Jambo Sana (Magina) Project
The
“Jambo Sana Project” is based in Magina, a village 50 km NNE of the
centre of Nairobi.
What’s in a Name?
Jambo Sana is the Swahili equivalent of “all is and will be well”. A visitor to Kenya is greeted with “Jambo” (how are you) and the expected answer is “Jambo Sana” (fine, all is well).
What is the Project about?
The Jambo Sana project provides a lifeline to the villagers by:
- Running a feeding programme for the children
- Assisting with school uniforms, clothing and school levies
- Offering vocational training for adolescents, e.g. tailoring, computer skills, helping them to start a money generating trade
The Jambo Sana Centre is the base for all these activities. Over 40 children are served lunch there every school day, ensuring they have at least one nutritious meal a day and helping to improve their concentration in school. It costs around £200 to feed a child for a year.
There are 10 students currently enrolled in the tailoring course, while the three computers at the centre are used by about 8 students every two hours to gain valuable skills to help them find employment. One second-hand computer in Kenya costs £100 and it costs £250 to train one student in basic computer skills.
The centre is also being used by a group of adolescents who gather under the umbrella of “Kings and Queens” for Bible study, performing arts and games. These young men and women, many of whom have dropped out of school due to a lack of school fees and who have been unable to find employment, have now found a new lease of life as part of this group.
