Ndumbuini Hill School as seen in October 2003
Welcome
A dance
Playing
marbles
The tour upstairs
The Nursery
The new toilet
block
Julie cooking lunch
Pat and her new friends
together
Transcript of the speech headmistress Mrs. Grace Njenga made during the proceedings :
Visit by members of All Saints Church, Dedworth, England on Tuesday 14/10/2003 to Ndumbuini Hill School
- Archdeacon Ven. John Mutonga – Vicar General Diocese of Mt Kenya South
- Rev. Stephen Njenga – Vicar of St. Mary’s Church and Parish in the Diocese of Nairobi
- Distinguished visitors from All Saints’ Church, Dedworth, England
- Pupils and staff of Ndumbuini Hill School
- Ladies and Gentlemen
I give thanks to God for giving us this wonderful chance of being here together in this school.
My gratitude goes to the following people: -
a) Mrs. Ruth Norris who is the pioneer of the wonderful relationship between your church and our school. Ruth’s dream of a better future for these orphans and destitute children is now a reality.
b) To Rev. Louise and all the Christians of her church for accepting and implementing a project of helping this school.
c) To all those who participated in the Kilimanjaro Climb, for their dedication and determination, to raise funds for this school.
d) To Mrs. Pat Sparks, who joined these pupils last week and lifted their hearts with her love and the gifts she gave them.
e) To Rt, Rev. Peter Njenga, Bishop of the Diocese of Mt. Kenya South, who has been very helpful to this school.
I also thank Ven. John Mutonga for his concern for school and for providing pastoral care to the pupils.
SCHOOL’S PROGRESS
This being the 3rd year since the school admitted the first group of orphans/destitute Children, the classes range from nursery to Class IV.
There are 35 pupils.
The first candidates will sit for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in the year 2005.
The school also offers religious and moral teachings to the pupils.
FUTURE FOCUS
We greatly appreciate the efforts being made by your Church in improving the infrastructure of this school. This will enable it to attract pupils who would pay higher school fees, and this would be able to sustain the orphans/destitute pupils.
The school will continue to admit the orphans and destitute pupils every year as it grows. The following facilities would assist to attract pupils: -
1) Offering of computer classes
2) Swings, slides, games i.e. football, tennis, basketball and swimming.
CONCLUSION
We pray that the good relationship existing between our school and your church will continue to grow and that our joined effort to improve the lives of these children will be a blessing to us all.
I wish you all God’s guidance and protection.
God bless you.
GRACE NJENGA (MRS)
DIRECTOR
Report on the visit to the school by members of All Saints’ Church on 14th October 2003
By Ruth Norris 23rd October 2003
We arrived at the school in two vehicles. I was in the car that arrived first with Peter, Linda and Gerald. The minibus was not far behind. The children were looking out for us. They were distinctive in their red and white dresses and shirts, and their brightly coloured faces. (Liz did not see anything significant in the face painting other than they were in celebration mood.) We later learned that they had all been in school since 7am that day even though school does not start until 8.30am. They were so excited. They had been impossible to teach the previous day. They just wanted to practice the dances, songs and recitation they had prepared for our entertainment over and over again.
The news soon reached Grace that we had arrived and she came to greet us. The driver seemed to think that he would drive in through the gates so we sat still in the car. It meant that Grace’s first view of me was in the car with my sunglasses and hat on. Needless to say she did not recognise me! When I got out and took these items off she soon did, however, and there were greetings. The children led us by the hand into the site and round the building. It all looked so familiar. It was like coming home.
Grace looked smarter than when I had last seen her, and so did her son James in his dark blue shirt. I had met him even before I had Grace and liked him immensely. He was just the same.
I had started the day in a terrible state with a soaring temperature and chest pains. I took the first of a course of antibiotics at breakfast, but was still feeling very rough. I wouldn’t have missed this visit for the world though! Most of the rest of the party had already been on a dawn safari where they had encountered lions at close quarters, so they were wide-awake!
Various adults emerged from the building and were introduced to me. The imposing archdeacon, Alex, Grace’s brother who was also on the school board, Ken the evangelist who came to the school every other Friday. Grace’s sister and sister-in-law were also there. What a big family!
Shortly we all sat down at the front near the stairs underneath a specially erected tarpaulin shade. The children took their seats on our right and the Board and other adults on our left. Grace formally welcomed us and introduced everybody again. She unfolded a programme that she had arranged for the duration of our three-hour visit – entertainment, speeches, tour and food.
We were all invited to stand as they sang the Kenyan National Anthem. Teacher Esnas ably led the children in song. Veronica, the eldest and ablest pupil recited a poem in Swahili about the lot of an orphan, whose fault it was not. My linked lad, Boniface, was an excellent drummer. Four pupils retold the tale of a matutu in English. Then the pupils all went off to prepare for the dance. I had seen some pleated waist bands laid out ready inside, and boys and girls alike now donned these. It was a wonderfully animated display to which we were all soon tapping. We didn’t have to wait long before we were collected and invited to join them in their frenzy, before being courteously returned to our seats. Pat had spent a few days in the school while we were climbing the mountain so was able to tell us bits about each. It seems that Branes, who came to collect me, had a very violent home background and they all had to watch her as she related to the other pupils, as she was liable to lash out.
