When it comes to starting school, the philosophy is “better late than never” for some Enkijabe Empiris students. About 10% of the schools 75 students are older-than-normal preschoolers.
In Kilgoris village, education isn’t a given for all children. Some families don’t place a high value on learning and would rather have their children help at home or work rather than go to school. For other families, it’s a matter of simple economics, they can’t afford the fees, uniform, supplies and shoes required to send children to school. As a result, many village children do not go to school.
The older students at Enkijabe Empiris are getting a second chance. These kids, ages six to 12, are going to school for the first time and learning the alphabet along with their three- and four-year-old classmates. Since the school doesn’t require a uniform and gives the children free or reduced-fee tuition, they are able to learn the basics in preschool and hopefully progress to a local primary school from there.
Students began classes at the school, located within Kilgoris village, in January 2004. In addition to donating funds for the building, The Kilgoris Project has furnished the classroom with tables and benches and built a water tank to provide clean drinking water for the children. Before, many children had trouble with diarrhea and stomach problems from drinking stagnant, roadside water.
The school began a feeding program in Fall 2006.
This provides each student with a bowl of filling, vitamin-enriched porridge and cup of tea. Since many students come to school without breakfast and/or without a lunch, this will enable them to have energy for their school day.
They hope to have outdoor play equipment to round out their school needs. Then all the students, both the traditional-aged preschoolers and their older counterparts, can learn, play and grow together.