News About our Progress:

Hello everyone! Thank you for your patience while I have compiled all of the photos from the trip and the projects we completed. I'm excited to update you on what we accomplished because of your generous donations. Haruni and everyone at the school asked me to share their sincerest appreciation to everyone that was willing to help. 

I'm happy to say that we were able to do more than we expected. We used the majority of the funds for three construction projects, described below. The rest of the funds were used to buy critical supplies as well purchase essential items in bulk to decrease future costs. We stocked up on classroom materials that are used on a daily basis, as well as learning aids that can be re-used, such as posters, calculators, etc. Finally, we purchased new books for the teachers to use to create more advanced lesson plans. 

The first construction project was to level the school yard, as well as remove spiked bushes and trash. The yard and surrounding property was covered in a naturally growing spiked plant that is thick and wide-spread, with dangerous thorn-lined branches. The yard had also been uneven in various places, including a large, dangerous ditch in one corner. We brought in materials to level out the entire yard in a way to prevent future erosion from rain, as well as make the entire yard a much cleaner and safer environment in which the students can play. 

The second project was to build a fence around the whole perimeter of the school. The Haruni School is in the middle of a dense and compact neighborhood, which enabled anyone off the street to easily come onto school grounds. Often times people would come and disrupt classrooms through the window, and there were also issues of people who were intoxicated bothering students and teachers. Hence, the fence was one of Haruni's top priorities to help keep the children safe while they were in his care.

Lastly, we installed a new additional toilet for the children. Previously, just under 100 children all shared one stall. The additional toilet will help with sanitation and prevent too much wear and tear on the previous single unit. Long bathroom breaks from students due to lines were also an issue for teachers, so now the kids will be spending more time in class.

Again, none of this would have been possible without your generous support. Thank you again!