer to maternal and prenatal care of pregnant women. The community health workers will provide a link between the community and the clinic, providing educational outreach, referring people to the clinic, and providing follow-up care. There will also be a specific focus on prenatal health to ensure that women have a safe and reliable place to turn during pregnancy. To learn more about the state of maternal health in Kenya, please read a recent article in The Standard (one of Kenya's national newspapers).

We are also thrilled to announce that we have hired an amazing doctor from Nairobi Women’s Hospital, who specializes in women’s health. Not only has he been helping with the development of the clinic’s programs and services, but he has been leading a few of the community health worker training sessions. We are so excited to have such a committed doctor and his expertise on board!

Research Projects

2010-07-27T06:22:00.001-07:00

What do ostriches, pilots, water, and the heart all have in common? They are all topics our students have chosen for their summer independent research projects! Each girl has chosen a subject they will study in-depth throughout the summer, and our wonderful volunteers have been guiding them in the process. For Kindergarten and First Graders, the topics are diverse, thought-provoking, and incredibly cute. Animals are the clear favorite, ranging from lions and elephants to cows and chickens. Many are studying the environment – weather, soil, flowers, and plants. From there the topics get more abstract and zany.

Throughout the summer, students have been exploring their topics in creative and innovative ways. Students interested in pilots have been learning about flight with paper airplanes. Our animal researchers have been studying “Kaka”, the school's new kitten that will be keeping mice away from our school. Our little herbologists have been spending time in our sustainable vegetable garden, learning about the type of plants we grow as part of our feeding program.

These research projects are an essential part of the Kibera School's innovative model. By allowing the girls to explore topics on their own, we cultivate students that take an active role in their own education. Instead of forcing them to memorize requisite facts, we allow them to study what they want, which leads them to ask relevant questions about the world around them and think critically. It's also just incredibly fun!

Jessica Wins the 2010 Do Something Award!

2010-07-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

Last night Jessica Posner, Shining Hope for Communities Co-Founder and Managing Director, won the 2010 Do Something Award.

DoSomething.org and VH1 partnered to present The Do Something Awards to honor young people's commitment to social change. The final five nominees and grant recipients were announced Monday, May 24, 2010 during a star-studded DoSomething.org event at the Apollo Theater in New York. Each nominee was honored for his or her commitment to social action with a community grant of $10,000. Of these five nominees, Do Something, Inc. selected Jessica as the grand prize winner--she received a $100,000 grant for Shining Hope for Communities during the live VH1 broadcast of the ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.

Since 1996, DoSomething.org has honored the nation's best world-changers, ages 25 and under. The Do Something Award is the premiere national award for social action. Nominees and winners represent the pivotal "do-ers" in their field, cause, or issue.

You can watch her victory here. We couldn't be more proud of Jessica and all of her hard work, but we can't wait to have her back in Kibera with the rest of the team.

Congratulations Jess!

A Fire in Kibera

2010-07-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Last week a large fire broke out in Kibera right next to our school. A kerosene lamp fell over in one house, and because of Kibera's incredible density, poor ventilation, and flammable building materials, the fire quickly spread. 18 families lost their homes and all of their worldly possessions in one night. Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire, but the damage was horrific. A whole section of houses that line the path we take everyday to school was suddenly missing, leaving only a large empty field of black ash. Over the course of the week, we've watched as the determined families afflicted have struggled to rebuild their homes and their lives, despite having lost every material possession they own.

Overwhelmed by both the scope of the disaster and the resiliency of the victims, the Kibera School for Girls and SHOFCO decided to help out. George Okewa, our school administrator, and Leah Lucid, our Development Director, spearheaded a 48 hour funding drive. In just two days, we were able to raise over 1,000 dollars in private donations from the United States. With this money we were able to buy mattresses, blankets, cooking/cleaning utensils, and food for all 18 families!

This Monday we had a ceremony in front of the site to distribute the goods to the 18 families. News about the intervention had spread quickly - nearly a hundred people came to support the families and lend a hand. The ceremony was lead by the former counselor Opete, a major community leader, as well as Kennedy and Jessica. As we handed over supplies, Counselor Opete spoke about the power of working together and uniting for a good cause. As he spoke, the semi-permanent structures that serve as homes were already being rebuilt, and with our supplies each family now had a warm place to sleep and enough meals to last them a month.

The Kibera World Cup

2010-07-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend SHOFCO hosted the first annual Kibera World Cup! Twenty youth soccer teams (boys 16 and under) from all over Kibera competed in the two-day tournament. The games coincided with the final games of the actual World Cup in South Africa and mirrored its structure. On the first day, teams were placed into lettered groups where they played “round robin” style. Two fields, three referees, and forty games in one day! Winners from each group competed in the knockout rounds on the second day, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and a big final match at the end of the tournament.

SHOFCO's 16 and under team finished 4th place, after a tough penalty shootout loss to “More Fire” in the semifinals (Other creative team names from the tournament include: “Super Disc”, “Lexus”, and “Mexico”). Eventually, “More Fire” defeated “Mexico” in an exciting final game that all of the teams stayed to watch. The top four teams in the tournament all won official World Cup soccer balls and cash prizes, handed out in a closing ceremony at the end of the game.

During the event we also enjoyed performances from the acrobatic dance troupe “Kibera Hamlets”, as well as an exuberant skit from the SHOFCO youth drama team based on HIV/AIDS awareness. We also had face painting and balloons for the younger kids, as well as juice, soda, bread, and biscuits for the players and fans all watching. Before the final match, the Shining Hope volunteers (“Team Obama”) were challenged to a friendly match against the SHOFCO girls soccer team, which was a lot of fun, but highlighted our embarrassing mzungu soccer skills. Hundreds of people came to watch the games, especially kids, and everyone had a blast!

