Children of Bukati
SUCCESS STORIES

Community-led Projects to Sustain the Program February 2007 Grist mill built at the school to grind corn for the community Building supplies and labour was donated for the building Kitchen was built at the school to establish the lunch program Community members donated building supplies and labour for Grist mill building Kitchen to sustain the lunch program Pig barn Chicken coop March 2007 Cooks are hired and lunch program begins Grist mill operator is hired and mill opens Maize and kale garden plots are planted in the school yard Children in the "program" volunteer to work on one of the projects Teachers mentor the volunteers to teach best agricultural practices Grade 7 and 8 children rotate as volunteers to serve lunch and care for the younger children in the lunch program April 2007 3 female pigs and one male pig are purchased and housed in the barn Pigs are fed on the waste from the grist mill 1000 avocado trees are started from seed May 2007 54 chickens are purchased Maize and millet is purchased and sold ground and ready to cook for villagers walking home from work. 3000 tree seedlings are started July 2007 Eggs from the chickens are sold Four hens are setting 10 eggs each November 2007 100 chicks were hatched and will soon be ready for sale Most hens are laying eggs regularly One pig will give birth in December The new trees planted in the school yard have been nicknamed 'Canada' January 2008 The lunch program for the children be upgraded from twice/week to three-times / week. June 21 2008 3 Sows give birth One dairy cow and one sheep are purchased by the school; added to sustainability program. Dr. Cate Dewey is in Kenya, and has provided us with an email report that contains several success stories from Bukati Primary School. Click here for the full June 21 newsletter. July 2008 5 acres of corn are harvested from the rented land. The students take the kernels of corn off the cobs, and then dry the corn in the schoolyard, for storage. September 2008 The children in kindergarten, grades 1 and 2 will be fed 5 days a week beginning in September 2008. This will be possible because of the 5 acres of maize being grown by the school. September 2009 In 3 years, the school has expanded from 600 to over 1000 pupils. There have been 3 new classrooms built with Kenyan government support. Even so, in June 2009, there were 2 classes of children being taught outside, under the trees because of the shortage of classroom space. One new classroom is being funded through a cost-sharing program that provides 20% of the costs by the government after the parents have raised 80% of the money. In this poverty stricken community, it shows the determination of the adults to improve the learning environment for their children. The second classroom and the desks for the class were built by a group of dedicated individuals from the University of Guelph. The group completed several fund-raising initiatives to acquire the money needed for the materials and to hire expert local labour for the classroom. We have bought 11 acres of land through the generous donations of members of the Norval United Church and the families of Norah and Laura. This is a key component of the long term sustainability of the project that will reduce the reliance on purchased food. November 2009 Permaculture project established by Michael Nickels of Seven Raven's Farm, BC. Project includes vegetable gardens, fruit and nut trees, and maize, beans and rice to provide food for the children. May 2010 All children in the school are eating lunch 5 days a week.  This is a major accomplishment. Eight high school students, in total, are now being sponsored. 18 new latrines are built with money raised by Rotary Clubs. June to August 2010 University of Guelph students, and Jamie vanderBerg and his family live in the community for one to 3 months. They enhance the Canadian/Kenyan cultural understanding and build a laying hen barn, efficient wood stoves for the kitchen and a green house, and work to enhance the permaculture project.