Melton Fellow works on Badili Zone Library Complete Digitalization Plan – Mukuru Kwa Reuben Slum, Nairobi Kenya

In this story, join us as we hear from Melton Fellow Claris Nadini about Badili Zone - An initiative based in Mukuru Kwa Reuben Slum, Nairobi Kenya. Claris and other partners are fundraising to acquire a shipping container that will be converted to a computer hub to help in computer literacy and to connect the students to the rest of the world! This activity directly helps students in the slums of Mukuru Kwa Reuben have access to quality education and other opportunities uninterrupted.

Become part of the team that is bringing computer literacy to every child in Mukuru Kwa Reuben! Donate here today! Every little action counts! 

Reasons to Donate

• Acquire the shipping container to be converted to a computer hub to be used by the students in Mukuru Kwa Reuben located in Nairobi Kenya.

• Computer skills training, coding, and programming sessions will be taking place at the computer hub.

• Different schools can comfortably conduct their computer sessions in the hub.

• The hub will enable access to online applications and opportunities to the students.

• The students will be able to connect with the world as global citizens hence extending their view of the existing possibilities.

Watch Melton Fellow Claris Nadini speak about the project below!

Underlying Mission

The bitter reality of the experiences of the students living in vulnerable places such as the slums of Nairobi is that most of them yearn to continue pursuing their education but odds are against them. This is with regards to the quality of education they are receiving and the support system that allows them to get to where they need to be. Mukuru Kwa Reuben Community located in Nairobi Kenya is no different, with more than 18 schools, only two of them have almost adequately equipped libraries that the rest of the schools do not have access to. That leaves us with the main question, what happens to the rest of the students in other schools?

Badili Zone Organisation’s mission is to provide sustainable solutions that ensure all students from the slum have access to quality education and opportunities to change this narrative. We champion quality education in vulnerable communities such as the slums by providing adequate learning materials, guidance, and mentorship while working collaboratively with partners and the community at large in achieving set positive goals. Our mission is to ensure no child is left behind as a result of economic status or environmental circumstances.

Progress so Far

As part of our work, with support from individual well-wishers and organizations, in the three years, we have been able to make several things a reality, for instance, in partnership with HOPE Worldwide Kenya, we officially launched our first equipped community library on 10th August 2019, we do mentorships in the library that covers diverse topics, we have initiated the sanitary corner in the library where at least 20 girls a month have access to sanitary pads in the community library facility and finally in partnership with Laser Property Services, we have been able to kick start the Basic Kit Program with 2 students, a program that ensures needy but bright students have their school shopping catered for before they go to school for them to be comfortable enough to maximize their academic potential.

Current Challenge

That being said, it brings us back to the main question, what is the fundraiser about? According to a UN report, 1.3 billion children aged 3-17 do not have internet access which prevents them from learning vital skills needed to compete in the modern economy. Badili Zone is working towards helping students from Mukuru have full access to the internet. While we have 9 computers to make this a reality, having both the computer users and the students who want to read the hard copy books in the same building has proven to be interruptive, hence not conducive for both parties. Separating these two will be useful in maximizing both their outputs. Also, important vibrant types of programs such as the different pieces of training (for example computer training) have been forced to take a pause now due to the limited one building spacing. Luck of access to the internet by many children and young people from vulnerable communities is more than just a digital gap, it is an educational crisis that needs to be addressed.

Solution

We are working towards getting a shipping container that would be converted and used as a computer hub. We are looking forward to moving to easy access to the internet and other technical services that come with access to the internet. This will help students and everyone else in the community easily do online applications, introduce children to technology at a young age and facilitate access to technological services.

This is a scale-up plan to digitalize the community library and connect it with the rest of the world. Both the teachers and students will be able to do any educational research they need to do as well as have all the resources they need to apply for different opportunities, within, and beyond Kenya.

Additionally, having the container will be vital to us in ensuring that the computer users do not end up disturbing the students who want to read. Separating these two types of users will be useful in maximizing both their outputs. Finally, the objective is to have the computer hub spacing set and running so that we can officially expand the impact we have in the community by kick-starting all the other programs that facilitate technological development in the community that need the hub to function.

Our fundraising target was originally $10000, and the Melton Foundation has donated the first $1500. The funding will cater for securing a 40ft shipping container and setting it up into a computer hub.

Long-term Impact

The world is becoming more digitalized, and we must equip our students with appropriate technological training as they become contributing members of society. Lack of connectivity doesn’t just limit children and young people’s ability to connect online, it prevents them from competing in the modern economy and isolates them from the world. Your donation will go a long way to acquire the shipping container which is where computer skills training, coding, and programming sessions will be taking place, additionally, the hub will enable access to online applications and opportunities to the students.

Lack of Internet access is costing the next generation their futures, and the cost is too expensive to be ignored. Your dollar will go a long way to reduce the cost of the future of the next generation, be part of the history that makes this happen.

Follow Badili Zone on Social Media!

To have a feel of what Badili Zone has been up to, feel free to check out Twitter, our website, Facebook and Instagram.  To know more about the project and how your donation can help, view Fellow Claris Nadini’s take on it!

Visit this link to help us reach our target, share with a friend and tell a friend to share with a friend, let’s get the party started.