News
THE SCHOOL IS AT LAST COMPLETE
In March 2015 Champions Preparatory school, Eldoret, held its “Grand Opening”, a day to celebrate the completion of the school building, which now has permanent, brick-built classrooms for the three nursery classes and eight primary classes (ages 3 to 14) which make up this full, Government registered private primary school. Situated in one of the areas of poor housing and informal building on the edge of Eldoret, it meets the need of some 200 local children, many of whom would not be in school without Champions. The school is effectively managed by its Board and Director and the head teacher and his staff provide a first class educational experience for its pupils. Every year so far (up to December 2016) almost all pupils reaching school leaving age have passed the Government’s leaving exam (The KCPE) with very good marks, giving them an excellent basis for further study or for obtaining employment.
NEXT STEP – SUSTAINABILITY
FKC’s Trustees are now committed (2017) to a plan to establish the school on a firm footing without financial support from UK. This involves seeking ways to reduce running costs and improve the efficiency of the school, items which require prohibitive amounts of capital outlay for the school but which if provided by FKC will enable the school both to reduce day to day running costs and to undertake repairs and maintenance into the future. The first of these is the solar energy project, with the aim of using the equatorial sun and the school’s huge roof to dispense with the need for power from the grid altogether. It is an ambitious project but the rewards will be worth the effort.
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
FKC’s Trustees are clear that the general funds raised for Friends of Kenya’s Children are to support Champions School and to provide for the personal and educational needs of the orphans and others who board at the school. FKC funds do not allow for the payment of school fees for High School. However, it is acknowledged that where a young person has worked very hard for his/her KCPE exam and passed well, he/she should be enabled to take up the offer of a place in a Government High School if at all possible. Most of these youngsters are orphans or are otherwise from very difficult and deprived home backgrounds – they deserve their chance at life. To date, individual sponsors have been found, every year, to reward such effort on the part of our school leavers by funding their High School places. Currently (2017) we have 15 young people enjoying their four year High school courses, all with ambitious hopes for the future. How very different their lives would have been without FKC and Champions School.
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL LEAVERS
In December 2016 the first four students completed their high school courses, funded by individual sponsors from UK as described above. Given their late start into education and the backgrounds from which they came, all four did well, gaining “middle of the road” pass marks. Three are to continue their education / training in various fields and one has returned to her family, better equipped to help them make progress out of poverty.
Notices
CHARITY SHOP
RE-0PENING
BIG SALE
CHARITY SHOP RE-0PENING BIG SALE on SATURDAY 2ND MARCH 10-30am to 1-30pm at Alvaston Methodist Church, Brighton Road, Derby DE24 9TG.
Clothes, shoes, accessories, small furniture, household & electrical goods, toys, books, Bric-a-Brac, CDs and DVDs and more.
Home-made cakes!
Enjoy drinks / lunch in our coffee bar.
Proceeds for Friends of Kenya’s Children.
SATURDAY CHARITY SHOP OPENING HOURS
The Saturday Charity Shop is open on March 9th until Easter, closed April 13th, 20th and 27th, then open until July 14th from 10.30 am until 1.30 pm at Alvaston Methodist Church, Brighton Road, Derby DE24 8TG. There is some new stock every week, you’ll be amazed at the very low prices and the good range of items for sale. AND you can enjoy coffee / tea and scones, or even a full-scale lunch, in our coffee bar, good food at very reasonable prices. Come for lunch – come to shop – come for both. Everyone welcome.
GIVE AS YOU LIVE
Do you shop online? You can raise free donation for FKC by shopping on-line at Give as you Live website. Simply go to:
www.give.as/charity/friends-of-kenyas-children.
You will be asked to Give as you Live* on behalf of FKC.
Then Bookmark this website as one of your Favourites and each time you shop on-line for purchases, including booking tickets and travel, go to your Favourites Give as you Live website and follow the link to proceed with your shopping.
*(Give as you Live is a shopping and price comparison website where you can get the best price and even save money. They receive commission each time you generate a sale through their website and pass on at least 50% of this to FKC.)