This amazing community event would not have been possible without our amazing youth soccer director, “Coaches” (his nickname – his real name is Ken, but he's known by everyone as “Coaches” so there's no confusion with our boss Kennedy!). Not only does he organize and coach all of SHOFCO's youth soccer teams, but he organized the entire event with Leah, our incredible Development Director. All in all, it was a great weekend for SHOFCO and a perfect way for the community to celebrate the World Cup!

The Power of Sponsorship

2010-07-10T02:41:00.001-07:00

Sarah just finished her pre-school year at the Kibera School for Girls. She is exceptionally sweet, affectionate, bright, and has a smile that can make any of us melt in an instant. You simply cannot help but love this little girl who is constantly reaching to hold your hand. We originally thought Sarah had a degenerative eye disease that was causing her to go blind, but after taking her to an eyecare specialist last year, it was determined that her eyes actually had severe allergies, but no degeneration. These allergies were causing vision impairment, constant rubbing and erosion of the cornea, and pigment leaking into her whole eye, making it appear extremely dark. A recent visit from an optometrist at the school made us question Sarah's previous diagnosis. Once again, Sarah needed to see an opthamologist. Primary healthcare is covered by the general sponsorship program, which goes a very long way in Kibera. Unfortunately, specialist care is expensive and beyond what the school’s budget can afford for primary healthcare coverage of our girls.

Luckily, by some twist of fate, Sarah had been matched with an unusually generous and doting sponsor. This sponsor had previously reached out to offer any additional aid Sarah might need – especially for her eyes. When we realized that Sarah urgently needed to see a specialist last week because her eyesight had gotten worse, I contacted Sarah’s sponsor to ask for help. I got an immediate, positive response. It felt amazing to tell Sarah that we were going to help her see better. And as I held Sarah’s hand on the way to the eye doctor, I told her about Margot -- her special sponsor who loved and cared about her all the way from America, and was helping us take her to the doctor. She looked up at me and Sammy and smiled her priceless smile. Thanks to sponsors like Margot, we can get our wonderful girls the help they truly need and deserve.

This week, 25 new students will start at the Kibera School for Girls. Most of them will be in the pre-school class, and a few will be filling open spots in the three older classes. All of them are in need of sponsors (photos to be posted soon on our website). The Sponsorship Program is a fantastic way to get involved in the Kibera School for Girls. Sponsors get matched to a specific girl in need, and provide their child with nutritious food, uniforms, and primary healthcare. In return, sponsors receive bi-annual updates about the student, as well as hand-written letters from their child. Some supporters have also found that a year of sponsorship funds can make a meaningful gift for a loved one! If you are interested in sponsorship, please email me at: Leah@hopetoshine.org.

Kennedy and Jessica Win Echoing Green!

2010-07-01T02:10:00.000-07:00

We couldn't be more proud of our Shining Hope for Communities co-founders, Executive Director Kennedy Odede and Managing Director Jessica Posner. The two have just been selected for the prestigious 2010 Echoing Green Fellowship.

The Echoing Green Fellowship program provides seed capital and support to some of the world’s best emerging social entrepreneurs. At Echoing Green, we know that change comes not just from a well-funded idea or an innovative model. It comes from human beings who align their heads with their hearts to become engines for social change.

Learn more, and watch their video here.

American Friends of Kenya Comes to Visit

2010-06-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

We’ve had a busy last few days! We had a visit from American Friends of Kenya, who donated a huge number of boxes with supplies for the school and clinic. Thanks to the AFK book donations and library science expertise, we will soon have a completely digital library! We are in the process of collating the books, and, using new bar codes, we will be able to check out books to the community!

AFK also held a day-long clinic, where they provided physical exams for the girls at the school as well as for a number of community members. There were specific consultations as well, including a visit by an optometrist. An expert midwife, Rochelle, held a workshop on maternal and infant health for a new team of community health workers, beginning the training for the upcoming health care team at our own clinic!

While the girls were in school, we spent all day Tuesday reorganizing the office, so we now have a real space where we can work. Now we can now find what we’re looking for!

The girls are working harder than ever, impressing everyone each day. They are always busy, and just chose their independent research topics. We're in the process of arranging field trips that pertain to each child's topic. We also hope to take a group trip to the post office!

The older girls are singing everything from “Going on a Lion Hunt” to “Peel Bananas” in their after-school program, and are enthusiastically dancing along. We’re all excited to see what they’ll get up to next!

That’s all for now, but tomorrow is sure to be another busy day!

On the ground and running

2010-06-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

Aaaaand…We’re Back!
The Shining Hope for Communities U.S. Team has officially landed in Nairobi for an incredibly exciting summer of work in Kibera. Not only does this mean that a fantastic array of new projects and school developments, but it means that blogging is back, and better than ever before. We hope to have new updates every few days—so please stay tuned and keep checking back for stories, photos, and video!

What’s going on at the Kibera School for Girls and the Shining Hope for Community Center? Here are the summer project highlights you can look forward to:

Kibera School for Girls (KSG): Interviews are currently underway for the newest pre-K class of students. Fifteen of Kibera’s best and brightest young women will be admitted in the next few weeks—and we are already so excited about the applicants! So far there have been 150 families that have submitted applications for the spots. KSG is tuition-free, and is committed to providing the girls in the most dire financial circumstances, Executive Director Kennedy Odede is personally conducting home visits to assess the financial situation of the families. All people who live in the Kibera slum live in extreme poverty, but the students at KSG rank among the most poor even in the slum. To get a spot at the school, parents agree to volunteer for five weeks a year.

