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News Archive

Welcome to Our News Archive


An Evening with Rev. Evalyn!
Friday, February 3, 2023 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- Cornerstone Project and the First United Church of Christ in Milford cordially invite you to a special evening with the Rev. Evalyn Wakhusama, founder of the Nambale Magnet School in Western Kenya. Please join us as we honor the ongoing work of Rev. Evalyn and learn more about the extraordinary school she founded. Please RSVP at ... [ more ]


Student Stories: Meet Sheryl
December 1, 2022 - Sheryl came to Nambale Magnet School at five years old from a child headed family. Her oldest sibling was an 11-year-old brother. She had two other brothers, ages 9 and 8. She was brought to the attention of the NMS social worker by their village government, when the children had been taken to a local rescue center ... [ more ]


Cornerstone Fall 2022 Newsletter
November 23, 2022 - In this issue: From the Ashes - A New Building Emerges; Student Profile: Meet Sheryl; Back to the Vineyard: An Incredible Fall Festival; Computer Science at the Nambale Magnet School; Nambale Magnet Students Attend Journalism Symposium; Technology Equipment Still Needed ... [ more ]


Meet Sara Oyuu

March 18, 2022 - In our series that looks into workings of the Nambale Magent School, we introduce to you Sara Oyuu. Sara, who arrived at the school in 2021, is a young and enthusiastic new teacher that teaches French at the school. The children not only speak their native Kiswahili but are instructed in English and given a third language from an early age. Sara also teaches computer skills for children from grades 2-6. Her love for the French language came from a former high school teacher ... [ more ]


Nambale Magnet School's Micro Economy: The Farm

February 1, 2022 - In our series that looks into the many facets of the Nambale Magnet School, we highlight the school's micro economy and its connection to hands-on real-life learning. We introduce you to Michael Matete. Michael supervises the schools farm production unit. This includes the crops, dairy unit, chicken facility and the pigsty. Michael hails from the Nambale area and enjoys seeing the students understand the natural world and learn ways to cultivate sustainability ... [ more ]


Nambale Magnet School Hires Business Manager

January 15, 2022 - Meet Barbra Alado Omeri! - Barbra just signed on as Business Manager for the Nambale Magnet School. As business manager, Barbra is tasked to increase the efficiency of the school's operations ... [ more ]


Life After the Fire - A Ten Year Plan

November 1, 2021 - As many of you know, in June of 2021, a fire broke out in the Nambale Magnet School's boys' dormitory which was started by an electrical fault.  Mercifully, no one was hurt and our generous donors, the school was able to clean up and provide temporary housing for the displaced learners. Now the job of rebuilding begins as Cornerstone Project, Friends of Nambale, WIKS-USA and others begin long-term planning to update infrastructure and curriculum at the school ... [ more ]


Twelve Years of Educating and Nurturing!

October 18, 2021 - This year the Nambale Magnet School celebrated twelve years of educating and nurturing the most vulnerable children of Western Kenya. In 2016, the first NMS graduating class transitioned to high school and 100% of these students (and of all the graduating classes since then) have gone on to high school! This is an unparalleled statistic compared to most Kenyan schools ... [ more ]


Fifth Annual Fall Festival a Wonderful Success!

October 10, 2021 - Our Fifth Annual Fall Festival was a great success thanks to our sponsors, our amazingly talented musician Bobby Jo Valentine, and Clearing House Auctions. After the concert, thanks to the wonders of Zoom, we had a great meeting with Rev. Evalyn the school's founder in Kenya!  Open this news article to watch the Fall Festival Video ... [ more ]


Annual Fall Festival and Auction is This Weekend!

Sunday, October 3, 2021 - 6:30 PM - Last year's Fall Festival was such a resounding success we are celebrating online again this year!  So, please join us this Sunday as we celebrate the Nambale Magnet School and support the children in Kenya! This is no cost to attend this year.  Featured performances by renowned recording artist Bobby Jo Valentine, school updates from special guest Rev. Evalyn Wakhusama, all followed by a week-long Online Auction! ... [ more ]


Competency Based Agriculture Curriculum

September 13, 2021 -  Farming is part of the identity of the Nambale Magnet School. The farm instills in the student population a sense of duty, responsibility and value for food security. The farm is the foundation for agribusiness which is an important facet of the culture of rural Kenya. This offers also another vocational avenue of exploration for the children at the school and has been widely acclaimed for its success. [ more ]


Cornerstone Summer 2021 Newsletter

July, 2021 - In this issue: Fire Destroys Dormitory at Nambale Magnet School; Surprise Teacher Appreciation Celebration at Nambale Magnet School;
Save the Date for the 2021 Fall Festival; Nambale Students Excel Academically; Town Hall Series Success; Give Lifesaving Aid to the Children in Kenya ... [ more ]


Electrical Fire Destroys Boys Dormitory

June 20, 2021 - A devastating fire caused by an electrical surge, destroyed the entire boys' dormitory on the Nambale Magnet School campus. The dorm was home to 150 boys who board at the School.  Thankfully, all of the students are safe and no one was injured. The structure and its contents, were reduced to rubble -- nothing is salvageable.  An Emergency Fire Fund has been created to help with the School and students' immediate needs ... [ more ]


Teachers of the Nambale Magnet School Honored by Kappa Delta Pi

June 8, 2021 - Today, the teachers of the Nambale Magnet School gathered and met via Zoom with the Xi Psi Chapter of Kappa Delta at Fitchburg State University to celebrate. The teachers at the NMS were unaware of the meeting's agenda and what would be taking place during their time spent together.  This surprise gathering was an opportunity for Kappa Delta Pi to celebrate and thank the teachers at the Nambale Magnet School for creating a learning environment that supports all students while helping them achieve goals that may not have been possible otherwise. [ more ]


NMS Students Again Score Highest in County in National Exams

April 16, 2021 - Once again, Nambale Magnet School has ranked #1 the county in the most recent Eighth Grade National Exams, with NMS students acheiving a mean score of just over 373. The National Eighth Grade Exam determines the future of all Kenyan children's education. With these high scores, the children can go on to good high schools and higher learning ... [ more ]


A Special Gift Arrives in Time for the School's Re-Opening!

