New Haven

"Although the UN estimates that more than 1.5 million people live within Kibera’s two square mile area, the Kenyan Government views Kibera as an illegal settlement and therefore does not provide any services or schools inside the slum. The only schools in Kibera are informally run and lack proper classroom management procedures and resources... "In August 2009, Shining Hope for Communities founded The Kibera School for Girls, the first school exclusively for girls and only tuition-free school in Kibera. By providing a superior education, daily nourishment, uniforms, and schools supplies all free of charge, we are able to give the brightest girls most at-risk for abuse and starvation the power of hope and education... Our hands-on curriculum fosters independence and creativity, instilling a love of learning that motivates students to surmount the many challenges that they face. The school is housed in an eco-friendly building in the heart of Kibera. Community members helped build the school, which includes eight classrooms, a large library, and a multipurpose room. The school also provides students with after-school programs and psychosocial support to prevent further rape and abuse and address trauma. Run by a staff of expert female teachers from Kibera, the school gives students and community-members positive female role models. Instead of paying fees, parents agree to work at the school and community center, which creates a community of caregivers invested in their daughters’ education. After graduating 8th grade, we will funnel students into area high schools. We will provide college/career counseling and academic support to graduates. Our school has already saved the lives of many of our students, protecting them from rape and prostitution while providing the educational foundation for a path out of the slum. The Kibera School for Girls currently serves 45 students grades pre-K through 1st grade, and in July will expand to 60 students in pre-K through 2nd grade." From http://www.hopetoshine.org/projects/kiberaschool/