The team’s first day began in Kawangware, but ended in Kambui.  We arrived just shortly after lunchtime, and although we could hear the commotion of students around us, there were none to be found. Lunchtime afterall is lunchtime to children in any language.

We began our visit by being sent to the office! Margaret, who is considered second in command, greeted us and spoke of some of the accomplishments and challenges the students have faced in 2017. She was most proud of their recent accomplishments – having received (very large) trophies for Best Primary School in the District, another for academic achievements and a third for best signing.

The Kambui School for the Hearing Impaired is one of only three in all of Kenya. They currently boast an enrollment of 250 children (30 of which are orphans), ranging in age from 6 to 16 with 24 teachers, and 24 support staff including house parents and kitchen staff.

Principal of the school, Connie Mutiso was away when we arrived at a government evaluation of the school but was able to sneak away to greet us for a short time to discuss some of the schools recent achievements as well as hopes and goals for 2018.

We saw a multitude of improvements as we walked the grounds and visited the dormitories. We were thrilled to discover that all of the asbestos has been removed and the dormitories are all sporting bright blue sheet metal roofing and a fresh coat of paint inside as well as new security doors. The new mattresses, supplied by the Retired Teachers Association made a world of difference in the appearance (as well as the comfort level we are certain) of the bunk beds. Dormitories were neat and tidy, beds made, shoes neatly lining the walls, side by side – the girls of course a wee bit tidier than the boys.

We examined the cubbies in the entrance ways, which for years have been used only to store the children’s shoes, and house their trunks. However, Connie and Margaret explained that they would like to have the old and dilapidated cubbies replaced with new, sturdier wood, doors on the cubbies and locks on each. Therefore they could do away with older metal trunks which are awkward and sharp, causing a daily safety hazard.

They also have a dire need for improvements to the bathroom including a handicapped washroom. They would like to be able to accompany that with new tiles to replace their current broken flooring. The new mattresses, recently received are proving to be better than they had ever hoped and now would love to see a donation of more of the same so that each child may have one.

They are currently working on opening a “Hair and Beauty” training classroom. This will help the students to learn a trade, other than the sewing, knitting and carpentry that they already offer – allowing the students just one more option to become self sufficient, wage earning adults. To do this however, they will need supplies such as furniture (table’s chairs, wash basins) as well as teaching tools such as mannequin heads, trade tools and teaching supplies.

We visited the new library – which was non-existent at our last visit – is now an entire classroom filled with tables, chairs, books, games, learning tools, skipping ropes, and so much more. The children were ecstatic to receive and are getting unbelievable use of this new facility, also donated by the RTO.

The school currently raises enough cattle that they supply their own students with ample milk supply and the rest is sold to the community, providing them with enough funds to buy future feed for the cattle and the remainder of the funds going back to help the children. Every quarter, the children are offsite for one month. It is during this time that they are able to sell 100% of the milk they produce, which greatly helps with keeping with other livestock and future needs of the children.

For the children, their happiest moments are spent on their brand new playground. Principal Mutiso hopes to one day be able to raise enough money to enclose the playground with fencing noting that the playground is the first place the children race to when they wake and the first place they rush to at the end of the  day and she would like to see it enclosed to help with safety issues.

Before departing we were able to distribute a wide range of toys and learning supplies that we were able to gather and bring with us, including Rita’s dolls which were given to four (of the 7) students that Our Kenyan Kids supports through tuition there. The other three are now housed in other facilities since passing their most recent exams but are still supported by OKKids.