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Kenya 2022

Jirani-2022-kenya-visit

Kenya 2022 • Update to donors

From May 27 – June 14, Jirani Project co-founder, Beth Swadener and board member Joy Anderson  were hosted in Kenya by Jirani Coordinator, Mark Okello.  They met with Jirani alumni, visited sponsored children and their guardians, visited schools, and got a better sense of daily life in several parts of Kenya.  This blog/update describes some of their experiences.

We arrived in Kenya at 5am on a Sunday, after a nearly 30-hour journey from Phoenix to Salt Lake City to London and, finally, to Nairobi. After a short rest, we went to meet with Jirani Project alumni, two of whom brought their young children along. Longtime supporter Tamima Ali hosted a lovely lunch that treated our alumni like dignitaries and provided a quiet space to catch up.

It was clear from the first day that inflation has hit Kenyans hard.  The price of all staple items was at least twice what it was on Beth’s last visit in 2018, fuel is very high and there are food shortages in parts of the country. One of the financial pressures on families with children in school is having to pay fees for two years’ of education in just one year, after schools were closed during COVID. Between June and November, students will complete 3 school terms (the number they usually do over a calendar year). This is also affecting the Jirani budget, as we send funds for extra school terms.

While in Lumakanda, Western Kenya, home of the Jirani Project office and most sponsored children, we heard from children and guardians alike about the support they had received from Mark Okello and team during COVID.  By opening the Jirani library to small groups for tutoring, children didn’t fall as far behind as many of their peers.  They also appreciated the counseling and support in meeting basic needs that they continue to receive. Malaria continues to be an issue, and children are supplied with mosquito nets.

Lumakanda gets more rain than many parts of Kenya and is an agriculturally productive area.  Mark has worked with guardians (mostly grandmothers and other extended family of children who have lost one or both parents) to grow sufficient food.  In fact, a Jirani alum from Nairobi has been able to purchase a small plot near Mark and will be moving his family in the coming months – escaping rising rents and the high cost of living in the urban area.

A major change in schools occurred in recent months, as several of our children who had attended a private school being moved to two other schools. The previous school had lost many teachers and management had become an issue. We visited both of the new schools, a large public primary and a smaller private one. Both had strong head teachers (principals) and children expressed liking their new schools.

We came away impressed at the work that Mark does, assisted by Nicholas, who has helped out in the library and office for over 4 years – and Caroline, Mark’s oldest daughter, who volunteers several days a week and is much help to the girls. Your donations truly go far in supporting families to continue caring for an additional child or children and making sure they get the best education possible.  Our 28 alumni are shining examples of the impact of having long-term support that prepares them for life. All are employed and many have their own families now.

Thanks SO much for making this work possible.

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