MCK Kawangware Academy

Minister Rev John Mbiiri

Head teacher Mrs Anne Wambilianga

Social Worker Caroline Mwiti

Treasurer Patrick Mutwiri

Kawangware is a shanty slum on the west side of Nairobi and the children sponsored by Karibuni Trust are from similar situations to those in the Kibera project.

The Methodist Church started a Nursery in a small wooden shed for both fee-paying and sponsored children and was on the point of closing for lack of funds when they approached Karibuni Trust for support.

A small American charity, the Kenyan Children Foundation (KCF) has put most of the funding needed into building the school premises for Standards 1 – 8, which are very good quality and include classrooms, hall (also used for Sunday worship), offices, kitchen and toilets. The nursery children are in temporary buildings erected by the Academy.

In 2011 there are 221 children in the school of whom 61 are being sponsored, 57 by Karibuni Trust and others by KCF and other agencies.  The rest are fee-paying. It is a good private Primary School and the children do well. We sponsor 9 in kindergarten, 29 in Primary School, and 19 in Secondary School.

Karibuni donated money for play equipment and assisted with other expenses, and children in UK raised money for a climbing frame, slide, footballs, skipping ropes, books, etc.

Anne Wambilianga has been appointed as the new Head Teacher and there is a good staff of qualified teachers, a part-time social worker, three cooks/cleaners, a caretaker and watchman.  The Nursery children have porridge in the morning, and all the children have a cooked lunch.  There is a holiday programme where the children are fed Monday – Friday.

The children at Secondary School are monitored during school holidays at the holiday programme.

The social worker has started an education programme for the carers and they have a small income generating scheme supported by Karibuni Trust. This year they are exploring the feasibility of producing home-made tomato sauce and yoghurt!