The Shikamana School (formerly known as Peace Village School) was founded in May 2002 by Jackson Gitonga M’bundi and Eunice Kariungi Peter in order to provide education for children who, due to poverty, would otherwise not be able to attend school. This education will enable those children to support themselves, assisting their community, their nation and the world at large.

The school is attended by 396 children ranging from 2 years 8 months to 19 years old. There are currently 214 boys and 182 girls. Some of these children are orphans, some existing independently and some with guardians. Many of the children have only one parent, and those who are fortunate enough to have two parents, are still living in unimaginable poverty. The parents of these children may be suffering ill health, including HIV and Aids, very few of them are in a position to work.

Out of the 396 children, only 56 are able to pay full fees. Unlike other schools in the area, (who charge between 11,000ksh and 60,000ksh per term) Shikamana does not turn children away. One terms fees is only 1,500ksh* but the majority of the families are living in such poverty they cannot afford these fees. The school reduces the fees to enable parents to meet the some of the cost of their children’s education in some way. There are 243 children paying partial fees, but unsurprisingly, often even these reduced fees are not met. There are 97 children not paying fees at all, including the orphaned children.

Many of the parents who are not able to pay fees join a rota system of support for tasks around the school. Some mothers come to school to help prepare the school lunch, help serve and then help with the washing up afterwards. Others come and wash down walls and clean classrooms, and some help with basic maintenance tasks around the school.
Kenyan people are very proud, being able to give something back to the school in this way gives them some dignity.

*1,500ksh = approx £15 (11,000ksh=£110, 60,000ksh=£600)

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