A brighter lit future.

My name is Andreann Wambui Ndebu; a twenty year old girl who resides from Kenya.Growing up I never thought that one day I'll be making such an application,I never thought I would be so interested campaigning for the right to a good education for other children.I have never been an 'A' student, (since most times such actions are taken up by the brightest),I was fortunate enough to attend a good school and acquire a good education though I hated school. My mentality changed in my senior years of high school that was around the first my transcript recorded an "A" though I never performed as expected in my finals,I still love my books and I love teaching.My gap year after high school I volunteered as a teaching assistant in a public primary school.This saw me work closely with intellectually challenged children and fight for their rights to a quality education.

The project focus is on Goal number 4 of Sustainable Development which focuses in promoting Quality education . The project mostly aims at offering quality education to the intellectually challenged children who come from humble backgrounds. A special need class is built in a public primary school, and the children are taught by special needs teacher. Apart from following the normal coursework outlined by the ministry of education the children are also taught technical skills for example sewing. This technical skills will easily make this children adapt to a vocational training school; in the  case where a child drops out of school below the age of eighteen, as is the norm. Most of this children come from under privileged families, educating this children may not only brighten up their path for them but also they may end up improving the state of their families.

According to the research by World Health Organization (WHO),about 15% of the world’s population lives with a form of disability. Approximately 1-3 percent  of this people in the global population has an intellectual disability, as many as 200 million people. Intellectual disability is significantly more common in low-income countries. 16.41, in every 1,000 people.

The few number of times when we get to hear and read about special needs, what comes to our mind is that what is being referred to is disability. A person with special needs does not always refer to the physically handicapped. 

The specific problem I plan to solve is assisting intellectually challenged  children get access to  quality education.Despite many cases of such  children,Much is not known about their lives .People just know the basics of these type of children and therefore little has been done for this children to be easily   incorporated into the normal education system .

Based on  observations made from a piloting class of special needs, an increase in number of two to three students is noted each year . I  believe that children who come from humble backgrounds with intellectual disabilities may benefit from such a class. Since this children can now go to school and not be a "disturbance" as some people may refer to it, and can learn at their own pace.

According to my research as stated earlier most of the intellectual children drop out of school at the age of thirteen which is the initial stage of their education based on the fact that they are slow learners. This child may find it difficult to adapt to the hard life having in mind they have no certificates which may give them a starting point. The idea of building a class means giving these children opportunities which will equip them with hands-on-skills as well as syllabus coverage. This will be of benefit to the child even if they drop out of school at early age they can easily fit in any vocational training center.

My project aims to improve the lives of intellectually challenged children; currently I am working with a small number of students in Kiambu county in Kenya. I am currently a Social work and community development student, who hopes to study psychology as my undergraduate, this field of study will be helpful in helping the children as I seek to develop the project to a long term basis.

Since working with the children one on one might be a little challenging; I work hand in hand with their teacher, who clearly understands theirs needs. So as to see them get a quality education.

Twenty first century brought about advocating for the rights of the disabled, but people focused on the physically disabled, forgetting that disability comes in many forms. The project seeks to elevate the intellectually challenged children who were traditionally left behind when people were advocating the right to educate the disabled. 

I was a teaching assistant at a local primary school in Kenya, there was a special needs but with no permanent classroom structure. I got to talk to the special needs teacher who worked with class and she told me the dropout rate of her children, successes and challenges she faces. The idea came about after brainstorming with the special needs teacher, after the realization that very few people advocate for the rights of the intellectually disabled children.

I imagine of a country where each child has access to quality education. Without being condemned with their various forms of disabilities or their family background. I dream where a country has an all inclusive education system. Every child deserves the right to dream big and a chance to fight for those dreams. My passion is driven by my vision.

My time as a teaching assistant gave me an opportunity to interact with this children. I was not only able to hear the challenges that this children experience but also to see some of these challenges myself. Naturally I am good with children and I still practice my teaching skills at different levels. My aggressive nature has enabled me to at least get the project moving rather than it being a proposal drafted on my laptop. Nearness from where the project is suited from where I stay will enable me to keep tabs with success or failure of the project.