The first year of the Kibera School for Girls was a resounding success. Thanks to the hard-work of their teachers, even the youngest of our students are reading, writing, and speaking in English. They can do addition easily, give you a history of countries in Africa, and love going to school. We couldn’t be happier with the progress of our students. A few weeks ago a teacher took one student to take an entrance test at the nearest government school, just for comparison’s sake. Our 2nd grade student placed into a 5th grade classroom! At KSG our students love learning (this week they made puppets with a visitor, wrote storybooks about their lives, learned about proteins and vitamins, and started science experiments with soil. The atmosphere at school is lively. Students are always singing and smiling—school is a very happy place to be! Parents are always around to contribute, and it’s clear how beloved the school is by the community as a whole. Our staff of teachers and administration is overwhelmingly committed and skilled—they are leaders that are cherished by parents and community members alike.

The Green Bio-Latrine Center: Construction has been completed on the bio-latrine center adjacent to the school! The final piece of the process was to hook the structure up to a water pipeline—and yesterday, we did it! Already the nearby community is using the faucet to fill up water for cooking and cleaning, and the bio-latrine is slated to open early next week, as soon as Nairobi Water comes to turn on our water meter. The bio-latrine uses innovative green technology to convert waste into methane gas—providing the community with access to sanitary toilets (a desperate need) while offsetting carbon emissions. The facility is absolutely beautiful---one of the most amazing facilities our staff has ever seen. It’s a cheerful green color, and has six toilets and three showers. We can’t wait to open for business! Stay tuned for plans for a dedication ceremony next week….

Johanna Justin-Jinich (JJJ) Community Clinic of Kibera: We have purchased a plot of land adjacent to the KSG that will be the site of our community health clinic (a difficult feat for high-density Kibera). We expect to start the beginning stages of construction next week on what will be a two-story six room clinic. All hands are on deck as we begin the process of assembling an expert staff of committed medical professionals to help run the clinic, unpacking and inventorying the hundreds of boxes of medical equipment and supplies shipped by partners AFK, and meeting with potential medical partners in Kibera and Nairobi. In addition, we have assembled a team of community health worker volunteers who have began training this week with American Friends of Kenya Medical Team. There are many clinics in Kibera—but this will be the first clinic that remains truly community run, and accountable to the people it serves. We’ve spent a lot of time in area clinics this week with several ill students—and the need for our clinic has just become even clearer.

Gardens for Growth Gardens Initiative: The community garden next to the school is growing lush with fresh veggies! Our garden is overflowing with kale, spinach, a local green vegetable, peppers, onions, and maize. Parent volunteers have been harvesting the vegetables to cook the nutritious lunches for the KSG students each day. This week we are making vertical gardens for all parents to take home, and in the coming weeks we will begin to distribute them in the community.

SHOFCO Youth: SHOFCO teens and young-adults have been active at the multi-purpose room of the school making beautiful beaded bracelets for sale in the U.S. three days a week, and recently have begun rehearsing a new play that they hope will spark conversation among their peers in Kibera about HIV transmission and gender abuse. They keep the atmosphere around the Shining Hope Community Center filled with life. We’re also building additional space for the community center, as our current community space and school are filled daily with over one hundred people—keeping us all busy!

Women’s Microfinance Empowerment Workshop: Our women’s group is going strong. They meet each day to make bracelets and sew bags to earn an income. Their work is beautiful, and they love having a safe space to come together and share, while earning a living wage.
The Dennis Silver Memorial Library: Thanks to the generous donations of books and library expertise from the American Friends of Kenya, our library has grown to over three-thousand books—but what’s more—it has been digitized and catalogued electronically so it will be completely searchable, and we will be able to check out books to the students and wider community. We can’t wait to expand this center.

Jessica and Kennedy are joined this summer by several full-time staff volunteers Ari Tolman, Leah Lucid, and Ilana Nelson-Greenberg, along with Sammy McGowan for the summer. Together with the staff of the community center and school—we invite everyone to follow along as we establish the JJJ clinic, continue the work of the school, start a boarding facility, open our bio latrine, and continue to make a difference for women and the Kibera community as a whole.

Learning About More than Math

2010-01-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

Catherine Mumba

Today Kate O'Reilly-Jones, one of two fantastic recent wesleyan alums who is spending several months working at the school, wrote me a very touching email that I'd like to share with all of you. As I wrote about recently, Angela Acheing's family lost their house and all of their belongings in a recent fire. Kate and Matt, our other wonderful wesleyan alum, went to purchase a few necessities for the family today (blankets, food, clothing, etc.) As Kate and Matt showed the teachers what they had found for Angela a touching moment occurred. Here is what Kate writes:

"When the teachers were looking at the clothes Matt and I got at Toi market for Angela, Catherine (another student) started pulling out things out of her backpack that she’d brought for Angela- she brought her at least two pieces of clothing and a cup and plate. I was just very impressed that and HIV+ orphan who lives in Kibera would give away her things to someone she thought needed them more."

This is indeed astonishing. Catherine is one of our most needy students. She is indeed HIV positive, lives with her grandmother as both of her parents died of AIDS, and has almost no possessions to her name. The fact that Catherine (and other students as well) have brought in their "extra" belongings to give to Angela (students have brought clothes, plates, cups, and even food to share) is so very meaningful. It makes it clear that our students are learning much more than math, science, and language at The Kibera School for Girls.... they are learning about leadership, kindness, and the power of passing on a good deed. Their education is teaching them to be contributors in their community and world.

