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Welcome on the website of EDU’KENYA association

The franco-kenyan association has a solidarity goal.

Our project is to build a mobile Library turning around schools and proposing: - books in English and swahili, story books, picture books, novels, comics,

encyclopaedias and documentaries …

- sport equipment, balls, rackets, skipping ropes….

In Kenya, primary school is mandatory since 2002. But teachers are missing and classes are in excessive number.

The classes are open, with no lockers so it is difficult to stock material.

Building a mobile Library is giving access to thousand and thousand children to leisure books and sport equipment. It is what EDU’KENYA is fighting for. Our needs are simple A gift of 5€ is good to buy a

A gift of 5€ is good to buy a

And 5€ + 5€ + 5€ + 5€ + 5€ + 5€ …. = a mobile-library

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ACCUEIL/Our activities/where

Busia in Kenya Situated in Eastern Africa, Kenya is particularly known for its safaris, its beaches on the Indian Ocean, its tea, rose and vegetable plantations.

The three big cities, Mombasa to the East, the capital Nairobi in the center and Kisumu on Lake Victoria to the west, are situated along the equator that crosses 1500 kilometers of the country. The town in the area of Busia near Kisumu and close to the Uganda border, was selected for the EDU’KENYA project.

Busia Rural zone

Latitude 0° longitude

45°

Domestic animals: pig,

donkey, goat, dog, hen,

cow

April and December

Green hills and red

hearth

Windy and dusty

25° to 35°

200 primary schools

Mango trees, avocado

tree, banana tree,

pineapple trees

5 schools chosen for the

pilot project

- Busia Township

- Joy Valley Budalangua

- Double insight

- New Hope Budalangi

- Bulanda

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ACCUEIL/Our activities/when 2011 February: For the third round of the project pilot, Astrid CL, the President of Edu’Kenya accompanied by Gabrielle Cottin, a volunteer, went to Busia from the 19-26. Their objectives were:

- Set up regular monthly visits of the library - Optimize the organization - Offer a larger selection of books, documentaries, specialized books with

photographs - Talk about this project with different stakeholders (school Principals and

teachers) January: Edu’Kenya wishes you happy New Year

2010 December Sale of local crafts coming from Massai and Luo markets and bought in Kisumu October : 4th trip to Busia. Project launch and our library’s first visits to 5 pilot schools. May-September : 400 books are periodically sent to Kenya thanks to French friends who travel there with the books in their bags and transmit them to our local friends Kenyan. April : Trip to London to discover the books given by the 2 English publishers. Three boxes of fifty kilos are sent to Nairobi. In Paris, France, first public presentation of the association to a network of friends and family. Sale of Kenyan crafts with profits allocated to EDU-KENYA. June : Action : “book covering”, resulting in plastic covers for 250 albums. January : 3rd trip to Busia. Meeting with the region’s local school officials. Instructive exchange on the needs and interests of a travelling library that would give children access to books and sports. Selection of 5 schools for the pilot project:

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The schools were selected either because they were particularly isolated or because they were significantly lacking in financial means. The final choice was for 2 public schools, a nursery school and a school for handicapped children. Two teachers from each school were selected to be the contact person and receive the material - one for books and the other for sports equipment - the day the library came to their school.

2009 February : 2nd trip to Busia. Meeting with the teachers and Principles of the schools that had already been visited EDU’KENYA decides to focus orient itself towards the idea of a travelling library that would loan books and soccer balls. August : Creation of the blog to facilitate the link - French- English, Kenyan and promote the association. July : The first week long trip for 2 volunteers in a chosen orphanage. Objective: sports initiative for all the children and gift of sports equipment June : Creation of EDU’KENYA in France.

2008 May First trip to Busia. Visit to schools and orphanages to assess needs and define the project.

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ACCUEIL/Our activities/why

A long story…

The school teacher, and know journalist Astrid Charlery Labouche, President of EDU’KENYA wanted to be involved in a project.

In 1998 she discovered Kenya. Her enthusiasm for the country grew into a real attachment for it thanks to the many trips there for pleasure and then, as a journalist for work. Thanks to a convergence of the local needs along with many friendly encounters and her educational and organizational skills enabled her to build this original but simple project in a small town called Busia.

Set up a traveling library on site is a micro project meeting a maxi need.

Within the Busia region, each school has between 350 and 2000 pupils from 3 to 17 years old representing nearly 20 000 children.? With a region that is spread out, and schools isolated and far apart, the idea for a travelling library was the only solution: the books and supplies would be brought to the children. The local school systems do not have the means to invest in cultural center. In spite of this, some initiatives have emerged:

- In the center of Busia a BASIC library led by 2 volunteers propose books especially for adults. Perhaps there’s a possibility for a partnership

- In the North of Kenya, there is an impressive individual initiative too, a library, traveling by camel back! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn4Zlt8Lx-k

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ACCUEIL/Our activities/how

What to choose? Books

Two English publishers have accepted to help us. Hachette Children sent us 500 books to London and 150 albums and paperback novels to Orion. Purchase at a very low price of 200 used books from second hand shops in London Since In addition to English, Swahili is the national language in Kenya, 50 books of East African legends and fairy tales in Swahili were bought. Anglophones and anglophiles also participated by giving books in English. Sports Equipment

In addition to gifts made by SYMPATHISERS and while waiting to find partners from sports equipment companies, the association has invested in the purchase of soccer balls, rackets, jump ropes. Shipping

This is a true challenge, but solidarity and inventiveness enables the material to arrive slowly but surely arrive in Kenya first and then to Busia

- Transportation via a specialized transport company to Africa (Kesom) - Use of travelers / SYMPATHISANTS of the Association who carry the books in

their baggage towards Nairobi.

