Kenya Connect Empowered Learning!

Students in rural Kenyan public schools are being left behind.  Rote teaching, the lack of digital learning, limited resources, and pandemic school shutdowns have deepened the education divide.  At the heart of KC's Empowered School Program is engaging teachers as a Professional Learning Community to improve teaching methodology to create dynamic and interactive classrooms.  Meeting weekly, teachers are learning together using the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET) Teach 2030 program via their smartphones.  This program nurtures students' curiosity and creativity and encourages teachers to view all students as capable of learning.  Adding digital resources including a laptop, projector, and a content rich device allows teachers to utilize simulations, videos, and on-line resources to further engage students.  This coupled with KC's School Library Days, STEM Computer Classes, and LitMoms and LitClubs are propelling students to excel in school and become engaged learners. 

The Empowered School Program is revitalizing teaching in rural Wamunyu.  In the recently released KCPE scores, students at KC's four Empowered Schools had a mean score of 303  vs. a mean score of 268 for other partner schools.  Quite simply, improved teacher professional learning, access to library books, interactive LevelUp Village STEM classes, LitClubs, and an engaged community of teachers, students and parents is making the difference.  Each school has a professional learning community (PLC) with teachers learning new techniques via Zoom workshops and through the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET) Teach 2030 program.  Working as colleagues, teachers are fostering hands-on learning with students working in collaborative groups to discuss and solve problems.  Providing access to books for check out and LitClubs encourage students to learn through the power of stories.  Moms engaged in the LitMom program are learning ways to support their learners while becoming learners themselves.  Adding technology where students have access to chrome books or tablets and aiding them in becoming digital learners are allowing them to be part of the technology boom in Kenya.  Giving teachers, parents and students HOPE through the well-designed, comprehensive and interactive Empowered School Program is transforming education in a rural community.

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family” Kofi Anan.  Walking 2-5km to school each day, students in rural Kenya are bright and eager to learn, but their schools lack even the most basic resources and their teachers are challenged with big classes and meager educational materials. Their parents are wood carvers, subsistence farmers, market mamas and day laborers. Without electricity or internet at home, students eagerly go to school in the hope of learning; however their school classrooms are a far cry than their peers at private academies or in more urban areas.  

Locally-led Kenya Connect works with 62 partner public schools, 18,000 students and 500 parents to strengthen education for these learners, most who are living in extreme poverty.  We listen to the Head Teachers, teachers and parents when they share concerns and challenges.  When Head Teachers told us girls were missing schools during their menses, we created Wings Poa, a Reusable Sanitary Pad and menstrual health program. As they have expressed concerns that their students who were struggling with English and writing, we expanded our library program and are bringing books to distant schools twice a month for check out.  When the Kenyan government included digital literacy as part of the curriculum, teachers came to us and said, "We need help. Can you teach our students basic computer skills in your labs and can you teach us?"  We have also heard the cry from the teachers that they need guidance on how to teach more effectively along with a request for even the most basic school supplies so they can better teach science, math, and other subjects. 

Parents are also a key component of our programs.  When we launched the Empowered School pilot program we invited the parent management committee to be part of the discussions.  We asked for their support and guidance in launching the program.  The LitMoms Empowerment Program nurtures mothers and grandmothers to be learners too.  They learn about the importance of reading, participate in Read Aloud stories and work as a group to develop ways to foster their children's love of learning.  At the same time, they are developing ways to earn an income and save money.

The key to our success is that our dedicated and passionate team have deep relationships in the community.  Most grew up in rural communities in conditions similar to our students.  We know the challenges and we have seen education as a means to good health, prosperity, and an enriched life. We know how to listen to concerns and to discern what is needed. When we determine a true need, we research and carefully craft solutions.  Some are programs that we have developed while others are with trusted partners including LevelUp Village, the Commonwealth Education Trust, and LitWorld. 

The Kenya Connect team are rockstars.  They are passionate, persistent, and pragmatic and work tirelessly to lift families out of extreme poverty through the power of education.  Five of our staff were students at our partner schools and majored in community development in University because of the impact Kenya Connect had on them as children.  These young staff members know FIRST HAND the challenges of being a student at under-resourced schools and are committed to providing better opportunities for students at the schools.  

Kenya Connect also works very effectively with partners including the Commonwealth Education Trust, LevelUp Village, Team4Tech, and LitWorld.  These partners tell us we are one of the favorite partners because of our follow-through, creative solutions, and commitment to education. We also work with 62 public schools (50 primary and 12 secondary) which means we have the ability to scale up our innovations to make a difference.

