Ushirika
BACKGROUND
Ushirika School was One Girl Can’s very first project located in the Kibera settlement, which is about the size of Central Park with over a million people living in it. Challenges like access to clean water, electricity, sanitation, garbage pickup, health care, or education are the norm for the people living here.
One Girl Can founder, Lotte, met David Kitavi. David was raised in Kibera, but managed to get an education, leave Kibera and work as an IT Manager for several years.
On his visits back home to see his parents, who still lived there, he noticed how many young children were unsupervised and out of school.
Without hesitation, David rented a room for children to feel safe and be children. Shortly after, he quit his day job, hired teachers, and dedicated himself full-time to the new school.
At that time, Ushirika School had 80 children in five mud-walled rooms, so One Girl Can provided funding and resources to build a two-story building with six classrooms.
Now, Ushirika is a primary and secondary school for over 600 students in the Kibera neighbourhood in Nairobi - the oldest and largest informal settlement in Africa. The school continues to serve as a safe haven for the students in the community.
In February 2021, with generous donations and support of our One Girl Can community, we were able to completely rebuild the school. The finished project features the new 3-story primary and secondary schools, which includes an art room, two science labs, two libraries and a renovated teachers' area.
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Our next project for 2021 is building a dormitory for girls, providing a sanctuary where students can fully focus on their studies. The first-ever of its kind in the neighbourhood of Kibera.
We’re building this dorm to give our students a chance to pursue their education without having to worry about their safety, household obligations, or distractions.
This will give the girls a space to call their own, which lets them fully immerse themselves in their studies and puts them on the path to gaining meaningful employment. A dormitory also provides clean washroom facilities and menstrual resources, eliminating the risk of preventable health problems and keeping girls on the path to completing their education. Read more >
PROJECTS COMPLETED:
• 122 scholarships
• 2 full 3-story school buildings (primary and secondary grades)
• 14 classrooms
• 2 libraries
• 2 science labs
• 1 art room
• Washrooms
• Teachers lunchroom and kitchen
GALLERY:
