The Blair Educational Center -- Kisumu, Kenya
Library and Computer Center
In the summer of 2012, we began construction of a private elementary school called the Blair Educational Center in a small village overlooking the shores of Lake Victoria. Our goal was to create the best school in the area -- one that would empower the community and lift its economic status. We believe -- and studies confirm -- that private schools in the poorest areas of the world significantly outperform their public school counterparts due to the increased incentives for teachers and administrators.
As with all of our projects, it is not a handout, but a collaboration between Americans and Kenyans -- we think that projects like this work best when there is a shared goal and shared responsibility. Therefore, in numerous meetings with community leaders, a school was deemed to be the most pressing concern, the land was donated, the construction has been managed locally, and the school is run by volunteers who share our goals. Because we have no overhead -- everyone working on this project from both American and Kenya is a volunteer -- we are able to provide the services at a greatly reduced cost.
Nursery and pre-first classes began in January, 2013 (the start of the Kenyan school year), and enthusiasm in the community spread quickly. School fees are very reasonable -- about $3/month which is used to pay the salaries of the teachers and the cost of operating the school -- and we offer significant financial aid to those who can't afford even this amount. We have expanded this school through 9th grade and under the Kenyan system we really operate 2 schools: an Elementary school and a Middle school.
Additionally, we are the only school in the area to offer lunch -- we think it senseless to send students to school all day without any food and therefore we provide what is in many cases the only substantial meal of the day.
As with all of our projects, it is not a handout, but a collaboration between Americans and Kenyans -- we think that projects like this work best when there is a shared goal and shared responsibility. Therefore, in numerous meetings with community leaders, a school was deemed to be the most pressing concern, the land was donated, the construction has been managed locally, and the school is run by volunteers who share our goals. Because we have no overhead -- everyone working on this project from both American and Kenya is a volunteer -- we are able to provide the services at a greatly reduced cost.
Nursery and pre-first classes began in January, 2013 (the start of the Kenyan school year), and enthusiasm in the community spread quickly. School fees are very reasonable -- about $3/month which is used to pay the salaries of the teachers and the cost of operating the school -- and we offer significant financial aid to those who can't afford even this amount. We have expanded this school through 9th grade and under the Kenyan system we really operate 2 schools: an Elementary school and a Middle school.
Additionally, we are the only school in the area to offer lunch -- we think it senseless to send students to school all day without any food and therefore we provide what is in many cases the only substantial meal of the day.
