In 2010, African Leadership began an assessment of its current projects. Since the New Dawn school is one of the major projects of African Leadership, Inc., I (Phil) spent 10 days at New Dawn in October of 2010 conducting a full evaluation of the program and its impact on students, their families and the community.
As a result of he impact study it was obvious that there was a glaring need for additional classroom space to provide the students with access to chemistry, physics, biology and computer labs as well as a library and media center.
By late 2010 architectural plans were presented to African Leadership, Inc. and approved as a project. Fundraising began in earnest and by the end of June 2011 and the construction budget was fully funded through the generosity of a major donors.
I met with more than 50 focus groups that included students, parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders and Ministry of Education officials. One of the outcomes of that evaluation was a demonstrated need for additional classroom space to include science labs, a computer lab and a library.
Because the community of Huruma is an informal settlement on government land permanent structures are prohibited making it necessary to build the new resource center out of used 40 foot steel shipping containers. Since the demand for these used containers is so great, finding a source for them has been a major challenge.
It was an exciting day not only for the students but also the community as the first containers arrived and were being offloaded by the big green crane. This is probably the most exciting thing that has happened in the Huruma community in a long time. Community support for the school has been overwhelming as they speak of how proud they are to have a school like this in their community.
As you read this story we are still short four (4) containers. We have to have all eight (8) containers on site and properly stacked before we can begin the actual cutting and construction process. The sturcture needs to be finished by November 1, 2011 so the students can sit their Kenayn Naitonal Exams on site at the school. Please pray that God will intervene.
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