Five Years On… An Overview of the KENYA SCHOOL PROJECT Rotary Club of Ridgewood

Mission: To enhance and enrich the educational experience for the 300 student at Kishermoruak Primary School in the Maasai Mara Reserve

Mercy Mburu (PHF) is “Our Lady on the Ground” and the glue that holds the Project together.

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The first program was providing hot lunch every school day. It continues today.

Addressing the needs of the school “plant”, an unfinished classroom was refurbished.

Completion of a deep water well 400 yards from the school was a major step forward, with Ridgewood Rotary working in cooperation with Operation Eyesight Universal, a Canadian charity.

Women of the village no longer trek a mile or more for water; a school garden becomes a reality now that ample water is available.

Water piped to the school serves a “Washing Station” resulting in clean hands when the midday meal is served.

The annual visit is an opportunity for exposure to new experiences and fresh ideas

Students line up for their semi-annual physical. Ringworm and eye infections are common; relatively easily treated with pills and creams

Volunteers Doctor Linda Peitzman, looks for ringworm lesions while Peter McKenna hands out the twice-a-year anti-worm pills.

Members of the Parents’ Council present a colorful picture. The PC’s involvement in all important decisions and projects has been significant and extremely gratifying.

The addition of the new Administrative Block provided offices for the Head and Assistant Head Teachers and the Faculty.

More significantly, the school now has a Library where books can be displayed and loaned. The Parents’ Council insisted that the block be named for Lorraine A. Kallman!

In early April 2013 a freak wind and rain storm devastated a 4-classroom block, ripping off the roof, weakening two walls and requiring replacement of the concrete floors.

Once more Ridgewood Rotary and many generous friends around the world came through and helped us make a speedy recovery and repair.

Honoring Those Donors Rotary Club of Richmond, Surrey England Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club Rotary of Jersey City, New Jersey Rotary Club of Secaucus, New Jersey Rotary Club of the Palisades, New Jersey Peter Meldrum, Farnborough, England Patrick Robinson, Kingsbridge, Devon, England Will Martin, London, England Peter Ingram, Chipperfield, Herts.,England Joseph Papola, Ridgewood RC Lynn Van Adder, Ridgewood RC Robert Freudenrich, Ridgewood RC Philip Wilson, Ridgewood RC Freeplay Energy, London, England Black Sheep PR, London, England The Angus Family, Swindon, England Cliff Wallace, Hong Kong Robert Dallmeyer, Los Angeles Walter Olson, Chatham, New Jersey Kallman Worldwide, Inc., Waldwick, New Jersey William McGuire, D.D.S. Ridgewood RC Robert Dodds, Ridgewood RC Eileen Durand Sutera, Waldwick, New Jersey Rotary Club of Ridgewood Noontime

Strenuous lobbying by Mrs. Kallman to replace the decrepit Preschool classroom resulted in a dual Kindergarten and Preschool Building dedicated in 2011.

Outfitted with age-appropriate furniture, the new Kindergarten and Preschool classrooms have boosted pupil count from 28 to 64!

Multiband radios bring distance learning to K-School. We have provided three radios, donated by Freeplay Energy of London; two at K-school, one at a nearby neighbor school.

The last major project is the erection of a sturdy chain-link fence around the school compound. Wild animals are a constant danger that will be eliminated by this barrier.

KEVIN LETOLUO is a trailblazer. He is the first K-School graduate to go on to secondary school sponsored by Ridgewood Rotary. He will graduate from high school in December. Eight other students are currently supported by Rotary and other benefactors.

How to speak of Kenya without mentioning wild animals, all neighbors of K-School!

Or These: (All of the good shots were captured by Lorraine Kallman!)

For further information: Jerry Kallman, Chairman Kenya School Project Committee Email: [email protected] Tel. (201) 447-6564 Post: 986 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The project is administered by the Rotary Club of Ridgewood Foundation, a 501 (c-3) public charity. -0Since all administrative functions are performed by volunteers, every dollar donated is used to fund support for Kishermoruak Primary School