We dropped off 2 more boys at secondary school today….
Kelvin and Edward
They are attending a very good school (2nd in the district recently) and I know they will receive a good education. We, along with the principal, encouraged them to realize the importance of school and what they are looking to obtain after graduation, not simply to be in school because parent/guardian/sponsor wants them in school. I’m looking for great things from these young men!
It has been a crazy few days and will continue to be so for a couple of more days. On Friday seven of the nine new Form 1′s went shopping in Tala for items such as shoes, boots, etc., the kind of stuff they needed to try on. What a thrill it was for them to actually be able to pick out their own stuff! After a few hours of shopping we met for lunch at Becky’s (yummy chips and chicken!)
After lunch it was then time to head to the doctors. While waiting a couple of the boys entertained themselves with a game on the phone.
Kelvin and Erastus
That same day we picked up our items from Sunny Lucky…thank you Sunil for the help with these bulk items!
It was a long day for everyone but I believe the kids had a good time and they are excited to start secondary school!
Then on Saturday it was another busy day. First we met with the 4 new Form 1′s from Nice View and their guardians to discuss various schooling items and to go over our policy for secondary students (maintaining a C- or above average). Again, another excited group of kids!
students starting on the right - Ruth, Kelvin, Elizabeth and Irine
The remaining 2 students were also able to finish their shopping. Then it was off to C4KK so the kids could organize, mark and pack their school boxes. They had their own mini-shopping mall right on the veranda!
This sort of catches you up. In the next few days I will update you on other situations that occurred throughout these busy days. Some sad others happy. I have to say it will be nice when this week is over because all the secondary students will be in school and things will start to settle down once again.
Today I am attempting to figure out how and when to shop for the secondary students and I seem to be saying to myself “if only”.
If only secondary schools would distribute the calling letters in a timely manner, preferably more than a few days before the student has to report to school! We may not get a couple of letters until Friday and will only know at that time when the student actually has to report to school. Which means the particulars of their shopping list won’t be known until that time either.
If only I could communicate easily over the phone. Trying to call a shop owner to get items ready for me to pick up is difficult because when I call, the connection (network) is sporadic, conversations cut in and out and you just never know what exactly the other person is hearing or not hearing.
I could really go on but instead I must work with the system that is here and move forward with no more “if only’s”. This is the system, period. Not to say it doesn’t frustrate me though! Praying these secondary students will become Godly, moral men and women and make a difference in their country some day.
I’m thankful for everyone who has helped with the funding for these kids to attend school (please visit our donation site if you too would like to help with fees or shopping). Many others will not have this opportunity for secondary education simply because of lack of funds….if only the government would make education a priority and….oh, wait never mind, just moving forward to what can be done today, tomorrow, Friday…God willing!
Class 8 graduates are heading out to secondary school very, very soon. This week the calling letters for secondary schools are anticipated to arrive. Calling letters are the ‘invitation letters’ from various secondary schools to invite students to attend their school. Once a student receives a calling letter it isn’t mandatory they attend that school, they can look for a different school if they wish. So far we have received 4 calling letters out of the 9 students and hope to get the rest today or tomorrow.
The calling letter is much more than just an invitation, it gives a breakdown of school fees, rules, policies, medical forms, list of supplies needed and text books required. Here is just a small sample of what the high schools require parents/guardians/sponsors (of which C4KK is) to purchase and fill out for the child. This is from one particular secondary school but it’s pretty similar with the rest. Also remember they are receiving their letter with this information this week and will be required to begin school around January 30th with all the supplies and school fees paid, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for everyone to prepare.
This fiasco is finally over! That’s all I have to say about that!
Actually it’s been a learning lesson, not only in regards to the school system here in Kenya and dealing with people but also my sanity level 
The student went back to school with an adult (who also has had run-ins with this school) and was allowed back to school. He did, however, have to sign an apology note and it was put in his student file. Remember, this was for forgetfulness….guess I’d have to write a lot of apology letters!
Once the student was in school he immediately went to classes then preps (study time) and wasn’t able to call me to confirm he was in school until 10:30pm last night. But I was expecting his call so I was just happy he called!
Thank you everyone for the prayers in this time of great stress for both me and the student. We are grateful for the prayers.
It started out as an ok day and then I received a call from a secondary student (a different one than I had mentioned here). Let me lay it out for you and see if you’d scream in the same situation. Sorry it’s so long but I wanted to express the details a bit.
We had paid this students school fees back on Dec. 15, 2011 for Term 1 2012 beginning in January 2012. The way we pay for fees is this – we go to the bank, fill out a deposit slip for the payment amount stating the school, school bank account number, student’s name and grade. We get a copy of this receipt once the bank does their stuff to it (putting the info into the computer, or by hand if the computer is down and giving it an official stamp) and then give this receipt to the student to take to school. Ok, so we paid back on Dec. 15th and gave this receipt to the student. He went to school (around January 4th) and realized he forgot his receipt. No problem he’d get it when they send other students home for non-payment, which is a common occurrence (now remember, WE’VE PAID THE FEES).
I get a call today from this student telling me he forgot his receipt, went back home to get it last Saturday and then returned to school. Ok, everything is cool, right? He is told by the administration since the receipt is dated December 15 he must have kept the receipt wanting to stay out of school and are saying it’s “misconduct” on the students part and are suspending him for 2 weeks, starting today! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? IS THIS FOR REAL!?
Must admit, my temper went up immediately. I told the student to go back to school and talk with the principal (or whoever it is in charge of this area) and if the school still has an issue to call me. I told him DO NOT LEAVE THE SCHOOL!!!
