The New school build for the Waymarks Education Centre, Moi's Bridge, Kenya

The story so far:

The site of the old school was 50 feet by 100 feet and did not have enough classrooms for a full primary school. While teaching two age groups together in a mixed age class is not uncommon in rural primary school in the UK. mixing more than two age groups can make life difficult. This was the situation that existed at the Waymarks Education Centre. It also meant that the number of children that the centre could help was restricted. We added a new building which is the size of a single classroom. You can see from the picture that two doors were put in and a dividing wall internally to provide two small classrooms. Eventually the dividing wall will be removed and it will be a single classroom. This particular classroom will be moved to the new site during August 2009 along-side a completely new classroom.

Want to be more involved in this exciting project check out our  volunteer programme at Moi's Bridge

We need funds to make this happen BUT the next thing we want to do is replace the present kitchen on the old site. the picture below will explain why!

Yes, that really was the kitchen where three meals a day were prepared and served to the children

"Our desire and prayer to God  for the needy and orphaned children under our care is, that they might grow up to know Jesus Christ as their friend. We want them to become very important adults. Some of these children lead very hard lives in the nearby Kambi Suswa slums where they live with their guardians as the photo showing many grassy houses reflects."

Maurice Chesoli, Pastor

VISIT the photo page for the centre

Kambi Suswa slum where many children struggled to survive before it was bulldozed in March 2011

We have been fortunate to be able to buy an acre of land 9 times bigger that the old site, which is very close to the existing school site. We have an option to buy another acre which is next to the new site.

Plans :
the first draft which we have changed slightly to give better facilities.

We hope the main school building will look something like this with 8 classrooms, a staffroom and admin section. Not shown are the three pre-school unit classrooms and a kitchen where food is prepared every day for the children.

The well and toilets will be followed by classrooms (CR) 1 and 2.

 We will build a complete school over a period of time.  The school will grow from the present 100 children to 200 to ...

Maurice at the new plot and the fencing being installed

After fencing the plot, a well and toilets were the first things we have built on the site
First dig the hole which is the well then line it so it does not collapse later, then cap the well so nobody falls down it or rubbish gets in to contaminate the water the well

Then we moved on to building the toilets. 3 double units, Boys, Girls and Staff. Once completed we have the basic infrastructure for the school.

Toilets completed and painted

Above are the two classrooms being built. They are CR1 and CR2 on the plan near the top of this page

Money has been sent out to plant fruit trees and Eucalyptus trees at the site.

You can help us to make a difference to these children and others like them by getting involved and helping raise funds for our charity.

WAYMARKS EDUCATION CENTRE in Moi's Bridge, Kenya. - when we got involved in August 2008

The centre currently caters for 80 children three quarters of whom have lost one or both parents. All live in poverty. Many homes lack blankets for the children to sleep under. Even providing basic clothing can be a challenge for those caring for the children.
At the Centre they get food and education and such simple basics as tooth brushes and tooth paste. The centre opens at 7:30 in the morning and closes at 5pm. This is the routine from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday there is church and Sunday school plus a meal. 
 There is basic education provide at both nursery and primary level. Few children have any chance of progressing to secondary school.
The main source of support and funding has come from 3 churches in Kenya. Church members have given food, money, clothes and time to keep the Centre open.
The post election violence that hit Kenya in last year and in early this year changed peoples circumstances and their ability to give in the way they did prior to the problems. As a result the Centre is finding it hard to keep up it’s programme of education and the provision of basics like food.
Other casualties include basic maintenance of latrines, furniture and educational materials such as books and pencils. 

We heard about the centre and its plight. We are now working with Maurice and his team to try to get back to at least where they were before the troubles.

Peter (based on Maurice's emails October 2008)