Building a School

Although children in Kenya and Uganda now have access to free primary education, the reality is that schools are under funded and, in the rural areas where Build Africa works, often only running due to the sheer determination of parents and teachers.

School buildings are often little more than shacks made from mud, sticks and thatching which are cold and wet during the rains and baking hot when it’s sunny. Poorly trained teachers struggle to engage pupils who sit shoulder to shoulder on mud floors with very little in the way of learning materials.

Toilets are just holes in the ground with no sanitation or privacy, which result in the spread of dangerous disease and a high drop our rate amongst older girls.

Build Africa works with parents, teachers and local communities to identify exactly what a school needs to run effectively. Classrooms, desks and textbooks are essential but they also support school management committees and the ongoing development of teaching skills.

Their involvement with a school’s development has marked results, which go beyond mere appearances. Enrolment in some schools has increased by 25% as a result of improved facilities and parents’ renewed faith in education. Better quality education means more pupils take end of school exams, and many schools have seen a dramatic rise in those going on to secondary education and the hope of a brighter future.