Kenya declares holiday for Obama

11/5/2008 (entry by Emily Walz) - Mr. Kibunja, headmaster from Kambi Primary School, where I taught at in Kenya, called me yesterday to find out if Obama won (there is no such thing as internet in Naro Moru, and the newspapers they get are usually old ones they accuire from a few days ago from someone who has been to town), I called him back today and he is saying that Kenyans are very excited about our election results (can you imagine!?!?!). He proceeded to tell me that he went to school with Obama's father, not sure if I believe that one- every Kenyan will tell you they are related to/connected to Obama in some way. But additionally, he told me that there is no school tomorrow in Kenya because they are declaring it a national public holiday for Obama. I went online to see for myself if this was really official, and sure enough:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7710394.stm

Be sure to check out the links on the right hand side too! I particularly like the one about "Obama, The Musical" (McCain is the villain, naturally), and the one about the beer that they named after him. I think this is almost as exciting for Kenyans as it is for us...or maybe I should have said that vise versa :)

Teaching at Kambi Primary School

7/15/2008 (entry by Emily Walz) - I recently returned from an incredible adventure that took me to Kenya for 5 months through a study abroad program at the University of Minnesota. After taking classes in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, on international sustainable development, I was fortunate enough to be able to set up an internship teaching at Kambi Primary School in the small village of Naro Moru located at the base of Mt. Kenya. One of the best parts of my experience was living with a local host family, and seeing how Kambi Primary School has enriched the children’s lives.

I believe that education is the foundation for peace, justice, and development in our world and that it is the only route to self-reliance and independence. No one knows this more than the students, parents, and teachers of Kambi Primary School. I had the opportunity to see the two new classroom buildings when they were in the process of being built as well as after they were completed and there were excited students learning inside of them. I was at the opening ceremony of the classrooms where parents and community members from the whole village ate, sang, and danced in celebration. They are so proud of the new classroom buildings, and they send their deepest gratitude to all of the people who made it possible.

Grades seven and eight currently have their classes in the new buildings (something for the younger kids to look forward to) but the rest of the students are still attempting to learn in an old colonial horse stable that has been transformed into makeshift classrooms. They are dark, crowded, cold, and there is nothing blocking the noise from classroom to classroom. I can say from first hand experience that it is an extremely difficult learning environment to try to teach a lesson in. Our goal is to continue to raise funds, completing at least one new classroom each year until every student has adequate facilities.

When you help a child to become educated and develop a passion for learning, it does not only benefit the single student. The student’s success will, in turn, help their family, their community, and set an example for future generations.

Thank You Letters from Kambi

I have scanned a bundle of hearfelt thank you's from the students of Kambi. The are so moving!

View All the Letters

Kambi School Classrooms Open

5/30/2008 (entry by Joe)

At Kambi Primary School in Naro Maro, Kenya, there now stands two new classrooms which are the pride and joy of this rural east African village. Until these classrooms were built the primary school operated out of converted barn where plenty of daylight shines though the gaps in the boards which comprise the barn walls.

The classrooms were officially opened at a dedication ceremony held March 15, 2008 attended by a WI Kenyan safari group led by Andy Walz who also served as the financial manager of the classrooms project and Tennis and Life Camp staff member Emily Walz who organized the fund raising efforts at the camp. Emily taught at the school this past winter as part of her study abroad program affiliated with the University of Minnesota. Both Andy and Emily were honored at a special ribbon cutting ceremony attended by almost all the village residents along with all the student body and school staff. The emotions were high as keys to the clean and bright new classrooms were handed over to the school's principal with an audience which also included the workers who designed and built the classrooms. Students from each grade performed music and dance routines adding to the festivity of the event, and then were anxious to utilize the new buildings. The classrooms are an amazing gift. They are greatly appreciated and will be a gift which keeps on giving for generations to come.

CLASSROOMS COMPLETE. FINANCIAL GOALS MET!!!

4/11/2008 (entry by Andy Walz) -

Well, I just returned from 3 weeks in East Africa and it will be very difficult for me to explain in words how amazing it was. I have a very amazing story to tell. I want you to know that all of our efforts have paid off. I have seen the classrooms, participated in their dedication, and witnessed the overwhelming joy and gratitude of people of Kambi. I only wish you all could have been there. For now, I hope these pictures tell a thousand words:

Not only are the classrooms finished but I came home to many individual contributions and an gift of $2000 from Tennis and Life Camps--the project is debt free! We actually have almost enough money to buy the desks that we forgot to budget for. Soon we'll be setting our sights on classrooms 3 & 4!!! Asante sana.

Thank you from Muthoga

2/11/2008 (entry by Richard Muthoga) -

Habari from Kenya to all my friends,

I take this opportunity to thank all those friends acrosss the globe for their concern during this turmoli in our beloved country Kenya. I am sincerely thankful to those emails and calls that kept flowing my way asking how safe my families and friends here were. For sure it was something that no one expected in this country. We had general elections and after the presedential tally was announced chaos started. Although where I come from was not affected it was pity for the are mostly affected the Riftvalley, Coast and some parts of Nairobi where we have relatives and friends. It was a bombshell that everyone was sitting on and just erupted during last year general elections. This was a historical factor and mostly it revolves around the scarce resource of land.

Thank God we have emminent people in country like Koffi Ananan spearheading a peace deal and we have high hopes as these shambles have affected even our brothers and sisters in the region.
Once again Thank you very much everyone for the concern during this time. Asante SANA !!!
May peace prevail in the world!!

Richard Muthoga Mwaura
P.O Box 148 Naro-moru 10105 Kenya E.Africa
+254-727 131 218

New Classrooms!

1/29/2008 (entry by Andy Walz) - Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Kenya. At a time when many are mourning the tragic loss of their brothers and sisters, and the stability of their country--there is at least one small community with something else to think about. Two new classrooms are nearly complete at Kambi Primary School. Two classrooms does not seem like much but especially in the face of what is happening in greater Kenya the community of Kambi has something to be thankful for, excited about, and reason to hope. Click on the slideshow above for a tour of the construction from the begining right up until the last WI group, led by Emily and Muthoga, was able to visit the second week of January.


CONSTRUCTION BEGINS!!



We still need your help. There are several factors working against us since we did the budget and we've come up short: A) The USD has been hovering between 60 and 65 Ksh when it is normaly above 70 B) The price of fuel and supplies has shot up dramatically since the elections. C) We made some additional decisions as we went such as addiing wiring for electricity and higher quality roofing to withstand the storms of Mt Kenya for years to come.

We've set a goal to raise $4325 USD in February in order to complete the project without accruing debt. Every little bit helps and we thank you for any help you can give.

From Kambi Classrooms Dedication