December 18, 2012

International Human Rights

The 2012 School Year has come to a close and all of the students throughout Kenya are back in their homes to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year.  Most of the Suba Lakers are in Mbita training together and preparing for a few holiday tournament.  This week they are getting ready for the International Human Rights Tournament in Kisumu December 20-22.  After a tough league season, it is good to get all of our best players on the field together again to play against some good competition.  Our young girls have learned so much in the past year and have grown tremendously as players, students and even moreso as people. 

December 12, 2012

Charleston Fundraiser

In Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday morning (December 13), Low Country Live on WCIV TV News Channel 4 will be dedicating a segment of the show to fundraising for some of the Suba Laker girls who are hoping to get the chance to join high school next year. 

And later that day, Butterfly Boutique Consignment will be hosting a Christmas Party to hopefully raise money for them.  Party runs from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  Kenyan artificats, silent auction, door prizes, Charleston Christmas Ornaments (complete with a Palmetto Bug hand-made by Anne Belser for a minimum donation of $15).

Tickets for sale at the door, minimum donation of $15 to receive 20% off your purchase on that day, minimum of $25 donation to receive 30% off on that day, minimum donation of $35 to receive 40% off your purchases on that day.

There will be food and libations; and Kenyan Christmas music playing.

It is a great cause that will directly help young girls in rural Kenya with the opportunity to continue their education, instead of dropping out of school and getting married at an early age.


 

December 3, 2012

National Exams


800,000 Eighth Graders across Kenya will be sitting for their National Exams December 4-6. It is a very pivotal moment in their lives as their entire primary school education comes down to this one exam taken over three days. It is the only thing from Primary School that High Schools, Colleges, and even future employers will look at to assess their performance. 

On Tuesday, December 4th the students will begin with a 2 hour Math exam, 1 hour 50 minute English Grammar exam and write a 45 minute Composition.

On Wednesday, December 5th the students will take a 1 hour 50 minute Science exam, 1 hour 50 minute Kiswahili Grammar exam and a 45 minute Kiswahili Composition.

On Thursday, December 6th the students will finish with a 2 hour 15 minute Social Studies and Religious Education exam. Except for the two compositions, the rest of the exams are all multiple choice in 8th grade.

Thirteen Suba Lakers from various primary schools throughout Mbita District will be taking the exam this week. In a district where less than half of the girls finish primary school, it is a big achievement for a young girl to complete her primary school education, pass her exams and move on to secondary school. There are many obstacles along the way that threaten to derail their opportunity for an education. We are proud of each of our girls for persevering and enduring to reach this level. Most of them come from disadvantaged homes that presented many challenges along the way. Four of the 14 girls are total orphans without any parents, seven are partial orphans who have lost one parent and two of them still have both parents. These young girls have overcome the odds and are striving to build a better future for themselves and their families.

In the last two years all of the 17 girls from the Suba Lakers who have sat their National Exams have managed to move on to high school and are continuing their education. That is a big accomplishment and we hope that it will continue with this year’s group.

Once finishing their National Exams, they will have to wait until the end of January to receive their results and then we hope each of them will begin high school in February or March.

Please pray for them during this critical time. Here is a sample of how you can be praying for them...


Our God and Father, we come before you in the name of your Son which is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Even though we are halfway across the world, we are thankful that we can still pray for these children in Kenya. We commit these 13 students into your able hands. We ask for your protection and covering over them in the next few days as they prepare for their National Exams. Keep them healthy and strong physically and mentally. Give them good sleep at nighttime. May your peace that surpasses all understanding cover their hearts and their minds. May your Holy Spirit convict them of any sin in their life so that they may confess it before man and before you so that their minds may be free from the bondage that comes from sin. May their trust and hope be placed in you. Remind them of all the things they have learnt since they began their education. Remind them of what their teachers have taught them, what they have read in their textbooks and what they have studied from their notes. Remind them of questions they have come across in other exams they have taken previously. Help them not to be stressed or worried, but instead that they would be confident and sure. Help them to enjoy taking their exams. Make it fun and exciting for them. Give them an easy and comfortable time with their supervisor, invigilators, security guards and the other school staff that is around during exams.

 

And Lord we commit their futures in your hands. Their results, where they will go to secondary school and their future careers are all part of your plan for their lives. And from Jeremiah 29:11 we know that your plans for them are good; plans to prosper them and give them hope and a future. As King, you reign sovereignly and supremely over everything including National Exams and each of these students and their lives. Thank you for your great love for each of us. You are an amazing God! In Jesus name we pray Amen!