Of Kootoro School And Community: Vanquish Illiteracy Through Them

                     

The opening of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama on July 4, 1881 brought to light very interesting lessons on community empowerment, the place of target communities (beneficiaries) in the process of materializing their thoughts and the significance of the guiding spirit that flows from those spearheading and/or sponsoring such empowerment programs. 

Tuskegee Institute was a culmination of a vision of Booker T. Washington, an African-American educator, author and orator, whose belief on people's participation on their own progress played a great part in putting into perspective some aspects that will, probably, be of great importance to us in our fight against school-lessness in Kenya. 

His philosophy was underpinned on the understanding that communities - poor or rich, schooled or unschooled, developed or under-developed - are the custodians of their own destiny hence their input in shaping the same is indispensable. That with self-help, communities are bound to go from poverty to success.

Several parallels can be drawn from this ‘Washingtonian intervention’ and the push behind Kootoro school.

Fast forward to Kootoro Mixed Primary School in Turkana County. This is a school devoid of any tangible form that can pass a test for a REAL SCHOOL. The school lacks classrooms, adequate teaching and non-teaching staff yet many positive factors have pushed it to the limelight to serve as the focal point for community-driven initiatives.

Upon a closer look of the existing structures, it dawned on us that even 'the unschooled know the value of education and are ready to invest in it'. The local community under the guardianship of Mr. Thomas Lotiki, the school's head-teacher, has put up temporary structures to serve as classes. 

From their 'little' contribution, the message came out clearly: That no amount of scarcity of resources should prevent their children from getting an education.

Which brings us to our central point: How can we be part of this noble initiative? How can we help this community create its own 'Tuskegee'?

We have, together with the community embarked on a process of making this vision as clear as possible and to create a room for all concerned souls to chip in and be part of the great march to full development of our poor brothers and sisters.

So far, we are in the process of drafting a proposal and a working plan for the full realization of this vision. On top of our agenda is to respond to the immediate demands of the community - that of setting up temporary structures to serve as classrooms.

Upon completion, we plan to put up permanent classrooms, staffroom and head-teacher's office, a kitchen and sanitation blocks for both teachers and pupils.

However, this vision is inseparable from the support this community wants. They long to get a school of their own but they are shortchanged by the grinding poverty bedeviling their day-to-day undertakings. 

It is at the backdrop of this that we believe that it falls upon our shoulders to uplift these people from their current state and at the same time acknowledge their contribution and ownership of the initiative.

Just like Booker T. Washington, we make our cardinal rule to take part with the poor, the unschooled, and the marginalized in their pursuits to success by respecting and preserving their dignity. This is informed by our belief that humanity finds refuge in those who acknowledge the centrality of collective participation in socio-economic interventions. Our hope to achieve this is banked on education. Yes, education for all!

Kootoro Mixed Primary School is one of the many cases in need of this intervention. Are you ready to stand with humanity and make Kootoro Mixed Primary School stand? 

To declare your stand, please click here :  https://secure.changa.co.ke/myweb/share/3602 .For more information about the school, kindly follow this link:  http://lemukolwords.blogspot.com/2015/01/needed-stand-with-this-school-to-make.html  

By Kootoro School and Community, Mumbi Kaptere, James Hughes, Thomas Lotiki and Moses Lemukol.