FULTON – Fallon Cooper traveled to Kenya in March to work with Can Do Kids International. She shared her experience with the Fulton Sunrise Rotary Club at a recent meeting.
This was Cooper’s first trip to work with the organization, but it won’t be her last. She is passionate about the impact a small group of people can make in the lives of school aged children in Kenya. Education practices are unique to every country. In Kenya students who are able to attend school can receive and education through the 8th grade. Then they are tested and only the top 10% may continue on with government funded schooling.
There are many obstacles that affect a child’s likelihood of getting an education. The availability of water is one. Water is not readily available in Kenya. Each day children walk miles to retrieve water for their family’s needs. Can Do Kids International is providing water tanks that collect and clean rainwater. As the need to walk for water is reduced more children can attend school. Each tank costs $100. However, the gift it provides to the villagers is truly priceless.
Girls are at a distinct educational disadvantage once they have their menstrual cycle as hygiene products are not available to them. Fallon’s goal on her trip was to help the girls of the village resolve this problem. She provided 10 sewing machines and taught them how to make the products so they could attend school all month.
The schools have little furniture or supplies. Children sit on rough cut tree trunks and use hand a made abacus or items they collect, like small rocks, for counting. Despite the lack of classroom materials, she noted that the children are excited and dedicated to their education.
Can Do Kids is also supplying tools so carpentry skills can be taught to the students. These skills benefit them immediately and in the future when they are looking for jobs.
Donations of money or school supplies helps Can Do Kids provide the resources needed for more children to attend school in Kenya. If you wish to help or desire more information visit: www.candokidsinternational.org.
Cooper’s contact is Karanja Mburu Wamatangi, an honorary Rotarian, in Muranga County Kenya. If you make a donation and include Fallon’s name it will be directed to projects she will continue to support now and when she returns to Kenya.
Fulton Sunrise Rotary meets on Friday morning at 7am via Zoom. For information contact Peg Donnelly at (315) 593-3746. You may also visit us on Facebook.
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