Welcome to Kibera, in the city of Nairobi, Kenya.

The largest slum in Africa, Kibera is home to about 1.2 million people squeezed into an area of about 2.5 square kms. It is estimated that 75% of the slum population is under 18 years old.

Looking out across the roofs of Kibera, the rubbish, in the foreground, is right up against the wall of houses

Looking out across the roofs of Kibera, the rubbish, in the foreground, is right up against the wall of houses

The homes are a mixture of mud, sticks, concrete and rusted corrugated iron with compacted dirt floors. There is no organised rubbish disposal; it just gets tossed on the mountain of rubbish already there. Sewerage runs down open channels in the mud streets. Rainwater is often collected off the roof to use for cooking and washing, although contaminated by dirt, sewerage, rust and other pollutants.

Kibera housing

Kibera housing

The slum is dirty and smelly, especially when it is wet. It is characterised by extreme poverty, contagious diseases, corruption, and sporadic violence. Kibera is not an ideal environment to live in and raise children, but it’s the sad reality when you have so few options.

A typical street in Kibera

A typical street in Kibera

There is a railway line running through the slum which is still in use. Kibera and the railway line was featured in the 2005 movie The Constant Gardener. The railway line doubles as a footpath. Many people leave the slum each day to work in the city, returning in the evening. There are numerous cottage industries and stalls set up each day from which to earn a meagre income; shoes, clothing, food, furniture.

The railway line was featured in the 2005 movie The Constant Gardener.

The railway line was featured in the 2005 movie The Constant Gardener.

George Odhiambo (below right) is founder and director of the Adventure Pride School that Building for Education is fundraising for. A quiet unassuming man, George lives and works in the slum with his wife and four children. George has a deep commitment to help the slum dwellers, especially the children. Building for Education first met George about 10 years ago, partnering with him to resource another school. The young man walking on the left is Brian, a graduate of that first school. Brian is now qualified as an accountant, and paying it forward by mentoring other children in the slum.

Brian, John Blaiklock from be* and George Odhiambo.

Brian, John Blaiklock from be* and George Odhiambo.

Last month the homes of about 30,000 people were demolished by the government to make way for a link road, with no compensation offered.

The entry to Adventure Pride School prior to being bulldozed, with their tank to collect water

The entry to Adventure Pride School prior to being bulldozed, with their tank to collect water

In the classroom you see the real connection between teacher and students, with an eagerness to learn apparent. Education is their only hope of graduating from the slum. Building for Education always works with schools that have a track record. They are already functioning as an entity but need to be better resourced. Since their school was demolished Adventure Pride is meeting in a rented hall but it is only temporary and they need to find a new home urgently.

In the classroom you see the real connection between teacher and students, with an eagerness to learn apparent.

In the classroom you see the real connection between teacher and students, with an eagerness to learn apparent.

Our recent fundraising efforts have raised over NZ$35,000. This money is earmarked for purchase of land and basic buildings within the slum from which the Adventure Pride School can continue classes. Building for Education is currently working with George to locate and secure a suitable property. Once this initial stage is complete, further funding for development of the school buildings will be the next stage. We aim to raise another $65,000 to contribute toward this. Efforts to secure an education and a future beyond the slum for these children is what drives us.

Building for Education really appreciates the support of everyone who contributed to the recent fundraising effort. As George says, "We can’t change Kibera, but we can change one life at a time, and that will multiply.”

Be~you~tiful Fundraiser for New Pride School, Kenya

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New Pride Primary School

Demolished!

We have sad news - this week one of the schools we partner with, in Kibera, Kenya, has been demolished. The New Pride Primary School (which rented rooms) was demolished to make way for a new road to go through the slum. Residents were given just two weeks notice, which was far too short a time for them to find new premises.

To help the relocation of New Pride School we urgently need to raise $30,000 to buy land and a building that the 250 children and 12 teachers can move straight into. 

Fundraiser for New Pride Primary School

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8th September 7pm
6 Jack Conway Ave, Manukau, Auckland
Tickets $30

ALL THINGS FABULOUS FOR WOMEN
featuring Trish Scheres - Image consultant & Personal trainer

"Do you have a full wardrobe with nothing to wear?” 
"Learn the 4 factors to wardrobe planning the never have a mistake hanging in your wardrobe again” 
“Sort out the clutter - the three R’s”

Gather the girls together for a night of inspiration as we hear from Image Consultant & Personal Trainer, Trish Scheres. Trish has over 25 years of Image Consulting experience and will be sharing her tips on looking great, feeling awesome and having fun.

Tickets $30 also include refreshments on arrival, dessert and spot prizes.

