Ololchurra is a small village on the eastern border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve where most families subsist primarily on their livestock. The Kenyan government pays the salaries of some of the teachers and dictates the curriculum. Since it's inception, Ololchurra has put an emphasis on academic achievement and making sure that girls get an equal education. The national test scores in all grades have continued on an upward climb, even during covid when schools shut down. This is in spite of the fact that children in the village don't have access to the internet and home computers. It is obvious that the school has dedicated parents, teachers, and most importantly, students. What is lacking is funds for improved infrastructure and educational materials. This is not problem that we should find difficult to solve.
Ololchurra is a day school for the children of the village, but also acts as a boarding school for children of outlying areas. Enrollment is usually 270 - 300 students up to Grade 8.
The parents of Ololchurra Primary pay the salaries of additional teachers, desks, supplies, and infrastructure through school fees. The residents of Ololchurra village built the school rooms and the teachers' living quarters. Just recently, AMREF (Flying Doctors) funded a borehole for the school so that for the first time they have running water. Though too salty to drink, hygiene is much easier to accomplish.
Ololchurra is a day school for the children of the village, but also acts as a boarding school for children of outlying areas. In this capacity, the school and the staff are home and family for a large part of these children's lives. Enrollment is usually 270 - 300 students up to grade eight.
The faculty and board of management have prioritized the needs of the school. Through a single donation, we have been able to purchase the majority of the desks needed, but still need to buy more. As you can see from one of the photos, students are sitting three and four to desks meant for two students. Other items on the needs list are:
•teacher housing - this has become of utmost importance since the loss of a teacher's house to fire in September 2023
•improvements to the dorms for the boarders
•library
•notebook computers for a computer lab
As some of you may know, in September of 2023, one of the faculty houses was lost in a tragic fire, taking the life of her two very young children. This has escalated the need for new faculty housing and threatens the schedule for meeting some of the other needs. Any help you can offer in the way of monetary donations will help in the recovery from this catastrophic loss. Student Sponsorship
While Ololchurra is a public, government sponsored school, funds provided by the government are frightfully insufficient to meet the needs of schools in Kenya. For this reason, families must pay school fees even when sending their children to public schools. This can be particularly difficult for families living in rural communities where income is at times not even at a basic subsitance level.
Would you like to make a lasting contribution to a young persons life? Sponsoring a student's eduction is a very positive way to do that. Only $60 per month will pay school fees for one child, and cover related expenses such as school supplies. Please consider becoming a benefactor and opening up endless life possibilites for a child.
Would you like to make a lasting contribution to a young persons life? Sponsoring a student's eduction is a very positive way to do that. Only $60 per month will pay school fees for one child, and cover related expenses such as school supplies. Please consider becoming a benefactor and opening up endless life possibilites for a child.
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spent the night with a mosquito.” ~ African proverb
ushirika is proud to be facilitating the sponsorship of four students through the support of caring donors. please contact us if you would like to sponsor a student. there are many more deserving kids that can use our help. only $60 per month can change a life.
Featured student
beatrice
A graduate of Ololchurra Primary School, Beatrice attends Talek Girls' Boarding School through the support of one of our donors. Beatrice has three brothers and four sisters. She gets to go home to her family in Ololchurra village three times a year between school terms. When not in studying (her favorite subject is agriculture) she enjoys swimming and playing soccer. Beatrice would like to join the military after graduation so she can be instrumental in protecting her country.
She would like to thank her sponsor and vows to aim high and excell in her academics. We think her country can be proud of her.
Current faculty housing
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the new girls toilets.
Children at assembly.
A shortage of desks leads to students sitting three and four to desk designed for two.
Staff and board members with the donated computer and printer that were provided by generous donors.
Ushirika Foundation would like to thank the members of Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, Bainbridge Island, WA for their generous donation toward the purchase of desks for the students. Their kindness has allowed us to purchase more than half of the desk so desperately needed. You can just see the joy on the faces of the students when the desks were delivered. On their behalf, "Asante sana!"
