Community Development Officer Michael Cox from Bedford Academy blogs about his school's partnership with Bishop Okiring in Kenya.

Michael travelled to Kenya with two students to meet his partner school in July 2011. The story of their journey aired on the BBC News Channel on 22 October and can be watched on the World Class website. 

One of my favourite projects we have undertaken together is a project called 'Send my Sister to School'.   

    This was particularly pleasing to me as it was entirely student led by our 6th form at Bedford Academy. The campaign is put together by Global Campaign for Education and allows students to take the lead to promote awareness of female education within their own school and the surrounding community. Our students produced a video and a banner and organised a meeting with our local MP. I took the banner to Bishop Okiring with me to share the campaign as Mr Okadie is very passionate about female education. Every student at Bishop Okiring signed the banner as did staff. This became a powerful symbol for the project as it showed directly the impact of education to both boys and girls from an economically challenged community.

When I met Mr Okadie in London at the World Olympic Dreams conference I promised him I would try and learn Swahili. I am fortunate in the fact that Bedford is one of the most multi-cultural towns in the UK and we have several students from East Africa who speak Swahili who have been able to help me learn. I delivered a speech in Swahili to the gathered students, staff and community when I visited Bishop Okiring and the feedback was fantastic. This inspired me to learn more and to pass it on to my students.  We now devote part of our International Schools enrichment directly to learning Swahili and all the students who attend love learning it!

When I visited Bishop Okiring Mr Okadie told me the importance of learning English to his students. Most students first language is their local dialect and therefore English can be difficult. Bishop Okiring students have big dreams and aspirations, most of which will require a grasp of English. He told me that our visit will inspire his students to learn more English and that working with our School will push them all with their studies. We have started to achieve this through regular student contact and hope to continue with phone calls, emails and hopefully through SKYPE. A prime example of the success of this partnership is Kenyan student Eglah, whose English has improved fantastically since her visit to Bedford Academy!

A high point of my visit to Bishop Okiring was the exchange of our culture boxes! These contained 10 items of local or national significance to our respective cultures. It was very interesting to see the difference in the items and how they were used in everyday life. Each culture box included a 'mystery' item which each School had to guess. Bedford Academy’s mystery item was an egg cup which completely baffled staff and students alike! It was interesting to see that all Bishop Okiring items were hand-made and very practical where our items were mainly plastic and slightly frivolous! 

Another curriculum project we did this year was fairtrade. Each school  made a video to intrroduce their thoughts on Fairtrade and what it means to them. The videos have since been exchanged and will be used to promote Fairtrade across the Academy for Fairtrade Fortnight/World Fairtrade day 2012.

Michael Cox

Community Development Leader

Bedford Academy

The Kenyan contingent then spent a fascinating 3 days being shown around Bedford Academy by headgirl Emma and other students. Now the Kenyans are looking forward to welcoming Emma and Ermal to their school in Mount Elgon. It's a region known for its rain, so Emma and Ermal have packed waterproofs, aswell as a few goodies to pass onto their partners.
 
Naboth Okadie, headteacher at Bishop Okiring, has planned an exciting programme to welcome his guests, including tree planting, cooking traditional food and learning the local lingo - Kiswahili. Bishop Okiring students are BIG on athletics, so Emma and Ermal will join in athletics training out on the field, aswell as learning about issues affecting young people growing up in this region such as the lengthy distances travelled by students to get to school, and obstacles facing girls trying to get an education.

Ermal has also packed his boxing gloves, and hopes to give the Kenyan students an insight into his own sporting passion!
 
Watch this space for more news on Emma & Ermal's journey to Kenya.

 

 

   

 

I attended Kaptama Primary School in Mt. Elgon and then Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma.

Getting education was areal challenge. I used to walk for twenty five kilometers to and from my primary school daily. I walked bare foot since my parents could not afford shoes. I used to wake up at 4:00am to be in school at 6:30am. Learning resources like books and pens were limited. The classes were congested with over 70 pupils per each. I never used to take breakfast and lunch due to distance to be covered. Corporal punishment was administered by teachers to errant students.

I decided to become a teacher because I wanted to help the young & youth to identify, work and realize their dreams. As a head teacher, I thought I could lead from the front as my students and teachers follow. Teaching gives me an opportunity to interact with students from diverse cultures and backgrounds, something I really cherish.

I trained in Kenyatta University in Nairobi where I graduate with a Bachelor of Education degree in History and Kiswahili.

Apart from teaching I also work very closely with my community to uplift the lives of others. I am the chairman of “ Achausu Joint Self Help Group”. This group endeavors to promote girl education, reduce HIV spread, promote environmental conservation through afforestation and food production through planting of modern varieties of bananas. I have also worked as apart time consultant for KEFEADO- an NGO that was focusing on girl- child education.

I became a head teacher last year in January, Bishop Okiring being my first station. I enjoy my work because I get to lead the young and the old. My happiest moment is when students achieve their goals.

I encounter many challenges in school especially shortage of infrastructure, teaching resources, funds, staff and lack of school bus to transport students.

Girl students in my school are affected by many issues that hamper their education.

They include:-

a)      Early pregnancies

b)      Early marriages

c)       Female Genital mutilation ( Girl circumcision)

d)      HIV scourge which has affected both students & parents.

e)      Orphan hood due to HIV and conflicts between clans

f)       Over burdening by domestic chores

g)      Negative cultural perception/stereotypes-parents prefer educating boys to girls.

h)      Girl-Day scholars face the risk of harassment & rape when they travel early to school & late backhome.

I motivate girls to stay in school by encouraging them to board in school. I pay fees for those who cannot afford. Last year I paid for four students, I provide guidance and counseling to students while emphasizing on the value of Education. I have been inviting female role models like Linet Masai to talk to girls. I have been exposing girls to educational tours like the one Eghla went for at Bedford. The tour has challenged her to work hard & aim at achieving more.

At school level I also encourage girls to exploit their talents and once they do well I reward them.  In all I have personal contact with each student, so they learn to be open and share with me freely.

Motivating girls to stay in school is important because it is the surest way of removing social inequalities based on gender. It also gives the girl student an opportunity to maximize her potential both in and outside class.

Funding students to stay in school is a big challenge. Most parents are very poor. I have been sacrificing part of my little salary to pay for needy but promising students. I have requested the Anglican Church (sponsor) to support whenever it can. I am encouraging parents to struggle and get food for the students to feed on. Any support  accorded to my school towards supporting such needy cases will be appreciated.

Thank you and Best wishes

Naboth Okadie- Head teacher

                              Bishop Okiring Sec School

Naboth Okadie is Head teacher at Bishop Okiring School in Kenya.

Bishop Okiring is part of the Olympic Dreams Schools Network run by World Class; a British Council and BBC schools linking project.