Mwituria Students say Hello to Windermere

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jtktk7gSUs]

Mwituria Secondary school is now a sister school with Windermere Secondary School in North Vancouver, B.C. Canada. School principal Muchemi, came to this school back in 2011, when there were only 50 students. “The 50 students came from very far distances of about 20km, and there were no government employed teachers except me.” Because of low enrollment, the school had been neglected by the government to such an extent that the students went to school even though Muchemi was the only teacher. Principal Muchemi struggled hard to get teachers and went to an extra mile of paying his teachers first before the government sent their salaries. By taking this initiative, student enrollment began to grow and the government then began to initiate standard employment practices for Mwituria teachers.

Mwituria Secondary students are very proud to be associated with Windermere School and love sharing their culture with their sister school. On a recent visit, the Mwituria students were very curious about their Canadian sister school. They shared songs and conversations with their sister school students on the other side of the world. The students really felt that they were meeting Canadian students face to face.

Students at Mwituria Secondary School face a lot of interesting challenges. One of these challenges is meeting wild elephants on their way to school, forcing students to find shelter in nearby homes when chased, and hiding until the elephants leave. This elephant problem often makes them late for school but it is a hardship they are more than willing to endure to get an education.

Water scarcity is another major problem. Lucy Wangome, a grade 11 student at Mwituria Secondary explains… “I come to school without socks so that they don’t get dirty on the way, because of water problem at home and even at school, I am forced to put them on once I arrive to school even with mud or dust on my foot. This makes me not remain tidy and neat even for as much as I would have wished to.”

Mwituria students are waiting with anticipation for a reply from the Windermere students.

Story and video by Emily Lerosion.

Photos taken by Moses Waihenya.