Then came the speeches. Grace had scripted hers and gave me a copy later so that it could be read out in church. She talked about what had been achieved and what there was still to do. As the pioneer of the project, I was invited to say a few words myself. I expressed amazement and delight that the project had come this far and gave God full credit. The archdeacon was very approving and echoed my thoughts in his speech. Jonathan did a really good job of entertaining and informing the children with a bit of what it was like to climb the mountain. Alex said grace and then we broke to begin the tour.
The tarpaulin had to be removed to allow access to upstairs, and the guard dogs were led downstairs. The building contractors (also a relative of Grace) who had given the only quote so far received for the proposed work were there and spent time talking to Jonathan about the plans. Grace is concerned about security once the work gets underway and people are aware that money is being spent.
I had a brief look and then chatted to James. He wanted to tell me his big news – he was to be married in a year’s time to Mary-Anne. She was there too and I was introduced. I reminded him that when we had chatted two and a half years ago he had just broken up with a girl friend and was looking forward to a period of freedom! Where was the engagement ring? There was no ring yet as it was not official as yet. I was lucky to have been told! I told him that I was impressed with the way he related to the pupils. He gave me the impression that he was really committed to the school. I asked about his brother William, who is studying computing and engineering at college. James would not be drawn into speaking for his brother, but I did not get the impression that William was as committed to the school as his brother. I asked if James had received any training as yet. Only from his mother, I was told, but he did hope to go to college after William’s course was complete. This would entail attending college in the school holidays as the terms were used for Teaching Practice.
I went back down to join the children again. They were great to be with. The tour continued round the back. I did not remember the nursery building but it was just a shed with packed earth floor – very stark and hot on hot days. The small room next door was where they cooked the children’s one hot meal a day on an open fire. It was not like any kitchen I had ever used. There was a rectangular pit where rubbish was buried. The most enormous avocado tree was laden with fruit, which is distributed to the children as they fall down apparently. I was pleased to hear that they had had a 30-foot latrine pit dug under the new toilet block. The back yard was not grassed as I had expected however. When I asked where the grass that I know had been planted had gone, I was told that it had all shrivelled up and died. They were towards the end of the dry season now and they had no water. Usually it collects off the roof in a big tank, but it is currently empty. All their water supply is carried round from relatives next door who have a shallow well. The water borehole is really needed. There is obviously no spare water to water the grass. We could send them more resilient grass seed to try growing though.
The bag of things I had brought out for the school from England had found its way into the house, so I retrieved it and gave it to Grace. They had never seen dominoes before. There were crayons, pens and pencils and a pattern book. I wish I had brought more educational games. The standard of maths in the school needs to be improved, looking at the test scores, and those would surely help. Boniface showed me his exercise books. He is a bright child and was proud to show me. Veronica must be their Flag I said to James as she is the eldest and brightest. If she does well in the national tests, they can use her success to help attract more paying pupils.
The classrooms were as Spartan as they had been when I was last there two and a half years before. It seems that they have little thought of using visual aids on a regular basis. I could do so much if I was here for a while in getting to help them make lots out of very little. They could do more to help themselves. The storage cupboard was exactly the same – books thrust in in a heap, with no shelves in place. The bell still has no clapper. There appears to be just one piece of chalk! There are a few new textbooks however. They look old but the published date shows that they are relatively new. The humid atmosphere must take its toll.
Outside the camera was an attraction. The children all wanted pictures taken so that they could see themselves. Esnas was as interested as the children. Grace thought the digital camera was a camcorder and asked if I would send her a copy. I said I would do what I could.
It seems that they are ready to receive old computers now. We had been offered some from Homer School but I had not accepted them yet as I needed to see if they could make use of them. They can. It would be a positive attraction for new pupils. I wonder how difficult it is to ship them out.
Of the 35 pupils in the school at present ten pay £2 a month and the other 25 are classified as orphans and destitute children, so they don’t pay. Since the new government came into power last December, all children must attend school. Buses go round collecting children off the streets and taking them to schools, so Grace is helping the new regime in a very practical way.
We are to be given refreshments. Esnas arrives with a bowl and a jug of warm water. She pours it over our hands and catches it in the bowl so we can wash before eating. So that’s what the old jug and bowl on the dresser when I was small was originally for! A number of us have unsettled stomachs so it appears that we are not very gracious as we refuse to eat all they offer us. I manage bits and pieces – bananas, cake. There are also cheesy toast, deep fried things etc., also tea and juices to drink.
The children are never far. They reach out for hands and hugs. We studied the globe that Pat bought for them last week. It is so far from England to Kenya. The package of letters to be distributed back home is handed over to me. Pat has tried to help them write to us all. The package included details from Grace of what has been achieved since the project started.
At last it is time for us to depart. Karen is feeling particularly unwell. I needed time to sit and digest the morning’s excitement at my ease. What a wonderful experience!
Background information about Kenya
Achieved so far - September 2003
Ndumbuini Hill School as seen in October 2003
The Kilimanjaro Challenge Video