Tragedy Strikes

2010-01-12T23:24:00.001-08:00

Often times the most difficult part of the work we do is that in the midst of movement towards hope tragedy strikes. Daily life at the school is going on wonderfully.... our students are engaged, passionate and making tremendous steps every single day.

Today was a day like most others at the school. Students began learning at 7:30, working on projects about eco-systems and conservation. Then, at about 11:00 terrible news reached the school: a fire had begun in Kibera. In Kibera fires are often devastating due to the close proximity of houses and the ease of rapid spreading. Luckily, the fire was no where near our school (which is well protected from fires due to its isolation from other buildings, gutters and a ditch). However, at pick up time Angela Achieng's older sister came to school for pick up and informed Angela and our community that their house and belongs burned to the ground.

In times like this, our school community is strong. Several of our students immediately offered to bring in any extra clothes that they have for Angela tomorrow, demonstrating the kindness and thought for others that is central to our curriculum.

Angela is a wonderful student and member of our community. Angela is six years old and the youngest of six children. She’s very bright, excelling in both language arts and math, and she enjoys playing on her own. Most days after school, she works on puzzles, draws pictures, and plays freeze dance. Neither of Angela’s parents is consistently employed, so her family only eats when they can afford to. They appreciate that Angela and the other girls receive a great education at the Kibera School, regardless of their financial situations. We will provide Angela with consistent emotional support, and the school community will also work to find temporary housing, as well as to find means to help the family rebuild their lives.

Shining Hope for Communities Shortlisted for Echoing Green Fellowship!

2010-01-12T23:21:00.001-08:00

Great news!

Shining Hope for Communities has just been shortlisted as a semi-finalist for an Echoing Green Fellowship, a prestigious award given to innovative new social change organizations that gives $90K over a two-year

We've still got two rounds to go... so wish us luck!

Bio-Center Making Rapid Progress!

2010-01-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

Recognizing the need for adequate sanitation facilities for the school and community at large, the Kibera School has started building a bio-center.* This facility will house two showers and four sanitary toilets, two for the school and two for the community. The waste collected will produce methane gas, which the school will use to cook the girls’ lunch each day.

After a difficult month of excavation, construction finally began. Digging more then a few feet down in Kibera requires breaking though huge rocks, so the team had to work tirelessly to create a ten-foot deep hole. Last week we started building the first part of the structure—the underground dome that will collect the waste. We are a few days away from finishing the dome, and then it’s on to building the outside walls. All of the stone for the walls came from the excavation process, reducing the environmental impact of the project. A local engineering group in Kibera is providing technical assistance, and one of the parents is helping to build the dome. Our team is working hard, and now that the excavation is over, the building is going up rapidly, and should open at the end of January!! This will provide the people of Kibera with never-before sanitary toilets and hand washing stations!

* The government provides no waste disposal infrastructure in Kibera, and informal latrines are scarce, with one for every 50 to 100 residents.

Video!

2009-11-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Please view the video below. If it inspires you, please share it with others. You can view it here, via our website www.hopetoshine.org or via youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv6Yrna0Fdo

Community Health

2009-11-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

This week we were thrilled to welcome Australian nurse Vanessa Wynn-Jones, who arrived at the school to establish health records and lead HIV/AIDS workshops. Vanessa joined us after spending a week in eastern Kenya, where she worked in rural clinic treating the Massai people.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Vanessa led HIV/AIDS workshops for the Kibera community, first for men and then for women. Vanessa’s first forty minute workshop turned into a three hour discussion on the risks and effects associated with HIV/AIDS. Men from the community would not stop asking questions, eager to have access to her medical expertise. The women also showered Vanessa with questions, not only about HIV, but about other struggles they face in Kibera, such as depression and domestic violence. More than just informational talks, her workshops gave Kibera residents a safe space where they could share their health concerns with one another.

Friday marked the first day of health exams for the KSFG’s students. Vanessa met individually with the girls and their parents to establish medical records for and examine each student. She counseled parents on nutrition and sanitation, offered HIV tests, and referred students in need to medical specialists. These records are an important step in our continued efforts to care for our girls’ health needs, as well as their education.

Though only here for a week, Vanessa plans to return and will be heavily involved in the development of the school’s clinic, which is currently in the early planning stages. We have had such a great time with Vanessa this week, and we cannot overstate our appreciation for her dedication and expertise. Her work is truly a testament to the impact an individual can have on a community, even in six short days.

Wonderful Volunteers!

2009-11-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

Everything is moving along wonderfully at the school! Children are busy and loving learning, parents are becoming increasingly involved, and many exciting projects are developing.

This week I'd like to take a moment and reflect on the wonderful volunteers who have so generously shared their time enriching the lives of our students!

This past week Maggie Broadwater worked at the school each day. With her BS in Biochemistry and MS in Biomedical sciences Maggies was the first female scientist our students have ever met. Maggie served as a positive female role model and as an example of the life possibilities that come with an education. She spent the week teaching even our littlest students about the scientific method. The students loved her hands on examples and learned a lot. This week all of our girls say that they want to be scientists when they grow up!

On Wednesday Matt Podolin and Kate O'Reilley-Jones arrived in Kenya. These two '09 Wesleyan graduates will be helping at the school until March, filling in wherever needed and taking on projects of their own to expand the effectiveness of the school and its associated community programs. Sammy McGowan, a student at Brown University, has been working hard this entire semester. He is researching health issues in Kibera so that when our health center opens it will effectively cater to the needs of the community. Rebecca Green, a student at Hamilton College is working to start an after school program for our kindergarten and fist grade students. She will work with youth in the community who will run the program, focusing on the arts, reading, and math.

