Schoolchildren for Children is supporting a number of Homework and after school Clubs (HwC’s) in the Kibera and Korogocho slums of Nairobi. Students aged between 11 and 18 come together to study from 6-8pm, five days a week. ScfC funding supports the provision of primary and secondary text books, desks and chairs, secure library space and mains electricity with a back up fuel lighting generator due to the inconsistency of the mains supply.

The clubs provide a structured study environment with additional benefits for its boys and girls such as a regular series of life skill lectures for the students on topics such as substance abuse and HIV/AIDS awareness. After the homework sessions there are also music and drama sessions and at weekends there are also sports matches against other HwC’s in a variety of sports. The HwC’s are staffed by volunteers, many of whom are trained teachers, and maintain close contact with a parents’ committee formed from within their Community.

Students on the programme have already shown significant academic and behavioural improvement and these HwC’s are really allowing aspiring young people to make significant improvements to their academic achievements.

Many of the children live in single room structures with no electricity, running water or sanitation let alone study space so the programme provides them with a safe, secure environment in which to study, very often with books that they cannot normally access in their schools.

High demand for places means that we are currently expanding the programme but as communities are seeing the results achieved the demand is outstripping the provision. Some of the HwC’s have also begun to set up as day centres, open to the whole community to improve levels of adult literacy.