Building at Gifted Hands School
A team of youths from Harpurhey, UK and their leaders travelled to Kibera, Nairobi on a mission to give four classrooms to children at a one of the schools, which is supported by Kanzi-Kibera Friends.
An eight man team of six sixteen year olds and their two leaders, Sid and Des, left Harpurhey with a determination to build classrooms at Gifted Hands School in Kibera slums. The school, which is set deep in the centre of the sprawling slums, is headed by, Jane Aluvisia, who seeks to bring the excluded children, who loiter around during school hours into Gifted Hands. When we heard of her efforts, we thought it was just the kind of project we could support for further development.
The role of Kanzi-Kibera was a facilitating one. Sid and Des had been working with the youths for a while to a point where they felt that they could use their joinery skills to help the school in Kibera.
The lads had a great time.
“I thought we were the ones taking something to them… we ended up gaining perhaps a lot more from them,” was one of lads’ exclamation at the end of their trip.
The team combined with a local hired work force worked for part of the time and also played, sang with, taught and ate with the children for the remainder. At the end of the trip, they had accomplished a lot more than they thought they would.
As the tropical sun that had beaten down on them for 14 days, set a last time, the team walked away from the rusted iron jungle leaving behind four spanking new class rooms for the excited children and their teachers.
Amidst the tears, they also left pieces of their hearts and they also carried away pieces of the children’s hearts.
Sid and Des are now helping the lads to keep their link with Gifted Hands alive. Since coming back home they have raised money to put floors into the classes and to sponsor children’s education.
Kanzi-Kibera will continue to facilitate this special relationship by providing logistical support.
An eight man team of six sixteen year olds and their two leaders, Sid and Des, left Harpurhey with a determination to build classrooms at Gifted Hands School in Kibera slums. The school, which is set deep in the centre of the sprawling slums, is headed by, Jane Aluvisia, who seeks to bring the excluded children, who loiter around during school hours into Gifted Hands. When we heard of her efforts, we thought it was just the kind of project we could support for further development.
The role of Kanzi-Kibera was a facilitating one. Sid and Des had been working with the youths for a while to a point where they felt that they could use their joinery skills to help the school in Kibera.
The lads had a great time.
“I thought we were the ones taking something to them… we ended up gaining perhaps a lot more from them,” was one of lads’ exclamation at the end of their trip.
The team combined with a local hired work force worked for part of the time and also played, sang with, taught and ate with the children for the remainder. At the end of the trip, they had accomplished a lot more than they thought they would.
As the tropical sun that had beaten down on them for 14 days, set a last time, the team walked away from the rusted iron jungle leaving behind four spanking new class rooms for the excited children and their teachers.
Amidst the tears, they also left pieces of their hearts and they also carried away pieces of the children’s hearts.
Sid and Des are now helping the lads to keep their link with Gifted Hands alive. Since coming back home they have raised money to put floors into the classes and to sponsor children’s education.
Kanzi-Kibera will continue to facilitate this special relationship by providing logistical support.
