Cornerstone Project 2016 | A Year in Review

January 12, 2017 - With the help of grant requests, fundraising events, online crowdfunding and of course our generous donors we are very grateful the Cornerstone Project has been able to fund the following needs for the Nambale Magnet School in Western Kenya.

With the children entering the pivotal 8th grade year, it was important to give the teachers the training to help the students achieve their goal.

The training covers a holistic approach involving teaching skills, motivation and team building practices.

These young talents teachers were inspired by the training and passed that enthusiasm to the children.

$1,000.00 grant request funded on February 12th, 2016

With the School enrollment up to 327 learners, there was a pressing need to increase the animals to keep up with the schools consumption. The farm and the livestock provide the children at the Nambale Magnet School with the highest nutrition through a balanced diet of daily fresh food. This measure ensures level of quality and sustainability that has become a benchmark of the school's commitment to excellence.

This active farm, also serves as a classroom that teaches the children modern methods of Farming and animal husbandry. This is a vital need to the community at large.

$1,000.00 grant request funded on February 27th, 2016

The NMS entered the eighth grade year that is pivotal to the future of these students. The eighth grade national exam determines the course of future education for every student. For this reason, the 8th grade year requires additional focus and attention from the teachers.

The purchase of a plot of land to add to the Nambale Magnet school campus will allow teachers to live close to the school so that they will be able to provide the students the attention they need. It is also a way of attracting, motivating and retaining the finest teachers.

This particular parcel purchased is now fully enclosed by the Nambale Magnet School. The parcel has a large house and a small one and some bathroom structures. With renovation, the plot can house two teachers. The purchase of this land will allow a multi year process of providing a larger fully contiguous campus.

While the need for more land will be inevitable, this parcel will enable the school to add this important component of teacher housing and fills a very current growth need.

With this purchase and renovation, the Nambale Magnet School is proud to house the head teacher, 4 teachers and 8 other staff (the matron, two boarding teachers, 3 housemothers, a cook and a farm manager.

This provides security and stability for the children and enticement for the best possible employment candidates in each category.

$25,000.00 grant request funded on May 30th, 2016

The Nambale Magnet School is set for ICT and the computer laboratory has been set up.

The importance of this technology cannot be over stated. The School will be able to offer to the children a window to infinite possibilities through computer based learning in many subjects.

This computer lab will also provide Adult computer instruction, which is a benefit to raising the employable skills of community members.

Since the purpose of the Nambale Magnet School includes raising its community out of poverty, this is a very important contribution to this cause.

$1,000.00 grant request funded on December 18th, 2016

To motivate teachers and encourage their stay at the school, housing is one benefit that is attractive for teacher retention. The school proposes to renovate a housing unit that it is in the process of purchasing.

$10,000.00 grant request funded on December 18th, 2016

The results of the National Exams taken by NMS eighth graders are in and NMS students soared. NMS student Alpha Lumula earned the top score in Busia County NMS eighth grader Joy Lilan was the top scoring girl in the county. Congratulations to Alpha and Joy and to all of the graduates. Another boy from NMS had the second highest marks – we can be so proud to know and support the top three students in the district!

The terrific results of the 8thgrade exam are creating a ground swell of students from across the country trying to enroll as we suspected! I spoke with Evalyn today. She is currently in Nambale and mentioned that the reaction to these scores is beyond belief! As always, we are well aware that the goal is to educate orphans. There is no doubt that, with our recent successes there will be no lack of students of either category.

Evalyn Wakhusama, the schools founder, is busy with trying to place the eighth graders and wading through the over whelming sea of candidates for the school. While we have had great success with the 8th grade exams, the children coming up need us and our work must continue to expand hopefully up to the high school level and self-sufficiency. We are gratified that our formula for success is indeed a viable one

This year we are hopeful that continued focus will produce even more new and exciting opportunities for the Nambale Magnet School to serve its community.

Love to all and all the best in 2017!
PEACE AND PROSPERITY!!!!

[ Top ] [ Back ]