A remarkable school in a remote village in Kenya is changing the lives of local children thanks to the hard work of a University of Nottingham Alumnus Laureate, a Nottinghamshire primary school and staff and students from the University’s School of English Studies.
The Upendo Junior School was founded by Dr Peter Masibo Lumala when he returned to his home village of Kiminini in Kenya after completing his PhD at the University in 2007. He and his wife converted their home into a charitable school after they were shocked to find their community vastly changed because of poverty, civil war and HIV/AIDS. Three years on, the school, called Upendo after the Swahili word for ‘love’, has expanded and now has eight teachers and more than 80 children most of whom are orphans. Dr Masibo Lumala established an active twinning programme with Wadsworth Fields Primary School in Stapleford, Nottingham and also with his alma mater, the University’s School of English Studies which has raised money to pay for a teacher’s salary at the school. Fundraising by both ‘schools’ has helped Upendo’s expansion.
Caroline Adams and Fiona Stockdale, two undergraduate students, visited Upendo Junior School from 28 June to 11 July 2010. Caroline and Fiona travelled with Stephen McKibbin, the IT Officer from the School of English Studies. This trip was funded by donations to the University's Alumni Annual Fund and the School of English Studies.
There is a Facebook Group about the trip to Kenya and photographs of the School and the amazing work the students did with the children.
Students from the Mechanical Engineering Society, Product Design Society and English Society also raised £215.10 for Upendo at the raffle during the summer ball 2010.
Full story about the students' trip to Kenya is here
If you are interested in making a donation to the Upendo Junior School in Kenya please contact Rebecca Peck in the School Office for further information.
More information about Upendo Junior School, Kenya
Information about students from the School of English Studies visiting Kenya in the summer of 2010
Christmas newsletter from Masibo Lumala, Director of the Upendo Junior School, Kenya
Posted on Friday 11th June 2010