GIRAFFE  EDUCATION  CENTRE,  KENYA    

September  2012  

 

GIRAFFE  EDUCATION  CENTRE  PROJECT      We  are   looking   for  partners  to  work  with  us  on  a  project   that  wil l   transform  the   l ives  and  prospects  of  at   least  70  young  people  every  year .    

 

In  the  slums  of  Nairobi  tens  of  thousands  of  teenagers  do  not  go  to  school.  We  aim  to  give  them  both  an  academic  education  and  training  in  a  marketable  skill.      

 

   

WE  ARE  LOOKING  FOR  PARTNERS  TO  PROVIDE   FINANCIAL   SUPPORT   AND  

TO   GIVE   SKILLS   AND   EXPERTISE   TO  THE  PROJECT.          The  Giraffe  Project  is  building  an  education  centre  that   will   ultimately   have   the   capacity   for   500  students  to  discover  their  strengths,  develop  their  skills,   grow   in   confidence   and   character,   and  achieve  their  potential.      The   land   and   buildings   have   been   purchased,  and  now  need  to  be  expanded  and  renovated.    

       

Donors   are  warmly   invited   to   visit   the   sites   in   Kenya   as  part  of  CSR  and  team  building  programmes  –  and   (being  teachers!)   we   are   delighted   to   involve   the   families   of  donor  companies  too.  

   

I f  you  or  your  company  would  be   interested ,  or   i f  you  have  any  quest ions ,  p lease  contact  Denise@giraffeproject .org .  

 

 

AN  ORDINARY  DREAM    Kenyan  schools  are  tough  for  anyone,   let  a lone   for  kids  where  chi ldhood   is  s imply  a   f ight  to  survive .    

   

‘The  sign  outside  my  school  says,  “Suffer  now,  enjoy  tomorrow”’        

 “The   sign  outside  my   school   says,   “Suffer  now,   enjoy   tomorrow.”   School   is   hard  work,  but  I  am  used  to  it.    If  I  study  a  lot  I  will   make   it   to   university.   I   want   to  become  a  journalist  so  I  can  tell  the  world  about  Kenya”.    These   children   pass   through   one   of   the  most  demanding  education  systems  in  the  world,   and   they   dream   that   it   will   carry  them   to   university   and   a   life   beyond   the  slums.        

EVERYONE  DREAMS  –  BUT  ONLY  3%   MAKE   IT   TO   UNIVERSITY   –  AND  EVEN  FEWER  GIRLS.    Jobs   are   scarce   –   unemployment   is  running   at   about   50%,   but   some   studies  estimate  that  only  about  1  in  10  people  in  the  slums  have  continuous  employment.    

 

‘If  I  don’t  go  to  university  I’ll  go  back  and  find  a  job.    If  not,  I’ll  start  a  business  –  a  shop  or  a  bakery.’  

 In  reality,  most  students  must  prepare  to  make  their  living   through   practical   skills   or   small   business  ventures,  if  they  can.    They   might   manage   to   start   a   business   –   many  Kenyans   do   –   but  without   capital,   skills   or   training,  what  chance  do  they  have  of  succeeding?  

 

IT’S  NOT  IMPOSSIBLE.  WITH   THE   VISION   TO   SEE  WHAT   NEEDS  

TO   BE   DONE,   THE   SKILLS   TO   DO   IT   AND  THE   RESOURCES   TO  MAKE   IT   HAPPEN   –  WE  CAN  CHANGE  A  LIFE  NOW.      

MORE  DREAMS  AND  STORIES    We’d   l ike  you  to  meet  some  of  our  students  and  read  their  stories .      We  think  they ’re   inspirational .  

 

These  children  are  extraordinary,  but  all  their  achievements  could  disappear  overnight  without  a  qualification  or  a  trade  to  support  themselves.      

MEET  J…  

‘MY  FATHER  HAD  4  WIVES’…    

STILL  YOUNG  WHEN  HER  PARENTS  DIED,  SHE  VIRTUALLY  LIVED  ON  THE  

STREETS,  SLEEPING  WITH  ANY  RELATIVES  OR  WELL-­‐WISHERS  WHO  

WOULD  TAKE  HER  IN.    

SHE  HAS  COLLECTED  SCRAP  METAL  AND  PLASTIC  BAGS  FROM  RUBBISH  

DUMP  TO  SELL  FOR  TINY  AMOUNTS  IN  ORDER  TO  SURVIVE,  HAS  

SUFFERED  HORRIFIC  ABUSE  AND  CONTEMPLATED  TAKING  HER  OWN  

LIFE.  THROUGH  SHEER  DETERMINIATION,  SHE  MANAGED  TO  SURVIVE.  

