A school for children from the poorest families in the largest slum in Africa
Every morning more than a hundred children come here from Kibera, one of the most deprived areas in Africa. Waiting for them are lessons, a hot meal and a day spent somewhere safe.
Most families in Kibera do not go to a doctor at the first sign of illness: medical care is too expensive and often simply out of reach. So we look after our pupils' health ourselves.
Every quarter the school holds a medical check-up, which helps catch health problems in time. The school always keeps a first-aid cabinet with the necessary medicines and supplies, and we restock it regularly.
Several times a year we run extended examinations. If a child needs further tests or treatment, we arrange a visit to a clinic in Nairobi.
Every quarter the school holds a medical check-up, which helps catch health problems in time. The school always keeps a first-aid cabinet with the necessary medicines and supplies, and we restock it regularly.
Several times a year we run extended examinations. If a child needs further tests or treatment, we arrange a visit to a clinic in Nairobi.
If a child falls ill
By the standards of Kibera, Tabor School is a proper, well-equipped school. It has electricity, fitted classrooms, furniture, teaching materials and a team of professional teachers. Lessons are taught in five classes.
The curriculum includes:
The curriculum includes:
- Swahili;
- English;
- grammar;
- the world around us;
- arts and crafts.
How the school works
Families in Kibera live in such poverty that a proper meal every day is an unaffordable luxury. Most children arrive at school hungry, and what the school serves is their main — and often their only — regular food of the day.
Here children are fed twice a day. The menu includes ugali, rice, pulses, chicken, eggs, vegetables and a drink made from moringa, a plant rich in vitamins and micronutrients. As a result the children grow better, fall ill less often and cope more easily with their schoolwork.
Here children are fed twice a day. The menu includes ugali, rice, pulses, chicken, eggs, vegetables and a drink made from moringa, a plant rich in vitamins and micronutrients. As a result the children grow better, fall ill less often and cope more easily with their schoolwork.
A hot meal every day
The school brings together three lines of work at once
children's
health
health
social
support
support
education
The school works on the opposite principle to selection: instead of taking the strongest pupils, we take the children from the neediest families in Kibera — those who, without our support, would have almost no chance of an education.
For parents, schooling is completely free. The school provides pupils with everything they need: textbooks, stationery, uniform and food. We believe that a lack of money should not cost a child their education.
For parents, schooling is completely free. The school provides pupils with everything they need: textbooks, stationery, uniform and food. We believe that a lack of money should not cost a child their education.
Which children we take
The team
It takes a large team of like-minded people for 109 children to study, eat, receive medical care and feel cared for every day. Some run the school itself, others raise funding and organise meals and support for the pupils. But the central role belongs to the teachers. Every one of them is a qualified educator — in Kibera, a rarity and a real asset.
School manager
Assistant manager
Evans Ouma
Delvine finished secondary school and holds a certificate in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
She has been with our team for three years. She looks after a younger brother and sister, so caring for children is not only her profession but part of her daily life.
Delvine is open and warm, though she can be strict when she needs to be. She sees discipline as an important part of learning and watches closely that her pupils take their lessons seriously. She pays particular attention to activities outside lessons: in her view, doing things together helps children grow, learn to communicate and make real friends.
She has been with our team for three years. She looks after a younger brother and sister, so caring for children is not only her profession but part of her daily life.
Delvine is open and warm, though she can be strict when she needs to be. She sees discipline as an important part of learning and watches closely that her pupils take their lessons seriously. She pays particular attention to activities outside lessons: in her view, doing things together helps children grow, learn to communicate and make real friends.
Teacher
Delvine Omwoyo
Milka completed primary and secondary school and then trained as a teacher in Early Childhood Development.
She is married and raising three children: her eldest son is already at university, the middle one is at school and the youngest is two. Despite financial difficulties, Milka does everything she can to give her children a decent future.
She is kind and attentive to every child, talks regularly with the pupils' parents, helps them understand their children's strengths and supports their progress.
She is married and raising three children: her eldest son is already at university, the middle one is at school and the youngest is two. Despite financial difficulties, Milka does everything she can to give her children a decent future.
She is kind and attentive to every child, talks regularly with the pupils' parents, helps them understand their children's strengths and supports their progress.
Teacher
Milka Nyaboke
Hellen trained in early childhood education (ECDE) and has devoted more than twenty years of her life to teaching.
She has worked at our school for the past three years. Hellen is raising five children and understands well how much care, support and attention matter in learning.
She finds common ground with pupils of any age, knows how to listen, and creates an atmosphere of trust and respect in the classroom.