The greatest challenge I have encountered so far was acquiring sponsorship for the project. I approached different organizations which I thought would easily adopt the project, but things weren't as easy as I imagined them to be. It was through determination and prayer that my project was accepted by rotaract, and it became a signature project for Nairobi county.

Leadership at times isn't always about who occupies the highest but  the person who spearheads change. A bold and smart person  who isn't weighed down by challenges but a person who rises above them. I am a leader because I advocate for change I want to see. I believe change starts with me. As much as there were several Pace fellows posted to the same school as I was as a teaching assistant, I was able to identify a social problem and look for an organization to sponsor it, it wasn't ass easy as I expected it would be.

After a piloting class was adapted in one of the local public primary school in Kenya, I wrote a proposal to rotaract organization to fund for the project where a permanent classroom is constructed in a specific public primary school, where the piloting was situated. The proposal was accepted as a signature project for rotaractors in Nairobi County. Though the project is in its early stages its commencement is expected to begin early next year.

Innovation is making an existing idea; Formal education in Kenya has been in existence since the colonial period, since that was when we first saw a building called a classroom. What makes my idea an innovation is that I am trying to make formal education available to all. Where public primary school open their doors to this vulnerable children in the society; It doesn't mean a good education for the intellectually disabled children can only be acquired through a private school system.

What makes my work unique is that there several Non-Governmental organizations that haven't thought of tackling the problem of offering a quality education to this group of children. I think my project is unique since it fights for their rights; Aright to have quality education.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 

“The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation.”As said by Nelson Mandela “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination . I share in Mandela's beliefs what a good education can do. It may not only be of benefit to a child's future but a community. When we brighten a child's future this child may elevate their state at home, because this child will no longer be considered to be a burden to the family, but somehow embrace self independence.Imagine if the well being of each family where a child comes from is improved, imagine the impact it can have to a society? Education changes a person's perception on different things. When we educate this children; its expected that a few years down the line most of the children  and their families will be at the forefront campaigning for the right to a quality education of their own kind. Most families will have seen the need of a quality education, and they  will have first witness accounts of its great benefits.

CLASSROOM FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN + 

ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION (TECHNICAL SKILLS + SYLLABUS COVERAGE)

= IMPROVED LIVELY-HOOD LEADING TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE

There's currently a number of thirteen students, in the classroom but since the piloting class started, we have seen an increment of two to three students. The inhibiting factor to the growth of the classroom is their is an equal rate of dropouts as their is to the number of students joining each. Through sensitization I expect people to understand the importance of educating such children therefore leading to an increase in the students turnout and also a decrease in the number of dropouts. I expect an increase in number to around 10-15 students in the year; after a proper classroom has been constructed. In about five years I expect to be serving at least eight intellectually challenged children; greater numbers can be achieved with proper sensitization.

I wish to see increase in the number of students in special needs class, within the next on year. This will be brought about by sensitization on the importance of educating these children. That is not only my next year goal but my longtime goal. Kenya offers free primary education, in public schools, so there's no reason as to why this children should stay at home; just because they are viewed as a community outcast. I aim to improve the quality of education this special children receive when they attend public primary schools. I not only hope to help the children in the area that I serve but also spread this project in the various parts of Nairobi county and I also hope to support from both governmental and non-governmental organizations so as to focus on brightening the light of these children. I hope to get grants and work hand in hand with board of directors of different schools that will see to the employment of qualified special needs teacher that will ensure this children get a quality education.That is my goal in the next five years.

I want to make this a long term project. Perhaps start a non-governmental organization that fights for the right to educate the intellectually challenged children. An organization that seeks to develop a public learning institute for such children; but before I take such big steps; my project is still at the fundraising stage, I'm full of uncertainties (but still hopeful) of how much money will be raised (considering the fact that we are facing hard times of a pandemic and a lot of people have lost their jobs)whether it will be enough to construct a classroom; and buy sewing machinery, teaching aids and all other requirements that is required so as to provide quality education.

