CURRENT PROJECT

The project will improve education for female students in schools in Fafi, Modogashe and Ijara districts of North Eastern Province of Kenya.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) covering the northern and north eastern counties are among the least developed in Kenya, with limited access to basic services, poor infrastructure and dominated by pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems. The current poor performance in schools is not only due to the failed Free Primary Education system but is also the result of the insufficient Learning facilities in schools, particularly public schools.

Recognizing that addressing the underlying causes of reduced quality education and capacity to meet the Education Standards, Donors, the Government of Kenya and humanitarian agencies have been implementing a number of Education programmes throughout the ASALs. In addition, the recent drought crisis has overwhelmed existing capacities and meeting the immediate food security, water and health/nutritional needs of affected Kenyans is now critical. This has been the case of the recent famine where the need to save life was a priority than engaging in the long term projects. The situation is now different with rain received proprieties have shifted into engaging long term projects that will boost the livelihood of the community through various projects such as developing food production for sustainable livelihood, education support and institution capacity building.

IDRF in partnership with PGI is working together once again to reach approximately 4500 female primary and secondary school students, in the targeted districts of the North Eastern Province of Kenya. The focus of this project is on Education; recognizing the major Impact Education intervention has on students’ performance, gender equity and future career development.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

• Increase access to education for girls from poor family backgrounds and by rehabilitating and building new infrastructure.
• Increase enrolment rate for girls from vulnerable communities by instituting a food for fees program.
• Enhance students’ learning environment by providing new and rehabilitated lab equipment to the schools’ science programs.
• Improve food security for students through in-school capacity building programs.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES:

• One primary school building to be rehabilitated to start girls boarding wing - Ijara Primary.
  
• Rehabilitate multi purpose hall to girls boarding wing
  
• Provide 80 girls with beds and mattress for the rehabilitated girls’ school
  
• Two secondary schools dining hall facility construction- Umusalama and fafi girls
  
• Provision of tables and chairs for the eating place
  
• Six secondary schools food for fees provision - Umuslama, NEP girls, Fafi Girls, Iftin Girls, Modogashe girls, Haji Girls
  
• Provision of food to four boarding schools and two day schools
• Equip Umusalam and Fafi Girls Secondary with Laboratory equipments
• Poultry project for Modogashe Girls
  
• Goats Projects for Fafi Girls
  
• Capacity building for girls on how to manage the pourty and goats project for Fafi Girls and Modogashe Girls

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION:

• Stakeholders including parents, teachers, opinion leaders, women leaders, community representative, Schools committees or boards, will participate in targeting the most vulnerable schools/communities.
  
• Beneficiaries will participate in regular feedback sessions on the most suitable way to provide the intended support.
  
• PGI staffs will be on ground in all the targeted areas implementing project activities in order to harness the opportunity to discuss the project concept with schools and communities
  
• The community will be supported by IDRF's partner to further refine the selection of beneficiaries. The selection process will make sure that the beneficiaries selected are those vulnerable ones who will benefit most from this project. The identification of the beneficiaries will be formalized in a social agreement that will be signed by community members, district authorities and other necessary stakeholders.
  
• IDRF partner will closely work with schools, the ministry of education and follow the guideline of the ministry of education policy.
  
• Holistic education system will be integrated by involving the parents, students, teachers and the community to ensure good quality education is attained by the girls. It will involve the devolved funds agents to fill the gaps that PGI can’t provide for and other interventions that need to be catered for in the future.

Partner: Pastoralist Girls’ Initiative (PGI)