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- The volunteers also become pack horses during their trips to Busia. The librarybus

The next project is to buy a small truck that would become the library bus. While waiting for the financing and for the truck to be operational, a local taxi, loaded with trunks full of books and balls helps us go from school to school.

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Actualities A message in a bottle Urgent ! The association is looking for a working lap top computer to show pictures to the teachers of the 5 schools and for use by EDU KENYA.

The blog Discover our blog : www.edukenya.blogspot.com

Dates to remember Jun 2011 A meeting in Busia to act the last turn h February 2011 Two French volunteers Astrid and Gabrielle plan to go to Busia for the third time last week of February. In fact in January for the first time, Pius, Sabina and Freddy by themselves were in charge of the visits to the 5 schools. We wish them much luck. December 2010 In Paris, sale of Kenyan crafts with profits for the Association. During their trips to Kenya, the volunteers buy local crafts made for the most part by the Luo one of the local tribes – jewellery, objects made out of horn, decorations made out of recycled metal. These products are resold during an open house EDU KENYA, with profits going to purchase books and invest in an vehicle for the library bus. October 2010 Pilot project First visit to the 5 schools in the Busia area. This was done by taxi until funds could be found to acquire a library bus. Two French volunteers spent 10 days in Busia going from one school to the other. They travelled by taxi and were accompanied by two Kenyan partners, they arrive early as of 7 am, set up the books in a room lent by the school.

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All day long, each class spends either 1 hour in the ‘library’.

. The EDU’KENYA’s team also leaves sports equipment at the disposal of the contact teacher who is in charge of sports activities or shares sports activities – ball games, jump rope or running, pétanque with the pupils.

At 6 pm, the EduKenya team packs up all the books and equipment ready to use the next day in another school.

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Accueil / who are we? / Contact

EDU’KENYA - 34 BD du Temple - 75011 Paris - France Tél. : 0033 (0) 9 75 22 73 81� Courriel : edu.kenya@gmail.com To know more about Kenya-French relationship

France in Kenya � Ambassade de France à Nairobi�http://www.ambafrance-ke.org�Organisations de Solidarité Internationales OSI Kenya in France� Ambassade du Kenya à Paris� 3 rue Freycinet�75016 Paris�Tél. 01 56 62 25 25 http://www.kenyaembassyparis.org/

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EDU’KENYA’s team Astrid Charlery Labouche�French président, used to be a teacher for 20 years. Today journalist, she is the starter of EDU’KENYA‘s project. After many travels in Kenya, she got some friendship and thought organising a solidarity project in this country. After an evaluation of needs, she involved herself in an educational project, in Busia.

Martin Mirimo�Vice Président,�Kenyan,�French speaking language had studied in Europe. Born in Busia, he is the bridge between kenyan and french teams. Because he speaks french, english and swahili he can keep easy the relationships.

Laurence Gourdault-Montagne, NGO secretary, french Orthophoniste, she gets quickly interested by the project and wanted to get involved. Because she has some skills in learning the language and a good knowledge of the childhood she is a good help.

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Pierrick Labouche, Pierrick Labouche, French, treasurer of the association, CFO in a bank, he is helping with his manager skills and good english speaking. Touch by the idea of practising reading and sport, he is supporting EDU’KENYA.

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The Busia’s team Freddy, Sabina and Pius are our contacts for the pilot project

Headmasters and teachers of the 5 schools involved in the pilot project

New Hope

Joy Valley

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Township primary school

Bulanda primary school

Double Insight

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Thank you also to a lot of volontiers

Mattias Labouche : web master of the blog and website and sport volunteers in Busia.

Maxime Boizel : artistic direction

Stéphane de Crépy : sport volunteers in Busia Kenya.

Cécile Michiardi : communication

Pascale Gélineau : logistics

Jérôme Gelineau : books transporter

Maryse Hetzel : craft saler

Jean-Daniel Boitel : sportive partnership

David Machio : reception of books in Nairobi

Mark Odhiambo et Janet Opii :

Adeline Boulant : searching for partnership

Gabrielle Cottin : first french volunteers to go to Busia All the ones who covered the books, listen to us, g ive many time and sport equipment

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Thank you to our sponsors

Hachette children’s book

Orion Publishing Group

École Fénelon Saint Marie

Banque Barclays

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To give To make a transfert Association EDU’KENYA BARCLAYS bank Code bank : 30588�Code guichet : 61903�Numéro de compte : 23602940101 �Clé RIB : 89�BIC : BARCFRPP�IBAN : FR76 3058 8619 0323 6029 4010 189