Through our talented volunteers our students hear and practice English, receive additional individualized attention, and get exposed to new skills and resources!

Below: Sammy McGowan and teacher Madahana Mable.

below: Maggie Broadwater

Read this Article

2009-10-15T19:28:00.001-07:00

Sometimes there are things like this article, which remind me how incredibly important our work is: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/671974/-/unyogd/-/index.html

Update

2009-10-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

>
Today I got a heartening phone call from the school. The teachers exclaimed to me that is just one month of experiencing our incredible curriculum our students are a full year ahead of their peers in traditional Kenyan schools. In just one month so much has happened.

45 little girls run to school, eager for 7:30 to come around and the day to begin. School itself is "magic," as four-year-old Lillian Achieng told me. As Lillian said, "at school life is fun." The children learn through exploration, undertaking science experiments in the garden's soil and writing stories about their own lives. In only one month all of our students can identify colors and shapes in English, and write their own names. Many are beginning to speak English instead of Swahili, preparing them for a life outside of the slum.

Each day our children also eat a healthy meal of maize and beans. This is their only meal that they can count on eating each day. It costs a mere $00.20 per child, per day. Imagine if everyone reading this blog spent $00.20 less on food a day... we could fund our feeding program for a year. Indeed, our feeding program costs a mere $175.00 per month. Along with this program we are teaching our students about nutrition and sustainable agriculture. Because of this food our students can focus in class. Because of this food our HIV positive students can take their medication. Integrating nutrition education into our curriculum is a cornerstone of our philosophy. Now that we are back in the US we are working tirelessly to secure funding for the continuation of this program. Anything, even $00.20, makes a difference. This fact continues to amaze me as I think about how much we spend on food here in America. Making a difference in the lives of our children is so very easy.

We now get very detailed weekly reports from the school and are therefore able to keep up with the amazing progress. The sustainable garden is coming along (see the photo above.) The biodigester will be breaking ground next week. There are four parents interested in learning about this green technology. The engineers will be teaching them, engaging them in this process. The biodigester will provide jobs for the community while it is being constructed, and will put the Kibera School for Girls at the forefront of educational programs based on sustainable education.

Looking for an accountant...

2009-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Many people are always asking us how they can help...

Well here's one way! We're looking for someone who knows how to use quick books and could set us up/help keep all of our financial information straight!

If you're interested or know someone who might be please have them email us!

jessica@hopetoshine.org

Our Website

2009-09-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Don't forget... there is more information on our website:

www.hopetoshine.org

We are in the process of updating our site upon our return from Kenya, but by next week you will be able to go to our website and see photos and read the stories of all of our students (as well as find much more additional information).

You can also become a fan of The Kibera School for Girls on facebook. Become a fan today and show your support for our grassroots movement... and get updates!

Go here to become a facebook fan:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kibera-Kenya/The-Kibera-School-for-Girls/96988017490

Stay tuned!

-Jessica and Kennedy

The First Day of School

2009-09-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

Before leaving to return back to the United States Kennedy and I were lucky enough to witness the first day of school.

Students began arriving early, clad in their uniforms and with enthusiastic and slightly curious smiles on their faces. The three classes rotated between rooms, visiting the science and math center, puzzle center, construction center, literacy center, research/social studies center, and art center. The children looked as if they didn't know what had hit them.... all of a sudden school was fun!

I watched as students built number towers with blocks (counting as they went) and as others drew pictures of their families and wrote accompanying stories. Teachers told stories with puppets, and other students carried out their own science experiments measuring water and weighing it on a scale.

I stepped to the side, as it became clear that this project no longer needed Kennedy and me in the same way--everything was more than under control with Joan and our amazing teachers at the helm. Another magical moment was lunch time. Our curriculum specialist Melissa Dearborn generously donated supplies for the first month of our feeding program. Little tiny girls went back for three servings of the nutritious maize and beans mixture. I asked how many had eaten breakfast or dinner the night before, and no one raised their hand. I realized then even further how important our school is because it addresses issues of education, health, nutrition, the well-being of parents, environmental sustainability, and HIV/AIDS and abuse prevention. I was also struck by the sustainability of the project. Lunch, for example, is prepared each day by parents, as there are always four parents who work at the school each week in exchange for school fees.

As I watched the teachers expertly guiding classes I saw that our project is a success. As Teacher Madahana told me, "This school must work, we will make it work because if the school is a success, I am a success. If the school fails, I also fail."

With the committment of our staff, parents and community, I am sure that our school will continue to make a profound difference. As student Makesh Mumbi told me "I wish I could live at school everyday because school is the happiest place in the world."

Dedication

2009-08-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

There are moments in your life and in the life of a community where it is as if time holds still long enough for everyone to acknowledge a miracle. The dedication ceremony for the Kibera School for Girls was one such moment in our lives and in the life of the Kibera Community. The school is indeed nothing short of miraculous. There are moments in any project as large as this one where one wonders what they have gotten into. There are a million daily details that can never be completed. There is a frenzied pace to every day, such that sometimes it is easy to lose track of the bigger picture. But at our dedication ceremony we all stood back to catch our breath and in doing so realized that what we created together is much bigger, more imaginative, and more transformative than what we could have envisioned on our own. In this spirit on August 18th 2009, along with the school and Kibera communities, we dedicated the Kibera School for Girls compound to belieiving in the power of hope.

