Kenya Education and Food

Kenya Education
and Food

Temporarily suspended

Since February 2023, we have embarked on a significant educational initiative in one of Nairobi, Kenya’s largest slums—Emmaus Educational Centre, situated in the heart of Korogocho Slum.When we initiated our sponsorship, the school catered to 180 children. At that time, the challenges were substantial: no school meals were provided, there was a severe shortage of textbooks, with some classes having to share just one textbook among ten children, and the dedicated teachers were working voluntarily without compensation.
Our objectives are ambitious. We aim to increase the school’s capacity to accommodate 450 children by covering their school fees. Additionally, we strive to ensure that each child receives 2 nutritious school meals daily and has access to individual textbooks. The funds allocated for the children’s fees will not only cover the salaries of the teachers but also contribute to other essential expenses such as school materials, internet access, and utility bills.

Your support makes a tangible difference in the lives of these children.
Stay informed about the progress we are making through the updates provided below.
Thank you for being a vital part of this transformative journey.

The monthly cost per child for school fees
and 2 meals a day is £5, €6, or $7

UPDATE REPORTS

END OF SCHOOL YEAR REPORT, NOVEMBER 2023

Enrolled 56 new children into the school making a total of 340 children, a substantial increase from 180 children when we started supporting the school in February. Most of these children had been out of school for years, spending their days working or begging on the streets. Thanks to the collective support, both from you and our team, they are now receiving education and nutritious meals.

Recognizing the substantial growth of the school over the year and the shortage of desks and chairs, we procured 45 new benches to ensure all kids have a proper place to sit and write.

Addressing a critical shortage of textbooks, we acquired 221 new textbooks. Previously, each class had only 2 or 3 textbooks shared among a minimum of 24 kids. Now, with around 4 pupils sharing a textbook, there has been a significant improvement in the quality and pace of learning.

The slums where these children live is called Korogocho. It is one of the largest slum districts in Nairobi, Kenya. Home to 150,000 to 200,000 people crammed into 1.5 square kilometres. People live squeezed in over 11,560 shacks made of mud and sticks, covered with tin roofs. A shack sometimes has 4-5 rooms ranging in size from 3-10 square meters, with one family living in each room. A bedsheet hanging on a string separates the living area from the sleeping quarters. The floor is made of clay, and if someone can afford it, they might have a cement floor. Some of the shacks have electricity, but it’s often cut off. Water needs to be purchased from selling points. Garbage from the streets is not collected; it’s simply trampled upon. Each latrine and shower serves several hundred people. Life in the slum is lived day by day; no one knows what the next day will bring. Living in such conditions poses the danger of the spread of many diseases.

Dear Friends and Partners,
With the conclusion of the school year in Kenya, we are eager to provide you with an update on the notable developments during the 2nd and 3rd Terms at the Emmaus Educational Centre—an institution we proudly support, situated in the slums of Nairobi.
Since the inception of our collaboration with the school, a cascade of positive changes has unfolded. As a direct result of your unwavering support, the children not only exhibit heightened happiness but also demonstrate improved academic performance, thereby positively influencing their lives beyond the classroom.
Grateful for your generous backing, we accomplished the following during the 2nd and 3rd terms, which span from August to November in the Kenyan academic calendar

As the school year concluded, we are now covering the school fees for 160 children and providing 2 meals a day for 340 children. With the rise in the number of children and subsequently the amount in school fees, we were able to, for the first time in a long while, provide the teachers with their salaries. Many of them receive minimal pay or work voluntarily to support the school. By contributing to the school fees of the children, you are not only aiding the children themselves but also supporting the teachers and their families. Your impact goes beyond the classroom, touching the lives of those dedicated to educating and shaping the future.
Beyond the vital support of nourishing meals and covering school fees, our commitment extends to providing spiritual nourishment—imparting the invaluable Word of God to the children. Using the Zoom platform, we engage in regular teachings at the school. Through these online sessions, we’ve gained deeper insights into the lives of the children and are gratified to witness the substantial benefits they have derived from these lessons.
100% of donations, without exception, are allocated entirely to the initiatives of Switch Ministries, as we operate with zero administration costs. To maximize efficiency, we directly procure food supplies in bulk from Nairobi wholesalers, ensuring the most economical prices. Every aspect of the food supply chain, from ordering and payments to deliveries, is diligently overseen by our team on a weekly basis.

We express our heartfelt gratitude once again for your support, which is actively transforming the lives of children and families in these challenging slums. While we may not be able to assist everyone, we firmly believe in making a difference one child at a time.
Our sincere prayer is that the seeds of kindness you’ve sown into these young lives will yield a harvest of a hundredfold in your own life, in Jesus’ name.

God bless you!
Amit, Magda and Benita
Switch Ministries

TERM REPORT, APRIL 2023

Dear Friends and Partners,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your unwavering support and prayers. We are truly thankful for God’s grace and for inspiring the generosity that has made our ministry possible.

In the 1st term of school (January to April), thanks to your support, we achieved the following:

• Reopened the kitchen on February 13, 2023, and have since been providing two meals a day (breakfast and lunch) for 284 children. Breakfast includes porridge, and lunch consists of rice and beans or lentils, or traditional Kenyan dishes like Ugali with cabbage or potatoes.

• Added 104 new children to the school, covering their school fees and ensuring they receive two meals a day.

• Provided one-time assistance with food supplies and toiletries to 75 families of children living in the slums.

• Purchased 20 Bibles for the children.

Having personally visited the school in 2018 and established a relationship with the Head Master, we can attest to the faithful use of the support provided. Rest assured, 100% of all donations directly contribute to the initiatives of Switch Ministries, with zero administration costs. We maximize efficiency by procuring food supplies in bulk from Nairobi wholesalers, overseeing every aspect of the supply chain on a weekly basis.

We are excited to provide you with an update on the progress and impact that your contributions have facilitated since January 13, 2023, when the vision to aid children was placed on our hearts. Currently, we are actively involved with the Emmaus Educational Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, situated in one of the city’s challenging slums

When we began our efforts, the school had 180 pupils. Many children in the slums faced the unfortunate reality of staying at home or working due to the inability of their parents to afford school fees, as education is not free in Kenya. The lack of funding also meant that the school couldn’t provide meals, resulting in many children going hungry throughout the day, affecting their energy levels and academic performance.

In addition to addressing physical needs, we also recognized the importance of providing spiritual nourishment. Following God’s guidance, we have been actively teaching and praying for the parents and families of the children. We conduct regular Zoom sessions for the children at school, ensuring they receive spiritual education as well

Once again, we express our deepest gratitude for your support, and we pray that the seeds you’ve sown into these children’s lives will yield a hundredfold harvest in your own life, in Jesus’ name.

God bless you!
Amit, Magda and Benita
Switch Ministries