He then calls me from school saying he thinks they’ll want to see a parent and the principal most likely won’t call me, I’ll have to call him – remember it costs money every time you make a call, not receive a call. So of course they want me to call and use my shilling. I told the student “I’ve paid your fees, I’m done paying, have them call me if there is an issue.” Now, if it comes down to it yes I will make the call, but I’VE PAID THE FEES AND PAID THEM EARLY!!!
Next call – side note, the student calls me, I answer and he quickly says “call me” and hangs up, again so I pay for the call. So I call back and he says they insist on seeing his mom. Understand though, his mom doesn’t have a phone which means sending the student back home and returning with his mom – transport for him home, him and mom to school and mom back home finally. She barely makes enough to feed herself, let alone all this <ahem> crap. All for a NON-ISSUE in my opinion and something that could be handled with a simple phone call. I broke down and told him to get me the name and phone number of the person in charge so I can try to get this stopped NOW. Yup, I’m YELLING a lot in this blog post and I’m sorry, sort of!
Next I get a call from the student stating the person I need to talk to refuses to give me his number and refuses to call me! Let me tell you, I AM SO UPSET RIGHT NOW! I tried calling the one number I have (the head dorm room person) but he doesn’t answer and he can’t do anything about this situation anyway. I called the number back the student had called me on (a teachers phone) and asked for the principals number. He said wait 10 minutes. OK, I wait and the student calls me back…I ask “do you have the number?” Nope the teacher didn’t get it even after telling me he would. Plus there are no phone numbers on any of the paperwork for the school. The student was also told if he continues pushing this issue he’ll be in even deeper trouble. HOW CAN WE RESOLVE THIS IF YOU WON’T TALK TO ME!? Do you feel like screaming now too!?
End result….I still have no phone numbers to reach anyone in charge at the school, the student comes home today (paying for transport home), gets his mom to return to school with him tomorrow morning (paying for transport to the school for them both), mom verifies that yes the student did forget his pay slip at home with no ulterior motive, mom returns home (paying for transport back home) and hopefully the student can continue going to school. He’s supposed to call me tomorrow with an update and I’ll let you know how it goes.
This all happened before lunch and now I need to relax and allow the knowledge that God is in control to give me peace for this situation. I also tried to encourage the student in this same area so he wasn’t stressed about the whole thing and made sure he understood how ridiculous this whole thing is, which he agreed.
It will work out I have no doubt, I just feel like SCREAMING!
Normally I get that I’m in Kenya, but there are days when it just sort of hits me…I’m in Kenya. As I was sitting having lunch today at C4KK (green grams and chapatti…2 of my favorite foods here) listening to the kids laughing, playing and joking around I thought “wow, I’m in Kenya, eating lunch like it’s the most normal thing in the world.” Which it is my normal now but sometimes it still surprises me.
One thing I do not believe will ever be normal is the fact of paying for high school. This only came up because I just received a phone call from a secondary student’s teacher saying we owe more money. We paid exactly what the school said we should pay for Term 1 (approximately 25000/ksh which is about $310 USD) and now they are saying we owe about 2000/ more. I told the teacher I would need an explanation before any more fees would be forth coming. She said the administration would need to talk with me…which they won’t call me and use their shilling, I’ll have to pay for the call myself to get this straightened out otherwise the school will simply send the student home for lack of payment.
It isn’t the norm for me, yet it is certainly the norm for Kenya and it’s one of those areas where I can really get frustrated. Lord give me whatever it is I need to get through this.
Update: So I call the administrator and he has no idea what I’m talking about! He will need to check with the student to “clear it up”. I have no idea if he’ll call me back or he expects me to call back but I’m in the waiting game now…..if they want to clear up the fees I guess they’ll eventually call me. I really don’t like this.
Today we met with the secondary students who are now on break until January. We have a total of 14 secondary students:
Things continue to move forward at C4KK. The Class 8 kids came home both Tuesday and Wednesday from school exuding confidence over their exam. They all seem pretty sure of themselves and the “easiness” of the exam. Unfortunately we won’t know the results until mid to late December. But today is the last day for them and I’m praying they do as well as they feel they did.
(from left) Erustus, Edward, Doris and Jacinta
The water tank stand and room is continuing to be built
The larger room will be Romans and the smaller section to the left will be a shelter from the elements for the night watchman
And the “great wall of C4KK” continues rising higher
This wall will separate C4KK Children's Shelter, mission home, animal enclosure and shambas from the rest of the property
Curtains were delivered and hung (sorry I wasn’t there to get photos, but soon) and dressers have been delayed due to vehicle transport issues. However, even with delays and leaking roof issues the kids are loving their new home. One child wrote their sponsor saying “we entered our new home in 29th October this year and we enjoy being in our new home.” Thank you Lord for their new home!
Disclaimer – the following information is solely based on our experience and may not reflect other parts of the country.
The Class 8 exam is a huge event here in Kenya and it is happening November 8, 9 and 10. Without getting into the in’s and out’s of the education system let’s just suffice it to say this exam determines if and where the student will attend secondary school (high school). Most secondary schools will send out “invitation letters” to Class 8 students who mark 250 or above on the exam. Higher scores mean an invitation letter from the better schools. If a student gets below 250 then they must make a decision….repeat Class 8 or find a school which will accept them. The later option usually means the school is in it for the money, not the education of the child.
There is a lot of pressure on the Class 8 candidates to perform well on this exam…doesn’t matter if you had straight A’s throughout your school years, you do poorly on this one test and that is what determines your next step. These next couple of weeks will be stressful for them, therefore, I’m asking you to please hold our Class 8 candidates at C4KK (Jacinta, Edward, Erustus and Doris) and the 54 candidates at Nice View up in prayer. Thank you.
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