The day itself began with an even greater fervor than usual. Our parents and students began to arrive at 8:00 a.m. in freshly pressed uniforms. It became immediately obvious that our children and parents had never been to an event celebrating them. Soon after our partners The American Friends of Kenya arrived to participate in the festivities. We were then joined by the Kenyan press, and George Milkwa, the CEO of the Association of Kenyan Independent Schools.

When Kennedy and I arrived at the school we found the parents and children singing. One mother stood in the center leading a call and response song. She lifted her voice in praise singing the lyrics, "That's why we love you God, when we think there is no hope you prove us wrong. When we search for death you give us life. That's why we love you, you show us that there is a brighter day, a day of peace, a second chance, you teach us to keep singing songs of hope." I felt shivers go down my back as the kids clapped and danced while singing along.

During the ceremony itself several parents told their stories about growing up hoping for an education themselves, and their elation that their children will receive more education than they did. Three student representatives spoke as well about their beautiful new school and excitement to begin learning. The CEO of the Kenyan Association of Independent Schools also spoke, lauding revolutionary and ground breaking educational models like ours. Finally, our partners the American Friends of Kenya spoke and the Executive Director gave her silver wings to the school after Jackie Kemuto, one such student representative, declared her dream to be a pilot.

From the look of this start, these kids will fly high.

Parents, Students, Teachers: Teamwork

2009-08-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

It’s been another busy and heart warming week at The Kibera School for Girls. Construction is almost complete, we will get power beginning tomorrow, and the families couldn’t be more excited.

Today we had another workshop with parents and students to discuss the differences between our school and other Kenyan schools and to emphasize the import role that parents must play in their child’s education to ensure their success. This was an incredibly productive meeting. We began by giving the students (clad in their uniforms they are simply too adorable) a gift of a nutrition bar and pair of new underwear each. They were very excited, as because of their extreme poverty our kids are unable to afford something as basic as underwear. We then gave the parents soda as well to kick off the celebratory air.

The meeting was lead by Headmistress Joan and our three incredible teachers Janet, Madahana, and Naomi. We also were very lucky to have two of our Kenyan board members Odoch and Donna Pido in attendance. Odoch is the Director of the SIT Nairobi Study Abroad Program, and Donna is an anthropology professor and expert on women’s empowerment in Kenya. The Pidos will be helping to guide the school while Kennedy and I are in the United States and it was great to have them in attendance.

Our meeting included the discussion of several topics. We talked about our goals for our students to go to high school and college, able to pursue their passions and interests and have a career of their choosing. We focused on how parents can support their children academically and emotionally at home by providing encouragement, and telling their child that they are capable of anything. We also stressed how important it is that parents don’t beat their children, as this makes them less able to learn and grow because they live in fear. Instead, we discussed alternative discipline strategies, to which the parents were very receptive. I don’t think they had ever discussed this issue before. Parents were also very enthusiastic about the power of learning through play and the changes our school brings to the Kenyan educational scene. After the meeting we all walked to the school site together for both parents and children to see their school for the first time. The procession of forty-five little girls in uniform and forty-five parents was quite a joyful sight.

It was breathtaking to watch the expressions on the faces of the children as they saw their beautiful new school for the first time. Several asked me if we could have school seven days a week.

Tomorrow we are planting our sustainable garden along with our parents and the NGO Trees for the Future. As we believe in a holistic approach to community uplift we are going to teach parents how to make vertical gardens, which grow in a burlap sack and can be grown anywhere, in the hopes that many will be able to start small vegetable selling businesses or provide fresh vegetables for their families. Our parents are already incredibly involved, several asked me today if there was anything they could do to help with preparations!

Already our school feels like an incredibly supportive, tight knit community.

Great pictures here (click on the slideshow to enlarge!)

Uniform Distribution: The miracle of joy

2009-08-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

It's been a long, tiring, but all in all amazing week. Construction is almost complete on the school, and construction of the health center has begun as well! We have been meeting with different contractors regarding our biodigester and finally found a great company that does eco-sustainable work for community projects. Our biodigester construction will start in September thanks to a generous donation, and will include the construction of 5 toilets, two showers with water heated by the biodigester, and a kitchen powered by the methane gas produced from the digester.

However, the highlight of this week was today when we distributed uniforms to all of our students. For all of our students these uniforms were the first brand new clothes that these children have ever been given. In addition, uniforms are the only clothes that most of our children have. The excitement as 45 little girls tried on uniforms, traded sizes, swapped styles, and paraded around was incredible. The happiness from parents, students, and teachers alike was simply uncontainable.

After we finished distributing uniforms I visited the homes of several students in the afternoon. In the slide show below you can see the photos from the home of Melvin Apiyo, a pre-school student. Melvin lives in a single room with her nine brothers and sisters, as both her parents are HIV positive, often sick, and unable to find work. Their house is almost falling down, indeed it is almost as if Melvin lives outside. When I first went to visit I didn't see anyone at home so I began to leave. However, Melvin came running from around the corner with about 10 other children to see what a white person was doing in their neighborhood. I asked Melvin if she wanted to show me her house and she opened the door with great pride as about 20 plus children gathered to look on. As I took pictures and Melvin posed the kids exclaimed in Swahili look at Melvin! Wow! Melvin eh! Melvin, usually a shy but incredibly precocious child just kept posing, loving the attention. When we took a picture together the kids went wild over Melvin. She stood smiling as she became the neighborhood celebrity, and then ran inside her house to show the crowd her beautiful new uniform. As I left I heard every child exclaiming, I want to go to that school, including Melvin's three brothers!

Sharing this project

2009-07-31T06:56:00.001-07:00

Left: Max helps to build.