If you have a wardrobe full of clothes with nothing to wear, this event is for you! Come and learn the 4 factors to wardrobe planning. You'll never have a mistake hanging in your wardrobe again!

Trish is an engaging and motivating speaker, who loves keeping active. Trish has extensive bodybuilding and powerlifting experience, winning a bronze medal for New Zealand at the 2008 World Powerlifting Championship in the USA.

Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to New Pride Primary School in Kenya which needs a new home urgently. The school building, located in the largest slum in Africa, Kibera, was demolished to make way for a road development. It is urgent they find new rooms to hold classes for the 250 students. Funding of $30,000 is needed to relocate the school and secure access to an education for the children living in the slum.

If you can't be with us on this evening or you are male, we would love your support for New Pride Primary School. Please give generously if you can, your dollar will go further as Origin Builders have agreed to match donations DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR (up to $20,000)! 

Thank you for supporting be*

Please mark your donations 'Pride'

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Latest be* News from Kenya and Uganda

Dear Building for Education supporters
 
As we move into 2018 it is a great time to reflect on what was achieved in 2017 and to look at the opportunities that lie ahead of us.  
 
In October of last year, our Executive Director John Blaiklock led a team which visited some of our live and recent projects, verifying the progress which has been made, assisting in moving projects forward and identifying new opportunities to assist people in lifting themselves out of poverty.  The team personally saw many of the families living in Moindabi, Kenya, now with a connection to the water supply, provided thanks to the generosity of be* donors. 

Moindabi, Kenya

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Visiting some of the homes that now have access to water and hearing how this has changed their lives for the better was a real highlight for our team!

Currently there is one water storage tank with the construction of a second tank well underway. Work is completed by hand by local members of the community and will provide a total of 500 cubic meters of water storage. This water will gravity feed to Moindabi Primary School & surrounding communities. 

This project has taken a number of years to get to this point, and has cost a quarter of a million NZ dollars, but is now transforming the lives of the people in Moindabi.  Imagine the difference it makes to a family not having to walk several kilometres every day to collect water; instead they benefit from a water connection at their own property so the children can attend school instead of fetching water and to support the community to grow crops.

Our vision for Moindabi was to provide a convenient, reliable and healthy supply of water to each family so that children can maximise their attendance at school, and families can generate a higher income. They are then able to contribute to school costs and ongoing water provision. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, this has substantially been achieved.  
 
During 2018 we aim to complete the water project and, together with the community, design a new school and associated infrastructure. Some of the funding for this will be provided through be* and some through other sources.  We look forward to sharing progress updates with you through the year.

Kibera, Kenya

You may remember that some years ago be* provided 6 classrooms for New Adventure School in Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya. Kibera is considered the largest slum in Africa with well over a million people living in it. The current situation is that as a result of the approach taken by be*, others have provided 9 additional classrooms. The school is full of children receiving a good education.  To meet the educational needs of more children, the founding leadership of New Adventure School have started a second primary school in the slum. We are exploring ways to purchase land and build a school for them. Currently they are meeting in a small church hall within Kibera.

Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya

Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya

Kitgum, Uganda

In Kitgum, northern Uganda we have been privileged to partner with community leader David Livingstone.  Working with David, and thanks to the generosity of be* donors, in recent years we have been able to provide 7 brand new classrooms. Currently the school provides education for 130 children, with growth expected up to 300 students.  This work will continue as we help David to deliver on further opportunities for the communities he works with. 

In addition, we have been able to provide "cows and ploughs" to assist the community with cultivating ground for crops, 50 bee hives from which the community are making honey and provided for the upgrade of a number of water wells.  These simple projects have enabled these communities to be better fed and to raise money to enable them to purchase land to build further educational/community facilities.
 
It is such an honour to be able to partner with incredible local people to bring about opportunities for communities to build better futures.  Over the years our projects have ranged in size, complexity and cost - from providing a power source for a business cooperative of mothers to sew clothes; delivering a water supply for the thousands of people in a community; or building a school for hundreds of children to obtain an education.  
 
In each case we have worked with local partners who are connected to the communities we are supporting, and we have always been able to verify with our own eyes where funds have been spent and the difference that has been made. At Building for Education we don't employ any staff so that the maximum possible amount of what is donated to us is spent in Africa on the projects, providing the infrastructure required to benefit some of the world's poorest people.  

In this brief newsletter we have shared some of the examples of the work which your generosity has enabled us to support.  Please continue to help us as we work with our partners and their communities to provide learning opportunities for children and related infrastructure in East Africa.
 
Thank you so much for partnering with us, and thank you in advance for your incredible generosity.  If you would like further information on be*, our projects and the communities we are working with, please visit here
 
Have a wonderful 2018
 
The team at Building for Education
 

COMING UP!
We love a good GARAGE SALE, even better when it’s for a good cause! 