After a successful growth of the special needs class, I hope I will get government support and at least have several needs classes in various public primary schools, and perhaps also spread the project to high-schools. Also try and develop the 8-4-4 curriculum so that it can incorporate this intellectually challenged children, so that they assist with funding to assist this children get quality education.  Getting government support to support the idea might be hard which might be a limitation in to achieving my goals in the next five years; but not impossible.

Barriers aren't there to put you down, at times they are used as a motivating factor. I still intend to construct the classroom with the help of rotaractors. With the help of my team, were looking at developing new fundraising strategies that will not make people feel strained during this tough times of covid-19. 

My partnership with rotary is on a short term basis; that is until the classroom has been constructed. In order for me to be able t achieve my five year goals that means, having to start a Non-Governmental Organization hat fights for the right of such children. For funding I will have to approach organizations, which we share a similar vision; like the United Nation, for grants.   

The closest and the best person who can act as a government representative and can help me acquire the required government support is the Cabinet Secretary for Education. With the government representatives help; the idea might be easily embrace and incorporated into the 8-4-4 curriculum.

I am currently working with rotary. Our work is on a short term basis, on  constructing and equipping the first permanent (special needs) classroom in one of the local public primary schools. As mentioned earlier, the money will be gotten from the various forms of fundraising; organized by the rotaractors in charge. 

I am very optimistic for the future, that I will get partner with other organizations.

I am currently working with rotary and the way we are bringing money into the project is through fundraising in order to be able to construct the first permanent classroom. When I make the project a long-term thing, I intend to organize an yearly fundraising strategy, which I wont mention due to discretion purposes. 

I plan to also apply for grants and seek donations from companies with similar visions, goals and core-values. This money will be able to meet the financial needs.Example; paying for the special needs teachers, buying the right materials that will be required for learning, and also the money will be used to sustain my organization which will be fighting for the rights of this children. 

ITEM                                            ELEMENT             US 

AMOUNT                                       (KSHS)                DOLLARS

1 MAIN COMPLEX                           4,425,152              41,558.53
2 EXTERNAL WORKS                       325,000                3,050.78 
3 SERVICES INSTALLATIONS             676,000                6,344.44               
Total for Unit                                5,426,152             50,936.44      

ITEM                                                ELEMENT               US 
AMOUNT                                           (KSHS)                  DOLLARS
1 MAIN COMPLEX                               4,425,152             41,558.53             
2 EXTERNAL WORKS                          325,000                3,050.78 
3 SERVICES INSTALLATIONS                676,000                6,344.44 
Total for Unit                                   5,426,152             50,936.44 

Most children aged who are intellectually challenged in Keny6a don't get access to a good education. In order to access a good education most parents opt to take their children to private schools. Children who can;t affprd private education, don't get an opportunity to quality education based on their problems individually. My project will not act as a way to sensitize the need of quality education to all children but also, provide the opportunity to get access to the kind of education they deserve. Constructing a special needs class in one of the local public primary schools will help solve this challenge.

Being just a normal twenty year old Kenyan school going girl, I need people with different types of expertise, to grow this project. Basically I just have a three months training as a teaching assistant, which was acquired about an year ago, during my gap year after high school.  I need legal representatives that will help and advisor me accordingly in the case where I get to work with the government. In order for me to be able to grow this project and be able to fight for the right to a quality education to this children, I need financial assistance that will assist in acquiring the right teaching materials, get special needs teachers, just to name but a few cost as I focus to spreading this project to other parts of the county then finally to other parts of the country. 

I would like to partner with Non-governmental organization(NGO's) whose vision is related to the sustainable development goal number four. The United Nation, is also an area of interest in terms of partnerships, this is because they not only aid in the sustaining of projects but also offer mentor-ship opportunities so as to see to the prosperity of the project.  I would like to partner with organizations who are ready to work with me on a long term basis and accomplish the goals of my project. I would like to partner with organization whose core-values, vision and mission are similar to mine. Partner with an organization that would help me make my dreams for this children come true.