2020 Annual Report: Message from CES President Michael Frederiksen
Thank you – for being a longtime and faithful supporter of CES Canada’s work in Kenya. Since 2004, you’ve helped us stand behind Kenyan youth as they’ve built a better future for themselves.
Together we have helped Kenyans build schools, classrooms, and dormitories, build wells and hand washing stations for safe access to drinking water, participate in community health and environment sustainability projects, pay tuition fees, buy textbooks and school uniforms and feed our students in 45 secondary schools across Kenya; and, providing IT, career development and Leadership skills training and financial assistance for CES students studying at university and college.
As we consider 2020, the year of Covid-19, we are once again reminded that plans do not always fall into place as we expect they will. One of the key lessons we have learned over the years is that Kenyan youth will find ways to overcome the huge challenges they face. When the pandemic hit Kenya, there were lockdowns, schools were closed and our students had to regroup, re-locate and re-define how their education would continue.
To assist them, CES developed the concept of a Covid-19 Benevolent Fund. In order to establish exactly where the funds were to be utilized, the CES Alumni Executive group undertook a research project that collected data and recommendations from sixty (60) students, school administrators and community leaders. The results were used to create an outreach strategy that will continue into the new year, 2021.
Special funds from the Peter Cundill Foundation provided students hard hit by the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, with computers, wi-fi bundles and communications accessories to continue their studies. Students needing lodging, transport, food supplies and other living essentials, were also assisted. PPE supplies were available to students whose lives were turned upside-down. There were also funds for PPE and medical equipment provided to the Uzima Clinic.
Due to the global pandemic, our work in Kenya focused on educating and supporting our youth on Covid19 awareness, measures to mitigate the pandemic within the community and creating opportunities for our students to continue their on-line studies. Our 31 students at 13 secondary schools and 90 college/university students were tracked by CES during the seven month 2020 school and university lockdown. They were forced to return to their homes to continue studies on-line. Their 2020 secondary school year has been extended to April 2021. The immense pressure to compress a full year of curriculum learning into three months is a huge challenge for schools in Kenya.
The Higher Learning Scholarship Program includes 13 CES Graduates and Leadership participants who are on a full scholarship program. It also includes approximately 90 students who have been receiving assistance through partial scholarships. CES Kenya Alumni are currently registered and studying at 17 universities and colleges of higher learning.
CES Alumni continue to be a force for good in their communities. Approximately 140 active members are finding ways to create scholarships, volunteer in the community and support each other. Their research on the effects of Covid-19 on our students defined the need and the CES response to the pandemic. On Mashujaa Day in October 2020, the Alumni celebrated the accomplishments and honoured two founders of CES Kenya - Ben Udoto (Chair) and Malik Khaemba (Patron).
The CES Alumni Group continues to grow and their impact now is far reaching. Our graduates have made their mark in such areas as scientific research on genomes, counselling and support services for victims of HIV/Aids, county agriculture and feeding programs, Health networks and Medical Clinics, education and business enterprise. The Alumni plans to create scholarships for secondary youth continue. Chairman Edwin Juma has recently been featured on an international talk show "Today's Africa" where he spoke of our work in Kenya. Three of our Alumni participated in two virtual UN Dialogues on the topics, Creating Safe Spaces and Gender Equality. This was made possible as CES Canada has Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council).
The CESCED School of Continuing Education is actively involved in on-line Leadership training programs that are “made in Kenya - for Kenyans.” A series of blogs have been created on the topics of ‘Authentic Leadership’, ‘Building Connections’ and ‘Healthy Living.’ These are widely circulated on a regular basis to our students. In 2020 a Think Tank was created for CES Alumni to grapple with the critical issues of youth unemployment and the rising incidence of suicide among youth. We anticipate that this body of work will help Kenyan communities to find relevant and effective solutions.
One of the things we are aware of is the need to not only provide for fees and logistics of living, but also for mentoring, counselling and supervision. Our students being orphaned, do not have the financial, social and psychological support that many students take for granted. CES sees itself as a family that provides for, nourishes and strengthens the whole person. Thus, there is the acute need for person-centred communications. Three Leadership Teams involving twenty students continue to work closely with the CESCED Principal in their on-line mentoring and curriculum study. The newest cohort represent
future graduates (2023) in Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Analytical Chemistry, and three in Education (Physics/Chemistry).
A renewal of the CES website offers the reader an effective overview of our work. It highlights blogs and current articles that bring to life the current realities of life in Kenya. Communications through the ‘Harambee Report’ news-blasts keeps our supporters up to date with breaking news.
‘Under the Acacia Tree’ was published in November, 2020. It is a compilation of over sixty voices from Kenya and Canada, telling the story of the first 15 years of our work in Kenya. The resilience of people living in extreme poverty is revealed through poetry, short stories, and news articles. Much of the book consists of interviews with Kenyan students, principals, teachers, parents and members of the CES Kenya Board.
We are grateful for our valued partnership with The Peter Cundill Foundation in Project PREPARE: Program to Reduce Poverty and Provide Access to Rural Education. Since 2013 our relationship has developed as our goals have aligned closely with those of the Peter Cundill Foundation. Their trust in our work has been seen through the PCF unrestricted grants provided, and is deeply appreciated.
Our work in Kenya is successful only because of our partners, CES Kenya. As we reflect on their many outstanding contributions, we also remember the life and legacy of former Treasurer Chripus Khamala Otido who passed away November 1, 2020. His dedicated service to CES from 2007-2015, is not forgotten. An extraordinary talented Board of Directors manage the day to day operations under the leadership of Malik Khaemba, Patron-CES Kenya. Without their input, advice and volunteer labours there is little that we could have done. Our collective thanks to these friends and colleagues, to whom we owe so much, is highly warranted.
There is a verse from Proverbs 11:25 - “a generous person will prosper: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” As you continue to stand with CES in Kenya, may you be refreshed and inspired.
Michael Frederiksen, President CES Canada