Helping hand raises slum children's prospects

Help on the way

After staff members from the Chinese embassy visited the school, the then ambassador Zhang Ming promised to help the school move to a bigger space and build 11 classrooms. The school changed its name to MCEDO Beijing School to reflect its appreciation of the newfound partnership with China.

Kiage said before the school moved to its current location, it was operating out of temporary and makeshift structures. "Since the school did not have a permanent location, we could not acquire items like furniture and textbooks. Getting dedicated teachers at a time when the school was shifting was also a problem," Kiage said.

In 2012, the Chinese embassy in Kenya introduced the Kenya China Economic and Trade Association to the school as a development partner. As a result, KCETA organized its Chinese member companies and other Chinese-funded institutions in Kenya to raise more than $430,000 for the expansion of the school. After the school found a permanent home, the student enrollments increased from 200 to 526. The 11 classrooms promised by the Chinese embassy in 2007 were completed by 2014.

Oginga, who grew up at a time when investing in slum areas was unheard of, said she appreciates the help from the Chinese embassy. As a former slum dweller, she can see the positive impact the school has on students' lives.

"We are here today because the Chinese community has walked with us along the way, and held our hand as a big brother from 2007 up to now. Since the partnership started, they have done renovations at the school by constructing toilets and more classes, installing drainage and installing solar power, since the slum does not have an electricity connection," Oginga said.

In 2022, KCETA through one of its member companies, commissioned the design, supply and installation of a solar mini-grid system at the school with battery-energy storage capacity of 20 kilowatt-hours. The installation included the wiring and lighting of all rooms, security lights, and one year of operation and maintenance services.

"It is such facilities that have enabled us to expand and enroll more students and we currently have a capacity of more than 500 students with 22 teachers," Oginga said.

"During my time as a student, getting such facilities in the slum was a challenge."