The overcrowding of classrooms in Magunga Secondary School is extraordinary and the more Footsteps works with the school, the more the enrolment increases and so the more strain is put on the teaching infrastructure. In this context classrooms are taking twice the numbers of students they were designed for while other classes have to be taught under trees and in the dining area because there’s just not enough room.
We are always delighted when the local area MP Aduma Owuor comes to help us celebrate the opening of the infrastructure we build in his constituency. This time at the new Footsteps Vocational Training Centre in Katito, probably now the best such facility in the area.
He was also with us and used his strength to break the ground where we will build the new boys dormitory at Magunga Secondary School.
Rafiki 2015 took place in the last week of July and our programme this year saw us return to two schools we haven’t visited for a while: Rae Mixed Primary and Wenwa Primary.
We had a full programme of activities during the week which as usual included sports, painting classrooms, gardening, arts, crafts, kids’ games and many more. The final Friday and we laid on a fantastic sports day at Magunga Primary.
July 2015
Not every child at school goes on to be doctor or a pilot, but everyone can earn a living and make a contribution to their community if they have the skills. Recognising this, Footsteps’ strategy has led us to partner with the local technical training college in Katito, previously known as the Katito Village Polytechnic. Investment of £28k raised over the last year allowed Footsteps to build a block of three classrooms and renovate three more, all 6 of which will allow the facility to provide a good environment for teaching skills such as: building technology, motor mechanics, dressmaking, electrical engineering, hair dressing and beauty therapy, food processing and computer technology.
This year, 19 volunteers and 3 trustees headed to Kisumu in Kenya where we were based for 9 days of activities in three schools. This year we revisited Wenwa Primary and Rae Mixed Primary for four days of sport, solar cooking, tie-dye t-shirts, gardening, games, art, craft, classroom painting, singing, dancing and much more.
July 2015
We like to give our Rafiki volunteers some unique memories and things to think about when they return to their daily lives. Partly we do this by showing them how the money raised by Footsteps that is targeted towards infrastructure development makes an immediate difference to the lives of people in the communities where we work.
On Friday the 5th of June we raised nearly £12,000 in a fantastic country-themed pub quiz, thanks to which we can receive a further £10,000 in matched funding from the Laing Family Trust. The best table prize went to the Turkeys and the quiz was won by the Scots. Many thanks to everyone who came and gave money. Also many thanks to the Quiz Master and question setters (Andrea, Robert, Michael and Pip) who worked in difficult conditions in an increasingly exuberant crowd!
"On 25th July Theo Barker, James Sandom & James Woodcock (3 friends from St Edward's School, Oxford) will fly to Kisumu County in West Kenya.
It sounds like a geography-geek's dream come true!! Footsteps' latest fundraiser is a pubquiz. The theme is countries, but this refers to the fancy dress.
Get a table together, choose a country to represent - there are prizes for the best costumes - bring your own picnic - buy your wine and beer at the event!
Harrodian 6th formers raised £4500 for Footsteps from a dinner and auction in January. The money will go towards the building of a new Boys Dormitory at Magunga Senior School
