Napuu

Term 4, 2022

Receive warm greetings from Napuu Centre. We thank God for seeing us through another great term. We take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and partnership as we transform lives through the love of Christ. Here are some of the highlights of the term that we would like to share with you.

Ben Kibe

Head Teacher Napuu Center

Total Enrolled: 1391 students
Total Unsponsored: 518 students

Ben* is the third born of a family of four children. He and his family live in a village nearby to the school. We first interacted with Ben and his family when we recruited his siblings to our school. So when it was time for Ben to join school he was more than overjoyed to join his siblings in the morning and in the evening going to and from school.

In the first year of kindergarten, Ben was a diligent student. He would come to school on time, looking very neat and tidy. He loved his class teacher and his class so much that he never missed a day of school. Ben enjoyed environmental activities class and wanted to grow up to be a doctor. Over the weekends he looked forward to going to church with his family.

In early 2021, while Ben was in his last year of kindergarten and about to graduate to join grade one. Ben’s father fell sick and despite receiving medical attention he passed away. This was a big hit for the family as he was the sole breadwinner. During this time their mother did her level best and managed to get a job as a maid. This allowed her to provide for the family, but the loss of their father weighed heavily on them.

During this time, Ben’s behavior started to change. Ben was becoming absent more and more from school. His class teacher noticed this right away and asked our social worker to investigate what was going on. Upon confronting Ben’s mother it became clear that Ben had been cutting school.

Ben’s mother would leave very early in the morning, as early as 4 am to go to work. When Ben would wake up, he would pretend to go to school, but as soon as got to the gate or near the school gates he would disappear and loiter around the village. It was later discovered that Ben had made friends with some older children who did not attend any school. Rather than going to school, Ben would catch up with his friends and go loitering with them.

This was when it was decided that Ben must be escorted to school each morning. Ben’s older cousin volunteered to take Ben to school each morning. However, during breaks or at any chance, Ben would find a way to sneak out of school again.

Our staff did not give up on him and devised a plan to try and keep Ben in school and out of trouble. They began to walk closely with Ben through prayer and counseling. They also decided to make Ben the class keykeeper. This would mean that Ben had to be the first one to arrive at school, report to the social worker’s office, take the key and open the classroom door as well as be the last to leave class at the end of the day to lock up and take the key back to the social worker.

This newfound responsibility and the counseling sessions have bore fruit. Ben now attends school regularly, participates in class and holds his classmate’s accountable. We thank God that Ben has found purpose in school. He can now fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor.

*Name Changed.

• The center held a successful VBS program for lower primary students. The kids came to learn about the love of Jesus and have some fun at the same time.
• We had a colorful kindergarten graduation ceremony. Our children celebrated their end of kindergarten education and are looking forward to joining grade one.
• The center was able to get an interim certificate that allows the center to have a junior secondary section for our grades 6-9.

• The center was blessed to host a very impactive VBS programme which was organized by First Christian Church Santa Maria visitors. The focus was knowing Christ through the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
• The Eastside Christian Church organized a medical camp in dental and nutrition. 60 learners with dental problems were treated while 30 kids who had mild malnutrition were seen.
• The orthopedic department did a follow up of kids who were seen in the month of June. A total of 28 children were seen.

• Pray for rain to fight the drought and famine experienced across Turkana County.
• Pray for the health status of our children, especially against communicable diseases which have increased the mortality rate among the Turkana.
• Pray for our Grade 6 and 8 students who completed their national exams and transitioned to junior high and high school.