A very special component of this project so far has been sharing it with my family. Max, my brother, arrived in Kenya along with Kennedy and I and immediately jumped right into work on the school. He and I interviewed over 20 teachers while Kennedy worked to put all of the nuts and bolts of the land and construction in place. While Kennedy talked with the District Commissioner of Nairobi, the District Office of Kibera, and local gangs securing permission to build Max and I, along with our headmistress and teachers, interviewed hundreds of students. There has simply been more work to do than what Kennedy and I can do by ourselves. Every minute there is a phone call to make, an exciting new development, a meeting to attend, a school to construct.... there is no such thing as down time. We've been so lucky to have Max dive right in and juggle some of the balls we'd surely drop on our own.

And if sharing all of this with Max wasn't special enough, my family arrived in Kenya this week eager to lend a hand. My mom will be doing a workshop with teachers and the principal on developmental psychology and helping with the special emotional needs of our students who live such difficult lives. My dad will be helping to build furniture, and just lend a hand. My little sister Raphae will be helping to set up classrooms, and pitch in where ever

needed. Sharing this work with my family has made this time even more meaningful.

This week construction is wrapping up. We're all but finished with everything except for cementing the floor, and finishing the leveling of the ground. Teachers are busy reading a lot of material prepared by education specialist Melissa Dearborn, immersing themselves in this very different style. The kids are so excited, they wish school would begin tomorrow. On August 5th we will have our next meeting with students to hand out uniforms and interview students about their lives to share with all of you! As soon as the construction finishes we will be adding our water tank, electricity, and exploring the possibility of building a biodigester and adding solar panels!

Stay tuned!

Below: Kennedy directs the construction of the library.

Below 2: Kennedy sits with first grade student Beldin Atieno and her mother to go over Beldin's contract. Beldin signed with a smile.

Thanks to the community... construction is well underway!

2009-07-29T01:24:00.003-07:00

From left K/1 teacher Madahana Mable, Kennedy Odede, Jessica Posner, pre-school teacher Janet Olesi, Headmistress Joan Okumu, k/1 teacher Naomi Njuku

Every morning at 5:30 a.m. our construction site is bustling with activity. Late into the evening people are still at work, sometimes not stopping before 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. Then all night several young men keep watch, guarding the materials and the site, protecting a project that has become so very important to this vibrant and needy community. All day young men from the Kibera community saw, hammer, chip away at rocks to level the ground, building our beautiful school. All the while, they laugh and joke--the air is alive with their excitement. As the youths work women cook and laugh, commenting on the construction and giving their own instructions. Children stand on the side watching the progress, barely able to contain their excitement. In only six days our school has begin to take shape, thanks to an outpouring of generous support from the Kibera community.

In the meantime many other pieces are beginning to fall into place. We just received a shipment of over 30 boxes from the Americans Friends of Kenya containing incredible school, supplies, the makings of our library, and uniforms. On August 14th

Trees for The Future will begin to plant our sustainable garden, along with the community. On August 15th we are planning to paint a community mural to decorate the school building. We have also been investigating the possibility of solar panels and a biodigester, in line with our eco-sustainable vision. The District Commissioner of all of Nairobi has even heard about our project, and called to give his support. As the construction continues teachers, parents, and our headmistress all chip in. In addition, Jessica has been meeting with the teaching staff to discuss the differences between our curriculum and traditional Kenyan schools. Our teachers are eager to learn about our style of education based on exploration, hands-on learning, and creativity and ready to make it their own. They have questions, ideas, and come with a deep belief that Kenyan education is in desperate need of reform.

The Kibera School For Girls: View from the Ground

2009-07-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

Below: Students at The Kibera School for Girls

As the end of our first full week in Kenya draws to a close exhilarated and exhausted can’t even begin to describe how we feel. This is the first chance we’ve had to sit and reflect about the process of bringing The Kibera School for Girls to life. Every moment since we first stepped off the plane has been consumed by this project which truly has a life of it’s own. This week we have interviewed over 350 students, visited their homes, and painstakingly selected 45 to start off our school with 15 students in pre-school, kindergarten, and first grade. We have also worked extensively with our incredibly experienced headmistress, as well as selected three outstanding teachers, held two community meetings and one parent/student meeting and workshop. We’ve begun plans for our sustainable garden, and last but not least… construction is well underway! All in all, it’s been a good week.

Our typical days begin at 6:30 a.m. We are at the Shining Hope for Community Office in Kibera by 7:30 a.m. each day and don't leave before 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. On the five days that we did student interviews the office was full by 8:00 a.m. with over 50 parents with children waiting patiently in line. Over the past several days more than 350 students have waited in line for a chance to go to The Kibera School for Girls. The tension has been high, as in all seriousness these children are waiting in line for a shot at having a very different life. The desperate need for a free school for at-risk girls is staggering. As I call child after child for their interviews I can’t help but wish that we could have three schools so we could take everyone who has an urgent need and desire for an education.

