UPDATE FEBRUARY 2013

At last something to report. Firstly thank you all so much for your generosity towards RUSH. As you know you are making a real difference to the lives of many children who would have little access to a good education.

We had hoped that the school would be allowed to open last March but there has been a constant change of Education Officers and with every change some criteria have changed.

We now have an equipped science lab, a classroom, security fencing, a gate, sufficient long drop toilets.....All of these we have. We are allowed to use the unfinished dining hall at the RUSH Academy for the Secondary School

Now we have been given the official go ahead to open in March......So long as we now build future classrooms three stories high to enable space for sports on the site ! These cost more to build because of the foundations, also that we have a library and an ample supply of books for student use. There is a shortage of Secondary Schools which no doubt helps us. We are hoping to manage our fist class of around 25 pupils and are advertising in all the local Primary Schools.

We need three graduate teachers and next week the interviews go ahead for these.

Pleases pray for our Secondary School and for Lucy and Andrew Amukowa who are working so hard to manage so much under difficult circumstances.

Thank you.

Joan Hadlow


 

Having said in the past we could not possibly afford to go on to run a secondary school at RUSH, my mind was changed whilst painting the outside of the school in February. I saw such fantastic teaching and such bright children who literally absorbed all that was being taught and was suddenly caught up with a passion to see these pupils have their chance at secondary school.

RUSH Academy is number one school out of 56 in the district and our pupils have taken all 6 academic trophies awarded in the district for excellence. At the moment they will do extremely well in the government exams in November and be offered places at good secondary schools which is a privilege in itself. ……however, this is not covering the cost, so they will not be able to take these places. Without a secondary completion certificate they will be unable to train in any college.

The secondary school, a pipeline dream is about to become a reality. When I consider that we have come from nothing I am amazed at what has happened and been possible. To be top school in the district is no mean feat. We have a hard working couple, Lucy and Andrew Amukowa who are unpaid and a very committed staff who care for the children and sometimes wait to be paid.

For a secondary school in Kenya you must have graduate teachers and a science laboratory with a technician. Our top class will graduate in November and the new school year begins in January 2012. We also need a classroom, text books, exercise books, pens, pencils, uniform and shoes.

Thanks to Springfield Church in Wallington we have the land on which to build the school. Thanks to Andrew and Lucy’s forward thinking the bricks are being made to begin building the science lab. Thanks to Tenison’s and St. Andrew’s we will have the graduate teachers. For the first year we will be able to use the science lab as a classroom. Fundraising is under way for the science lab and equipment although we still need more offers of help and sponsorship.

A new Trustee has joined RUSH UK who is interested in and going to look into starting a Child Sponsorship Scheme whereby children can be sponsored for a minimum of 5 years although this could be extended. This ensures all staff can be paid, children clothed shoed and equipped for school and fed breakfast and lunch to enable them to perform well.

If you would like to be involved in any way please get in touch through your known links or the Contact Us Page.

We would love to have your support. Thank you.

Joan Hadlow (RUSH Chair)

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