MCK Buuri E Kingori Primary School

I know Matthew will be writing eloquently about today's visits but I want to particularly comment on our visit to the primary school this afternoon. We were taken by Rev Elijah Mwirigi and on the way he arranged for me to meet 4 of the pupils who are being sponsored by the Moira Stewart Trust Fund. All are girls who are studying at various high schools in the area and are very needy. When we arrived at the primary school we were greeted by the Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Head Teacher. An enormous feast had been prepared for us and we'd just finished lunch! Various other dignitaries were also there. The classes were all left to work while the teachers joined us. They had set the classroom desks out with tablecloths, juice, water etc. There were loads of speeches. Elijah explained why we were there. As Education Secretary for the MCK, he had wanted to help this school as it was performing well but its buildings were in a poor condition. There were no floors and no plaster on the walls.
The Moira Stewart Trust Fund is administered from Dundee and our former Rector is a Trustee. Having discussed several ways of helping students in the Meru area of Kenya, a plan to assist this school was established. The Fund has paid for new walls and floors throughout all 8 classrooms. Another classroom block has still to be built and the immediate grounds are to be landscaped. Elijah met some of the Trustees when he was over in the UK in July this year. Once everything is finished he hopes one of them might come over to dedicate the new buildings.
In the meantime, I suppose we were the next best thing! There were loads of speeches and loads of thanks. All of us are getting much better at standing up and speaking off the cuff! The staff presented us with t-shirts for the boys and lesos/kangas for the girls (basically a bit like sarongs). We then visited each class in turn form oldest to youngest then they all came outside into the field. There the senior girls choir sang and danced. Mrs Mac and I joined in , followed by the pupils then the staff and visitors. It was a really happy occasion. Elijah asked me to say another few words which of course he had to translate into Kimeru. Then I had to do a prayer for the gathering. Again there had been a tremendous welcome and it was so joyful. These kids have very little but are so happy. We couldn't get away as every single one of the around 400 pupils wanted to shake everyone's hand and touch Katie's red hair! They also wanted to try out their English! A truly wonderful experience- they are so grateful for the work that has been carried out due to alittle bit of financial help and a lot of co-ordination by Elijah.