Friends Secondary School Navakholo

The Society of Friends is a Quaker movement that in the late 19th and early 20th century built many schools and hospitals in Kenya. It continues today as a thriving church community. In 1995 a secondary school was established by the Friends at Navakholo. Malik Khaemba, Patron of CES Kenya is a Board member of Navakholo SS.

Principal Hellen Kulandu met us as soon as we had arrived. We were tired after already navigating nearly 50 kilometres of rather treacherous rural roads. She had a smile that would brighten anyone's day. Her traditional dress of gold and green was spectacular. Principal Kulandu looked regal. She runs a school of 265 students with 135 being female. Hers was an example of a school where gender equity is working well...just over 50% girls is something to celebrate in Kenya, especially at the secondary school level.

The students were disciplined and polite and I sensed a calming influence through this remarkable woman. Madame Kulandu took no credit; instead she claimed that it was all due to a united staff, a sense of purpose and strong parental support. During the upheaval after the recent elections there were many displaced people who were living as refugees in makeshift dwellings. Some from the Mt Elgon area were unable to return home from Kakamega. Principal Kulandu registered a number of these IDP's or internally displaced persons.

Besides a strong Guidance program there was an emphasis on balance, not always seen in a school system that places marks above all else. Clubs, drama, music, arts and sports were also part of the program. The Principal believes in the education of the whole person, a concept I agree with wholeheartedly.

Navakholo SS needs a borehole. There is no well and students have to walk 2 km to fetch water from the river. Besides being dangerous, it takes time away from learning. Other priorities include additional computers and classrooms. The school has 12 teachers yet only seven are paid by the government. The community raises funds for the remaining five. Teachers in rural Kenya are poorly paid. In spite of all this the school carries on strong.

I met with our four students:

Beritah Mchenye (F4) who stands 16/50 in her class. When asked why she had slipped from number 5 position she explained that she had no parafin at home and that by time she got home it was near dark. This precluded any home studies. She was simply falling behind. Beritah will get the parafin she and her family requires. She wants to study Business and Marketing at the college level.

Mackylene Ngao (F4) stands 11/50 in her class. Her marks had slipped because of illness but she was catching up. Mackylene wants to become a Doctor.

Jared Wasike (F2) stands first in his class of 52. He is a bright boy who wants to become a Doctor.

Collins Milimo (F1) stands 8th of 108 in his class. He wants to be a Teacher.

Navakholo SS was our last school visit and now we were heading back to Kakamega. Along the way I was thinking about the students I spoke to that day. What had their lives been like before CES? Now they had a future and added hope through their education. They were working hard and taking advantage of every opportunity. There were teachers and principals that cared about them. I also knew that there were Canadian friends back home that were making all this possible. At that moment I could not have been happier.

I had learned something very special from Principal Kulandu. Happiness is not dependent on circumstances; rather, it is what you do with the circumstances that life presents. She was making the most of all she had. She also had a dream that one day there would be a computer classroom on the grounds of Navakholo SS. She had already laid the foundation. Madame Kulandu saw what could be the reality; she was simply waiting for the next wave of support. That's the Kenyan way.