Help Gatoto School feed & educate Nairobi students

Thank you so much for your continued support of AFG’s crucial work in feeding and educating the children of Mukuru kwa Rueben!

Following Betty’s passing, Gatoto’s new leadership and management team swung into high gear.

Gatoto’s 1,000 students, and its teachers and staff are moving rapidly towards the end of the fall term with exams and report cards around the corner.  The promising news is that mass vaccinations are starting to reach Nairobi’s informal settlements; more than half of Gatoto’s 27 teachers have obtained vaccines.  

Anticipating a fourth wave of COVID-19, the Kenyan government is again enforcing restrictions which challenge teachers to figure out masking, classroom distancing, and limits on extra-curricular activities with resources stretched thin. Despite this, a sense of normalcy has begun to set in. Student government elections were held to choose new student leaders who will represent student voices to school leadership.  This is an inspiring exercise in the practice of civics and democracy even amongst Gatoto’s youngest learners. Moreover, the school’s flagship extracurricular activities - their impressive and prize-winning choir and elocution teams -  have been able to train outdoors but will compete only virtually in this year’s competitions.  Additionally, the extra space provided by the new classroom building, even though still under-furnished, is a godsend for the state requirements for smaller class sizes.   

Sadly, COVID-19 remains a considerable obstacle for the greater community because of its impact on the economy. Continued stagnation in the informal economies means parents are still out of jobs. Thanks to your help in funding our work,  AFG can provide hot meals that the school gives to all children starting at age 2.  The feeding program and other social supports to this community continues to be an essential lifeline for struggling families.

With continued gratitude,

Yassi and the AFG Team