OPERATION REDHILL: PHASE I

NOTE: USA and Europe-- donate through GoFundMe, or if you are in Kenya and would like to donate through MPESA, please use MPESA number 0728392239. The TILL number is 9589349. (Please see the budget document below to see the cost of items needed in Kenya Shillings).

Hello, thanks for teaming up with us to help rebuild and bring science and art education programs to a small underfunded school in Kajiji, Dandora, one of Nairobi's most densely populated slums.

School Founder and Director Andrew Omamo Awino took it upon himself to start Red Hill Education Centre, a free primary school in his community, along the banks of the Nairobi River. The school, a sanctuary to 276 children, including those with disabilities, is staffed by a largely volunteer crew of teachers. Unfortunately, deadly floods, caused by unseasonably intense rains (attributed to Climate Change) led to many properties along the riverbanks being unceremoniously and without warning demolished. Homes, schools, and businesses were leveled, including Red Hill, to the horror of the children who arrived one morning to find the school completely gone, along with their books and other school supplies.

They managed to relocate the school to a less-than-ideal but functional location nearby, where Director Awino and his volunteer staff run a lively, though bare-bones program. There is an urgent need for safety and health conditions to be improved, and the materials listed on the budget included in this presentation are meant to do just that.

School founder Andrew Awino at the site of the demolished School.

Redhill is a Community-Based Organization. CBO schools are in the third category of schools in Kenya called APBET (Alternative Providers of Basic Education and Training ). These are schools that aren't public or private.

WHAT IS "OPERATION REDHILL"?

The temporary location that Mr. Awino was able to find allows the education of these children to continue, but they are hampered by the lack of many basic amenities and safety measures. The renovation of classroom floors and toilets will enable kids to have a clean and conducive environment for learning, and will also decrease some sicknesses contracted through unsafe/unsanitary toilets. A science and computer laboratory will contribute to the current Kenya requirements in the CBC (Competency-Based Curriculum) now being implemented in our schools. The computers we will purchase will allow the children to keep up the all CBC standards, as well as participate in photography and other creative activities. Generally, Director Awino explains, if we renovate and equip the school, we will be able to enroll more children, hence reducing illiteracy for the community as a whole. This will also reduce early pregnancy and marriages among teens, child labor, and drug abuse since many kids will be at school and won't be exposed to these vices, which are common in the area.

Dandora is world-famous for its gigantic open dumpsite, which covers several acres, making it one of the largest in all of Africa; hundreds of residents spend hours each day recycling. The air quality in the vicinity is unhealthy, another reason why the school needs reinforced walls, doors, and windows.

Upgrading Redhill in its current, temporary location will make the environment safer and healthier while we pursue PHASE II of "Operation Redhill"-- to purchase property in the community and build a new, model campus for the worthy children of Dandora.

BUDGET DETAILS (Items that are top priority, such as a water tank so that the students can have a constant supply of clear water, are boldfaced):

PHASE I BUDGET (A) — CONSTRUCTION, SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT

Plastering 9 classrooms US Dollars:

70 bags of cement $460

25 tons of ballast $193

30 tons of sand $255

100 stones $46

10 steel doors $540

2 waterproofing packets $8.00

Piping $38

6000 litre water tank $390

2 sinks@Ksh6,000 $92

Kitchen cabinets $140

Improved cooking jiko (stove) $154

5 Classroom computers $772

Laboratory apparatus $232

Transport $154

Labor $927

SCHOOL GARDEN: Tools, fertilizers,

seeds, sprinklers, pesticides, labor $250

Miscellaneous expenses $232

TOTAL $4670

PHASE I BUDGET (B)-- STAFFING: 10 teachers and 2 support staff

One year: $21,325

For a breakdown of expenses in Kenya Shillings and Euros please see attached document below.