After a week full of long hours, trekking through rough terrain, and visiting more than a hundred families in rural and remote communities, a change in pace was in order today.
We agreed to travel with Mrs. Limo to deliver over 350 sweaters to the Ndanai Primary School and Small Home which we visited last week with Eric and Scott Sankey. We arrived around noon and were greeted by an excited group of students. Once all were assembled, we had the opportunity to greet the students and present them with their new sweaters. The children at Ndanai were so excited to receive them and when all had been passed out, they rushed home to show their parents.
Children at Ndanai in their new sweaters.
Last night, Mrs Limo showed us how the sweaters were made. At her home, several workers are paid to sew every sweater using these large threading machines:
Good, warm sweaters can make an enormous difference in a child’s education in rural Kenya. During rains, classrooms can become quite cold, making it difficult for the students to focus on their studies. Cold and wet conditions can increase the likelihood of becoming ill, resulting in students missing more classes. Furthermore, sometimes students who cannot afford sweaters are bullied by those who can. By providing all of the students with a common uniform, these feelings of embarrassment or exclusion can be alleviated.
The whole student body gathered in the main yard and, because it was a Friday, the Kenyan flag was flying.
After departing Ndanai, we made our way back to Kericho town where we met up with Eric and Lawrence for lunch and said our goodbyes to Mrs Limo who has accompanied us all week in our ventures.
We all met with Eric and Lawrence for lunch at the Java House in Kericho where our group presented Mrs. Limo with a card and many words of thanks.
We are so grateful to her for her hospitality and for all of the assistance she has provided here in Kericho. Much of what we were able to accomplish here would not have been possible without her.
Tomorrow we will make the long journey south to the Maasai Mara where we will be continuing our data collection.