Emily's First Day Teaching
Our first official day teaching at Irigithathi Primary School started off with a warm welcome from Head Teacher Peterson Kihara and several introductory speeches from his colleagues Mrs. Maina and Mrs. Githaiga. Their words opened our eyes to the teachers’ exceptional level of dedication to ensuring their students’ physical and mental wellness and made us aware of the lengths they go to to prepare their students for the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) examination and, more broadly, for continued educational opportunities after primary school. I could hear the conviction and passion behind their words and was once again inspired and heartened by the close-knit, unified, and hardworking nature of the teaching team at Irigithathi.
Mrs. Githaiga and Her Colleagues
Mrs. Maina stated that, by guaranteeing scholars the opportunity to attend four full years of secondary school, the Hansen Foundation for Education has become a part of the community network of educators, parents, and supporters who work to prepare and enable underserved students from Naro Moru to reach their full potentials and future goals. She assured us that the teachers at Irigithathi fully back the Foundation’s efforts to supply deserving students with the life-changing chance to continue studying. During the academic year, the teachers hold meetings to discuss potential candidates and are united in their aim to select the scholars through a fair and unbiased discussion and interview process. Mrs. Maina used the words “unity” and “integrity” to characterize the staff's efforts to distribute scholarships. After hearing the rest of her story, I would also use “compassionate,” “generous,” and “selfless” to describe Irigithathi's teachers.
According to Mrs. Maina, students have two categories of needs—financial and basic. Financial needs include the monetary funds necessary to advance to secondary school and to pursue an education, while basic needs are food, water, and safe space to rest and work. A good number of students at Irigithathi Primary School lack even the most basic resources and do not have daily access to food. Food is vital to a child’s physical growth, mental acuity, and stability; a hungry student will still come to school, but without food, he or she cannot hope to maintain his or her focus, energy, and standard of work.
Students Playing a Spirited Game of Tag During P.E. Class
Rather than turning a blind eye to these serious cases, the teachers all contribute from their own pocket to keep these students fed, clothed, and supported. A significant portion of their personal money is spent on their students. They know how to identify signs that a child is not receiving the most basic of needs and, as a team, bring in shorts, uniforms, meals, and snacks to keep him or her from fainting or having more serious health consequences. Mrs. Maina, just that morning, had supplied a fifth grader with nourishment before class, his hunger already being so severe that he could not keep down water. His older brother attends Irigithathi Secondary School. Mrs. Maina stated that, if the younger brother hadn’t eaten in over a day, the older one had likely gone without food for longer than that to allow his mother and younger siblings to eat first. There were many other examples they gave us, showing the high degree to which the teachers intervene to support and nourish their pupils.
The Hansen Scholars are chosen from among this underserved group of students. Without the support and compassionate efforts of the Irigithathi teachers, these students would likely not make it through primary school nor attain the scores necessary to continue future studies. The teachers form the most significant part of the educational support network; they supplement and provide for students’ basic needs and, by keeping students healthy, nourished, and cared for, help to encourage and motivate them to continue striving to better their personal situation and help their families.
Mrs. Maina also included the Hansen Foundation for Education and its supporters and patrons as part of the community educational network. By providing a select number of students with scholarships and fulfilling their financial needs, the Foundation gives these students a motivation and reward for their hard work and strivings. They gain the invaluable opportunity to work towards a university education and, after that, a profession that will allow them to ensure and create their own success. We are involved at a very vital point: the juncture at which students are reaching maturity and seriously deciding to pursue their future goals and aspirations.
She asked me, on behalf of the Irigithathi community, to pass on her sincere gratitude and appreciation to supporters and patrons of the Hansen Foundation for their support and care. Each contribution makes a real and palpable impact on the educational opportunities of each child that benefits, and the teachers and scholars will never take this for granted.
Irigithathi Teachers at a Ceremony Honoring High Scoring Students in 2012
It is an honor to be included and welcomed into a community of such caring, compassionate, and productive teachers and administrators. A year ago, while forming the framework for the Kenya Scholarship Project, I had never imagined that these scholarships could become such an integral part of the educational process at Irigithathi.