New year, new scholars at BDA

Remember as well to check our website and Facebook regularly as we'll also be sharing some details there. And if you're a sponsor and have a story to tell, or just want to find out more, feel free to share your experiences too. You can either contact the different trustees personally or email news@kes-charity.co.uk

Our newest scholars

Amazing, 14 years old, parents are both casual labourers.
Charles, 13 years old, father is a labourer and mother is unemployed.
Deborah, 16 years old, father is a labourer and mother is a house maid.
Eunice, 14 years old, father ill with TB, mother abandoned him and two siblings.
Jane, 14 years old, mother is a casual labourer, father is unemployed. She comes from Korogocho, see picture below.
Joyce, 12 years old, parents are divorced and she lived with her aunty with her 5 year old brother.
Lavender, 14 years old, father is a security guard on very low pay, mother is a house maid.
Lillian, 15 years old, parents are peasant farmers and she has 6 older and 2 younger siblings.
Moureen, 15 years old, one of four children at school. Father is a casual labourer, mother is a peasant farmer.
Natasha, 15 years old, orphan, with 4 other siblings. She comes from Korogocho, see picture below.
Nelly, 13 years old, parents are peasant farmers with another 3 children.
Serah, 15 years old, has 6 siblings and a single mother who’s ill with HIV. Older siblings support the family as casual labourers.
Vivian, 14 years old, father unemployed, mother a housewife and peasant farmers. Eldest of four children.

We wish them all the best with their education and we'll be keeping you posted with their progress over the coming years.

A scholar's view of BDA

By Margaret (aka Maggy)

How can I explain Bahati Division Academy!? A home away from home, a place full of love and comfort.  Modelled all rounded students and leaders of today, not tomorrow, who will impact their world positively. I am a beneficiary of KES and was sponsored through my education. This is the way bright and needy students get a chance of attaining quality education.

I was in the pioneer class of 2012. I did very well and was admitted to one of the best national schools in Kenya; The Kenya High School. I recently did my KCSE in the year 2016 and attained an average grade of B+ (AGP 72 points).  I hope to pursue Civil Engineering in The University of Nairobi. I am who I am today thanks to BDA and its directors (Joseph and Lydia).

The institution is built in a very conducive environment to facilitate learning. Good and modern facilities ranging from clean classrooms, more than enough text books, exercise books, spacious dormitories, as well as a modern library and a music room to make learning fun and easy.

The teachers are very helpful, committed and hardworking. They ensure that the syllabus is well covered leaving no stone unturned. They always help the students and ensure that they are prepared for their examinations. This in turn results in a very good performance from the students. We set the pace and the rest follow.

Extra curriculum activities such as ball games, athletics and drama festivals are encouraged and well funded to help in the shaping of rounded individuals. The school manages to reach national targets especially in drama and music. For us education does not only cover books but keeping fit and healthy too. The support staff employed make sure students get a well-balanced diet, good transport and care. We are treated with love and thus BDA feels more or less like home. BDA is an institution founded on a strong Christian foundation. All staff ensure that we are as comfortable as possible.

Students get good medical check ups and attention to ensure that they remain healthy and in a good state of mind to ensure their learning has little or no interruptions. The school nurses ensure that the unwell students are professionally attended to.

In addition, students are taught leadership skills to ensure the nurturing of talents and preparation of future roles offered in leadership posts. Positions ranging from the school head to class prefects are there to cultivate the talents of our future leaders who will impact their society positively.

Lastly, BDA is a place where rounded individuals emerge with academic excellence, as innovative and creative leaders. Respect, hard work , competence, confidence, unity, love, care and Godliness are all cultivated in BDA.  What can I say?  BDA is the place to be for us to impact our world and make a difference! 

Kenya news round-up

Education
The education system is having a radical overhaul in Kenya. Pilots are currently being carried out with a full roll-out due from next school year (January 2018). The key changes will be continuous assessment (CAT) instead of one-off examinations, and a change to the curriculum to include more varied classes, learning techniques and embracing technologies.  You can find out more detail about the pilots and plans on the Daily Nation site here.

Here's an interesting article from The Guardian about how cutting-edge technology is being implemented by Kenyan digital companies to engage children and widen education in some of the country's poorest schools. 

Female education - expelling pregnant girls now made illegal
Many Kenyan schools force girls to leave when they fall pregnant, but a proposed bill in the Kenyan Parliament wants to make sure girls can stay in school. Here's a link to more information.

Drought
You may have heard about the drought affecting many parts of Africa. Kenya is being impacted in the northern territories but BDA and the surrounding areas are managing OK. Here's an update and reflection on the worst hit areas from The Guardian showing that the effects are more wide ranging than we might expect.

Election fever
It seems it's election time everywhere. Kenya is also in the run up to Presidential and Government Elections on 8 August 2017. You can keep up to date with progress on The Standard's website.