BIG NEWS! The Mbaikini Girls team WON the senior division in the World Robotics Olympiad in Nairobi! They also won the Judges BEST TEAM Award! This is HUGE. Our team, Makalu, came in 4th in the junior division. We are so proud of the 12 students who competed! The digital divide is deep in Kenya, and rural students lack so much, including digital devices and instruction. However, our talented and terrific tech team led by Patrick Munguti has been opening the world of computing, coding and ROBOTICS! We are deeply grateful to a 8 year old, Archer, who raised money in the US so we could send all 12 to the competition. We are also deeply grateful to Team4Tech and the Raspberry Pi Foundation for helping us break boundaries. FII Institute provided a computer lab at the Mbaikini School which meant the girls had access to computers and robotics kits. Revivn continues to help us get devices into the hands of kids. Congratulations to Angela, Winnie and Magdaline! Upon winning, Angela shared, "My heart was filled with joy that I had never experienced before." James Musyoka Nyagaki Gichia Wariara Waireri GlobalGiving
Kenya Connect
Education Administration Programs
Wamunyu, Machakos 848 followers
Empowering and engaging students and teachers in rural Kenya with 21st century skills.
About us
We have big dreams and we’re working to make them come true! Our vision is an empowered rural community that harnesses the benefits of education to drive sustainable development. With the mission of engaging and empowering students and teachers in rural Kenya to succeed in the 21st century, we believe we can achieve our vision. Our goal is to break down barriers to education while providing enrichment and empowerment programs to 18,000 students and 500 teachers at our 62 partner schools in the Mwala Subcounty of Machakos. Our solar-powered Learning Resource Center is the hub of learning with a computer lab and 10,000 book collection. We work with teachers to implement the Kenyan competency-based curriculum including incorporating digital and hands-on learning. Students are learning basic computer skills as well as upper level STEM content including coding, robotics, and video creation. We're becoming "The Village That Reads" through our comprehensive literacy initiative including having our "Magic School Bus" and "Reading Rover" bringing books to distant schools for Library Days. It's the first time most of our students and teachers have books to read outside the classroom. Fun Book Enrichment Days, The Reading Challenge, and our partnership with LitWorld for LitClubs and LitMoms are further engaging students, parents and teachers. Launched during the pandemic, the weekly Radio Read Aloud on Mbaitu FM is bringing books and lessons to students in our rural community who are being left behind. Co-Founded by Executive Director, Kenya, James Musyoka, Kenya Connect's work is driven by local needs and in partnership with the community. We believe that it is essential to work with students, parents and teachers to effect change and to empower the next generation of Kenya.
- Website
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https://www.kenyaconnect.org
External link for Kenya Connect
- Industry
- Education Administration Programs
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Wamunyu, Machakos
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2002
- Specialties
- Digital Learning, Reading, Teacher Professional Development, Local Leadership, Women's Empowerment, Reusable Sanitary Pads, Composting Toilets, Covid-19 Prevention Education, Mentorship, Clean Water, and Solar Lights
Locations
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Primary
Wamunyu, Machakos 90103, KE
Employees at Kenya Connect
Updates
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Talking about puberty doesn't have to always be serious. Our Girl/Boy Empowerment program is meeting students where they are at and making difficult topics fun and safe. Listen to our latest podcast in the Voices from Our Village series on the Girl/Boy Empowerment Program: https://lnkd.in/e-cgsMgA Mothers' Day Movement Circle of Sisterhood Foundation, Inc. Faith Doucette David Mutembei Jacqueline Muthoka
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News Flash: Each Wednesday, we'll be featuring a staff story from our team of RockStars. First up: Librarian esther muinde Everyone has a story and storytelling helps to foster the love for reading. I had a wonderful Saturday Storytime moment while doing a read aloud of the book "The Surprise Garden" by Zoe Hall. All faces were beaming with laughter after I introduced my story box. Guess what was inside? A farm girl and some fresh vegetables to help tell the story. It was so heartening to see their reaction. I also enjoy doing stories with parents with my story box. They all become actively involved in reading and acting out the story. I have witnessed the work of Kenya Connect and how it has built confidence in parents to better engage and support their children’s literacy development and encouraging them to read books. Each day I am highly motivated to come to work to touch, encourage and empower lives through my actions, words and books; not forgetting the importance of making people laugh and feel good about themselves. Some of the parents that I work with are Illiterate and seeing the struggles they undergo and the opportunities that they missed in life breaks my heart. Sometimes they even request to be taught how to read and write. The work of Kenya Connect has taught me to appreciate the power of books and reading as a key foundational skill in one's life. LitWorld World Literacy Summit GlobalGiving
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Nancy, a teacher from Kyawango Primary School, expressed, "Code clubs have been transformative for our students, sparking a newfound interest in technology." Maxwell, a grade six student at the same school, noted, "I have gained coding skills during code club sessions that will help me in the future. I want to be a computer engineer." Thank you Raspberry Pi Foundation and Team4Tech for partnering with us to implement coding clubs at 43 partner schools! It is an important step to bridging the digital divide. #Coding #technology #digitaldivide #makingadifference
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We're sparking conversations with our Girl/Boy Empowerment Advocacy posters/stickers to reduce gender-based violence and teen pregnancy. As our team was asking Matatu drivers to post the messages on their vehicles, they heard stories of girls being raped by a family member and violated in horrific ways. Raising awareness and creating conversations is the first step in ending the violence. We are grateful to the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation, Inc. and the Mothers' Day Movement for supporting this important and desperately needed work. Faith Doucette
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Volunteers enrich our work and we enrich volunteers' lives. Hofstra University Nursing Student Victoria Bowman shared in a recent article, "“My participation with Kenya Connect was a life-changing and eye-opening experience. Traveling is known to inspire and challenge, in a way like nursing. They both encourage embracing new adventures and engaging with new people. All of the experiences and lessons I learned on my trip I will take with me through the rest of my clinicals and most importantly, through life." Read the entire article here: https://lnkd.in/epqMYHpF
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In Kenya there is a renewed focus on the importance of early childhood education. Tune in to our latest podcast on "Voices from Village!" It's an exciting discussion about our work with pre-primary teachers in partnership with Wolf Trap Education Center! Hear from Teacher Eunice and Teaching artists Christina Farrell and Luisa Aviles about their work to engage young learners. https://lnkd.in/g_bSC6B2 #artsintegration #music #dance #earlychildhoodeducation Rebecca Akinyi Migwambo James Musyoka
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Kenya Connect has been partnering with Southeastern Kenya University and Rotary International on a Secondary School Teacher Professional Development program that introduced the QFT (Question Formulation Technique). The SEKU faculty recently published their findings. https://lnkd.in/ezXhQ8ra James Musyoka Rebecca Akinyi Migwambo
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The power of messaging. Following the Girl/Boy Empowerment Parent Mobilization Meeting last week, our advocacy messages have been posted at partner schools and public buildings. All parents received each of the posters to share in their community. We're working to keep children safe by providing accurate information, confidence building and communication skills. Mothers' Day Movement Circle of Sisterhood Foundation, Inc. GlobalGiving HundrEDorg Faith Doucette Harvey Wilson
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Inspired, engaged, excited and grateful! Thank you Wolf Trap Teaching Artists Christina and Luisa for an amazing two week residency with our Pre-primary teachers. You brought the world of music and movement to promote literacy and numeracy for our youngest learners. From Teacher Workshops, Parent meetings, and a Stakeholder session, you brought the joy of learning to everyone, especially our preprimary students! A deep thanks to the Gupta Family Foundation for supporting this program! #artsintegration #teachingartists #learningisfun GlobalGiving
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