The new site, just off the Ngong Road in Nairobi , is an existing vacated school site. The SEAT Trustees have agreed to fund the lease for an initial period of 5 years with a view to a longer term commitment. The school is led by a local team of trained Kenyan school teachers. The current Head Teacher (Teacher Dan) came through the original Swanland School Nairobi in Kawangware and it is a real pleasure to see how Dan is now giving back to the community through his role as the new SVS school.

The school is being supported by a local community organisation, CEPACET (The Centre for Partnership and Civil Engagement), who bring much needed advice, guidance and encouragement to the team. This is an exciting new venture and one which we trust will continue the wonderful tradition of providing care, education and hope to so many children and young people in Nairobi out. CEPACET have extensive experience of managing similar community projects – providing a link between the school and the UK charity and supporters.

The school classrooms are built out of old timber and corrugated iron sheets (Mabati) on rough mud floors. However, money provided through the charity has enabled the team to build new toilets and refurbish the surrounding grounds and buildings.

The School’s Administrator wrote to us on the set-up of the new school:

“We thank God for the SEAT Team for standing firm with us in prayers, financial and moral support as we opened our new school on Tuesday 3^rd January 2012. Our new school is located in Ngando village, Dagoretti District, Kawangware Division, Nairobi County . The school is built out of corrugated iron sheets on the outskirts of this poverty stricken area. The school has easy access for the children who walk from the slums around. 

There is a high level of respect, trust and faith among the parents and the community in us for taking care of their children. We have carried out a field excursion and found out that most of the people are guardians or single parents, many are casual labourers and are low-level income earners.  Due to this, most of their children have not attended school before, they either stay at home or end up in streets begging for food. 

We are so grateful for our supporters in Swanland UK who have been working tirelessly to assist us as we have moved from the old site to give hope to these children.  The Swanland Team in Nairobi highly appreciate your support in terms of provision of food, learning materials, clean water, uniforms for the needy children.  The team is focused and would like to provide a bright future to the children in our Community. As our school motto states THE FUTURE IS HERE!”  

SCHOOL CURRICULUM

The school provides 8-4-4 system of education, which is Pre-school to Primary.  The school will continue till it reaches Grade 8, that is when the children sit for National Examination the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. Initially we have started from Pre-school to Grade 5 to give them a solid foundation as they will be promoted to different classes each year.  Our dream is to see the children excel in the National Examination.

The lessons start from 7.30 to 4.30p.m. The school is divided into two sections;  

1.       Pre-school (KG 1 to KG3) subjects taught are:-  Language, Number work, Creative, Environment, C.R.E, Music and Movement, Kiswahili (applies to KG3)

2.       Primary (Grade 1 to Grade 5) subjects taught are:- Maths, English, Kiswahili, Science, S/SCRE, Creative Arts and P.E.

SCHOOL POPULATION

So far we have over 150 children attending the school.  The number is growing rapidly and their needs are becoming a challenge to the school.