STAR4Africa

STAR4Africa is pleased to confirm that it will be providing financial support to assist the development of the school going forward and was pleased to be able to see how things are currently progressing with over 100 children aged 2 - 6 benefiting from the education and facilities the school now has to offer.  

Currently the school is located in a rundown building that was a community school over twenty years ago and was bought with money sponsored from Germany. It comprises of three large rooms partitioned into classrooms, tiny sleeping/resting room and a small kitchen area.   The school building will be improved greatly thanks to the support from STAR4Africa.  

Kihoto village is a slum village and is home to over 8,000 people who are mainly labourers in the various flower farms that surround Lake Naivasha. Most of these labourers are very poor. It was because of this realization that Baharini Kihoto was established 9 years ago, to help bring affordable basic education to the children of these labourers.  The school offers free education also gives the learning children a decent meal (lunch) which many cannot afford due to the poverty levels in this village.  Children are able to eat a fruit and meat once or twice in a week depending with cash, which is a luxury to the larger poor community in Kenya despite being a vital requirement in the growth of children.   

Education and a well balanced meal cannot be a priority for the majority of the poor population in this village, thus the need of filling this gap by the school.  

In addition Kihoto was greatly affected by the post election violence two years ago. This greatly affected many families in many ways. Many children were orphaned and there are many cases of single families who cannot afford to take their children to school with their meagre income.  

Another factor that has contributed to high levels of illiteracy and poverty in Kihoto is HIV pandemic. Many Children are orphaned by HIV/Aids which has contributed to low literacy levels.  

The school was started by a retired Primary school teacher, Mrs. Phyllis Muthoni Gachie who has been managing through the help of well wishers and a committee derived from the community members.  She started off with six children in her house but as of now the school has expanded and moved to a larger facility with enrolment at 106 children.   

The Kenyan committee is involved in the day to day running of the school, one committee member who is also the founder (Mrs. Gachie), is a trustee and also the headmistress of the school.  

The committee employs a number of teachers and other workers, (depending on the enrolment), which has been on an uphill trend. These employees are from within this community and as such benefit directly.