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One of the Bukati-Project Goals is:
Educate all AIDS orphans in Butula, Western Kenya
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For last-year's graduate photo-gallery, please click on Photo
Gallery Page 7; 2008; Graduating to High School.
This page also includes details about high-school costs, and funding.
NONE of the high-school students here are being funded by the Bukati Project. They are being
funded by individuals, who have wanted to fund a specific person, versus a group. Please note - If you choose to
fund a student entering high-school, to be fair to the student, you must commit to fund that student for the full
4 years of high-school. (@ $800/year)
The school term runs from January 1 to December 31; there are one-month breaks for April; August; December.
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Email received on Tues. August 11, 2009 from Dr. Cate Dewey
in Kenya
Dear Friends and Family
The high school students who are sponsored by individual Canadians through COB are doing wonderfully well. There
are 123 students in grade 10 and our students, Julianna, Sole and Dennis came 12th, 15th and 23rd respectively.
[Note: click here to see the web-page on these three high-school
students]
Sole has grown in confidence and willingness to speak to me since last year. Julianna is now a dormitory prefect.
She is to ensure the girls are going to bed on time and keeping the dorm clean but also serves as a mentor and
sounding board for girls who want to share their problems. Julianna is also the group leader for her team for the
cultural day celebration that will include dancing, singing, drama and narratives. She is still on the school soccer
(football) team. Dennis is now the assistant head boy, giving him significant responsibility. We were always hoping
that the students would become leaders so that they will be strong community leaders when they finish high school.
Even if they go to college or university, there is a strong commitment to family and village in this culture, so
I expect they will still help their community after graduation.
Randy and I were to have visited the high school to meet the 5 students who are being sponsored by individual Canadians
through COB. However, the day we were to go was the last day of school. As a result, the students came one by one
to the Bukati Primary School. This actually worked well because it gave us a chance to see them individually.
We met the grade 9 students, Belinda and Francis for the first time. Belinda has a beautiful smile. Unfortunately
she was ill over the last 2 weeks of the term. (I think it was malaria). Therefore she did not have a report card.
Francis was very shy with Randy and me. Randy spoke to him through the vice principal as a translator. He did not
bring his report card to school because he did not know he was expected to.
We asked each student to write a letter to their sponsor before they left the school. Francis was very capable
of writing a letter in English without any help, so I think his English is good but perhaps he is just too shy
to talk to us.
The students were thrilled with the scientific calculators and flashlights that Norah bought for them as well as
the backpacks and other gifts in their bags.
Interestingly, each of the students in grade 10 came to the school with their report cards to show Nick (without
being asked). It showed me the mentor role Nick is playing in their lives. It is exciting to see these students
blossom. |
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Oct. 2009 Update: We now have a sponsor for both a girl and a boy for next January 2010.
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Below, Belinda and Francis are the most recent graduates, graduating from Bukati
School in Dec. 2008.
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Above: Belinda; Dec. 2008 Bukati graduate.
Belinda had the highest marks on the standard national examinations in grade 8 of all of the girls who are AIDS
orphans. Belinda is being sponsored by the Canadian Federation of University Women from Parksville/Qualicum Beach.
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Above: Cate Dewey with Belinda; July 2009.
Belinda has a beautiful smile. Unfortunately she was ill over the last 2 weeks of the term. (I think it was malaria).
Therefore she did not have a report card.
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Above: Francis; Dec. 2008 Bukati graduate.
Francis had the highest marks on the standard national examinations in grade 8 of all of the boys who are AIDS
orphans. Francis is being sponsored by the same group who are sponsoring Sole. This is a group from Toronto, Fergus,
Guelph and surrounding areas.
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Above: Francis with Cate Dewey; July 2009.
Francis was very shy with Randy and me. Randy spoke to him through the vice principal as a translator. He did not
bring his report card to school because he did not know he was expected to.
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Below are more recent photos of last year's graduates.
There are 123 students in grade 10.
Of the 123 students, our students, Julianna, Sole and Dennis came 12th, 15th and 23rd respectively
!
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Above: Denis; 2007 Bukati graduate
Denis had the highest marks in grade 8 of all of the boys who are AIDS orphans. He is being
supported by one woman who lives on Vancouver Island.
He hopes some day to be an engineer.
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Above: Denis in July 2009.
Dennis is now the assistant head boy, giving him significant responsibility.
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Above: Julianna; 2007 Bukati graduate
Julianna was the leader of the school when she was in grade 7 and grade 8. She was selected
for both high academic standing and leadership skills.
Her English is excellent. She hopes to be a pilot.
Sept. 2008 Update:
Julianna is now sponsored by a woman in Eden Mills, Ontario
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Above: Juliana in July 2009.
Julianna is now a dormitory prefect. She is to ensure the girls are going to bed on time and
keeping the dorm clean but also serves as a mentor and sounding board for girls who want to share their problems.
Julianna is also the group leader for her team for the cultural day celebration that will include dancing, singing,
drama and narratives. She is still on the school soccer (football) team.
Click here for a photo of Juliana with Cate and
Nick.
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Above: Sole; 2007 Bukati graduate
Sole is the AIDS orphan who had the highest marks in grade 8. She is being supported by a
group of people from Guelph, Toronto and the surrounding area.
We are especially proud because she has just received the award for the highest marks in math in first term in
grade 9.
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Above: Sole in July 2009.
Sole has grown in confidence and willingness to speak to me since last year.
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