July 2024 - by John Gill, WIKS-USA President - I made my fourth visit to Nambale Magnet School (NMS) this past July. As always, it evoked a range of emotions and impressions. The stark rural poverty of western Kenya where NMS is located is a fact of everyday life. The stories of many of our sponsored children and their families are frankly gut-wrenching. And the cycle of poverty at the macro level is no closer to being broken in this region of Kenya than it was two decades ago when the idea of building NMS was germinating.
However, for those children (both sponsored and paying) who have the opportunity to attend NMS, the trajectories of their lives will be changed forever. They learn that social and economic background does not determine performance. They learn that gender need not determine career choice nor aspiration. They learn that people halfway around the world who are not related to them, nor look nor talk like them still care deeply for them. They learn that they are valued and loved unconditionally. They learn that excellence in all they do at NMS is the standard – not an option.
Given this environment and consistent messaging, it should not surprise us that even the children from truly desperate circumstances learn to dream of better lives for themselves and their families. They see that reality through witnessing the success of the earliest NMS attendees who are now close to completing their university degrees in an array of majors including aeronautical engineering, medicine, education, nursing, technical trades. That example encourages them to pursue their educations with diligence and energy.
It is deeply gratifying as a supporter of NMS to see the joy that our sponsored children have simply in being able to attend this fine school – truly a center of excellence in the region. It brings pride to their families and gives these children a legitimate chance to "be all they can be."
I am frequently asked what one does or can do when they visit NMS. Each visit has been different but during this latest one, I spent time attending Agricultural classes within the new Kenyan educational curriculum called CBC. I was impressed by the range and practicality of the instruction as well as the attentiveness of the students. I met with several teachers, asking them about their stories and how/why they came to NMS.
Founder/Director Evalyn Wakhusama escorted me and my fellow traveler, Evan Drake, on a tour of the extensive grounds of NMS including agricultural areas outside the main campus. The social worker arranged for several visits to the homes of sponsored learners, which was a powerful experience. I was also able to visit the community at large to get a better idea of the life and activities of the region. I spent time talking and interacting with students of all ages as well as with other staff members. There were also other visitors on the grounds during my visit with whom I was able to interact and learn about their engagement and connection to NMS. It was amazing how fast the days passed by.
While overall infrastructure has improved markedly since my first NMS visit in 2017, it is still common to experience energy blackouts; sporadic WiFi connectivity; the need to drink only bottled or boiled water; and the need to utilize mosquito nets at night as malaria and other insect-borne diseases remain common. Security within the walls of the school campus have been strengthened but petty theft outside the walls remains common. This is why most of the valuable vegetables are grown within the walled area so that outsiders don't walk off with them at night.
One wakes up to the crowing of roosters near dawn and the sound of cattle being moved outside for grazing early in the mornings. There is the sound of construction of some sort ongoing almost incessantly throughout the day, and, of course, the sounds of over 460 children going to and fro literally from dawn to dusk. NMS resembles a self-contained community that is something our American children can only read about rather than living in as the students and staff of NMS do.
Before and after my NMS visit, I visited other areas of Kenya including two new safari venues for me (Tsavo East and Amboseli). I spent some time in Nairobi meeting with other organizations and individuals and was even able to attend a Kenyan wedding to which over 900 people joined the dinner reception. It was quite an experience.
NMS is fortunate to have a generous donor base in the USA for which they are exceedingly grateful. Simply put, they could not continue to operate in anywhere remotely close to the current manner if it were not for this ongoing support. The 150+ sponsored learners are all funded by our donations. I know I don't take this generosity for granted and make the annual trips to Kenya to ensure that funds received from our donors are well spent and impactful. I'm pleased to report that such is indeed the case. NMS remains a beacon of excellence in an area with few options, and really is making a dent in the cycle of poverty among all who come into contact with it. In addition to its academic excellence, NMS is one of the largest private employers in the county making an important contribution in this area.
I hope that some readers who have not yet visited may consider doing so in the future. The smiles that you will generate on the faces of the students at NMS will themselves make such a trip worthwhile.
Nambale Cornerstone Project
The Nambale Cornerstone Project is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that transforms and sustains marginalized communities by educating, nurturing, and empowering their most vulnerable members. Founded in 2008, the foundation is a primary benefactor the Nambale Magnet School in Western Kenya which provides education, shelter, and support for AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children.
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Cornerstone Project, Inc.