Mawanga School Project

In 2010 my husband, Marty and I traveled to Kenya to visit our daughter who was on a year mission between high school and college.  After 26 hrs air travel, 13 hrs by car, 2 hrs by public bus and 3 hrs by boat we arrived at Mawanga Beach, Mfangano Island, Kenya.  

We found an impoverished village ravaged by HIV/AIDS. Children with little hope for an education because the nearest government school was too far to walk and costly to attend.  There was a  young man, Mark, who was trying to teach 50+ children with an ancient blackboard and a few cardboard pictures. When you look at the pictures and video you will see why we fell in love with the children and wanted to help.

We have had the great pleasure of sending Mark through teachers college, provided supplies and funds for the school. Today Mark struggles to teach 80+ children in grades 1-4 with the village providing breakfast and lunch. 

The need has outstripped our ability to provide and now we turn to the greater community to assist us in the following:

• Build a new building (tin with cement floor) for grades 5 and 6
• Complete construction of the two existing buildings by adding cement floors, blackboard partitions and simple desks
• Fence the school to protect from wild animals 
• Contruct a latrine for sanitation purposes
• Provide curriculum materials for 5th & 6th grades
• Send 2 high-school graduates to teacher college. They will teach for 3 months on the Island and go to college for 1 month for 2 years.
• Offer scholarships to government school for 7th grade and beyond to the brightest students.

Our goal for this project is $10,000: a stretch maybe but not impossible.

What a blessing to be able to provide a future to children who had no hope.  With a 6th grade education they will improve their world.  

Please help the children of Mawanga Beach, Kenya.  Thank you.