THEN  SOMEBODY  TOLD  HER  ABOUT  OUR  SCHOOL,  AND  SHE  BEGAN  TO  

DREAM  AGAIN.  

…WINNIE…    

WINNIE  AND  HER  SISTER  TAKE  IN  WASHING  AFTER  SCHOOL  TO  EARN  SMALL  AMOUNTS  OF  MONEY  TO  BUY  FOOD  FOR  THEMSELVES  AND  THEIR  2  BROTHERS.      

THEIR  PARENTS  BELIEVE  THE  GIRLS  ARE  TOO  OLD  TO  BE  DEPENDENT  ON  THEM,  AND  SHOULD  MARRY.  

…AND  THEN  THERE’S  P…  LAST  YEAR  SHE  THOUGHT  HER  LIFE  HAD  ENDED.  RAPED  BY  A  RELATIVE  IN  HER  OWN  HOME  IN  THE  SLUM,  SHE  FELL  PREGNANT,  THEN  VERY  SICK,  AND  THEN  MISCARRIED.    SHE  WAS  SAVED  BY  A  VERY  SUPPORTIVE,  CARING  FATHER,  AND  THE  COUNSEL  AND  SUPPORT  FROM  GIRAFFE  PROJECT  AND  HER  TEACHERS.  AFRAID  TO  RETURN  TO  THE  SCHOOL  WHERE  SHE  WAS  KNOWN,  SHE  ASKED  TO  BE  TRANSFERRED  TO  OUR  SCHOOL.    HER  BEAUTIFUL  SMILE  IS  TESTIMONY  THAT  SHE  IS  WELL  ON  THE  WAY  TO  RECOVERY      AND  SHE  IS  CURRENTLY  TOP  OF  HER  CLASS  WITH  AN  A-­‐.  

…AND  OUR  HEAD  BOY,  JULIUS  

ORPHANED  AT  6  YEARS  OLD,  HE  ENDED  UP  IN  THE

 SLUM.  

HE  LEAVES  THE  CHILDREN’S  HOME  WHERE  HE  NOW  LIVES  AT  6A.M.  AND  WALKS  AN  HOUR  TO  

SCHOOL.    

AS  ONE  OF  THE  OLDEST  IN  THE  HOME,  HE  HAS  TO  CLEAN,  H

AND-­‐WASH  THE  YOUNGER  CHILDREN’S  CLOTHES  A

ND  

HELP  THEM  WITH  THEIR  HOMEWORK.  HE  IS  ARTICULATE,  CARING  AND  EXTREMELY  FOCUSSED.  

 IN  FACT,  HE’D  BE  A  GREAT  TEACHER!  

A  NEW  APPROACH    Our  v is ion   is   to  prepare  our  students   for   l i fe  and  work,  breaking  the  cycle  of  poverty  and  equipping  them  to  be  productive  c it izens   in  their  community .  

 

Although   vocational   training   exists   in   colleges,   there   is   almost   none   in   secondary  schools.    

   

THE   GIRAFFE   EDUCATION   CENTRE   WILL  

OFFER   BOTH   PRACTICAL   SKILLS   AND   AN  ACADEMIC   CURRICULUM   FOR   STUDENTS  AT  SECONDARY  SCHOOL  LEVEL.    

Our  vision  is  to  help  students  like  Mary,  Winnie,  Julius  and  the  others,  break  free  of  poverty  and  all  that  goes  with  it  

 

 

 

The  school  will  have  workshops  teaching  skills  such  as  catering,  horticulture,   including  the  exciting  new  technology   of   aquaponics,*   tailoring   and   others,  alongside  a  standard  academic  curriculum.  

The   businesses   will   themselves   be   run   as   micro-­‐businesses  giving  the  students  first-­‐hand  experience  of  running  an  enterprise.  

The   teachers   are   committed   to   teaching   youngsters  from  the  slum,  and  they  value  and  respect  each  child.  

The   school   is   outside   the   slums,   in   a   quiet   and   safe  environment   not   far   from   Nairobi.     The   students   will  board  together  in  a  boarding  house  next  to  the  school.  

 

 

OUR  OBJECTIVES  FOR  THE  GIRAFFE  EDUCATION  CENTRE  

To  offer  a  full  programme  of  studies  over  4  or  5  years,  leading   to   the   Kenyan   Certificate   of   Secondary  Education  qualification.  

To   provide   a   second   education   stream   leading   to  qualifications  in  practical  and  business  skills  

Students  will   be   able   to   cross   over   between   the   two  streams,  and  to  combine  the  two.  

