Education through Bartering

Our last stop...St. Caroli Lwanga Lutaso SS. Perhaps we saved the most scenic location to the last. On the driveway to the left was a scene from "Out of Africa". We were situated on a small escarpment overlooking a valley dotted with shambas and beautifully terraced farms. The view extended for miles. Off in the distance were huge rocks jutting four hundred feet about the surrounding land. These geological formations spoke of a time of upheaval and volcanic activity. As we climbed a hill to the school we were surrounded by boulders the size of a classroom. Spread throughout the grounds the school was actually built around these mammoth formations. Instead of being in the way, the rocks took on the role of sentries, specifically to guard and protect. Colourful wild tropical flowers graced the property. A natural environment for a variety of birds, the place was sweet with birdsong.

Students were carrying 80 pound sacks of maize for storage. I was soon to learn how these got here. CES is involved in feeding programs for our students and a mix of beans and maize is the basis for nutrition. Once a week students also receive ugali, the Kenyan staple of maize flour and water cooked just right, not too runny and not too hard. Students pick up the ugali with their right hand, roll and pinch it into a ball with their fingers and down it quickly. It's quite the lesson for the westerner who is still looking for a utensil. In Kenya you go with the flow.

Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese in 2000, Lutaso SS started with 15 students. Eight years later it now is up to 305 full time enrolment. Principal Pascal Khisa Were and Deputy Principal Mary Waitjun Mukhwana greeted us warmly. Their's is a well resourced school because of strong parental involvement. A new equipped science lab was sponsored by the Community Development Fund, courtesy of the Government of Kenya.

We met the following delightful students who wanted their pictures taken with us. Each student we learned was a total orphan.

Linete Ongalo - Form 4 stands 28 of 53 in her class. She wants to be a nurse.

Hellen Mwangala - Form 4 stands 12 of 53 in her class. She too wants to be a nurse.

Humprey Wekesa - Form 4 stands 6 of 53 in his class. He wants to be a lawyer.

Nicholas Wasike - Form 1 stands 9 of 102 in his class. He wants to be a lawyer.

The students were very formal in their communications. They kept referring to their fellow student as "my colleague". Humprey told us, "We will pay you back by passing all our exams." Young Nicholas was forthright when he said, "Please tell your friends in Canada to keep up the good spirit." I knew exactly what he meant.

Principal Pascal Were then talked about the poverty surrounding the school. Not all parents can pay school fees. An ingenious system of bartering has been set up to enable those without cash to aquire their education. Fee payment "in kind" is common here. A bag of Maize is worth 1600KSh. The parent brings the bag and is credited that amount. Bricks for building structures are 5KSh per brick delivered and 4KSh if undelivered to the school. Firewood can go for 4000KSh for a huge bundle. Parents offer their services as cook or security watchman in exchange for a term of school. How neat is that! And the amazing thing is that because it is common practice, students do not mind having a parent going about doing work for the school. Now try that in Canada.

And yes...we got caught in a rainstorm to rival any I have experienced. It looked like night even at 4 pm. We were on our way home to Kakamega. Exhausted and elated at the same time, we knew we had seen some miracles. Despite all odds, students were in school taking advantage of the gift of learning. After two hours over a treacherous journey where I was sure I would be pushing the Toyota 4 wheel drive out of a mud filled ditch we made it!