Ecole Suibiga, Kenya
An eighth grade class (14-15 years old) presents their school and their village, Suibiga, 300 km north of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
We live in a small village of farmers at the foot of Mount Kenya. This huge mountain is 5199 meters high and is the second highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro. Most people here are Masai. Many have large cattle herds. We see wild animals right next to us almost every day. We often see elephants, giraffes or impalas.
In the Lewa Reserve, which is close to our village, you can also see rhinoceros. It is important to protect them because they make up a part of the richness of our country and the entire world. Thanks to the rhinoceros, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) was able to build us a new school. The classrooms are bigger and we are able to better concentrate while studying. The LWC also gives us porridge in the morning. Our parents don't have a lot of money and when there is a drought it is sometimes the only meal some of us eat.
School starts at 8 a.m. but we often arrive before class starts so we can play. Starting at 4 years old school is mandatory. We start with kindergarten for two years . In principle, classes must not exceed 25 students but most of the time there are around 50. At 6 years old we enter primary school which lasts eight years. In Grade 8 we write an exam and our results decide which secondary school we can attend. Many students quit school at this point.
Access to secondary school costs on average 60 000 Kenyan shillings (almost 900 USD). Few families have the resources to spend such an amount of money. Thankfully, the LWC grants bursaries to the most motivated among us (more than 250 sponsor donors have been engaged. Eight hundred US dollars is enough to finance an entire school year for a child. For more information visit www.lewa.org. You can also write us for more information on the subject). Secondary school lasts four years. After that is university.
Our red school uniform is made up of a sweater, shorts and socks. We also have a school bag. Our desks are very old. Sometimes they are even broken and some students have to stand during lessons. Classes are taught in English but most of us also speak Masai and Swahili. Kenya was once a British colony. We still drive on the left and have kept the habit of putting milk in our tea!
Ambassadors
My name is Miriam Wanjiru. I am 14 years old and in Grade 8. I live a few kilometers from the school so I take public transport.
My name is Godfrey Mwirigi. I am 13 years old and in the same class as my friend. I live right next to the school. Like her, after school I help my parents then I do my homework.
What sport or activity do you do outside of school?
Miriam: Running.
Godfrey: Football (soccer). We have a team in the neighborhood and the girls are the cheerleaders.
What is your favorite food?
Miriam: Ugali. It is a thick cake made from corn flour that you dip in a sauce.
Godfrey: Githiry. A mix of corn, fried beans and onions.
What is your favorite game?
Miriam: In the schoolyard we play Catch, a type of Prison Dodgeball.
Godfrey: Football (soccer)!
What is your favorite animal?
Miriam: I have a dog at home, but I really like elephants. Here I see them almost every day.
Godfrey: I have a cat and I like zebras. Before the school was built there were lots of zebras here but they were put on the reserve for protection. At the beginning our parents weren't very happy but when they learned that it was to build a new school...
What subject do you prefer?
Miriam: Science.
Godfrey: Science.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Miriam: Bank worker.
Godfrey: Doctor.
What do you like doing? Reading? Playing? What do you do during your vacation? We have holidays in April for 3 weeks, in August for 3 weeks and in November and December for 5 weeks. The school year starts in January.
If you are interested in contacting us you can write to:
SUBUIGA Primary School
P.o box 255
MERU
KENYA
Or contact the school director at:
frankmurithi@yahoo.com
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