We  will   show  our   students  how   to   combine  effective  study   and   learning   with   appropriate   rest   and  relaxation.  

We  will  teach  our  students  study  skills  

We   will   provide   remedial   opportunities   where  students   can   revisit   basic   skills   in   mathematics,  

English  and  Kiswahili,  and  drop  non-­‐essential  subjects  early  in  order  to  work  on  weak  areas.  

We   will   guide   students   towards   the   academic   and/or  vocational   studies   that   suit   them   best.     This   will   enable  them   build   confidence   and   courage   to   tackle   new   and  difficult  opportunities.  

We  will  encourage  our  students  to  learn  and  practice  their  rights   and   responsibilities,   and   to   form   and   express  balanced  and  fact-­‐based  opinions.  

Career  guidance  will  be  an  important  element  from  Form  1  (year  9)  to  Form  4  (year  12).  

We  will  teach  and  model,  with  the  school  seeking  to  develop  small  businesses  in  which  the  students  can  participate.

 

   

*  aquaponics  –  a  highly-­‐resource  efficient  combination  of  plant  production  in  water  (hydroponics)  and  fish  farming  (aquaculture)  in  a  symbiotic  ecosystem  

 

WHERE  ARE  WE  NOW?    With   land  prices   in  Kenya  r is ing  astronomical ly ,   the  chance  came  to  buy  a  disused  school  near  Nairobi   -­‐  and  we  took  a  giant   leap  of   fa ith!    

The  school  site  has  been  bought  and  the  boarding  house  rented.    

 

 

Buildings  

We   have   acquired   a   school   building   about   three   miles   from  Nairobi,  in  a  green  environment,  very  different  from  the  smoke  and  dust  of  the  slums.  

We  have  also   rented  a  boarding  house   about  80  metres   from  the  school,  and  we  have  an  option  to  buy  the  house  once  the  school  has  become  established.  

Now  we  are  renovating  the  classrooms  and  toilets,  and  building  a  place  for  the  boarding  master  to  live  on  site.    

 

Staff  

Our   teachers   have   found   accommodation   close   to   the   school,  and  are  preparing  for  the  start  of  lessons  in  January.  

We  are  now  hiring  security  and  maintenance  staff  to  keep  the  site  safe  and  running  effectively.  

 THE  BOARDING  HOUSE  AND  GARDENS  -­‐  A  WORLD  AWAY  FROM  THE  SLUMS    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   THE  NEW  SITE  FOR  THE  GIRAFFE  EDUCATION  CENTRE    

Students  

We  have  60  students  ready  to  start.    

They   are   currently   occupying   the   top   floor   of   a  primary  school  in  one  of  the  slums  in  Nairobi.  

Moving   the   students   into   the  new  site  will   free  up  valuable  space  for  the  primary  school  and  allow  the  secondary  students  to  start  their  new  curriculum.  

When  the  school  is  at  full  capacity,  we  will  have  500  students,  250  from  the  slums  and  250  fee-­‐paying  to  ensure  the  long-­‐term  sustainability  of  the  project.  

 There ’s  p lenty   le ft   to  do .    F ind  out  how  you  can  become  a  part  of   this  amazing  project .    

 

 

   

WHERE  ARE  WE  GOING?    Once  the  school   is  running,   the  next  chal lenge   is   to  develop  the  vocational  workshops  and  enlarge  the  s ite  to  accommodate  our  target  of  500  students .  

 

Now  we  need  to  renovate  the  school  and  prepare  for  lessons  to  start  in  January  2013.    Time  is  short!

 

In  the  table  below  we  have  set  out  the  milestones  that  we  aim  to  achieve  in  the  next  5  years.    

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAKING  IT  HAPPEN  –  ARE  YOU  INTERESTED?  

 

ABOUT  US:  THE  GIRAFFE  PROJECT  CHILDREN’S  CHARITY  Giraffe  Project   is  a  UK-­‐registered  charity ,  with  an  operating  base   in  Belgium  and  a  branch   in  Kenya.  Today  the  project  sponsors  over  500  chi ldren  aged  four  to  adult   in  two  primary  schools ,   several  secondary  schools  and  various  col lege  programmes.    

 

 

 Through   the   generosity   of   an   amazing   network   of  compassionate   individuals   and   families,   we   are   able  to  sponsor  several  hundred  children  through  primary  school,  which  is  8  years  in  Kenya.      

When   they   reach   year   8   (about   14   years   of   age)  we  continue   to   sponsor   the   children   in   government   and  private  secondary  boarding  schools  outside  the  slums.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The   students   we   serve   are   from   extremely   poor  backgrounds.     Without   sponsorship,   they   would  not   be   in   school,   and   some   of   them   would   not  even  be  fed.    

