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Proposed Global Grant with Rotary Club of Karura, Nairobi
Needs Assessment
Rotary Club of Karura meets near the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi. A needs assessment tour was conducted in June 2011 by the current and the incoming presidents of the club accompanied by two other members and the District Governor -Elect Eric Kimani. Also in the party was a past President of the Rotary Club of Parklands, Nairobi. The area identified is Githunguri location of Kiambu District located about 50 Km north of Nairobi. The public primary school identified is one of the largest schools in the area but is grossly under-utilized due to its poor state and poor performance. The majority of the children are from very poor families. We have photographs and detailed notes to share.
Water & Sanitation
The club has identified one among many Primary and Secondary Schools visited that do not have a safe and accessible water source. The school has a shallow bore hole that supply one big tank and the water is then ferried as needed by the children. In the area we have plenty of rain so instead of drilling for water, it seemed more appropriate given the weather to do rain water harvesting from the classroom and locate the tanks next to the classrooms for accessibility and ease of use. Some of the tanks maybe located next to the toilets to enable them to be cleaned and improve sanitation. This program of providing rain water harvesting would enable school children to remain in school and provide safe drinking water. The estimate for setting up the gutters and tanks would be 500,000 Ksh. ($5500/).
Toilets
Currently the toilets for the school are in a sorry state of disrepair and dirty thus posing a health hazard. Besides, the children have to walk long distances to these toilets across the playground which is now rendered unusable due to this path. It is proposed to relocate the toilets to a nearer and more suitable location. This location would also enable the cleaning to be carried out using the water harvested. This is likely to cost Ksh 1,000,000 ($ 11,000)
Disease Prevention and Treatment
We propose to conduct a family health day at the school to popularize the school and enhance Rotary Public Image. Some drugs could be donated locally and some would be bought 200,000 Ksh. ($2200)
Basic Education & Literacy
The local primary school library is in need of boosting. The parents are not able to purchase even the curriculum books. The students therefore perform poorly and enter the vicious cycle of poverty. To help them break this cycle, this grant would provide the "set books" so that the library would have them for each class enabling these needy students to use the needed curriculum books. Cost: 500,000 Ksh ($5500 per school).
Under this heading too we may consider rehabilitating the school playground by leveling it and planting grass afresh so that the children can have games and the much needed extra-curriculum activities. This is estimated to cost Ksh. 1,000,000 ($ 11,000).
The classrooms too are in a very poor state and we may consider a touch up and painting. This is estimated to cost Ksh 300,000 ($ 2300).
Economic and Community Development
The majority of the parents and guardians of these children are into micro business and small scale trade of buying and selling. Many cannot afford credit from the banks and established micro-finance institutions. We propose to establish a need-based revolving micro-credit to enable the parents and guardian earn to feed and clothe their children. This is estimated at Ksh 1,000,000 ($ 11,000).
Sustainability
We feel that once this public school is rehabilitated to the level foreseen, the needy students will have better performance and a better chance to continue with education and break the vicious cycle of poverty. The micro-credit will empower the parents/guardians to provide better and better their lives.
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