January 10, 2021 - Thanks to a very generous donor in the United States and the shared fundraising efforts of the Nambale Magnet School and its community, a school bus for the Nambale Magnet School became a reality! The school bus was delivered during the recent re-opening of the school and it is a great source of pride for the Nambale Magnet School and its community ... [ more ]


Nambale Magnet School Student Body Returns for the First Time Since COVID Closing

January 7, 2021 - The Nambale Magnet School students are so happy to return to school. During the school closure, many of these children suffered extreme conditions of lack of nutrition and proper sanitation for bathing and washing. This was the heart-breaking result of removing these children from the safest environment they know ... [ more ]


New Tents and Solar Array for Hot Water

December 18, 2020 - More COVID safety measures were implemented at the Nambale Magnet School in preparation for a full student body return in January. Help came in the nick of time from the Los Altos California Rotary Club! Tents and solar water heating panels arrived in advance of the full student body opening in January ... [ more ]


Cornerstone December 2020 Newsletter

December 7, 2020 - Greetings this holiday season!  We are delighted to be able to reach out in this new electronic format. As many of you know, this year we challenged ourselves to do things differently.  We went digital and all of you responded with resounding support. It is because of you that we are still relevant and still making a difference. We are humbled and grateful for your support ... [ more ]


Cornerstone Project Year End Appeal

December 1, 2020 - Dear friends, as we all face very challenging times right now, we hope that you and your family are healthy and safe. The pandemic has tested many of us in ways we never imagined and even more so for the most fragile and vulnerable communities including our friends in Kenya.  Through your past generosity, the Cornerstone Project has provided support for the education, care and housing of vulnerable and AIDS-orphaned children in Kenya ... [ more ]


Student COVID Survival Stories

November 13, 2020 - The children who attend the Nambale Magnet School have suffered greatly since its forced closing in April.  Read these moving student stories to help you understand what being at the Nambale Magnet School means to their survival ... [ more ]


Fourth Annual Fall Festival a Wonderful Success!

October 14, 2020 - Our Fourth Annual Fall Festival was a great success thanks to our sponsors, our amazingly talented musicians Ari Hest and Bobby Jo Valentine, and Clearing House Auctions. After the concert, thanks to the wonders of Zoom, we were even able to visit with Evalyn the school's founder in Kenya!  Open this news article to watch the Fall Festival Video or listen to our performers again ... [ more ]


Nambale Magnet School Reopens Amidst Stringent COVID Requirements and Stressful Financial Conditions

October 9, 2020 – Two days ago the Kenyan Government unexpectedly announced the partial reopening of schools beginning Monday, October 12th for students at the primary level in grades four and eight.  With schools closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19 and speculation that classes would be postponed until January or possibly the next school year ... [ more ]


Fourth Annual Fall Festival and Auction!

October 4-13, 2020 - The Cornerstone Project's Annual Fall Festival is happening again - and this year it's online!   The pandemic has put a damper on many things, but we're not going to let it take away our fundraiser for the Nambale Magnet School and the children in Kenya!  Join us online for perfomances by renowned recording artists Ari Hest and Bobby Jo Valentine, school updates from special guest Rev. Evalyn Wakhusama, all followed by a week-long Online Auction! ... [ more ]


Seeds to Sunflowers Fundraiser!

July 9, 2020, 7:30 to 8:30pm - Cornerstone Project board member and yoga instructor, Kimberly Deloreto, will be conducting a virtual somatic yoga healing class via Zoom at Izzy Hache Fitness.  While there is no charge for the session, any donation will confirm registration to the event. Come de-stress with us and catch some instant good karma! ... [ more ]


Sustainable Fuel for the Kitchen is Now a Reality!

July 1, 2020 - Despite the delays due to the Coronavirus, the Biodigester donated to the Nambale Magnet School by Rotary International is now being implemented. The fuel will be used for cooking and heating water. Previously the School used firewood which is costly and leads to deforestation. The biodigester takes the effluence the school produces and separates it into ... [ more ]


Cornerstone's Postition on Black Lives Matter

June 14, 2020 - The Cornerstone Project's mission is the empowerment of marginalized communities. Thus, we feel compelled to speak out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Right here in our own backyards there are populations that are marginalized by white privilege ... [ more ]


Teen Pregnancy on Rise as Schools Remain Closed

June 1, 2020 - Statistics recently released by the Kenyan government confirm what many feared would be a result of closing schools – that teen pregnancy and forced marriage rates have risen dramatically since March. This spin-off pandemic of teen pregnancies spotlights the importance of keeping girls in school ... [ more ]


Keeping the Children Safe and On Task

May 15, 2020 - As the Coronavirus is shutting down Kenya as a whole, the number of cases continue to climb and are now spiking in the Nambale region.  Despite this, the staff of the Nambale Magnet School are working hard to keep the children safe and on task. Since there is no internet in this very poor community, the teachers have been sending packets home to the children in hopes that they will not fall too far behind ... [ more ]


Coronavirus and the Nambale Magnet School

April 1, 2020 - Late in March, on the Government's directive, the last of the students at the Nambale Magnet School were sent home. Since the Nambale Magnet School was designed to serve children in the poorest and most marginalized segments of the community and children rendered home due to the AIDS pandemic or abject poverty, one-third of the school's population, the sponsored population, have little or nothing to go home to ... [ more ]



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