Children Of Watamu

We went from sand to school in just 10 weeks!! Our Friends from Ireland had agreed that they would raise the funds to put the roof on the  building, also supply the windows, doors, desks and chairs. They also painted the classrooms inside and out. We had the date that they would be arriving and we had to be ready!! As we started the footings, we realized how difficult a job this would be. We were building in sand which seemed to have a mind of it’s own. As it was moved to one place it slid back to another! Eventually we showed it who was the boss and progress was made, slowly but surely. We had to go down 12 courses of bricks for the foundation before we reached firm ground , again taking so much longer and much more costly than we had anticipated. Always there was the war cry of THE IRISH ARE COMING! We all knew we had to be ready! As you can see by the photographs things eventually started to take shape. We had 34 people working every day, men and women. The women would carry the blocks on their heads to where the men were working. Cement was mixed by hand and carried to each man who was laying the blocks. This work was being carried out in temperatures of 95 degrees, and even higher in the middle of the day. It was a difficult task but as least we knew that each of those workers were earning a wage to feed a family due to the fact this school was being built.

Follow to see photos of the building of the secondary school

In December 2007, 31 children took the National exam to move from Primary to Secondary education. We were delighted when 30 children passed. I can hear your sympathy for the one boy who failed. He will stay in Class 8 and re-take his exam next year. The school opened officially in January 2008. At the moment we only have Forms 1 and 2. Next year we will add Form 3, the year after Form 4. We feel that these children are the future of Watamu. They are receiving such a high level of education.

 Unfortunately, in March 2008 Tanya Snowdon Pratt one of our sponsors died after a short illness. Tanya and her husband Frank, with the help of their friends and colleagues, have sponsored three children in the Primary school for the past three years. Instead of flowers at the funeral Frank asked people for donations towards our work with the children. The money raised has been used to buy every text book needed for the new Secondary School. Thank you Frank for thinking of others at such a very sad time. A plaque has been paced on the Secondary School to remember this very kind and generous lady.

Tanya's sponsored children