There are more children out of school in Kibera than in the rest of Nairobi. Why is this happening? Let’s hear a few stories to understand why.
There are so many people living in the slums that the nearby public schools are packed with kids. Brian shared a classroom with 50 other students, all vying for one teacher’s attention. This did not suit Brian at all. Brian is super high energy and gets bored easily. He often missed school, fell behind his peers and eventually dropped out of school. Brian’s worried mother brought him to Turning Point.
At Turning Point, there were just 20 students in the class. His engaging teacher helped him enjoy the lessons and he soon caught up. He finished primary school at the end of 2019. This is no small achievement as only 76% of children in Nairobi’s slums complete primary school.
Peter had a different experience. He went to a private school in Kibera which offers a cheap alternative to the packed public schools. However, the teachers aren’t trained and there are not enough textbooks. Peter ended up dropping out. When Peter joined our Programme, he was 3 years behind his peers academically. His mother had worked hard to send him to school, not knowing that he was not learning. Peter worked extra hard to get ready for school and this year he will join the Fountains of Hope Primary School.
Zena’s family, like many others in Kibera, was unable to pay school fees. Zena was at risk of abuse in her rural home, so they came to Nairobi to escape. In the city, Zena’s mother struggled to pay rent and buy water and food. They didn’t have enough left over to pay school fees, so Zena stayed at home alone while her mother looked for work. Turning Point enabled Zena to go back to school. Zena’s education will help her to have a brighter future.
Brian, Peter and Zena did not have the opportunity to learn in a great school. With your help, Turning Point is opening doors for more children in Kibera, like Brian, Peter and Zena, to access quality education.
