Samuel Wakang’u Kiarie, B.Sc and M.A in Environmental Studies
Samuel is also a founding student of Education is Power and was EIP’s first university graduate – completing a Bachelor of Science and Environmental Education at Kenyatta University in December 2012. He has now completed his Master’s in Environmental Studies (Community Development).
For more information on Samuel click here
Proposed Student: Nelson N. Muiru
Education program: Bachelor of Development, Mount Kenya University (Department of Economics and Development)
Possible intakes: January, May, and September (Nelson was accepted December 2013)
Program Cost: 60,000 KES ($700 USD) per semester of an eight semester program
Note: Program is in the evenings so Nelson will be working during the day to help support himself and his family.
Brief Bio of Nelson
My name is Nelson N. Muiru from Kimende, Kenya, a fifth born in a family of seven siblings. My dad is a businessman running a Driving Instructions School in the small town of Kimende. My mom manages the family farm growing few subsistence crops. My dad supports the education for two of my nieces one of whom is an orphan. I also support a bit of the school fees for one of the nieces albeit little amounts. I have worked for KENVO (The Kijabe Environment Volunteers) since 2006. I volunteered at KENVO until 2011 when I started working as an employee. My work with KENVO also allowed me to work as a project supervisor for Canada World Youth. I worked as a project supervisor for three international education programs (6 months for each program) that held exchanges between Canada and Kenya. The money I gain from my work is not near enough to pay for university since in Kenya; university is mostly a reserve for the rich.
I have a wife and a son who is 1 year 4 months old now. Since 2011, my wife has been attending her classes in Nairobi for a Social Work Diploma course supported by Education Is Power. During this period, I have been supporting her bus fare plus lunches. Also, we had an assistant house help whom I compensated for her time at our house helping with our young son.
I have a poultry project that have been depending on my financial support to feed until I have enough sales from the eggs (this is already started, however, I was hoping to have sold a number of the cocks which have not happened and therefore am still straining to buy feeds for all of them. I am optimistic that the project will be able to support itself and also assist to meet some of my financial needs.
Nelson’s take on education:
Education is important not just for the Kenyan society we are living in but for the whole world as well. I have always wanted to pursue my career since finishing my high school certificate in 1997 and a certificate in one of the colleges in 1999. However due to financial constraints, I have never been able to go back to school. I would love to upgrade my education so as to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement development projects in my community and society. I have been involved in environmental conservation project implementation at KENVO but have always felt the need to learn skills needed to be more efficient in my work. I would also love to be skilled to a capacity where I can be able to write and implement my own community development project.
How Nelson’s education will benefit his community:
I will also be in a position to design and write various projects that will benefit the community. There are a lot of development opportunities that I believe with experience, I could be in a position to bring to life. By designing different projects, the community will have more opportunities in terms of resource mobilization, jobs created, improving livelihoods and sustainable development. With a proper education, my goal would be to become a lead researcher in development fields. I would want to work with and be a part of an institution that designs and implements well needed community projects. These community projects should be designed with the community and with thorough research giving insights to effective implementation. I would love to be a part of professionals who would put all community needs into consideration when writing community development projects.
I will also be a part of my communities’ educated population. My education will allow me to get a good job and earn good money to support my family and others in the community. I would be able to help the needy and also empower potential community members who would bring positive change to the community.
Nelson’s take on the importance of environmental sustainability:
With a university education, I would be able to conduct sufficient research that would ensure environmental sustainability. The environment is so important for humans. Everything depends on the environment to operate. It is therefore important to have the environment in mind in all aspects of development and this would be a key consideration for me. I would ensure that the strategies made right from the start of any initiative consider all aspects of the environment. The environment needs to be able to rebuild itself and maintain its natural form despite the various human undertakings that there may be. Without a healthy and flourishing environment there is no chance for any development projects to actually be sustainable.
Nelson’s volunteer experience:
I have volunteered with KENVO (the Kijabe Environment Volunteers) since joining the organization in the year 2006. I started as a volunteer at the tree nurseries at KENVO where I learned the various steps involved in raising tree seedlings. I also participated in various community awareness forums. I have also volunteered for Education is Power in helping them to manage public awareness events. It is important to volunteer in the community since one gets a chance to explore and learn it. One also gets a chance to develop various talents and gain valuable experience. The experience I gained volunteering for KENVO actually enabled me to get a paid job with KENVO.
Note: KENVO is registered non-profit organization in Kenya that strives to conserve natural habitats in the Aberdare forest and their biological diversity, by working with local communities and partners to implement conversation projects, in addition to providing conservation information and education.
