Tharua Secondary is Building Science Program

On a visit to Tharua Secondary in July, PA-MOJA volunteers were warmly greeted by Head Teacher, George Gitau and given a tour of the school. The first stop was a visit to a Form Two classroom, which is roughly equivalent to a 10th grade class in North America. The students sent a warm greeting to the students at at their sister school, Lake of Two Mountains Secondary.

“What do you love about Kenya?” Silvia Knittel, PA-MOJA co-chair, asked the students. It was clear that many of the students were very shy, but one by one; they quelled their fears and told a little about themselves.

One of the things that emerged as the students spoke was their pride in the diversity of their country. Many students stated that they loved Kenya because although they are a diverse people of more than 42 tribes, most Kenyans are able to co-exist peacefully.

In addition to their thoughts on their country, several students shared their talents. One young woman sang an inspirational song in a strong and beautiful voice, while another showed an intricate beaded necklace that she had made. This student explained that beading was her hobby. Although, the necklace had taken her a week to make, she donated it to PA-MOJA.

After the classroom visits, Mr. Gitau invited the volunteers to his office. Over delicious tea and a light lunch; for which all were grateful, Mr. Gitau elaborated on recent events at his school. One of the positives was, that despite a lack of resources, he had constructed a basic science laboratory. The lab was equipped with tables and some simple materials, but still needed a sink.

In speaking about the challenges of running Tharua Secondary, Mr. Gitau said that there weren’t many discipline issues with the students, but the school needed more resources.

The volunteers left the school with the sense that in Kenya, as is true elsewhere, that a school’s success is dependent on the drive of its students and on its leadership. This bodes well for Tharua Secondary, as both students and leadership exhibit the desire to keep pushing forward.