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Come grab a bargain & a trinket, with proceeds going to our School projects in Uganda & Kenya! 

If you’ve got anything you’d like to donate to be* for our fundraiser, please email us on events@be.org.nz, we can pick up! 

Sign up to Small Change - $1 per week for the Moindabi Project

Christmas Appeal 2016

Christmas Appeal 2016

This is a picture of one of the toilet blocks at Moindabi Primary School that are used daily by over 400 students. As you can see they are in a very poor state and have been condemned by the Ministry of Health. The school is at risk of being closed down unless these toilets are replaced.

We are seeking your help to build one toilet block, which will cost $13,000NZD. We would love to be able to build two toilet blocks for $26,000NZD. This may seem an unusual request for Christmas but it is a necessity of daily life for all. We would very much appreciate your support!

If you would like to donate to the toilet rebuild, please make an automatic payment to the following bank account: 

12-3049-0124008-00

Reference: “Toilets”

Remember, all donations are tax deductible!

Update from Moindabi Water Project, Kenya

Update from Moindabi Water Project, Kenya

Grandmother is excited to have her own water tap

Grandmother is excited to have her own water tap

Just last month one of the founders of our Trust, John Blaiklock, visited our projects in Kenya and Uganda. See some of his photos on our Facebook page.

We are delighted to tell you that the distribution of water to the school and town communities of Moindabi was completed in November. As on past visits, John met with officials from the Kenyan government to update them on the water project. Inspired by our story, the Kenyan Government have given the community an additional $28,000 NZD to assist with further water distribution. This is a fantastic achievement! The Kenyan Government have also indicated that there will be more funds available in the next few months for further water distribution. This is very encouraging for the community.

Now that the main water distribution pipes are installed and functioning, the work on installing individual connections and meters to the houses has begun, with the neediest families being connected first. The cost of water to the families will be less than what they have been paying for water to date, with the added benefit of not having to spend hours collecting it. This time will now be spent elsewhere, like attending school. What a great achievement!

Water for the those in most need, Moindabi

Water for the those in most need, Moindabi

Water to the door in Moindabi

Water to the door in Moindabi

Water from the tap

The faces of these children in Moindabi show how excited they are to finally have water on tap right outside their house!

Watching the pipes being laid up to the house. Really exciting times!

Watching the pipes being laid up to the house. Really exciting times!

Drinking from the tap!

Drinking from the tap!

 Smile Africa Fundraiser Results

Smile Africa Fundraiser Results

Hello Valued Supporters

Wow, can you believe it is nearly December? Christmas will be here before we know it! 
 
We've had an exciting and busy couple of months here at be*. It was great to see so many of you at our Smile Africa fundraiser on the 22nd of September at Hopetoun Alpha. We hope you had a fun and enjoyable evening sharing an authentic African meal with your quiz mates. We sure had fun! 

Through our ticket sales, auctions and your generous giving, 

we've raised just over $11,000 for our water project in Moindabi, Kenya.

This is a fantastic result. Thank you for your generosity!

Check out some of the fun photos of the night on our Facebook page here 
Whilst you're visiting, give our page a LIKE as it's a great way to stay in touch and keep up to date with our projects. facebook.com/BuildingForEducation/
 
For those of you who would like to give on a regular basis, we have a $1 a week Small Change donation option. This can be set up as a weekly automatic payment to be* account 12-3049-0124008-53. To find out more, check out our website here
*100% of all money donated through our Small Change initiative goes directly towards our Moindabi project on the ground in East Africa. 

A BIG thank you to our many Smile Africa sponsors;

Matahiwi Estate, Grant Allen - Cook, ARKADE Furniture, Wendy & John Buchan, Luke's Kitchen, Lost Springs Spa, Vaughan Scott Images, Snowy Waters Lodge, Auckland Skydive, Allison Mooney, Wolf and Wolf, Brox Ltd, Kimberley-Clark, WELLA, Spectra Hair, Greymans Fitness Solutions, First Scene, Villa Maria, McPhersons, Red Bull, Good Organics, Palm Plates, Purina, Edgewell, RedefinedU and the Power Tool Centre.  


We really couldn't have achieved this fantastic result without your support.

Thank you again for your ongoing support!
 
Kindest regards
be* Team

 

Christmas in Kibera, Kenya

Christmas in Kibera, Kenya

Cooking christmas dinner in Kibera

Cooking christmas dinner in Kibera

The new Adventure School in Kibera, Kenya have sent us some photos of the christmas celebration they had with their pupils.

Christmas Cake for everyone

Christmas Cake for everyone

You can look at the photos on our facebook page here.