Kenya Connect meets yearly with principals of our partner school.  In February 2022, 60 of 62 principals attended our meeting.  It was an opportunity to hear from them how our programs are making an impact and seeking their ideas for improvement.  95% of the principals reported that our Library and Literacy programs were making a profound difference with our STEM and digital programs, teacher professional development and Empowered School model also making an impact.  These kinds of sessions along with regular teacher meetings helps us hone our programs to meet the needs of students, teachers, and parents.  

We also know that our parents are instrumental in nurturing their children's education and we incorporate their ideas, feedback, and buy-in when we launch new programs.  Parents, teachers and principals are comfortable providing feedback since our team is local, dedicated, and trustworthy.

In 2019, Kenya Connect launched it's first Empowered School at Sofia Primary School. After months of meeting with the Head Teachers, teachers, and parents.  They were engaged and excited to be the pilot school, and pledged to participate in professional learning, the library program and other enrichment opportunities.  They also agreed to provide feedback and to allow KC staff to observe their teaching and to monitor student scores.  The pilot was so successful, that we added three schools in 2020 and another two in 2021.  We are aiming to expand the program to additional schools in our community, especially through engaging teachers in the CET Teach2030 program, School Library Days, Digital Literacy Classes and other enrichment programs. We were especially heartened to see the improved KCPE scores.  The 18,000 students in our cluster of schools should not be left behind.  Locally supported, well-run and comprehensive strategies can make a difference in learning.

We value partnerships and learn from organizations working to strengthen teacher professional development, student enrichment programs, digital access, and ways to work with parents. Our Empowered Schools are engaging rural public schools with an enriched education.  We are seeing students reading, using computers and becoming confident learners. Instead of building a "model" school, we are strengthening education from the ground up.

We welcome the opportunity to share our model with others while learning from MIT Solvers solutions.

Many solutions to strengthen education in Kenya come from external groups. Researchers, educators and philanthropists from outside the country develop solutions that they believe will make a difference.  Some do, but often lack true buy-in and fade away after several years.  Our solution is innovative since it comes from the community.  Our team on the ground has worked with schools for almost twenty years and has developed a comprehensive strategy to strengthen education through better training of teachers, providing digital resources and library books for students, and incorporating parents as part of the solution.  Building relationships and trust with school communities is at the cornerstone of our work.

Relationships also extend to key partnerships with educators in other parts of the world.  Partnering with LevelUp Village to provide dynamic STEM classes, working with the Commonwealth Education Trust to provide "bite-sized" professional learning classes designed for African teachers and celebrating literacy by partnering with LitWorld to provide LitClubs and LitMoms allow us to incorporate well-developed classes and curriculum into our programs by members of our team.  Other initiatives like School Library Days, The Reading Challenge, Radio Read Aloud, and computer training were developed and led by our staff.

The Empowered School model works because all stakeholders (parents, teachers, students, and village leaders) are part of the solution.  Combining multiple Kenya Connect programs together and supporting teachers with training and resources is making a difference for rural students.  We are already seeing students at the Empowered Schools receiving higher marks.  

Our overarching impact goal is to add four more empowered schools in the next year (and continuing adding more each subsequent year).  Specifically this allows us:

• To create a Professional Learning Community (PLC) at each school for teacher professional development.  This will include using the on-line Teach 2030 with the Commonwealth Education Trust to help teacher promote student-centered learning
• To add LitClubs and other student enrichment programs at the schools as a means to build student confidence, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking
• To promote reading through the School Library Days program with our Magic School Bus bringing books every other week
• To train teachers on computer skills and coding and then providing them with chromebooks to borrow to teach their students
• To help with student achievement so students can further their education at secondary school
• To have parents as partners in education.

As mentioned earlier, Kenya Connect monitors and evaluates our progress.

We are currently measuring:

• KCPE Scores and KCSE scores.  We look at the schools who receive various programs and those that don't as well as Kenya Connect partner schools as compared to schools in the subcounty and county
• We also review scores based on schools that are part of our library program and those who do not
• We observe teachers in the classroom who are participating in the PLC program to see how they are incorporating what they have learned into the classroom
• We regularly administer questionnaires to teachers to garner their feedback on a professional learning session 
• Partners like LUV, LitWorld and CET provide their research with us and help us with program implementation and in gathering data to measure success
• We also monitor attendance of girls at schools in which Wings Poa have been distributed
• We garner feedback from teachers about students who participate in LitClubs and LUV programs

Since our team is on the ground and have close relationship with the schools and community, teachers feel safe to provide honest feedback instead of "what they think we want to hear."

