Teachers Can Stop Worrying About Wildlife and Focus on Teaching Students

In 2012, our Saidia sponsor site in Kenya began working with Njeru Primary School, and in 2014, established a school feeding program. Since that time, enrollment has tripled! Of the 143 families who have children attending Njeru Primary School, 116 have at least one child sponsored through Chalice. The school has seen many graduates go on to national secondary schools, a mark of achievement for Kenyan primaries.

Although the school is nestled in a lush and pictureseque environment, the school administration had a tough time hiring and keeping qualified teachers, with a 90% transfer request rate from teachers. This was due to the school's deplorable working conditions, and lack of comfortable living accommodations, banks, and medical facilities.

"The classrooms are dilapidated and dark, with earthen floors," described the Saidia staff in early 2021. Two of the classrooms were unsafe for use at all, the kitchen facilities were inadequate, and the pit latrines were in ruins.

The Saidia sponsor site put forward a request to Chalice for a multi-year overhaul project for the school. Through the generous support of Chalice donors, they've already achieved their first goal: 13 modern and attractive homes for teachers.

"It is with great joy and full of thanks in our hearts to the Almighty God that we write to you about the completion of the...teachers' quarters construction project at Njeru Primary School," writes Everlyn, Saidia site director. "It has come as a blessing and a Christmas gift to them this 2021."

Four primary teachers and one early-childhood teacher are the first to move into their homes.

"It is the best Christmas gift anyone has ever given to the Njeru community," says Madam Eunice. Mr. Mutahi, the acting Deputy Head Teacher, noted that "his days of killing snakes in his mud thatched house are now over". Mr. Silas was grateful as he remarked that the safari ants that terrorized him daily will be banished, and it will no longer rain on him when he's inside the house!

The current five teachers have assured the community that they are happy and are not going to ask for transfers. The Head Teacher will apply for eight more teachers, as there is room for 13.

"Thirteen happy teachers will translate to happy children, which will translate to improved academic performance," writes Everlyn. They also hope that when the children see the teachers well taken care of, it will encourage them to pursue careers in education, too!

Their local priest, Father Titus, planted a tree, blessed each house and the compound, and celebrated Holy Mass in the school there, for the first time since the Saidia site began working with Njeru Primary.

As a gesture of appreciation for the Saidia site staff, the parents donated a ram and an ewe to Saidia Children's Home, where 58 vulnerable children live.

"On behalf of the Saidia family we thank from the bottom of our hearts the sponsors for their generous contribution to the school," writes Everlyn.