The Nkoilale School project

Education is the key to success whether in personal advancement or in the interests of a common good. In a recent evaluation of our area, it was noticed that most Manyatta (Masai villages) had many small children. Following tradition, as the children grow older, they are expected to contribute to the life of the village, which involves collecting firewood, repairing the mud huts, and in the case of the boys, husbandry of livestock. This is part of an age-old tradition, which is central to the Masai and which we fully respect.

In this rapidly developing world, it is becoming imperative that the Masai communities are not left behind and that the children have the opportunityof an appropriate education. As part of our environmental programme, Bushtops supports the Nkoilale School, located four kilometres from the camp, attended by over 450 children, with ages ranging from pre-school to 18. There are in total only four government-paid teachers, assisted by three further teachers, who are sponsored by the parents themselves. Bushtops, under the supervision of the Headmaster, has recently initiated a programme where by senior staff from the camp assist in practical teaching projects reflecting the school’s curriculum.

For example, food production and hygiene forms part of the Home Economics syllabus. These students, together with their teachers, enjoy an organized visit to our kitchens. This is a unique opportunity for them to experience a commercial kitchen at first hand.

The school also runs an environmental club, which we support by allowing the children to participate in game drives, including visits to other camps in the area. This helps them to understand the value of tourism to the welfare of their community.

1.    Sponsorship program

Since June 2010, Mara Bushtops supports an adopt an education sponsorship project at Nkoilale Primary School benefiting both needy and bright boys and girls. The project which was started in Mid 2012 has so far benefitted 5 boys and 51 girls. Out of this number 9 have so far graduated from the school joining various Secondary school across the country. The project which so far benefits more girls than boys was initiated in particular to help curb school drop-out from girls due to cultural barriers, poverty and harsh environmental conditions, which hinder their access to primary education.

2.    Mentorship Program

Like most of the African communities, the Maasai community is male dominated with more privileges given to the boy child. Mara Bushtops initiated a mentorship program at Nkoilale School the promote awareness about gender equality and balance in the community. By so doing once in a while we invite successful individuals from the Maasai community to inspire the pupils.

In 2011 we invited Mr. & Mrs. Wesonga, successful lawyers in Nairobi to visit the school to inspire and motivate the pupils.

3.    Tree planting

In May 2011, in preparation for the World environment day, Mara Bushtops donated and collaborated with the environmental club of Nkoilale School in planting 850 tree seedlings around the school compound. Even with the harsh environmental conditions in the area, 90% of the seedlings have survived and continue to grow under the watch of the members of the club.

4.    Computer Lab

The world has become a global village, and communication has become a key component in promoting this trend. With the new communication technology, there is ever a need to promote faster and efficient means of communication across the globe. Because of this there is constant need to link up young people from one corner of the globe to another. The computer lab was initiated in 2012 to allow the pupils to interact with other pupils from other schools through a pen-pal system. Also this project has given a chance to the pupils to acquire computing skills at an early age to enable them be part and parcel of the developing world. The school boasts of 12 computers:
4 laptops and 8 desktops all of which is housed in a class refurbished by Mara Bushtops and fitted with seats tables ready for learning.

5.    State of the art solar system

In collaboration with Mara Bushtops, Chloride Exide donated a state of the art solar system to provide lighting and power for the computer lab and the rest of the school. The pupils are now able to study at night and with this there is substantive improvement in the academic performance of the school in the area as the pupils can now take more time to study for their exams.

6.    New classroom block

Nkoilale School in the second populous school in the whole of Mara Division with an enrollment of over 800 pupils. With such high population of pupils there is constant demand for classes to house the pupils. As a result of this, 3 classes were constructed and completed in June 2012 with Mara Bushtops, Kenya government (through the Community Development Fund) and the Nkoilale community donating 1 class each. Each classroom houses over 80 pupils.

Current project:

7.    Dining hall

In spite of the fact that the majority of the pupils in the school come from the surrounding community, harsh environmental conditions and high poverty levels demanded that a feeding program at the school be initiated. With such a program in place, there is great need to build a dining hall for the pupils so that they can have a place to eat their meals. The school also initiated a boarding section which demands that a dining room be built for the comfort of the pupils who reside at the school. Already there is a plan to begin construction before the end of the year.

 
Updated March 2013