When an in-class assignment during a study abroad semester turned into a real world project, nine students set their sights on traveling to Africa to implement a curriculum they had been creating.
“We had no idea how drastically this trip would alter our lives. We disconnected from the world for two weeks and reconnected with life.”
They worked with primary school students at the Bambakofi Academy. Bambakofi is a boarding school started and funded by a Swiss nonprofit, ATKYE.
The Kenyan school system, like numerous other educational systems is broken in many ways. Although primary school is offered to all children, classes typically average 135 students per teacher. Secondary schooling comes at a price; a cost for most families that is beyond their reach.
For the students of Bambakofi, education is their only key to a better life. Most of the kids come from mud and stick huts with very few possessions. They are lucky to eat one meal a day and water is scarce.
When asked what they want to be when they get older, each of them replied with an ambitious goal along the lines of a surgeon, lawyer, bank manager, scientist or teacher. The students are bright, talented and personable; they just have insurmountable obstacles ahead of them. Funding is the only thing holding these students back from reaching their goals and bettering Kenya.
The Taaluma Project was created as the tool to create change. Education is a foundation in America, but for most in Kenya it is an unattainable privilege. The Taaluma Project will change this.
how it continues...
All of the co-founders of The Taaluma Project have now graduated from Virginia Tech, and are settling into their post-college life in very different ways. Although we may be in different cities, pursuing different careers, one thing continues to tie us together - the students of Bambakofi Academy. The mission of The Taaluma Project continues to flow deeply in our systems.
Our mark on the Virginia Tech community continues to grow as new members take over the campus branch of our organization. We are excited to see what amazing fundraisers they come up with, and how the Hokie Nation furthers our movement.
The fall study abroad program, Creating Sustainable Social Change, which was previously led by a few Taaluma Project co-founders, is currently on its second trip. The students spend all semester working towards social change. For some of the students the last 5 weeks of the semester was spent in Kenya at Bambakofi Academy working with the children.
In December we will officially name the first two Taaluma Scholars! Each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship to sponsor them through their four years of high school. The students are selected based off of academic performance, determination and need. Eunice, the principal of Bambakofi, along with fellow teachers will use the criteria we provide to select the students to be sponsored. The staff in Bambakofi will also help us keep in touch with students. We hope to be able to provide regular updates and the successes of our students.
We cannot thank those who have participated, donated, or helped spread the word enough! We would not be where we are today without your support. That being said, we aren’t done. Bright and talented Kenyan students continue to face insurmountable obstacles when it comes to education. We need to continue to raise money to help remove the financial barrier that holds these students back and help them achieve their goals. We know that if given the opportunity these children will change the world. Let’s do all we can to give them opportunities to succeed. Every child, no matter where they are born, how much money they have, or what their dreams are should have the opportunity to be all they can be. Help us plant the seed that will help these students grow.