Article in the paper "Daily Industry" in Sweden

Finally I'm allowed to reveal that one of the biggest, daily business newspaper in Sweden. DI (Daily Industry), published an article about Excellent School and Care Center and our work with the school. This happened around four weeks ago at the school, so the interview featured my mom Christina and school principal George (I was in school at the time of the interview so I could not join them) and was really a well written and nice article. I am so happy that DI gave us so much space - it was printed over two pages, and that I really put in the effort for them to write it.

However I am more focused on the effect that it will bring on our work with the school. As this is one of the more serious newspaper in the country, we can expect that more people will learn of the conditions we are all working in. Hopefully this will inspire swedes to do something in developing countries such as Kenya or Tanzania. I am keen to hear from many of my friends back home in case any one would like to join our project.

Educational politics in Kenya

The educational system in Kenya is not very well functioning. School is compulsory up to 8:th grade, where the students take the National Exam, that will determine if they can continue in high school. That is, if you can find the money for tuition fees, books and uniforms. There are scholarships to apply for, but to get them the kids need to have serious connections. As all of Kenyan society, even the educational system is corrupt.

When Kenya created its free primary education system in 2003, it was lauded internationally for extending education to those who could not afford paying for schooling. But a government audit in 2010 found that significant portions of the ministry's funds could not be accounted for.

The United States is suspended education funds to Kenya following reports that more than $1 million was missing from the country's primary schooling program. The move followed a British announcement that it was withholding the final $16 million of a five-year education funding program that began in 2005.

The UK’s Department For International Development planned to simply bypass the Kenyan government and contribute to schools and civil society programs directly in support of Kenyan educational programs.

Making primary education free and compulsory was a step in the right direction, yet many challenges remain and there are concerns about the quality of education declining because of the increased intake. Many families cannot afford the rest of the expenses associated with schooling. These include books, school uniform, stationery and transport. Class sizes are too large per teacher, desks are shared, and there are inadequate latrines and insufficient water services and meals. As many as 300 children share one toilet in some areas.


Primary school enrollment, especially of girls, is particularly low in the arid and semi arid regions of Kenya, where the majority of the people are nomadic pastoralists. In 2000, there were just over 13.5 percent girls enrolled for primary education compared to 26 percent boys. By 2004, in spite of the free education system, there was just less than one girl out of every five going to primary school and an estimated 33 percent boys enrolled. Cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages are some of the factors that affect school attendance for girls in many of the culturally predominant region like Northern, North Eastern and Coast Provinces.

Children in slum areas have also faced special challenges limiting their access to free public education because of lack of public schools and other socio-economic hardships.

Individuals and community based organizations, development, humanitarian and church-based
institutions have initiated welfare programmes that include provision of primary education in slums. These are perhaps the best option available in the slums, as the schools utilize donations and local resources to provide education to needy children. Although such organizations charge a nominal amount of fees, cost of uniform, learning materials and other ad hoc expenses have to be footed by households and can still be to much for the caregivers.

There is widespread indifference among political leaders and decision makers, as evidenced by the low
prioritization of slum education in the current political development agenda. Political focus has already shifted to free secondary education, even before all children are guaranteed free primary education. This problem can largely be attributed to low documentation and publication of the problem of education in slums.

How come the Kenyan government doesn't realize that the children is the future of Kenya? How is the country ever going to have an efficient, non-corrupt government who looks out for the best of its citizens, including the children. Read more by clicking the links below.

educational corruption in Kenya

Falling short

Last event with the Swedish Society

Yesterday was very interesting. We had to go to the Swedish school to do the May 1:st celebration, a trip that takes about 30 minutes when there is no traffic. Due to the long rains and several really bad accidents it took us almost two hours!
The roads are badly built in Nairobi and the rain creates both enormous potholes and heavy flooding. On top of that, all Kenyans use their cars when it's raining. We cruised around pot holes on flooded roads in extremely heavy traffic, and were sitting totally still for an hour. A really old, bad truck had crashed into two cars close to the school. It also managed to hit a wall and tear it down on the way. This happened in a place with a big hill upwards, followed by one downwards and often the engines in the car are to weak to even have the strength to go up the hill. I've heard of times when it simply gives up and starts sliding backwards down, crushing all the cars behind it. It is interesting, as a Swede, to reflect on how dangerous traffic can be here and people in Sweden who complains about that they use all our tax money to fix roads shouldn't!
Once there, I started grilling hot dogs and selling snacks and drinks. Of course it started raining heavily, but the guests were happy anyway. To get home again was another story, but the only thing I'm going to say about that is that the traffic didn't clear until around 11 PM.

This was my last time helping out the Swedish Society. In the future I intend to go to all the functions, just having fun and not work!

Tae-guks/Poomses

Heavy training in Taekwondo for my sister today. She is about to be graded for her red belt and has to practice the Tae-guks. Number four and five are very very hard, with back stances, open hand blocks and chops and a fierce neck grab and elbow punch. You have to keep practicing the earlier poomses as well - because when grading you're expected to perform all of them. I know one to three well, but was actually just starting to learn the 4:th and it is HARD! The trick is to never give up and perform them every day to get it as fluent, easy-looking and perfect as possible.
I'm impressed with my sister and I'm going to perform the tae-guks every day until I master them for my next grading!

My second book project

I finally got my second book project under way. A little boy is being adopted by an Italian family and because they are friend of friends I can offer them a book. He is one year old, and has spent his whole first year in the Nest. Because of all my visits I have pictures of him, so I'm putting together another book for this little boy and his new family. I'm glad my photo book project turned out successful, because I did have some problems for a while. It was just luck that I found two children that I actually could make the books for and that I know was being adopted! Time spent working with the Swedish society made me make the connections and I'm thankful for that!

Buying female stuff for the girls

I know there is a problem with the girls in Excellent. It's not that they talk behind each others back, or are concerned with boyfriends and other usual "girlie" stuff, it's actually having a problem once a month with going to school (at least the older ones). I know this is a real problem, and my mother discusses it with George often. He tells us that when the girls have their period, they can't go to school because of lack of protection and sometimes even underwear. I kind of close my ears when these discussions are coming up, but of course I pick up a thing or two. George tells us that the girls usually come to school anyway, wrapping their red sweaters around their waist to avoid embarrassment. Even though I don't want to hear about these problems, it is quite upsetting that the girls can't afford the equipment needed once a month for any teenage girl. On the next visit, my mom is going to bring pads and underwear so they can be handed out from the office as needed. We bring a Nakumatt bag or two every time we visit. It's usually toiletpaper, soap, lightbulbs, notebooks, chalk for the black-board and pens. Through our close connection with George, we get updates on all the things needed. Next time it will be pads, underwear, tea and copy paper!

May first - a big celebration in Sweden

In Sweden May 1:st is a big holiday. It is the celebration of spring - the light finally comes back to Sweden after many months of darkness. Of course it is still cold - so we have to light fires (a very good way to get rid of your garden waste). It is also the big holiday for the workers.
May Day is a public holiday in Sweden since 1939. Since 2005 is also the National Day a public, non-Christian Holiday. This may 1:st is going to be celebrated on Saturday, in the Swedish School and I'm going to sell hot-dogs and beer for the guests. As always, the goal is to sell as much as possible to make as much money as possible for projects that will benefit Kenyans. But we also are going to have a good time, reconnecting with new and old "Swedish Kenyans", celebrating an important Swedish holiday.