Third Chapter Kenya

Hello friends and family, It is hard to explain why living here has been so powerful for Susie and me. One has to experience this culture to begin to understand how it affects you and broadens your perspective. Here's a vignette There is a 24 yr old who washes our car. His name is Kevin and he is earnest and has a work ethic rarely seen to be honest. He zealously washes our car with gusto and spends hours cleaning the inside and outside After I returned from my recent trip to USA., I gave him a ride home from the car wash area.He lives in an abandoned steel drum (yes, an abandoned steel drum) He said recently that people had noticed his work ethic and told him if he had a drivers license, they could employ him as a driver which would be a huge step  up  for him economically. Currently he is at the whim of the weather and the desire for people to have their car washed. The average pay for a big 4 wheel car like mine is 2 dollars. Needless to say, I pay him more!  I took

Mudzini School is slated to open in September. We will be bringing in sponsored students from the Kikambala area, and of course, the Mudzini girls and fee paying students from the Mombasa area. When we open we will have one class at each grade level from 3 yr. olds up through 8th grade. September is the beginning of the third term of the Kenyan academic calendar. Given this reality, we aren’t sure how many fee paying families will commit to leaving their current school at this point in the year. January marks the beginning of the new academic year, which is a more natural point for intake. Since we will be accepting students from diverse economic backgrounds, and therefore prior academic experience, we are being very intentional about the composition of each class so we can serve each student well. As we know, creating a truly inclusive environment requires a great deal of reflection and intention. We are sincere about this effort and committed to making it work. www.mudzinisch

The majestic  Masai Mara It hasn't been all work since the holidays. While Susie's daughters were visiting in January we spent three days on safari. The Masai Mara game reserve covers 1,500 square kilometers in south western Kenya and is home to the  Big Five  (lions, rhinos, leopard, buffalo, elephants) and hippos and crocodiles and zebras, and hyenas, and giraffes, and on and on. 

Making Progress In the past several weeks there has been noticeable progress at the building site. And, while the various crews are mixing concrete, sealing the water tanks, painting, and landscaping . . . We've been working on the nuts and bolts of the school program - admissions process, marketing, student handbook, employee policies, purchasing, uniforms, lunch menu, transportation, budgets and about 100 other tasks!! At times it seems like a formidable endeavor. Jus as we compile a "comprehensive" list of tasks to accomplish, numerous others crop up. However, our tenacity is fueled by the grave state of the majority of Kenya's private and government schools. A recent article in the Daily Nation describes the state of many public schools,  "The sorry state of public schools across the country can be revealed today. A survey conducted by the Saturday Nation presents a picture of decay, disuse and neglect in the schools. . . Open sewers, dumpsite