In   fact,   one   of   the   first   things   we   did   was   to  organise  regular  meals  for  the  children.    

Without   this   basic   support   these   children   just   could  not  get  through  the  school  day.  

Many  have  just  one  parent  or  no  parents  at  all.  Some  have  dropped  out  of  school  and  are  desperate  to  get  back  into  education.  

Others  have  been  ill  treated  by  relatives  or  guardians.    A  few  have  been  living  on  the  streets  or  working  and  begging  to  support  younger  siblings.    

Founders,  Richard   and   Denise   Baines,   have   over   20  years  experience  teaching  and  examining   in  different  European  and  International  schools  and  universities.    

The   Giraffe   Project   Board   of   Trustees   oversees   the  entire   project   and   its   funds.     The   charity   reports  annually   to   the  Charities  Commission  of  England  and  Wales.  

 

 

 

 

MAKING  IT  HAPPEN  -­‐  ARE  YOU  INTERESTED  TO  HELP?    Meeting  the   f inancial  costs  of   the  school   is  our  major  priority .    Without  help  from  donors  the  project  wil l  not  be  able  to  continue .  

 

The  project  represents  a  fantastic  opportunity  for  organisations  and  individuals  to  be  involved  at  different  levels.

 Meeting  the  costs    

Meeting  the  costs  of  the  project  is  one  important  way  in   which   you   and   your   company   can   be   involved   in  this  amazing  project.  

THE  PROJECT  NEEDS  TO  RAISE  €150,000  FOR  THE  FIRST  PHASE.        

The  money  will  help:  

• Pay  for  the  site  • Equip  the  boarding  houses  • Equip  the  kitchen    • Build  accommodation  for  the  boarding  

master  • Renovate  toilets  and  classrooms  • Secure  the  school  with  fencing  • Provide  a   school  bus   to   transport   students  

from  their  homes  to  the  school  • And  more  

 

Donors    Donors  provide   financial   support  either  as  a  one  off  payment   or,   over   a   period   of   time,   based   on  achieving  agreed  milestones.    

Tax  optimisation  is  possible  in  many  countries.    

Donors  can  receive  regular  reports  on  the  progress  of  the  project;  both  financial  reporting  and  reporting  on  the  milestones  of  the  project  itself.  

Suggested  sponsorship  amounts  are:    

LEVEL  1  SPONSORS:  €5,000    

LEVEL  2  SPONSORS:  €10,000    

LEVEL  3  SPONSORS:  €15,000  OR  ABOVE      

                                     

ALTHOUGH   DONORS   HAVE   MANY  REASONS   OF   THEIR   OWN   TO   SUPPORT  

CHARITIES,   WE   WANT   TO   RECOGNISE  AND   THANK   THOSE   THAT   HAVE   HELPED  SO  GENEROUSLY.    Acknowledgements  We  acknowledge   our   donors,   on   our  website   in   the  media  and  wherever  we  can.    

Visits  We  encourage  our  donors   to   visit   and  work  on   site,  for  example  as  part  of   a   corporate   team  building  or  CSR   programme.     Giving   is   one   thing   –   but   there’s  nothing   like   seeing   first-­‐hand   how   your   support   is  making  a  difference.  

And  don’t  forget  the  kids!  We  have  been  taking  parties  of  teenagers  for  working  visits   on   an   annual   basis   for   the   last   five   years,   and  we  love  to  take  the  older  teenage  children  of  donors  on  our  trips.      

It’s  a  life-­‐changing  experience  for  the  youngsters  as  they  work  hard  alongside  our  Kenyan  partners  –  but  we  also  throw  in  some  fun,  like  a  brilliant  lakeside  safari  in  Kenya’s  incomparable  Great  Rift  Valley.  

 

 

IF  YOU’RE  A  WRITER  –  WRITE  TO  US  –  WE’D  LOVE  TO  HEAR  FROM  YOU  

Our  registered  address  is:  

The  Giraffe  Project    2nd  Floor  Suite    Turkey  Court,    Turkey  Mill    Ashford  Road    Maidstone  ,  Kent,    ME14  5PP  United  Kingdom  

OR  EMAIL  US  AT…   admin@giraffeproject.org  

ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  WONDERFUL  KIDS  FROM  THE  SLUMS  OF  NAIROBI,  THANK  YOU  FOR  ANYTHING  YOU  CAN  DO!    

GETTING  IN  TOUCH  I f   you  want  to  help  the  pro ject ,   i t ’ s  easy  to  get   in   touch  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

   

 GIRAFFE  EDUCATION  CENTRE,  KENYA    

September  2012