A Message from our President- Wayne Silver

Sometimes the most important accomplishments are byproducts of something else. In order to distribute the thousands of books and school supplies AFK ships every year, we have identified a lead individual and institution in each area receiving these goods. The leader is responsible for forming a network of schools and libraries, working with us on need assessment, and making sure everything gets to the right place. This way, we are able to collaborate with five network leaders instead of seventy tiny village schools and community libraries, most of which lack the technology and means to communicate with us.

The networks are in different regions and provinces of  Kenya.: Meru in EasternProvince; Nakuru in Rift Valley Province; and Ruira and Kikuyu in CentralProvince. The fifth network is a collection of schools for disabled children and young adults. All five are headed by a strong leader committed to working with AFK and ensuring that each school and library receives what it needs and deserves.

While we formed the networks to help with our shipments, the leaders had ideas of their own. Elias Gikundi, Chair of the Board of Rurama Secondary School in Meru, got the earliest start and brought representatives of thirteen schools together for the first time. They not only discussed the distribution of books but their common challenges and how they could share knowledge and resources. One of the Rurama teachers who participated in AFK’s Library Workshop last summer presented the highlights of the workshop and intends to follow up with a longer session.

Now the other network leaders are pursuing a similar path. Sr.Mable of TeresaNuzzoSchool in Ruira recently held a School Pride and Celebration Day and invited all of the schools in her network. Eunice Wangari of SilverbeckAcademy in Kikuyu [assisted by AFK’s friend, Lawrence Mathea] is negotiating with her district education officer to initiate regional efforts that have never taken place before. Vitalice Kahendah of HopewellSecondary School in Nakuru recently met with the heads of each school in his network to explain the concept and set the stage for a group meeting. Finally, Kaima Ruiga, leader of the network of schools for disabled children and adults, is busy communicating with several heads of school and considering options for collaboration among them.

 This is an important evolutionary step for Kenya. While communities have a long tradition of coming together at the village level, regional action is relatively rare. In addition, most of the tiny schools that dot the rural landscape are isolated and unable to participate in professional development and resource sharing activities.

In response to the enthusiasm of the network leaders, AFK will soon launch an educational blog. Through this medium, the leaders will get to know each other and begin to share ideas across networks. Also included in the dialogue will be the heads of our Kenyan partner organizations, such as Jane Kahuthia of Voluntary Counselors Kenya, Kennedy Odede of the KiberaSchool for Girls, and educators and librarians from the U.S. as well as Kenya.

Where will it all lead? Who knows? The Kenyans themselves will determine that. AFK’s part is to get the ball rolling, give an occasional nudge, provide the necessary resources, and cheer them on. But we can be sure of a couple of things. The regional and cross-regional collaboration Kenya so desperately needs will be built along the way. And an ever expanding network of tiny schools and libraries will be awakened to dramatically new possibilities.

2009 was a landmark year for AFK. During August, we were in Kenya for the dedications of Thika Library and the KiberaSchool for Girls. We met all of the children supported by our orphan sponsors and their caregivers. Our medical, library, and education teams rose to new heights. We assembled a solar water purifier at Starehe Girls’ Center. One of our business leaders met with a group of Kenyan farmers to talk about their problems and opportunities. And two journalists chronicled the trip and prepared a video that we will all cherish. I am not mentioning names because everyone contributed so much. AFK is blessed with a dedicated core of volunteers, travelers, supporters, and officers and directors. And, above all, we are blessed with a set of wonderful partners in Kenya who carry on the real work of educating children, healing the sick, spreading literacy, alleviating poverty, and building a better tomorrow.

It will be tough for 2010 to eclipse 2009. But I think we’re up to it. Stay tuned.

       -Wayne