Bungoma Muslim Fees & Needs

My name is Josh Seitz, I am a current Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at Bungoma Muslim Secondary School (BMSS) in Kenya. The school serves many students living in the slum surrounding it. BMSS is under construction, but it currently has 7 operational classrooms, a library, and a computer lab with a few computers and internet access on the way (thanks to a micro-scholarship from the US Embassy for a cultural enrichment program called "English Access" that BMSS is offering to 20 high-achieving students in the school). 

Although BMSS' school fees are the most affordable I know of (at roughly $200/year, plus $50 for a uniform), most students struggle to pay this fee. As I am writing this, over half of the students in the entire school have been absent for the past two days due to inability to provide even part of their fees--and many of whom have balances remaining from previous years. 

I have met with the Principal and co-teachers at the school to make an immediate priority list so we can get students back in school, and also enhance the operational and learning processes at BMSS; this is what we came up with*:

1. Student Sponsorship:
(~$200/year for fees, $50 for a new school uniform)
The goal is to link students with donors that will help them pay for school fees, and if the donor wishes, develop a "pen-pal" style relationship with.  

2. A Projector:
(~$500 for one to be shared amongst teachers)
The projector would enhance teachers' lessons by allowing them to project notes, images, computer screens, and other items for all students to see. They currently utilize blackboards, some of which are cracked and can be difficult to read from. 

3. A Public Address System:
(~$1000 to be used for school announcements)
The current system for updating students and teachers is a tri-weekly meeting called "parade," in which everyone stands in the school common area before school. If there are any urgent updates, the school relies on word-of-mouth to be passed around by teachers and class "prefects" (one student in each class, assigned to be the intermediary between teachers and students). This system would dramatically save time that is currently wasted in organizing impromptu meetings, classes, or extra-curricular activities (all of which occur regularly).

4. Books (Short Stories, Novellas, etc.):
(~$4-$10 each here in Bungoma)
Monday-Thursday classes are taught in English, which many students only learn from school, and Friday lessons are taught in Kiswahili. Both are "official languages" in Kenya, but English is what is typically used for government issues, while Kiswahili is the conversational language exchanged between regions (although it isn't even typically the student's first language, or "mother tongue"). Due to this, students need as much practice reading and writing in English as possible in order to give them an opportunity to advance, and the ability to check out short, interesting stories from the school library is one of the best ways to do this.

I would like to ask any donor to designate specifically what cause they would like to donate to.  GoFundMe subtracts 5% of all donations, and their payment processor (WePay) takes 2.9% + $0.30 per donation... Kenyan banks then subtract roughly $3.50 per account withdrawal (of up to $400). Aside from that, I plan to put all of the money raised directly towards each donor's desire (a student sponsorship, projector, public address system, or books).

Thank you!

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ANYTHING HELPS, EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY DONATE $5, $10, $20 WE WILL BE SURE TO PUT IT TO THE CAUSE OF YOUR CHOOSING

Josh