Lavington United Church is an ecumenical congregation in Nairobi, Kenya. The
church was founded thirty-eight years ago by the Methodist, Presbyterian and
Anglican Churches in Kenya.
Lavington has purchased an acre of land and has sponsored a mission in Kawangware, a quasi-slum area in Nairobi. The mission operates under the auspices of the Methodist Church in Kenya. Kawangware has a population of approximately 200,000. The residents work as low-income laborers and house servants. The homes in the community frequently lack running water and electricity. As in any poverty stricken area, crime, prostitution, alcoholism and malnutrition are endemic. It is estimated that 25-30% of the residents lives in extreme poverty.
Currently the land at Kawangware contains a small temporary church building belonging to the Methodist Church. In 1999, KCF was able to build a nursery school, toilet and septic system, kitchen and dining hall for $78,578 US. $5,000 was granted by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midland, Michigan in 1999. A further $30,000 was granted for 2000. Kawangware Church in conjunction with Lavington United Church contributed $8000. KCF raised the additional money.
The first priority has been to develop/expand nursery school facilities for 120 children. Similar to Headstart Programs in the US, nursery school programs in Kenya not only teach and promote social skills, but also provide nutrition to pre-school age children. Also in Kenya, nursery school is a condition precedent to entering the public school system. In the slums/poor areas, there are very few nursery schools and most are church sponsored.
In 2003, KCF built an additional four classrooms and two toilet blocks. Primary grades three and four took up classes in the new building in January 2004. The population of the school has grown to 300 students.
In addition to constructing the school facilities, KCF sponsored a number of children in the school. As mentioned earlier, there are many children living below the poverty level in Kenya whose parents cannot afford to pay the school fees. Therefore, KCF opted to sponsor a number of children through eight years of education so long as they remain in the Kawangware School.
KCF will be actively involved with this school for years to come. In future years, we will use volunteer help to maintain the premises and do necessary repairs and refurbishing. Volunteers will purchase and deliver school supplies and play items. Where possible, volunteers will be active in assisting in the classroom in order to have as much contact with the children and staff as possible.
Most of the children attending the Kawangware School will be able to pay the modest school fees. A certain percent of the student body will be sponsored. This money will be nearly sufficient to maintain the school. In addition, Kawangware Church will also be asked to help support the school in proportion to its means. |
