Morokoshi Nursery School
Overview
Seeing the number of children in his rural farmland community just north of Nakuru, Kenya, not able to attend school, farmer Steve Murithi decided to take this educational deficit into his own hands – and land. Constructing a basic mud-walled classroom on his own property, hiring his own teachers, Morokoshi Nursery School has now admitted 73 children. With many of the children being raised by grandmothers or relatives, the average family living on 35 cents a day, the bulk of operating expenses have been left on whatever support can be raised by Steve’s juice stand in town. The past political clashes recently brought in an additional twelve children who alongside learning ABC’s, are going through PTSD counseling.
Already Morokoshi stands out academically as a top school in the area, and local motivation to support further development hopes to take this small Nursery School to grand dreams for a primary school also, and public library and study space for all children in the region.
Appeal for Help and Support
To ensure the educational pursuits of Morokoshi continue, will take more than these local motivations. The Board of Directors, parents (and grandparents), and children alike are eager to bring in volunteers to assist them in their operations and efforts towards improvement. Local donations and tuition support are received, but minimal as they are, cannot afford the ambitious plans for expansion, or even the modest upkeep costs.
International Volunteer Involvement
Morokoshi attributes international volunteers as a major support in their work. Japanese volunteers helped choose the name for the school, which in Japanese directly translates to ‘corn’ (the crop once grown where the school now stands, and with hopes the children will also grow up strong and resilient like this community staple crop). SPAN volunteers have already donated time and efforts to this grassroots school, beginning their library collection, assistant teaching in the classrooms, providing teacher training seminars, working with the Board on their plans for development and improvement, and even supporting Amaranth cash crop development on the lands to subsidize costs and improve student health. The needs are real, the work is successful, and the dreams are endless.
Who is Qualified to Join?
One of the benefits of work at a nursery school is that a bright smile and keen interest in involvement makes you a valued addition. Experience in education or work with children is an asset. Volunteers here are also encouraged to work on their Swahili basics before arrival, as children at the school speak limited English.
Materials and Donations
With the library started (28 books and counting), additional books for all ranges are appreciated. Donations towards purchasing of further land, construction of a next classroom, improved washrooms, or sponsoring of a student at $30 a year, can be discussed in detail with management.
You can read more about SPAN’s work at Morokoshi here.
Further Info
Morokoshi Nursery School
Stephen Murithi, Board Chairman Murunyu, Kenya
morokoshi@hotmail.com