VWP Project Concept Paper:
Upgrading Kyaani Primary School through volunteerism and community
development
About VWP:
Volunteers With Passion (VWP) is a charitable, non-profit, non-political, non-religious
organisation that promotes volunteering and community service to enhance the living
standards of the people. We bring people together to share skills, experience, creativity
and learning to improve the quality of education, health, environment, water and
sanitation in marginalized and low income-urban areas. We envision a world of equal
opportunity for all.
Our mission is to enhance the living standards of the less privileged in the Society
through volunteerism and community empowerment approach in partnership with
stakeholders. We are inspired by the conviction that volunteerism, community service
and partnership can transform the living standards of less privileged in the society and
provide employment opportunities to the youth. Through volunteerism, everyone can
contribute their time and energy towards quality education, better health, environment
protection, clean water and sanitation.
Through partnerships with the government, non-profit and private sector organizations,
development partners and well-wishers, we implement various activities and programs
that help identify and engage youths, students and professionals who deliver prompt,
efficient and value-adding services to the society.
We believe that through volunteerism we can engage the youths in productive
activities thus reduce various challenges such as crime, drug abuse, unemployment
and poverty. Everyone can contribute their time, skills and knowledge through
volunteer actions and their combined efforts can be a significant force for
empowering communities in the marginalized and disadvantaged areas.
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Background:
Started in 1989, Kyaani Primary School is located in Kalama Division, Machakos
County with a student population of 120 (54 boys and 66 girls). The classes are in a
deplorable state most of which were destroyed by the heavy rains experienced
throughout the country. Most of the classes are weakly built with mud walls, weak and
rusty iron sheets and lack the basic furniture such as desks and chairs therefore
exposing the students to danger and possible health hazards. The social amenities
such as toilets are not permanent, but shallow and poorly built structures which stand
the risk of caving in due to the severe weather conditions exposing the children to
unhygienic environment and related diseases.
The school has very bright students, with hardworking teachers committed to ensuring
the schools’ good performance. The school has so far seen 4 students join good
secondary schools and end up in the university, the area within which the school is
based has a low level of economy with very little or no employment. Most residents rely
on farming for their livelihoods, amid the unpredictable poor weather conditions and
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frequent droughts in the area. The surrounding community has a high level HIV/AIDS
prevalence, with most of the students being total orphans, who are given very little
support and care by their guardians or well-wishers.
This initiative seeks to upgrade Kyaani Primary School in line with the vision 2030 and
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of providing global, competitive quality
education, training and research to the citizens, by reducing the illiteracy level and
increasing access to quality education. This will be achieved through coordinated
support of well wishers, donations from government, corporate organizations and
development partners, community participation and volunteerism.
The long-Term Goal of the programme is to improve the learning environment of the
children and therefore enhance the literacy levels which will improve the living
standards of the people and demonstrate an approach which can be replicated in other
low income areas and elsewhere.
Expected Output:
The major output of the programme will be an increase in the number of students and
increased transition rate from primary to secondary schools to institution of higher
learning. Direct benefits will accrue to the community and contribute to improved
learning environment for children, provide training and skills and experience to youths
and volunteers involved in the upgrading process reduced crime, employment and
provide employment to the youth.
Specific Activities:
● Construct and upgrade the eight classrooms from class one to eight with
permanent classrooms complete with desks and chairs.
● Construct and upgrade the school administration block for the teachers and
school management complete with furniture and fittings.
● Construct a school library fully furnished with books from classes one to eight.
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● Construct a computer lab equipped with 25 fully powered computers.
● Construct permanent social amenities such as playgrounds, toilets etc.
● Fence off the entire school compound and have only one entrance in order to
protect the children and school property.
● Provide a plan for school feeding program for the children.
● Provide a comprehensive plan for additional teachers, volunteers and workers
through consultations with other stakeholders.
● Draw a sustainable continuity plan for the school after construction and
upgrading.
● Training of teachers and children on the use of ICT.
Support Needed & Costs
We will use the new technology of building using the interlocking bricks which are cheap
to produce, economical, eco-friendly and do not need mortar which will greatly reduced
the cost of construction and upgrading by almost 50%. We hope from your generous
support that we can buy the machine for making this kind of bricks and also use the
opportunity to offer training to many unemployed youths in the country on the new
technology. We estimate that the entire cost of the project will be US$. 100,000.00 and
any contribution in terms of cash, materials, logistics, expertise, volunteers from your
staff members will go along way in the realization of this noble cause.
Contact Information
Volunteers With Passion
P.O Box 189 - 00600 Nairobi
Tel: +254775062343
Email: info@vwpkenya.org
Website: www.vwpkenya.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VWPKenya
Twitter handle: @vwpkenya
VWP- Empowering the Community
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