Angaza Newsletter 2016 - Page 9

Message from Mike and Dilys

Coming back to Kenya and KAG School.

Dilys and I were unable to make our ‘regular’ biennial trip to Kenya in November 2015: a tradition that started in November 2001 and that has continued for longer than we might have imagined back then.  Even a few weeks ago, we were unsure that we could make the trip this year but all is now arranged and we leave in two days on my tenth (and Dilys’ eighth) visit.

Although arranged at short notice, we have now packed the cases and started taking the Lariam tablets (against Malaria, hopefully), having already checked that our injections are all still in date (hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, polio and yellow fever).  Now we just have to cancel the milk deliveries and water the indoor plants.

We doubt that Mr. Harrison had quite so many precautions to take for his recent visit to the UK although he did find that he needed a few layers of clothing to protect him from the British summer!  If you think that it is ever cold in Kenya, you should ask Mr. Harrison about the rainy day in Black pool OR the wind on the Yorkshire moors (when I was wearing a thin short-sleeved shirt) OR how he came to dinner with his overcoat on.  It is a good thing that he did not come in winter!

The School

It has been very rewarding to experience the gradual development of KAG School from the construction of the first classroom to the now splendid collection of buildings and facilities.  We can barely remember the trepidation we felt in November 2001 when we were deliberating whether we could realistically fund the building of a classroom each year for eight years.  Nor can we really believe that fifteen years have flown by!

However, the real achievements are less tangible than stone and mortar.  The real school is composed of teachers, support staff and pupils and the real achievement is the delivery of quality education to hundreds of children, some of whom would otherwise have had little or no formal schooling. KAG School has consistently improved its results and helped to raise educational standards in Msambweni District and the whole Coastal Region: an achievement recognized by the local education authority.  A large and increasing proportion of pupils’ progress into secondary education and that pattern is echoing into further education and university.  Everyone at the school and everyone who has supported should be happy and proud to be involved.

We are pleased with and proud of the pupils we have sponsored.  We know that they have had to work hard to pass exams, to develop skills and to become employable in a difficult economic environment and we are satisfied that our contribution has been more than worthwhile.

Thanks to Rosemary

Once the nursery school was completed and the building of a primary school was mooted, Rosemary’s vision and enthusiasm got that project started.  As I said above, the need to build a classroom each year was a daunting prospect and the decision to proceed was not taken lightly.  Nor were we prepared to proceed until we were satisfied that the school would be self-sustaining.  Having agreed to proceed, the project relied on Rosemary’s commitment, tenacity and hard work throughout.  That she has achieved so much despite her gradually failing health and strength due to Multiple Sclerosis, is further testament to her passion and persistence.

Mike & Dilys Williams

30 October 2016

Rosemary says thank you Mike but without such wonderful friends and a marvelous Head teacher and teachers, nothing would have been possible

Mungu awabariki nyote.