ISR's Kenya Project: The Vingujini Primary School

Each member of the SABIS® School Network follows the mission to develop students into individuals who have moral, ethical and social skills that enable them to make positive contributions to society. ISR Internationale Schule am Rhein in Neuss together with its sister school, ISF Internationale Schule Frankfurt-Rhein-Main have taken this mission one step forward. Since 1999 and 2003, ISF and ISR students respectively have integrated their talents and resources to improve the education of students in Kenya.

The aim of the Kenya Project is to raise awareness, in ISR students and other members of the community, of the fact that many children in the world do not automatically have the benefit of good education or education at all. In association with Twiga Education & Coaching, a non-profit charity foundation based in Netherlands, ISR has established a long-term relationship with the Vingujini Primary School.

The Vingujini Primary School is located on the Kenyan coast south of Mombasa, East Africa. Nearly 1.000 primary age children attend school in dilapidated classrooms made of mud und wattle. The village of Msambweni is typical of third world coastal communities, yet it is located not far from first world infrastructure common to world-famous tourist beaches and hotels.

ISR’s relationship with the Vingujini Primary School began in 2003, with previous ISR Director Richard Long, formerly a schoolteacher and administrator in East Africa. His work has been successfully continued by the current ISR director, Eileen Lyons. In fact, ISR has since informally ‘adopted’ the Vingujini Primary School.

Now in their 6th year of cooperative partnership, the students of ISR are committed to helping close this economic gap. Using a range of fundraising events – both competitive and educational in nature – funds are raised and sent to the school annually. ISR's money has afforded Twiga hire teachers, build and furnish classrooms, purchase books and supplies as well as contribute to the renovation of the Vingujini Primary school´s facilities. Over €3,400 was raised by the ISR community midway through school year 2008-2009. As liitle as €750 pays one teacher's salary for an entire year.  ISR’s adoption of this school is much like adopting a child. There is a responsibility and obligation to the Vingujini’s students, who depend on ISR for their education.

In the early stages of this project, ISR raised funds with bake sales. Since then, faculty, students, and parents have worked together to organise additional larger fundraising events. Fundraising events at ISR have included Penny Races, a Save It or Shave It contest, a yearly raffle at Family Fun Day, a CD project and its most-successful-to-date 'Chocolate 4 Kids'. See related photos below.

All funds raised and/or donated by ISR students, faculty, and parents for this project go directly to help the students at the Vingujini Primary School in Kenya. ISR takes no administrative or other fees from the funds. ISR teachers wanting to volunteer during their holidays even cover their own travel costs.   You are invited to help us help the Vingujini students continue to learn by calling +49 2131 40388-0.

The Vingujini community is counting on us! Let’s follow their school motto to fulfil our own: Hard Work Leads to Success!

The Fun We Have Donating