Kenya Connect believes that change happens by building trust and connecting with the local community.  As we have rolled out programs and initiatives over the last 20 years, we have done so in consultation with teachers, parents and local leaders based on the needs of the community.  We believe that the program needs to be well-designed, built on best practices, and created in a way that generates trust between students and leaders.  We also know that in order for a student program to be truly successful, that we MUST involve the parents and teachers.   We know that education is one of the most important ways to lift the next generation out of extreme poverty, but it’s not enough to increase attendance.  Our team has developed a comprehensive approach of breaking down barriers to education for students while providing well-designed enrichment programs for students, teachers and parents.  We make the impossible, possible.  We have pushed boundaries, built coalitions, excited teachers, and engaged the youngest learners.  Our staff has grown from just me in 2002 to a talented team of 15. To truly effect change, it “takes a village,” and Kenya Connect does just that.

Using technology in rural Kenyan public schools is relatively new.  The Kenyan government provided tablets 5 years ago, but did not provide the necessary training and teachers were afraid to use them.  Kenya Connect has worked with the teachers to train them on use, but many of the tablets have broken and have been not been incorporated into the classrooms.  

However, Kenya Connect's computer lab has provided hands-on digital literacy classes for students as well as our traveling chromebooks used for LevelUp Village classes and other programs.  For most students, it's the first time they have used a computer and are excited to use one.  They learn quickly and eager to learn more.  Upper level classes with LevelUp Village and through CoderDojo have engaged students in new ways.  At the same time we are training teachers so they can become the teachers of technology.

Even more important, is the use of technology with teachers.  Helping teachers with improved methodology is essential in shifting the paradigm of teaching from rote pedagogy to one that is engaging and student-centered.  Knowing that internet access and digital devices is limited, having content rich devices and projectors to use in the classroom are allowing teachers to share content, simulations and other learning materials.

Since the Kenyan curriculum is now requiring students to learn how to use a computer and code, our team has been working closely with teachers so they can provide this instruction to their students. If we were not offering these programs, the students and teachers would be left behind.

Kenya Connect's staff is Wamunyu are all Kenyan.  Although they come from different villages and regions, they have all experienced the challenges of being at schools that are under-resourced and overcrowded.  It is important that our staff is Kenyan and that the solutions developed are done in consultations with the community.  As our staff has grown, we have worked to include women on all levels on the team.  All staff members have a voice in developing our programs and we work effectively as a team. When volunteers visit from the U.S., they are impressed and in awe of the team atmosphere at Kenya Connect.

Kenya Connect is an NGO in Kenya and 501 c-3 in the U.S.  We work to provide teachers, students, and parents at 62 partner public schools with programs that break down barriers to education while providing enrichment and empowerment programs.  As an NGO we raise funding through individual donations, events, grants, fees, and self-sustaining programs.  For example, our solar light program was developed as a rent-to-own program.  Since most homesteads do not have lights, we have a solar light program so that students can read and study at home.  Our rent-to-own program allows families to pay $2 per month for 4 months until they own the lamp.  That money is then reinvested back into purchasing more lights.

However, not all of our programs are self-sustaining.  Many are dependent on fundraising and grants.  We are currently working on developing a Moringa Tree product to sell to generate income for our projects.  Our long-term goal is to become self-sustaining for the long-term.

As mentioned earlier, Kenya Connect employs multiple revenue streams to generate income.  We raise funds from individual donors on GlobalGiving, an international giving platform.  Being part of GlobalGiving has raised our stature and brought new donors to Kenya Connect.  We receive grants from corporations, foundations, churches and schools and we hold an annual 5K race to also generate income.  In addition, rent-to-own programs and some fees for services has also provided income for our work.  We continue to grow our budget and our revenue.

Kenya Connect continues to be supported through multiple revenue streams. In 2021 some of the grants we received include:

• $50,000 from F5 for STEM education
• $15,000 from Team4Tech and were selected as a 5 year partner
• $30,000 Gupta Family Foundation general support
• $10,000 Circle of Sisterhood for Teen Pregnancy Reduction Program
• $67,000 in giving on GlobalGiving

These are some of the grants we have received last year.  In 2022 we have been selected as the beneficiary of the Mothers' Day Movement which should raise $100,000.

Donations continue to grow for Kenya Connect as people see the growth and success of our work.