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The East African Center Newsletter |
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| Small Actions, Big Results | |
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Our Financials are Available Online!
| With an annual operating budget of $120,000, we understand that every dollar must have the best possible impact. Please follow this link to see how the EAC is committed to fiscal transparency. We are proud that for every $1 donated, 75 cents goes directly to programming.
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| Matching Funds | |
A great way to make your contributions go even further is by checking to see if your employer matches charitable donations!
Many companies do! Check with your Accounting or Human Resources department to find out. Typically, you can still request to match funds from donations you made in 2009!
We would be happy to fill out any forms or send any supporting documents that your companies requests.
The East African Center is a 501c3 charitable organization and our EIN # is 91-2161222. If you are a federal employee, you can donate to the EAC through the Combined Federal Campaign. Just indicate our CFC #, 12297, on your enrollment form.
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Dear EAC Community,
Spring has sprung and as it begins to warm up in the US, things are "cooling down" in Kenya. Kenya elected their new president this month with 86% of the population coming out to vote, often waiting in long lines for hours. We are grateful for the relatively peaceful elections this year and the patience demonstrated by all of Kenya.
In Takaungu, we've been very busy. We welcomed a new group of preschool students as we supported our graduating 8th graders in their secondary school placements. VJS welcomed a new Head Teacher, and our Kenyan Director, Kate hosted two board members from the US. With three interns working at VJS and the health clinic, and two more en route from the US, our community is expanding with each visit. It's been a great start to the new year and we can't wait to share some of our updates.
If you have any questions, I am always available via email or phone. ASANTE SANA for your continued interest in the community of Takaungu and the EAC!
Jennifer Hill
EAC Executive Director
jhill@eastafricancenter.org |
| Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Results at VJS | | |
As we watched our first 8th grade class graduate, we also knew they had a lot on their minds. The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) is an exam all class 8 students must take to gain entry into secondary school and our students all worked very hard to prepare. The exam is notoriously difficult and scores often vary year by year. Many of our students did very well and received scholarships to attend secondary schools all over Kenya.
Our two top students, Muttaquina Salim and Rehema Kahindi Ngao started secondary school this January after scoring very well on the KCPE.
Muttaquina Salim
Muttaquina was raised by her grandmother in Takaungu, has always been our top student in this class. Scoring 377 out of 500, Muttaquina was awarded a scholarship through Kesho Organization in Kilifi. She is studying at Asumbi Girls High School in Kisii in Nyanza province.
Rehema Kahindi
Rehema has been raised by her father since her mother died years ago. She has a lot of siblings, all of them top students at VJS. Her father is highly committed to her education, and found a scholarship application through Equity Bank in Kilifi, submitting the application on his own. Rehema scored 374 on her KCPE and won the very prestigious "Wings to Fly" scholarship from Equity Bank.
After attending a celebration in Nairobi (her first time there), she began her secondary education at Lugulu Girls High School in Webuye in Western Kenya.
We are so proud of all our class 8 students and wish them well at their new secondary schools! |
| 2013 Student Sponsorships |
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Board member, Libby Gluck, visited Takaungu in January and led student sponsorship projects with Vutakaka's students. In light of the upcoming elections, students did a variety of projects on peace from "What is Peace" for the younger students to "If I Were President" essays for classes 6-8. The students were very enthusiastic and can't wait to share their work with you!
2013 sponsorship packets are going out as we speak. Please check your mail box this week!
Student sponsors are the major funders for our school and ensure that students who would otherwise not be in a quality school are able to attend Vutakaka and have a brighter, more healthy future.
Student sponsors receive three personal updates from the students they are matched to throughout the year. This is the best way to support our school. Please become a student sponsor today.
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VJS' New Head Teacher:
Jumaa Masha Lewis
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Jumaa Masha Lewis joined VJS as Head Teacher in February of this year. He comes with a wealth of experience and team spirit we know will be a great addition to the VJS faculty.
Jumaa received his Bachelor's degree in Education from Kampala University in Uganda. While at University, he worked as a teacher at Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Center, an orphanage in Mombasa, Kenya. He eventually became Academic Master at the Welfare Center for six years, leading the school to greater heights in academic excellence in his 10 years at the school. He also served as the Chairman of Zayed SACCO for four years.
In addition to his teaching pursuits, Jumaa is the Coast region representative and marketeer of Kampala University and The East African University. He has organized numerous educational seminars and visited secondary schools for career talks in the coast region. Jumaa has also written study manuals in Islamic Religious Education and Kiswahili Insha with High Flayer Publishers.
"I believe that teaching is a noble and exemplary profession and as a teacher one should touch the lives of the innocent young minds. At Vutakaka Junior School, I hope to work with all stakeholders to improve on the academic standards of the learners and the institution. I hope to motivate learners to realize their talents in art, sports, games and co-curricular activities."
We are so excited to have Jumaa join VJS and look forward to all his contributions!
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| CHW Training with Yellow House Children's Organization |
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The EAC recently received a grant from Mombasa-based Yellow House Children's Organization, who works with community-based organizations to provide therapeutic services to children with disabilities.
Partnering with Yellow House, the EAC organized a training for the Community Health Workers as the first step towards providing better health services for children with disabilities. On March 13th, 28 CHW's attended the training led by Physical Therapist, Elizabeth Saida Terry.
The training focused on the Yellow House program of Community-based Rehabilitation. Elizabeth explained the three phases of the program: needs assessment, capacity building, and empowerment of community structures and mainstreaming of disabled children. She trained the CHWs in the needs assessment phase of the program. The CHWs plan to carry out this needs assessment to see what the Takaungu area requires in terms of community services for disabled children.
All participants were excited about this new information, and we are so happy to have kicked off our work with Yellow House!
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Intern Spotlight: Shanie Holman
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We recently welcomed Seattle native, Shanie Holman, to the EAC and Takaungu.
Shanie has been working tirelessly at VJS tutoring our students in Math and Science, even holding an election time tutoring program! Shanie has also been working on updating our XO laptops and helping teachers to further integrate them into their classroom learning.
If you are interested in an internship with the EAC, please contact jhill@eastafricancenter.org.
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| A Small Act - Durham |
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Last year, the EAC hosted a number of fundraisers featuring the documentary, A Small Act. The tradition continued last December as our friends in Durham, NC hosted a screening at The Cookery.
A crowd gathered in support of Vutakaka Students and raised $4,200 for the school in Kenya! It was a wonderful evening.
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The Cookery owners, Roshelle Johnson & Nick Hawthorne-Johnson
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Thank you to all our friends in Durham for a great event and wonderful support!
If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser for the EAC, please contact jhill@eastafricancenter.org.
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Intern and Volunteer Opportunities
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We are always searching interns and volunteers to join our teams in New York, Seattle and Takaungu.
In New York we have opportunities in the areas of grant writing, strategic planning, event planning and more. In Kenya you have the opportunity to work directly with the community we serve While in the village, you will live with a local family, take lessons in Swahali and experience the unique coastal culture. All projects are completed with the support of our Intern Coordinator and our Kenya Program Director.
Please visit our website for more information!
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Thank you for staying connected to the EAC and the people of Takaungu! We would love to hear from you! How did you come to know the EAC? What would like to hear from us or see us do?
Thank you for your interest and support!
Jen Hill
jhill@eastafricancenter.org
347-330-2670
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