An Appeal to Support the Education of a Needy Child at Laini Saba Primary School

Laini Saba Nursery and Primary is appealing to individuals, groups of people, organizations and all people of goodwill, to sponsor the education of a needy child or a group of children. The school is currently facing serious challenges, especially in the running of its programmes, owing to the rise in the economy. Due to the fact that the majority of the pupils come from very poor families whose abilities to pay school fees is almost zero, the responsibility to look for funds to run the school is a thorn in the side of the school administration and the parish. The burden is overwhelming to the extent that it is threatening possible closure of the school, which is ranked tops in Kibera slums.

In order to help save the situation, the school has opted to invite individuals, groups of people and organizations to support the school financially through sponsoring pupils or, if possible, help pay the teaching staff for a period of time. To sponsor a pupil or group of pupils will first ensure that their learning process is not interrupted since they will not be sent home for fees. On the other hand, the funds from the sponsors will go along way supporting the school to manage its running expenses.

The School Background

Laini Saba Nursery and Primary School is a Catholic Church sponsored school situated in Kibera slum Nairobi. The school was established in 1992 as a rehabilitation and drop-in centre, where street children from the slum came in to have a meal, as well as, physical, moral and spiritual care. Over the years, the school has developed into an educational centre for learning with a current pupil’s population of 454.

The Objectives of the School Include:

• Helping less fortunate children in Kibera slums
• Improving educational standards of Kibera slum by providing quality holistic education
• Contributing to poverty reduction through education
• Promoting children’s physical, social, moral, spiritual and mental growth
• Contributing to behaviour changes among Kibera children
• Unique but Essential Services

Laini Saba Nursery and Primary School, strives to be an oasis for the poor and is unique in the whole of Kibera slums because of the following services:

• Guidance and counselling services for the children
• Offers a feeding programme to all pupils
• Voluntary services from persons of different countries
• Updated library facilities
• Positive relationships between teachers and pupils
• Follow-up of children in their homes by school social workers
• Generally good academic results
• Spiritual and moral formation given by religious and lay personnel
• Extra-curricular activities and educational field trips

Why the Appeal for Sponsorships

The current negative economic situation, which is felt from across the globe, has not spared the school. Owing to the unique but essential services that the school provides, the cost of running it has increased measurably. The funds from sponsors will enable the school to pay some of the running costs.

Operating Costs for the School Includes

This school include:

• The feeding programme expenses ranges between Kshs. 60,000 and 100,000 per month and 650,000 to 700,000 per year
• Staff salary costs are Kshs. 4.5 million per year
• Other running expenses e.g. stationary and teaching resources costs Kshs. 1.0 million

Current Assistance and Income from the Parents

As stated earlier, majority of pupils at Laini Saba comes from very poor families who are not able to raise school fees. However, each pupil is expected to pay some amount in order to supplement the cost of running the school. The fees structure is therefore as follows:

Pupils in standard IV-VIII Should pay: Kshs. 4,050 for first term, Kshs. 3,250 for second term, and Kshs. 2,950 for third term. Pupils in Nursery to Standard III should pay Kshs. 3,350 for first term, Kshs. 2,650 for second term, and Kshs. 2,650 for third term. Although these amounts are relatively low, only a handful of parents usually manage to pay. Despite this, the school has to operate and thanks to the following organizations and groups of people who have continue to support its initiatives:

• World Food Programme: Supply the school with cereals and peas for lunch, while the school buys vegetables, cooking oil and firewood for cooking.
• Concern Worldwide: Sponsor stationery for the school and seminars for the staff, pupils and parents.
• Sacred Heart Sisters: Sponsor some pupils, and also contribute occasionally to subsidise teachers’ salaries. They paid for the counselling of pupils and staff following the December 2007 post-election violence in Kenya which affected the Kibera community adversely. They also sponsor the painting of the classrooms during the school holidays and purchased power saving bulbs for the school; and bought a copy printer, text books, science kits and computers for the school. Other small projects in the school that the Sisters have supported include the Rabbit keeping projects, teachers’ formation, and staff planning meetings and potted plants for decoration of the school. The Sacred Heart Sisters also send qualified teachers to the school from time to time.
• AVSI: Continues to support the school by sponsoring a number of needy pupils.
• Vikki Smith-MLM: A Maryknoll Lay Missionary from USA, volunteers as the Education Coordinator in the parish. She supports the school by soliciting for sponsorship for the pupils and contributes to small school projects.
• Guadalupe Missionaries in Kenya: They are the custodians of the school considering the fact that the school is built right inside the parish and administered by the missionaries. They have supported the school from its inception, to date, by taking responsibility for sourcing of funds that are needed for daily operations of the school; for funds to pay staff; and for other necessary expenses as needed.
  

We appeal to you passionately to hep support our noble and life-giving initiative in whatever way you are able by sponsoring a child, or group of children, or any other initiative of the school that might appeal to you. May God bless you and keep us in your prayers.

For more information about the School, please contact the following:

Sr. Margaret Mwarili - School Head Teacher
P.O. Box 21188-00505, Nairobi Kenya
Tel: 254-020-2048760
Mobile: +254 720 200847
E-mail: lasabapri@yahoo.com or mmwarili@hotmail.com

Vikki Smith – Education Coordinator Christ the King Catholic Church-Kibera
P.O. Box 43058-00100, Nairobi Kenya
Mobile: +254 733 532744
E-mail: namutenyavik@yahoo.com

Fr. Carlos May Correa – Parish Priest Christ the King Catholic Church-Kibera
P.O. Box 21188-00505, Nairobi Kenya
Tel: 254-020-2048760
Mobile: +254 723 747853
E-mail: christkibera@yahoo.com or laitoriat@yahoo.com