(KENVO is the chief partner of Education is Power)
Nelson explains why he needs your help:
I have been struggling to save some money since I was engaged by KENVO with pay in 2011. However, through the time, I have always used up the savings to support our family needs. I have mentioned that I have my family of a wife and a son. My wife is in college for social work and depends on me for her fare to school. I have also been compensating a house nanny who stayed with our son when my wife went to school for the whole day, this plus other household expenses left me nothing to save. As well, the cost of living has recently skyrocketed to such high levels that my small salary form KENVO cannot be sufficient.
My family is unable to contribute to my school fees. My dad is the only person I would have relied on to support me financially, however, due to his condition (he supports himself and my mom plus two nieces who are both in school) he cannot be able to support me for school.
I will be applying to the Community Development Fund for a bursary and any other government student support programs, however they are not enough to cater for all costs of schooling.
Along with my work at KENVO, I managed to start a poultry project. Unfortunately, it has not yet broken even. In fact, I have been digging into any savings to support it and support the household expenses. For this reason I don’t currently have any savings, though I am optimistic that when the poultry project breaks even, I will be having some supplementary income to support my education. This is expected later in 2014.
Helen is currently working as a Project Supervisor with Canada World Youth Team. We met her in Parakuyo, Tanzania where she was busy working with 16 Canadian and Kenyan youth who are in Tanzania on an exchange to promote leadership and volunteerism.
Helen is a committed volunteer and alumni of Canada World Youth. She was a Project Supervisor on an exchange to Manitoulin Island. She has also participated in a Learning Forum in South Africa as a result of her volunteer efforts.
Despite all of Helen’s exemplary leadership skills, diverse experiences and commitment to volunteerism many people who work with Helen would be surprised to know that at 28 she has still not completed high school.
Although Helen has accomplished a lot she has had a very difficult past. When Helen’s parents split in her 4th year of primary school Helen’s mother left her to a family friend to be looked after. She was not left any money to continue with primary school so each school year she had to work on nearby farms before she could raise the money she needed.
When she finally completed primary school she was eager to go to high school but she had no one who could pay her fees. She spent a year working as a housekeeper when she found someone who promised to pay her fees after a year of work with them in Dar es Salam. Unfortunately, it was an empty promise and by the end of the year of work, Helen still had no way to pay for her school fees.
After this set back, Helen began volunteering with Act for Africa in Dar es Salam. Through her work here she was able to find a sponsor for one year of high school but when it came to pay for the examination, the sponsor was no longer around and she couldn’t pay the examination fees.
With no way to attend school and no job prospects Helen started volunteering with Uvikiuta Centre nearby Dar es Salam, Tanzania. This is where she became very involved with Canada World Youth and is still involved today. Currently Helen is working and is doing her best to raise money for school fees of $340 CDN needed for her to fast track through Form 3 and 4 this year. She is hoping to attend Makija Education Training Centre in Dar es Salam which is specifically geared to students who are completing high school as adults. It offers intensive instruction including classes and extra help on weekends. She has been able to complete Form 1 and 2 in this way through saving up enough money on her own, although it took her several years to save this money.
Helen is so motivated to finish high school because despite all of her skills and experiences she has from her commitment to volunteering this does not carry the same value as a high school diploma. She feels she is not able to take the leadership roles that she would like to without a high school education.
EIP interview with Ken coming soon.
EIP graduate Ken Kamero is interviewed on Kenyan National TV for his work in event management.
Ken appeared on the popular Kenyan Television show 10 over 10 on Citizen TV. He was asked to go on the show to discuss entertainment at Moi University where he is recognized as one of the most influential student leaders who organizes events. Ken is very appreciative for his support from EIP and noted that “I have so much courage and empowerment from Education Is Power. Thank you EIP.” Ken’s interview can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsNYXJYAJh0&feature=youtu.be
Photo: Ken graduating from Zetech College
Ken is the second born from a family of 11 in Kimende, Kenya where his parents do small scale farming. After high school Ken was not able to go to college right away as it was impossible for his parents to raise the funds he needed. They were already stretched financially paying the high school fees needed for his younger siblings. However, with the help of a sponsor in Sooke, British Columbia he has recently graduated from Zetech College with an Advanced Diploma in Tourism Management and Consulting.
During his time at Zetech College, Ken was an Organizing Secretary in his student council which led him to be selected for an internship. Currently with this internship at Zetech College Ken is involved with marketing and organizing students events focused on community involvement and environmental conservation. He is also an AIESEC president at Zetech University. AISEC (Association internationale des étudiants en sciences économiques et commerciales or International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences) is an organization that facilitates youth leadership activites, international internships and volunteer experiences. In his role here, he works with East African and Peruvian students coordinating and facilitating exchanges.
