Mbita Division in Suba District in a rural set up on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. The school offers pre-primary education for children whose ages range from 2-7 years. The school was started in 2006 by Jacob Ogweno who is currently the school Local Director and Project Coordinator and Sabrina Jung who is the current International Director.
The initial vision came when Sabrina saw the increasing number of children in the area with no good nursery school to offer qualitative education and many children were roaming through the streets and facing many dangers of child abuse e.g. rapes cases, drug abuse, and forced labour among others. Many of the children coming today are orphans what is a consequence of the huge HIV prevalence in this area (30%). Many children don't receive any care due to lack of caregivers. The village members face also economic challenges since the number of strong people has decreased which is represented by the middle generation.
The school caters for education of both boys and girls from all persuasions and nationalities. The current number of pupils is 60 with 37 girls and 23 boys with a total number of 2 fully volunteering teachers and 2 female teachers on practical teaching attachment.
The daily activities at Mina Academy start at 7:30 a.m when the pupils start coming to the school. The teacher on duty comes as early as 7:20 a.m to welcome the pupils who come earlier than others. Between 7:30 a.m to 7:45 a.m, teacher on duty works with the pupils in doing general cleaning of the classroom, school compound and toilet. There is an assembly from 7:45a.m – 8:05 a.m.
During the assembly the following activities take place
- General inspection of the cleanliness of the pupils, this include, checking whether the children washed their faces, legs, cut nails, combed hair, with clean cloth, well tacked with buttons among others.
- The children, then sing some songs, recite Lords prayer led by the teacher on duty and then depart for their classes.
- The pupils are lead to sing the Kenya National Anthem on every Monday and Friday. For the first 11/2 hrs the children choose their own indoor games after which they are attended by the teacher guiding the lessons.
- Languages (English, Kiswahili and local languages {dholuo})
- Reading- simple words
- Environment- (nature study in the garden and caring for the goats and sheep)
- Basic Arithmetic
- General Science- Health Science
- Writing on the floor (scrabbling) and some write in exercise books.
- Modeling
Children then wash the cups. This mainly to teach them self- responsibility.
The children break for lunch at 11:30 a.m, some times the children are given lunch at school but this depend on the availability of funds.
The afternoon programme starts at 2:00 p.m. the pupils are given chance, to sleep, rest (have own choice games) and story telling seasons. This develops the memory of the children. The children go back at 4:00 p.m
The children are taught general hygiene by bathing every Wednesday and Friday at the Lake which is 500m away from the school.
Fridays and Saturdays afternoon, the teachers together with the Local Director make home visits. This is to check and monitor the children living conditions, at times, the teachers discuss with the care giver/ parents on the general problems affecting the children at school and home. Through these parents/care-givers get involved in the school development programs. There is always a monthly care givers/ parents meeting in the school.
The school is funded by the International Director Sabrina Jung and other well –wishers. Most of the children are orphans and vulnerable as Suba District is one of the districts in Kenya where HIV/AIDS prevalence is very high, whose socio- economic impacts are very huge, e.g. emergence of thousands of orphans, thousands of widows and the elderly are left behind after the dismiss oft heir beloved young and energetic ones. Suba is statistically ranked number one among over a Hundred Districts in Kenya with HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 31%. Poverty level is also very high in the region and serious aggravated by the recent Post-General election skirmishes in Kenya from which the prices of essential goods have been hiked astronomically.
Mina Academy´s other projects include:
- Interest in Global Partnership Development to involve twinning of schools and exchanges. This to include exchange of ideas in form of letter writing and also visit of teachers and pupils of participating schools as well as practical work share in form of work camps where facilities for community use are built.
- Environmental conservation and protection with Permacultural background and organic farming activities (gardening and keeping goats, sheep and chicken).
- Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) support program through the provision of basic needs which include food, shelter, clothing, and medical care among others.
- Lobby and advocacy on the Rights of Children with special focus on orphans and vulnerable children.
- Identity awareness work through intercultural exchanges within the whole community with people and organizations from all around the world
- Strong sight of becoming independent and autonomous by involvement of the whole community in income generating projects
The school is open for any insights that may deem necessary depending on the availability of resources for the benefit of the children and the community. In conclusion, Mina Academy is envisioned not to be an ordinary school for children and the community. It is envisioned to be an ordinary school with special programs to enhance rural and community development. We focus on getting more to know about Waldorf Education so that we find our own educational way.
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