Our selection process has been governed by democratic principles. After each child is interviewed a staff member from Kibera goes to visit their home. As our school targets children who would have no way to pay school fees without us, it is important that we verify each child’s financial and living situation so that we serve those who need us the most. Much of the time the report from this staff member is heart breaking. Most of our applicants live in houses made of cardboard or discarded wood with such gaping holes that they might as well be living outside. Furthermore, inside these houses there are no beds, no furniture, and most do not even have cooking utensils. All of our accepted students own a single pair of clothes. In the interviews themselves we, along with our headmistress, lead the child through a series of simple tests that gauge fine motor, cognitive processing, and verbal skills given to us by our education specialist Melissa Dearborn. From there, we just talk to the child and ask why they want to go to our school, and if they could learn about anything what it is they would choose to learn about. Finally, we interview their parents or guardians to find out more about the family and the financial situation, as well as about if the child has been involved in prostitution, has been sexually abused, or is at risk. After this extensive interview process to ensure that we accept the most driven and at-risk students, we put the names of qualified children into a hat and selected randomly. After we randomly select we also look to make sure that there is diversity of both religious and ethnic representation. The result is that we have forty-five girls whose lives have been changed and who could not be more excited about starting at The Kibera School for Girls. I’d like to take a moment to introduce a few of our students:

Ashley Adhiambo is four years old and although she has never before gone to school, she taught herself how to write the alphabet. She is curious about everything, and told us that if she could take a trip anywhere in the world it would be to “a real school.”

Ashley’s mother is single and only twenty-years-old. Her father left as soon as he found out that he was about to have a child. Ashley’s mother does not have a job, she survives by washing clothes whenever she can get work and earns only 300 shillings per month (the equivalent of $4). She leaves to look for work early every morning and doesn’t return until late at night, and says that she often worries about Ashley’s safety, as she is left alone and vulnerable in an area of Kibera infamous for rape and abuse of young girls. Now Ashley’s dream of visiting a real school is coming true along with her mother’s dream of finding a way to give her daughter a life that will be different from her own.

Maureen Nyatichi is five years old. Because her mother cannot pay for her to go to school she spends her days in her house caring for her three younger siblings while her single unemployed mother hustles for a way to feed her children. Maureen's family own only a single towel, one pair of clothes each, and a discarded fairy tale book that Maureen found in the garbage. Although she cannot read, Maureen often makes up elaborate tales as she pretends to read from this book in the hopes of distracting herself and her siblings from their pangs of hunger while they hope that their mother will return with something to eat. Overwhelmed by the difficulty of taking care of her children without any help, Maureen's mother planned to abandon her children at an orphanage to try and survive on her own. Now that Maureen has been accepted at The Kibera School for Girls her mother will continue to struggle because Maureen and the school have restored her ability to hope.

Susan Akoth is six years old. The youngest in a family of eight children, Susan was the first in her family to ever attend school through the support of an older sibling, as both of her parents are unemployed and living with HIV/AIDS. However, after she finished kindergarten the family stumbled upon further misfortune when her oldest brother took poison. Instead of killing him as he had hoped the posion put her brother in the hospital for two months. As her family is unable to pay the medical fees, Susan had to stop school. Despite the struggles her family has faced to survive, Susan never gave up hope that one day she might return to school. When she was walking through Kibera searching through the garbage for something to eat she saw a sign advertising a free school for girls.

On Wednesday we had our first meeting with accepted students and their parents. At this meeting the neighbor/guardian of five-year-old orphan Alvin Moraa stood and began to cry. He said that he has spent his life watching the plight of girls in Kibera. He has stood by as little girls begin to trade sex for food, as five-year-old girls do the housework while their brothers go to school, and later as thirteen and fourteen year old girls begin to have babies of their own. He said that he looked at Alvin and felt powerless, as he is without money or any way to give her and other girls an education. He then said that The Kibera School for Girls has already changed Kibera by showing the community that there is another path that they can take. At this point all of the parents began to cheer as we stood back and saw the power of a project that truly belongs to the community it serves.

After this meeting, each parent and child came inside the office one by one to sign their contracts. Parents agree that instead of paying school fees, they will work for the school five weeks out of the year to run sustainable microfinance projects. They also sign a contract agreeing not to make their daughter do housework over homework, and to emotionally support their daughter as she gains an education. Students also sign a contract saying that they will try their best, respect themselves, respect other chidlren, and respect the school, giving them ownership in their education from day one. A few parents look on with bewilderment, as this is clearly not convention in Kibera but the children take the process very seriously. Four-year-old Ashley Adhiambo meticulously signs her name by drawing a cup.

Left: Ashley Adhiambo signs her contract along with Headmistress Okumu.

The community has also rallied to construct the school itself. Every day over 100 community members, many of whom do not have children attending the school, have volunteered their time to help build. The community is excited for plans for a sustainable garden donated by Trees For The Future, and several workshops that will teach community members and parents how to grow vegetables in burlap sacks, called vertical gardens, which can be grown anywhere. The community is also looking forward to the opening of the first free health clinic, a space for women's microfinance projects, and the very first free school.

It has indeed been quite a week.

Below: Kennedy speaks at a community meeting.

The Adventure Begins!

2009-07-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow we leave bright and early for Kenya to begin building The Kibera School for Girls and Shining Hope Community Compound. This compound, a recent development thanks to the American Friends of Kenya, will include The Kibera School for Girls (the first school for girls and only free school in all of Kibera), the Kibera Free Health Clinic (the only free health clinic in the slum), the Dennis Silver Memorial Family Library, The Women's Microfinance Empowerment Center and the SHOFCO Youth Center.

We're very excited about this amazing beginning. Our time in Kenya will be non-stop. We arrive late the 16th and begin meeting with teachers early in the morning on the 17th. This time will also be tremendously satisfying, humbling, and filled with lessons. We will keep you posted on all of the details. Follow the play by play here!

Thanks for your support,

Jess and Kennedy

Getting Started!

2009-07-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

The Kibera School for Girls is a community-based initiative in Kenya's Kibera slum run by Shining Hope for Communities (www.hopetoshine.org). The Kibera School for Girls is the FIRST school for girls and the ONLY free school in the Kibera Slum, the largest slum in Africa. This blog will document the process of building and setting up the school! Stay tuned and join us on this journey!