We are so pleased to update you on the progress of Ngulot All Boys Secondary School. The school is fully operational as 33 boys have begun their high school education, which includes classrooms, dorms, a library, a lab, meeting space and much more. Construction is underway for Phase 2 right now. This will house more students and include more classrooms and even a soccer pitch with bleachers!
Watch the videos below to see the opening ceremony, and meet one of the students in the class of 2020.
Watch the videos below to see the opening ceremony, and meet one of the students in the class of 2020.
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On that day, hundreds gathered from formerly rivalling tribes of Kenya to celebrate the power of education. Hundreds from communities across the Maasai Mara, with up to a five hour walk, welcomed hundreds more from Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. who were eager to participate in a ceremonial ground-breaking.
As the group of wide-eyed people from around the country and the world walked towards the land on the side of a hill, that would soon be the home of the school, the skies opened and a downpour of rain came flashing down in an instant. The guests of Free The Children along with the local elders, mamas, babas, boys, and girls, quickly scrambled for shelter under a tent that was set up to block the otherwise beating sun. Nearly one thousand people sought shelter under this tent, in what was a great equalizer. The race, gender, country of birth, or net worth of anyone was not a factor when the rain came pouring down.
After a few wet minutes, we were greeted by vans to take us back to a suitable shelter. Disappointed that the ceremony was unable to take place, we headed back to our camp. This feeling of disappointed did not last, as it was soon noted that this amount of rain had not met this region of Kenya in weeks and the supply of water was lacking. Locals announced that it was a blessing for them to have the rain come down. Although a very long trek awaited most of the travelling Kenyans, they were incredibly thankful to know that the rain had blessed the new secondary school.
The following day we met back at the same spot, and were greeted by fewer locals with the same spirit as the day before. Singing, dancing, and laughter were common sights for the second day in a row. Many could not attend this ceremony due to the unfeasibility of leaving their homes and crops for a second day. Although they were not there to be part of the ground-breaking, they all knew that the school would be very positive for everyone because of the blessing it received the day before.
As the group of wide-eyed people from around the country and the world walked towards the land on the side of a hill, that would soon be the home of the school, the skies opened and a downpour of rain came flashing down in an instant. The guests of Free The Children along with the local elders, mamas, babas, boys, and girls, quickly scrambled for shelter under a tent that was set up to block the otherwise beating sun. Nearly one thousand people sought shelter under this tent, in what was a great equalizer. The race, gender, country of birth, or net worth of anyone was not a factor when the rain came pouring down.
After a few wet minutes, we were greeted by vans to take us back to a suitable shelter. Disappointed that the ceremony was unable to take place, we headed back to our camp. This feeling of disappointed did not last, as it was soon noted that this amount of rain had not met this region of Kenya in weeks and the supply of water was lacking. Locals announced that it was a blessing for them to have the rain come down. Although a very long trek awaited most of the travelling Kenyans, they were incredibly thankful to know that the rain had blessed the new secondary school.
The following day we met back at the same spot, and were greeted by fewer locals with the same spirit as the day before. Singing, dancing, and laughter were common sights for the second day in a row. Many could not attend this ceremony due to the unfeasibility of leaving their homes and crops for a second day. Although they were not there to be part of the ground-breaking, they all knew that the school would be very positive for everyone because of the blessing it received the day before.
The girls of the neighbouring all girls secondary school, Kisaruni, watched with great smiles in seeing that their peers would now be able to get the same quality education that they have. There was not a frown in sight, and a celebration of equality in education and appreciation were the only things on all of our minds.
A brief meeting with community elders led to finalizing the naming of the school. During this meeting, members of both the Maasai and Kipsigi tribes joined together to decide on a name that they both were happy with. In the past, the two tribes would only come together to meet over a clash of land. On August 10th, they not only joined in the celebration of their boys, but also came together to decide on a name that would suit them both.
After much deliberation, they decided that the name of the school would be Ngulot Secondary School. The word ‘ngulot’ is the word for strength in both native languages of the Maasai and Kipsigi, and is also the name of the mountain in behind the grounds of the school. They decided that this would be a good name because even if people did not know of the school, they would recognize the name due to its proximity to the mountain in behind.
Now that the ground is broken, youth groups from around the world are now able to join Free The Children’s contracted local workers in building the school. Although the build in underway, there is still money for the project to be raised and awareness for the cause to be brought.
I sincerely thank everyone who is a part of this project. I was fortunate to be able to witness this day on all of your behalf and I am now even more excited than ever that these boys will get the education they deserve.
With happiness and gratitude,
Mitch Kurylowicz
Driving Force of Project Jenga
A brief meeting with community elders led to finalizing the naming of the school. During this meeting, members of both the Maasai and Kipsigi tribes joined together to decide on a name that they both were happy with. In the past, the two tribes would only come together to meet over a clash of land. On August 10th, they not only joined in the celebration of their boys, but also came together to decide on a name that would suit them both.
After much deliberation, they decided that the name of the school would be Ngulot Secondary School. The word ‘ngulot’ is the word for strength in both native languages of the Maasai and Kipsigi, and is also the name of the mountain in behind the grounds of the school. They decided that this would be a good name because even if people did not know of the school, they would recognize the name due to its proximity to the mountain in behind.
Now that the ground is broken, youth groups from around the world are now able to join Free The Children’s contracted local workers in building the school. Although the build in underway, there is still money for the project to be raised and awareness for the cause to be brought.
I sincerely thank everyone who is a part of this project. I was fortunate to be able to witness this day on all of your behalf and I am now even more excited than ever that these boys will get the education they deserve.
With happiness and gratitude,
Mitch Kurylowicz
Driving Force of Project Jenga
See community members in Kenya speak about the importance of education below.