Corner of Hope October 2011

Oct 1, 2011

  • Eight trainee teachers sat their final exams in August 2011.  Six have passed and two will need further support to get through.  All folders and most of the material making have been duly completed.
  • Second set of tie and dye uniforms has been sewn. These will be distributed in January.   The community has had a lot of movement of children due to the government resettlement programme for 276 families.
  • At present there are 153 children at school. From January 2012, all the children will stay at school full day. Those children requiring a nap will be given mattresses. Mattresses will be donated by a local Hindu women’s charity organization. Older children, after lunch and a break, will continue with their studies.
  • Thirteen candidates for the next wave of training have interviewed for the Corner of Hope teacher-training programme at St. Ann’s College. The recruitment process has involved a group and individual interviews, written assignments based on personal experience and observation at the Corner of Hope School.  Eight more trainees will undergo the training.  Final decision on the eight potential trainees is in progress.
  • A training manual has been started with updated demonstrations and illustrations.   Demonstrations are given during each visit to the training centre at Nakuru. 
  • Canvas shoes for the children will be distributed at the end of October 2011.
  • Installation of doors, windows and grills for Phase One is complete.
  • Latrines for the children are complete.  Grills have been put in place and the children have now started using them.
  • Ground has been leveled for the Second Phase of construction to start.  Bricks for walling have also been made.
  • Guttering for rainwater harvesting is taking place and will be completed by the middle of November 2011.  Pedestals for the water tanks have been constructed.
  • Carpenters undertaking the furniture making for the classrooms are at present working on another job at a worksite away from the camp.  Furniture making will commence immediately upon their return.
  • The school is now finally in the process of being registered.  This is after much dialogue and deliberations by officials from the Ministry of Education with the parents and committee members to clarify with them, the registration process. The New Canaan Community is made up of two groups of people and to ensure that there is no conflict, careful steps have been taken in ensuring that the community understands the intricacies and legal implications of the registration process and most importantly, that they are in agreement.
  • Upon completion of Phase Two, an elementary programme will be started within the same school compound.  A separate premise for the Elementary school is being sought in the interim.
  • 267 families are being reallocated by the government, to a piece of land 35 km from the present settlement.  These families would like to continue staying where they are, as the location where they are being resettled has no school and medical facilities.  They are looking to use the land for agricultural purposes only at present.
  • Research is underway on a cooperative set up within the community, which will enable pooling together and management of skills for income generation.
  • Situational analysis for the medical facility has been received from the government. Further criteria have to be fulfilled for registration, which will involve more construction. The community has another donor who is interested in pursuing this further and will let us know if further help is required from us.