Wilderness Inquiry Partners with Ngong Road Children Association and Kambi to Host Summer Camp

3/15/2010 (entry by Andy Walz) - We are going to host a summer camp at Kambi! WI is partnering with the Ngong Road Childrens Association to serve about 210 kids from the slums of Nairobi and 40 from the Kambi community. We need volunteers! Check out:

www.wildernessinquiry.org/ngongroad

Classroom 3 Construction Begins Despite "These Economic Times"

12/2/2009 (entry by Andy Walz) - "These economic times" have made fundraising and travel to Africa tough this year. A small group of 5 did make it to Kambi in Septmember and we have raised $6,700. After much discussion we've decided to move forward with the construction of the 3rd classroom. We won't be able to finish it until we raise about $3400 more but materials are cheap right now and we need to take advantage of that. I will post pictures of the progress as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone who has given this year...this new building is bringing lots of hope despite the global recession.

The Muthoga Foundation

7/24/2009 (entry by Andy Walz) - Kambi visitors donate a large shipment of leather scraps for making backpacks. Community members have pitched in to help with the sewing. A charitble effort named the Muthoga Foundation has been organized to facilitate these kind of donations along with scholarships.

New Textbooks for Kambi

3/18/2009 (entry by Andy Walz) - A group of 4 WI travelers recently donated more than $2500 USD worth of textbooks to the new Kambi library. Students for years to come will benefit from this extremely generous act. Our gratitude goes out to The Muthoga Foundation!! Asante sana!!

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