Outreach 2018:

The bond between St. Patrick’s Kawese and St. Patrick’s Hollypark was further strengthened this year when a group of 8 teachers and volunteers made the journey to Kenya as part of the May 2018 Outreach group.

Particular highlights this year were:

• Teaching and learning in partnership with the staff and children of St. Patrick’s Kawese.
• Setting up the new 5 classrooms. Making new displays with art work sent from the boys of Hollypark and the pupils of Kawese. Creating a child centred layout with the new furniture most especially the new storage units funded by the recent 6^th class students of St. Patrick’s B.N.S. Hollypark, in each classroom.
• Visiting the homes of some of the pupils of Kawese.
• Distributing resources and teaching materials donated by the staff, boys, and Board of Management of St. Patrick’s B.N.S Hollypark, Foxrock, Dublin.
• Meeting Dr. Vincent O’Neill, the Irish Ambassador to Kenya and the Representatives of the Dept. of Education at the Grand opening of Phase 3 of St. Patrick’s Kawese.
• Visiting local schools especially The Holy Ghost Secondary school in Sultan Hamud.
• And who could forget our daily journey to school through the floods each day, on foot, even with an ox cart or two!

The Kenyan Child Foundation is humbled by the commitment of the wonderful volunteers in the May 2018 group. Their engagement, time, energy and dedication to the project is admirable.

We thank them for their hard work and inspiration during the fundraising campaigns and preparations for the trip.

We are grateful for their good humour, kindness and resilience during the trip this May. We wish them every success in their future endeavours and hope that they will someday return to Kenya.

The children of Kawese, their families and their futures have been forever changed by their hard work and example.

We couldn’t have done it without you.

Go raibh Mile Maith Agaibh.

Asante Sana

Hurray for our magnificent teachers:

A poem by the pupils of Standard 5

Our teachers.

The most inspiring people we have ever met. They have shaped our minds and our futures.

They have given us guidance. They have made a difference in our lives.

They have given us courage. They have made our minds better.

Our teachers, our role models.

They have given us confidence. They have made a difference in our lives.

We thank you. You have increased the magnificence of learning knowledge and wisdom in us.

Our teachers.

We don’t know how to express our gratitude for all you have done for us.

We absolutely must say thank you. Hurray for you.

Our magnificent teachers, thank you.

The Kenyan Child Foundation is delighted to announce our partnership with the World Bicycle Relief.

A consignment of Buffalo Bicycles have been delivered to Kawese to be distributed to the students of St Patrick’s as part of the Bicycle Education Empowerment Programme (BEEP)

The girls and boys of Kawese who have had to overcome the barrier of distance to school in the past are so positive about the new bicycle programme.

World Bicycle Relief and the entire community of Kawese are aware that Education and attendance at school is the children’s hope for the future.

Attendance and academic performance are being monitored at St Patrick’s. We hope to see an improvement in the attainment level of pupils who are part of the BEEP programme.

The Kenyan Child Foundation looks forward to the exciting impact this partnership will make into the future.

Read more about the WBR Here

Phase II of St Patrick’s Primary School Kawese officially opened on Sunday April 9th 2017.

3 new classrooms were unveiled by Madame Mourhi from the State Department of Education for the pupils of Standards 5,6 and 7.

The Kawese community are proud of the new classrooms at St Patrick’s and the ongoing scores and academic achievements of the students.

They welcomed the announcement that two scholarships for secondary school will be provided for girls by Madame Flora at Kenya High in Nairobi and a further two for boys at the Holy Ghost Secondary school in Sultan Hamud.

The opening of Phase II was accompanied by performance of local song and dance by the Maasai people and the children of Kawese.

The link between St Patrick’s B.N.S. Hollypark Foxrock and St Patrick’s Kawese was further strengthened when the students and teachers received the many gifts and teaching resources sent to Kenya by the boys and parents of Hollypark.

The students and their teachers send their gratitude to everyone who has helped them. They acknowledged and celebrate that in a few short years their school has come so far. “You have managed to change our lives as well as our community. Asante Sana”

The Kenyan Child Foundation was proud to be recognised by the Accountancy Awards as Winner of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year category 2017.

This award was presented at the Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin on the 18th of May 2017 to John McCarrick & Associates in recognition of their support for St Patrick’s Primary School, Kawese.

John McCarrick & Associates were “commended for this very worthy and worthwhile project which has helped countless children.” Their unfailing energy, vision and direction on behalf of the Kenyan Child Foundation were recognised by the judging panel.

“The quality and professionalism of this project and its execution is very impressive. It shows the firm giving back in the truest sense.”