Feb. 2009
Six Years Ago....
It was exactly six years ago this month (February) that a handful of sponsors joined together to sponsor the first 12 students at Galilee Primary School, in the slums of Kayole-Soweto in Nairobi. There were approximately 165 students attending the school at that time, grades K-7, as I recall. Teaching the children some basic literacy and math skills was the goal. Back then, there were only a couple of rudimentary stone buildings for the classrooms. Children sat shoulder-to-shoulder, but they came, thirsty for an education.
A high school education, in our Galilee children's eyes, was but a dream. That is why it is especially moving to read letters from our first graduating class, aka our Form 4's, saying they never imagined that they would really be able to finish high school. They mean it from the bottom of their hearts. Parents, students, teachers, even Fanuel (the School Director) himself, probably pinch themselves from time to time to assure themselves this is real. A lot of love and thoughtful planning went in to bringing the school to the point where it is, six years later. Erecting classrooms for both primary and secondary schools; building a library and science lab; purchasing textbooks, desks, other classroom materials; providing uniforms and lunches; building children's homes for the homeless children; bringing fresh water and electricity to the campus.... These things were all made possible thanks to our sponsors and donors. We have more work to do, more children to reach.
Now with hundreds of children and youth in grades preschool through 12th grade, there are more eager faces, hoping for a sponsor to reach out and send them letters of encouragement. Six years ago those of us sponsoring those first 12 children knew we couldn't take on the whole school, but we could make a difference in one child's life. Are you ready to make a difference in a child's life? Email sponsorships@galileeschool.org to learn about children in need of a caring sponsor in their lives.
Brenda