She has worked at our school for the past three years. Hellen is raising five children and understands well how much care, support and attention matter in learning.
She finds common ground with pupils of any age, knows how to listen, and creates an atmosphere of trust and respect in the classroom.
Senior teacher
Hellen Opudo
Evans was born and grew up in Kibera, where he still lives. After finishing school he qualified in construction and worked in the trade for a time. Later he moved into social work and joined the school project. In time he became administrator of Kili Happy School, which subsequently merged with Tabor School.
Alongside that he worked as a social worker with the Children Must Live Initiative.
Today Evans is the school's assistant administrator. His colleagues value him for his reliability, his sense of responsibility and his ability to find a way through even the most difficult situations.
Alongside that he worked as a social worker with the Children Must Live Initiative.
Today Evans is the school's assistant administrator. His colleagues value him for his reliability, his sense of responsibility and his ability to find a way through even the most difficult situations.
Alfred Okumu
A former Anglican priest.
Alfred was born and grew up in Kibera.
Although he had the chance to leave, he chose to stay and work for his own community. He is marked by his sense of responsibility, his involvement and a sincere wish to change children's lives for the better. His organisational skills allow him to run the school effectively and to move the project forward day by day.
Alfred was born and grew up in Kibera.
Although he had the chance to leave, he chose to stay and work for his own community. He is marked by his sense of responsibility, his involvement and a sincere wish to change children's lives for the better. His organisational skills allow him to run the school effectively and to move the project forward day by day.
+254 (723) 660-130
okumu_alfred@childrenmustlive.com
okumu_alfred@childrenmustlive.com
Kibera
Kibera is considered one of the largest informal settlements in Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people live here, and in many parts of it conditions have changed little over recent decades.
The settlement began to take shape in the 1920s as a product of the colonial policy of the time. Under the laws then in force, the African population had to settle on the outskirts of Nairobi. The first residents were Nubian soldiers who had served the British Empire; later came people arriving in the capital in search of work and a better life.
The settlement began to take shape in the 1920s as a product of the colonial policy of the time. Under the laws then in force, the African population had to settle on the outskirts of Nairobi. The first residents were Nubian soldiers who had served the British Empire; later came people arriving in the capital in search of work and a better life.
For most people, though, Kibera never became a place of new opportunity. Many blocks still have no reliable electricity. A single water point may serve dozens of families. There is virtually no sewerage, medical care is out of reach for a large share of residents, and good schools can be counted on one hand. Rubbish goes uncollected for years, so many homes stand literally on layers of old refuse.
A few years ago volunteers running HIV and tuberculosis treatment programmes in Kibera ran into an unexpected problem. The medication had to be taken three times a day with food. It later emerged that many residents eat only once a day — after sunset.
In conditions like these, even an ordinary illness can become a serious ordeal. Children are the most vulnerable of all.
A few years ago volunteers running HIV and tuberculosis treatment programmes in Kibera ran into an unexpected problem. The medication had to be taken three times a day with food. It later emerged that many residents eat only once a day — after sunset.
In conditions like these, even an ordinary illness can become a serious ordeal. Children are the most vulnerable of all.
That is why our school is here. It teaches, it feeds, and it keeps an eye on the children's health. For many pupils it is the only way to eat regularly, see a medic and go to school at all.
Where almost no social institutions function, a school takes on far more than education. Sometimes it holds not only a child's future but their life today.
Where almost no social institutions function, a school takes on far more than education. Sometimes it holds not only a child's future but their life today.
Budget
Why Tabor School needs support
Because most of these children have no other source of help. Even a small contribution can change a child's life completely. This project shows that real change does not always take vast resources.
Because most of these children have no other source of help. Even a small contribution can change a child's life completely. This project shows that real change does not always take vast resources.
Every one of these children receives an education, food, medical care and a chance to build their own future.
USD 60 per pupil per month.
The school has 109 children.
The school has 109 children.
Contacts
Tabor School
all@tabor.school
Kibera Ayany, Nairobi, Kenya
P.O. Box 3885 00100
Alfred Okumu
alokumu@yahoo.com
+254 (723) 660-130
Vadim Markin
lampada@tabor.school
+7 (985) 922-81-78
all@tabor.school
Kibera Ayany, Nairobi, Kenya
P.O. Box 3885 00100
Alfred Okumu
alokumu@yahoo.com
+254 (723) 660-130
Vadim Markin
lampada@tabor.school
+7 (985) 922-81-78
Certificate
TABOR C.B.O.
No. 06725
No. 06725