EIP is very grateful to have Ken as a volunteer because he works particularly hard to ensure fundraisers are well publicized and run smoothly. For the upcoming EIP fundraiser Ken is organizing a bus of students from his college to come and participate.
Ken has dreams of starting his own travel company and is particularly interested in giving back by working with unemployed youth in his area. He is hoping to continue on to a Bachelor in Tourism Management at Moi University in March 2014 which he believes will give him more of the skills needed to be successful.
Photo: Ken and Dave enjoying Chai at Ken’s family home in January 2014
Stephen is 23 years old and is in his final year at Kenyatta University taking a bachelor’s degree in economics and statistics. He is the first born from a family of eight and grew up in Kiambu County, Kenya which is about an hour from Nairobi.
Stephen’s family has tried their hardest to put him through University while paying for his siblings to attend high school at the same time. In Stephen’s second semester of his second year he had to take a break because of lack of funds. His family came up with a plan to have a fundraiser which took him through to his third year. Stephen was also able to get a loan which covers 30% of his tuition fees and Education is Power has now in Stephen’s final year been able to contribute to Stephen’s tuitions fees.
Stephen has been a dedicated volunteer to EIP even before EIP was able to give him any funds. He attends meetings, mentors other students and volunteers at a local high school teaching mathematics and business studies.
Stephen has dreams to be a globally competitive economist by pursuing a Masters and PHD. He is passionate about becoming an individual who is involved in policy writing to improve the allocation of resources. Stephen believes that with his background in understanding the struggles his community faces and his background in economics will give him the knowledge and skills needed to start entrepreneurship projects and initiate informative forums for his community.
Florence first started getting assistance in Grade 10 with EIP because in her first term she was sent home and her single mother was not able to raise the funds needed.
We met up with Florence again this January during her Christmas break just before she headed off to start her final year of high school. On her break she was helping with her Mom’s salon business. Florence hopes to go into Law after high school to help fight for the rights of single mothers. We are hoping for the best for Florence in her final year of high school.
Updates: Peter’s Fathers appreciation letter
Peter is 14 years old and graduated Primary School at Kaamba Primary, Kiambu County, Kenya in December 2013. He graduated with exceptional marks on his Kenyan Primary Exit Exam and was ranked the top in his class.
Peter was born in Korogocho, one of the largest slum neighbourhoods in Nairobi, Kenya. He later moved with his younger brother, younger sister and his parents to Kiambu County, Kenya which is about an hour from Nairobi. Peter’s father once ran a business in the Korogocho market but since his treatment for T.B. he has not been able to return to work. Currently, Peter’s family depends on their 1/8th of a “shamba” (farm) for their livelihood. Additionally, Peter’s mother occasionally can pick up casual work farming which pays $2.50 a day. Peter’s parents are willing to work hard to contribute whatever they can towards his school fees but it is not going to be enough without further aid.
In the future, Peter hopes to be an aeronautical engineer. He hopes that when he gets a job he will be able provide funds for his younger siblings to go to school. After meeting with Peter, we learned that he looks forward to the day when he will be able to come back to his community and help set up programs focused on conserving the environment.
Pamila recently graduated Chumvi Primary School in 2013. Her parents both died in 2005 so she was adopted and now lives with a family in Chumvi, a remote village in Lakipia North District, Kenya. The family she lives with has 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Pamila will be the first to go to high school.
Pamila is hoping to continue on to high school. After her education, she told us that she would like to be an asset to her community by volunteering to support young girls whose parents give them away for marriage and encourage them to work hard for their education so they can better their future.
Frederick is an 18 year old boy who lives in the remote village, Nanduguru in Lakipia District, Kenya. Fredrick’s parents both died when he was very young. He spent some time not in school during this time until he came to live with his grandmother and younger sister where he started attending Lokusarro Primary School. Frederick performed well in his Standard 8 exams.
Frederick has no way of getting the $400 needed for each year of high school. However, this education would make a future possible for Frederick. He would like to become a teacher and have a chance to live a better life.
Elizabeth is a 16 year old girl who finished her primary education at Lokusero Primary School in 2013. She lives with her 2 brothers, 3 sisters and both parents in Lokusero, a remote Masai village in Lakipia North, Kenya. Her parents and older brother have no jobs or livestock so they are not able to raise any school fee money for her.
When we met with Elizabeth she explained how an education would help her get a job in the future which would in turn help her family be healthier. She also explained that her community needs more educated people to work towards environmental sustainability. Elizabeth is in need of financial aid for her school fees that will cost $430 CDN per year.
Sadly, Elizabeth has a high chance of being sold into an early marriage if she does not go to secondary school. However, once she graduates from secondary school she will be respected as an educated member of the community who would not be put into a position of a prearranged marriage that she doesn’t agree with.