Newsletters

Newsletter #20 & AMG

Annual General Meeting via Zoom
Thank you Kenyan volunteers
KEEF’s Pandemic Relief Fund
Giving Tuesday – supporting Nickson
GC4C projects completed
Recognition of Sarah Nabongo

Newsletter #11 August 2020

Habari (hello) from KEEF to our sponsors and supporters!

The purpose of this mail out is to update our April 9, 2020 message and let you know that we

continue to support our 130 secondary students during these pandemic times. [Our April 9 message ”Supporting Our KEEF Students” is on our web site].

In mid-March students returned home to their small rural farms in poor communities. Similar to Canada, KEEF students are ‘learning from home’ and outlines for learning expectations are provided for each form (grade).

We have recently been informed that secondary schools will not re-open until January 2021 and students are trying to keep up with their studies until then.

In January, the school year will begin again as students had only completed term one of the three term year. The Ministry of Education has provided expectations online, however they have not provided access to supports. We have taken some action to help our students stay connected to their studies and hopeful for when their schools re-open. Sarah Nabongo (Kenyan office manager), the KEEF Kenyan board and some KEEF alumni have been in regular contact with our students. They provide mentoring support and are helping us to understand the specific challenges of each KEEF student. Based on responses from our students, they – and their parents/guardians – have been very appreciative that KEEF has reached out to contact them.

KEEF Canada has also established a . This is providing solar lamps, some financial assistance to students who have lost a parent, and revision books (something like

COVID-19 Emergency Fund

Coles Notes) for all Form 4 students. As funds become available, we will provide revision books for the lower forms. We are trying to make sure that all secondary students have the opportunity to effectively continue with their studies until the January opening.

Newsletter #10, April 2020

Supporting our KEEF Students

Thank you, KEEF sponsors and supporters for your interest and concern as we cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenya has closed schools, universities, and many businesses, and restricted or banned most forms of travel. The 120 secondary students that we sponsor were all sent home and are trying to keep safe as they assist their families and find ways to study.

The KEEF Board is reaching out to our secondary students through Sarah, our Office Administrator, and through many of the facilitators that help with the annual November workshops. [See the photo below]. Sarah has phone contacts for all of our students and will bring concerns to our attention.

Approximately 30 KEEF post secondary students are in a variety of places throughout Kenya. Some have returned home, and some are staying at or nearby their university.

Most post secondary students are active on social media, and we have asked them to contact Sarah to update their circumstances. Many students quickly responded and Sarah will follow up on the others by phone.

It is important to note that KEEF is not a “relief” organization and we do not have funds to directly support the range of needs that can be anticipated. However, we will do what we can and we will keep our sponsors informed.

Keep safe, everyone, as we play our part in the global response to COVID-19.

Newsletter #9, November 2019

KEEF will again participate in the annual Giving Tuesday (GT) event organized by Canada Helps. We have two goals for GT 2019:

to reach new supporters and donors through social media, with the help of volunteer Sarah Breakey, and a media release to community papers and broadcasters across B.C. To do this successfully, we ask for your help in two ways. If you see an article locally, or hear a radio announcement, please let KEEF know, so we can thank the agency. If you are on social media, please consider passing on Sarah’s weekly Facebook item, leading up to GT 2019, to your social media friends.
Our second goal is to raise $600 by combining small gifts to fund the second year of high school studies for Nickson – the student whose scholarship we raised through Giving Tuesday last year.

Nickson lives in rural Kenya near Kakamega with his parents who are labourers. He did well in elementary school – being named as Head Boy the final two years. However, there were no funds to continue when he completed elementary school in 2009. He has worked as a casual labourer and herdsman, waiting and hoping for an answer to

his dream of high school. Despite being out of school for a decade, Nickson has worked hard. He especially likes Math and achieved a B average in his courses this year, holding 7th place in his class of 44 students.

You can help by bringing Nickson to the attention of those you know who may have $10 or $20 to spare toward Nickson’s scholarship. (Tax-deductible receipts are available for all donations.) Our website describes the variety of ways people can make a donation. Please ask donors to indicate their gift is for Giving Tuesday.

Thank you for any support you can give to promoting awareness of KEEF’s Giving Tuesday 2019 campaign and Nickson’s need!

For more, contact Shelagh Armour-Godbolt at shelaghag@shaw.ca or 604-415-9397. Email KEEF at keefcan2010@gmail.com
or mail cheques to the address on page 2.
For more information about Giving Tuesday, please check out the short video at this link:http://givingtuesday.ca

To donate directly to KEEF: www.kenyaeducation.org/donate