Helping Mandongoi primary and secondary children find their way to school
Jason Mundu, as a member of Mandongoi 91-92 self-help group, you have just received one of the 10 prizes the Institut Cerba awarded this year to internal candidates. Can you tell us about your association’s mission and the role you play in it?
Our support group brings together 7 former students from the 1991-92 class of Mandongoi Primary School, located in the semi-desert region of Kitui County in Kenya. We all have one thing in common: we all managed to complete our studies and establish ourselves professionally. That is why we decided to get together to help meet the needs of the current generation of children growing up in this poor community. And so in 2019, we created the Mandongoi 91-92 association, of which I am the president.
What kind of activities does the association carry out?
Our objective is to support the children’s education, which in our community often takes second place.
To do this, we offer rewards to the children and offer them bonuses for achieving sufficiently high grades. We also combat girls' absenteeism by providing them with sanitary pads. In the name of equity, we support the boys by providing them with underwear (boxer shorts) and vests.
We encourage the continuance of children’s education through to the end of secondary school by financing the necessary equipment and the various associated costs (fees, uniforms, shoes, etc.). We support students who wish to continue their studies at university by facilitating their access to student loans.
Finally, because their presence is essential for children’s schooling, we also give additional motivation to the teachers by showing our appreciation with gifts.