Virtual Information Project: VIP 2014 – VERY IMPORTANT PROGRESS!!

The teachers, administrators, and students at the Kilimani School greeted us in Nairobi with warm, welcoming arms. The new headmaster (Mr. Wasike) was filled with enthusiasm for the VIP partnership and even though experienced a personal death in the family, made a point to receive us and meet with us before traveling up country for the funeral. We were so incredibly encouraged to learn of some amazing developments since the inception of the VIP partnership. We had heard “rumors”, but as the saying goes, “Seeing IS believing!” After we left in 2011, members of the British Council and Microsoft, came and visited the Kilimani School. The representatives saw that Fund for Teachers funding over the course of two consecutive years had helped establish a small computer lab with wifi access where students were learning to utilize technology and communicate with their Boston penpals. Intrigued by this existing infrastructure, the British Council and Microsoft decided to make the Kilimani School one of their pilot sites in Kenya. They donated 25 desktop computers, a large flat screen TV for projection, and a full time computer teacher who sees each classroom in the school once per week. Kilimani’s Deputy Karanja stated, “A seed has blossomed into a tree!” Staff at the school could not emphasize to us enough that without FFT funding and the VIP partnership, Kilimani would have been overlooked as a site for this program.

As if this was not exciting enough, during our time at Kilimani, we had the pleasure of exploring the new and official Nelson Mandela Library at Kilimani, donated by South African donors. These donors renovated the small lending library that the 2011 FFT fellowship and the Henderson School parent community started. They increased the inventory of books, renovated the building, and added a student seating area. Librarian and computer teacher Sara Moraa is currently working with student librarians to create a digital inventory of all the books. She also downloads books digitally that specific students express interest in and makes popular titles available to students.

The library and computer lab have become an integral and bustling part of the school community. It was so gratifying to see the covers of books that we donated in 2011, such as Charlotte’s Web, falling off from frequent student use. While we were there, the place was abuzz as students were lining up to return and check out books with student “librarians” managing the scene. We want FFT and our Henderson community to realize and be encouraged that the 250 lbs. of books we donated in 2011 are still in circulation and well read. It has also been brought to our attention that because of the lending library started in 2011, the South African donors expanded what was already in existence. Once again, a seed planted becomes a blossoming tree!

Over the next couple of days, we met with and planned over many hours with our new team of VIP partners at Kilimani: Sara (computer teacher and librarian), Kevin (computer support technician), Nancy (primary school liaison), Mary (Deaf/Blind unit liaison), and Clara (Visually Impaired Student liaison). We hashed out a plan for moving forward with VIP to most importantly include students of all abilities to participate in the partnership.

More details to come! More seeds that need to be planted! Wait to hear how you can be involved in this exciting work!